Alice buried her face in her cup of coffee that was getting cold, and she could hardly breathe, listening to every word of their conversation. Getting up now was out of the question. Second cup of coffee would have to wait.

“I can only imagine the sentiment behind this,” Professor smiled with just a hint of sadness and maybe regret. “My wife left me more than ten years ago for a yoga instructor she hired to entertain herself while I was busy with my work. I can’t really blame her because I was married to my lab.”

“You might not believe me, Professor, but while our circumstances are different, our outcomes are the same. Everyone I meet want to be with me for my money and my position in society. I finally met someone who was not impressed by my name or my wealth and she presented a challenge. Of course, I’m telling you all this in confidence. I don’t want Tina…that’s the woman I was talking about, or Bette Porter or any of their friends to know about this development until the time comes.”

Professor Kroll nodded and asked, “You can be assured of my secrecy but I’m curious about your sources, Ms. Peabody…Helena. I’m a man of science, not a science fiction. I do require proof.”

Alice almost choked on her cold coffee. Did he just read her mind? So maybe he wasn’t into the monetary part of the agreement as much as she thought he was.

“And you will have it, Professor, in due time. The main thing for you to know is that I myself was a witness of the conversation between Bette Porter and her friend Alice…”

At the mention of her name, Alice lowered her head, as if everyone could see her and sunk even lower in her seat. Professor Kroll frowned at the name and looked at Helena questionably, “Alice Pieszecki?”

“Yes, do you know her?”

Professor nodded and stared at the window, “She came here about a year ago to write about my research. She was very inquisitive at first, like she had more in mind than just a simple interview and then she just disappeared one day. She left me a note that she had an emergency and I had not heard from her or her editor afterwards…until very recently.”