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Well, I made it through all of my exams. I think I did OK for the most part. The physics exam was in essay form, but knew to prepare for that. Biometrics went fine, and I’m sure I aced the tools and materials test. Mrs. Unni said the exam was mostly a formality, as she grades her students on participation. However, field manipulation gave me a headache. Cumulative exams really bring you down. At least it’s over, and I don’t have to sit in class with that crazy Mr. Horitt. I’m pretty sure I do not have him for next quarter. Yay!

With all that out of the way, I finally got a chance to drop in on Dr. Doby to get some answers about the cane he sent me. I arrived at his office at around two on Wednesday. I stood in the open doorway and found a young man in a dark navy suit and tie standing behind the desk. He sorted through a stack of papers, making a pile on the already cluttered desktop. I seemed to have startled him when I asked if he knew where Dr. Doby was.

“The doctor has taken a leave of absence,” he explained, “I’m Mr. Silvette, I’m just keeping things in order until he returns.”

“Do you have any idea when that might be,” I asked. He told me he didn’t really know, perhaps several weeks. Silvette went on to say that his departure had been a rather sudden one.

“Is there anything I could help you with,” Silvette asked. I started to tell him about the cane. I had barely said two words when, suddenly, I felt someone bump me from behind.

“Excuse me, miss,” came an even and very deliberate voice. I turned to see a towering man dressed similarly to Mr. Silvette, except he wore a pair of reflective aviator’s sunglasses. “Mr. Silvette and I must speak to each other alone.” At this point, I was more or less shoved out into the hallway as he closed the office door.

Before heading home, I stopped at the front desk to confirm what I had just been told. The receptionist explained Dr. Doby had, indeed, taken leave unexpectedly. She added that his absence had something to do with his daughter falling ill. So, that would help to explain some of the mystery, but says nothing about why he sent me the rose-handled cane. Come to think of it, Dr. Doby had left me with the impression that he had no daughters other than the one whom died so young, the one he said I reminded him of.