The Einstein Equation

9 Going Home with Purdue

“I want to put this on record as being a very bad idea,” Dr. Patel moaned, reluctantly signing out his tenacious patient. “At this point, I have no concrete excuse to keep you confined, David, but I am not sure you are quite fit to go home yet.”

“Noted,” Purdue smiled, leaning on his new walking stick. “For what it is worth, old boy, I will take care not to aggravate my cuts and stitches. Besides, I have arranged for home care twice a week until our next check-up appointment.”

“You did? That does make me feel a bit more relieved,” Dr. Patel admitted. “Which medical aid are you using?”

Purdue’s impish smile woke some concern in the surgeon. “I elicited the services of Nurse Hurst on a private fee over and above her hours worked here at the clinic, so it should not interfere with her work at all. Twice a week. One hour for assessment and treatment. What do you say?”

Dr. Patel was stunned to silence. “Damn, David, you really cannot allow any mystery to pass you by, can you?”

“Look, I feel awful about not having been there when her husband could have used my inspiration, even just on a platform of morale. The least I can do is try to make up somewhat for being absent back then.”

The surgeon sighed and laid a hand on Purdue’s shoulder, leaning in to softly remind him, “It will not salvage anything, you know. The man is dead and gone. Nothing good you try to do now will bring him back or satisfy his dreams.”

“I know, I know, it makes little sense, but for what it is worth, Haroon, let me do this. If anything, seeing Nurse Hurst will ease my conscience just a little. Please, grant me that,” Purdue implored. Dr. Patel could not argue that it was a feasible point, from a psychological perspective. He had to concede that every bit of mental soothing Purdue could spare could help him recover from his all too recent ordeal. There was no doubt that his injuries would heal on almost as well as it was before the attack, but Purdue needed to occupy his psyche at all costs.

“Not to worry, David,” Dr. Patel answered. “Believe it or not, but I understand entirely what you are trying to do. And I am with you, my friend. Do what you deem redemptive and remedial. It can only do you good.”

“Thank you,” Purdue smiled, genuinely content with his doctor’s consent. A brief moment of awkward silence passed between the conclusion of the conversation and the arrival of Nurse Hurst from the locker rooms.

“Sorry I took so long, Mr. Purdue,” she puffed hastily. “Had a bit of trouble with my stockings, if you must know.”

Dr. Patel pouted his lips and suppressed his amusement at her statement, but Purdue, being ever the smooth gentleman, immediately changed the subject to prevent her from further embarrassment. “Shall we go, then? I am expecting someone soon.”

“You are leaving together?” Dr. Patel asked quickly, looking taken aback.

“Yes, Doctor,” the nurse explained. “I offered to take Mr. Purdue home on my way home. I figured it would be an opportunity to find the best route to his estate. I have never been up that way, so now I can memorize the way.”

“Ah, I see,” Haroon Patel replied, although his face was riddled with suspicion. He was still of the opinion that David Purdue was after more than Lilith’s medical expertise, but alas it was none of his business.

Purdue arrived at Wrichtishousis later than he had expected. Lilith Hurst had insisted they stop first to fill the tank of her car, and that delayed them slightly, but they still made good time. Inside, Purdue felt like a child on the morning of his birthday. He could not wait to get home, expecting that Sam would be waiting for him with the prize he so coveted since they were lost in the hellish maze of the Lost City.

“Good God, Mr. Purdue, what a place you have here!” Lilith exclaimed. Her mouth was agape as she leaned forward on her steering wheel to regard the tall majesty of the gates to Wrichtishousis. “This is amazing! Jesus, I can’t imagine what your electric bill is.”

Purdue chuckled heartily at her blunt honesty. Her apparent modest lifestyle was a welcome change from the company of wealthy landowners, moguls and politicians he was accustomed to.

“It is rather steep,” he played along.

Lilith gawked at him. “Of course. As if someone like you would know what steep means. I bet nothing is ever too steep for your wallet.” At once, she realized what she was insinuating and she gasped, “Oh my God. Mr. Purdue, I do apologize! I am mortified. I tend to speak my mind…”

“That is alright, Lilith,” he laughed. “Please, do not apologize for it. I find it refreshing. I am used to people kissing my ass all day, so it is good to hear someone say what they think.”

She shook her head slowly, as they passed the security booth and drove up the minor incline toward the imposing antique structure Purdue called home. As the car neared the mansion, Purdue could practically spring from it to get to see Sam, and the footage that would come with him. He wished that the nurse could drive a little faster, but dared not make such a request.

“Your garden is beautiful,” she remarked. “Look at all the amazing stone structures. Was this a castle before?”

“Not a castle, my dear, but close. It is a historical site, so I am sure it once held off intruders and protected many people from harm. When we first inspected the property, we did find remnants of vast stables and servant’s quarters. There are even ruins of an old chapel in the far east of the property,” he described dreamily, feeling quite proud of his Edinburgh residence. Of course, he owned a number of homes across the world, but he considered the main house in his native Scotland the primary seat of the Purdue fortune.

As soon as the car came to a halt in front of the main doors, Purdue had his door open.

“Be careful, Mr. Purdue!” she cried. Worried, she switched off the engine and hastened to his side, just when Charles, his butler, opened the door.

“Welcome back, sir,” the rigid Charles said in his dry way. “We only expected you in two days.” He descended the steps to collect Purdue’s bags while the white haired billionaire rushed toward the steps as fast as he could. “Good day, madam,” Charles greeted the nurse, who in turn nodded in acknowledgment He had no idea who she was, but if she came with Purdue, he considered her important.

“Mr. Purdue, you cannot use that much pressure on your leg yet,” she whined in his tracks, trying to catch up to his wide strides. “Mr. Purdue…”

“Just help me up the steps, will you?” he asked politely, although she detected an air of profound urgency in his voice. “Charles?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Has Mr. Cleave arrived yet?” Purdue asked as he trod up, one step at a time, impatiently.

“No, sir,” Charles answered casually. The answer was unassuming, yet Purdue’s expression in reaction was one of utter horror. For a moment he stood still, holding onto the nurse’s arm, leering at his butler.

“No?” he huffed in panic.

Just then, Lillian and Jane, his housekeeper and personal assistant, respectively, appeared in the door.

“No, sir. He has not been all day. Were you expecting him?” Charles asked.

“Was I… w-was I expec… Jesus, Charles, would I ask if he was here if I was not expecting him?” Purdue ranted uncharacteristically. It was a shock to hear a virtual shriek from their usually composed employer, and the women exchanged befuddled glances with Charles, who remained mute.

“Did he call?” Purdue asked Jane.

“Good evening to you to, Mr. Purdue,” she replied sharply. Unlike Lillian and Charles, Jane was not above reprimanding her boss when he acted out of line or when anything was amiss. She was usually his moral compass and his right hand decision maker, when he needed an opinion. He saw her cross her arms across her chest, and he knew he was being a jerk.

“I’m sorry,” he sighed. “I am just expecting Sam urgently. Good to see all of you. Really.”

“We heard what happened to you down in New Zealand, sir. So happy you are still kicking and healing on,” purred Lillian, the maternal staff member with the sweet smile and naïve notions.

“Thanks Lily,” he gasped, out of breath from the effort of the ascent up to the door. “My goose was almost cooked, yes, but I prevailed.” They could see that Purdue was extremely upset, but he tried to remain cordial. “Everyone, this is Nurse Hurst from the Salisbury Clinic. She will be attending to my wounds twice a week.”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they all fell silent, stepping aside to let Purdue make his way into the lobby. He finally looked at Jane again. With a considerably less sneering tone, he asked again, “Has Sam called at all, Jane?”

“No,” she answered gently. “Would you like me to ring him while you settle down so long?”

He wanted to protest, but he knew that her assumption would be the way of things. Nurse Hurst would definitely insist on evaluating his condition before leaving and Lillian would insist on feeding him well before he could dismiss her for the evening. Weary, he nodded. “Please call him and see what the hold-up is, Jane.”

“Of course,” she smiled, and started up the first floor stairs to the office. She called back to him. “And please, get some rest. I am sure Sam will be by, even if I cannot get hold of him.”

“Yes, yes,” he gave her a friendly wave away and continued laboriously up the stairway. Lilith gawked around the magnificent residence as she assisted her patient. She had never seen such opulence in a domicile of someone who was not of royal status. Personally, she had never been in a house of such affluence. Having lived in Edinburgh for a few years now, she was familiar with the celebrity explorer who built an empire on his superior intelligence quotient. Purdue was a prominent citizen of Edinburgh, whose fame and infamy reached across the world.

Most of the world’s high profile personalities in finance, politics and science knew David Purdue. Many of them had come to detest his existence, though. That, she also knew well. Still, his genius could not be denied, not even by his enemies. As a former student of physics and theoretical chemistry, Lilith was fascinated with the diverse knowledge Purdue exhibited throughout the years. Now she played witness to the product of his inventions and relic hunting history.

The high lobby ceilings of Wrichtishousis reached over three stories before being consumed by the bearing walls of separate divisions and tiers, as did its floors. Marble and ancient limestone floors bore the leviathan house, and by the looks of the place, there were few ornaments younger than the 16^th Century.

“You have a beautiful home, Mr. Purdue,” she gasped.

“Thanks,” he smiled. “You used to be a scientist by trade, right?”

“I was,” she replied, looking a little solemn.

“When you come back next week, I could perhaps take you on a short tour of my laboratories,” he offered.

Lilith looked less ecstatic than he thought. “I have been to the labs, actually. Three different branches, in fact, all run by your company, Scorpio Majorus,” she boasted to impress him. Purdue’s eye glinted with a mischievous sheen. He shook his head.

“No, my dear, I am referring to the test labs in the house,” he said, feeling the effects of the painkiller and his recent upset about Sam making him drowsy.

“Here?” she gulped, finally reacting in the way he hoped she would.

“Yes, ma’am. Right down there, under the lobby level. I will show you next time,” he bragged. It pleased him no end how flushed the young nurse was by his offer. Her smile made him feel good and, for a moment, he was convinced that he could perhaps make up for the sacrifice she had to make for her husband’s illness. That was his intent, but she had more in mind than a small measure of redemption from David Purdue.