Chapter 52
Mr. Griffin waited for us in a little social room for the staff. When we entered, he got up immediately. A small, slim man with receding hair. He came towards us, eying me over. I disliked him immediately.
I knew that look and the kind of person throwing it.
"What a pleasure." He greeted me with a syrupy voice. He shook my hand and held it longer than necessary. After he had let it go, I felt the urge to wash my hands, as he was some slimy so-and-so.
Then he turned to Martin, whom he greeted with a firm, but definitely shorter handshake.
"Ellingham, how do we deserve the pleasure of your company? Planning to return to the civilised world?"
"Just visiting for business." Martin answered, his whole posture showing a self-assurance I always admired in him, even more so as I knew that he had this other, self-doubting side to him, too.
"Business? Let me think which hospital is looking for a surgeon right now?"
"No interview. Personal business." Martin specified, and I was almost sorry for his honesty. I wouldn't have minded one bit if his former colleague was suspecting him of getting a high flying surgeon's job again.
"Shame." Mr. Griffin said, although his eyes and the unbecoming curl of his lips told a different story. "So the Great Ellingham still has to waste his talents in the backwaters?"
"Hm?"
"Actually..." I was starting to defend Martin, but he gave me look that could kill and quickly continued.
"I just popped in to give you these back." He fingered in his side pocket for the tickets.
"Ah, right. If I'd known you had such nice company, I'd have kept one ticket for myself."
This slimy dwarf had the nerve to try to chat me up when Martin was standing right beside him.
"We could have had a good time." He tried his non-existent charms.
"Actually, I had a very nice evening." I inched closer to Martin, laying my hand on his arm. Martin looked at me in astonishment.
"With Hamlet?" Mr. Griffin waved his tickets in the air, but looked at Martin with amusement. "I think we could have done better than that."
"I quite enjoyed it." I straightened up and looked him square in the eyes.
"I like her, Ellingham . She's good." Mr. Griffin told his former colleague. "Since when did you develop such good taste in women? Seems the country air has done you a world of good."
There was something in his voice that I didn't like at all. Something that was belittling Martin.
The self-declared charmer turned to me. "Ellingham didn't have a reputation as a ladies' man back in the old days. Isn't that so, Ellingham?"
Martin's fingers started twitching and he looked sideways to me, his eyes wary.
"Always very professional. Didn't seem to know how to enjoy himself, if you know what I mean." Martin's former colleague prattled on.
"I don't. I enjoyed myself very much last night, and my company." I declared demonstratively. "Martin." I called his name with as much feeling as I could. "Our taxi's waiting. I think we should go now."
Mr. Griffin grabbed my hand again. "Shame, but it's probably a long way to... What was the name of this godforsaken place you ended up in?" The head of cardiology looked provocatively towards Martin.
"Portwenn." Martin and I replied in unison.
"And it's a very nice village." I added.
"If you say so. Must be idyllic. All that nature and whatever there is." He still held my hand and I was tugging at it to free it from his grip. "Anyway. If you happen to be in London again," He told me, "just give me a ring. We could have dinner together. I can show you the town. The more interesting places."
"Aren't you married? The daughter of one of our patients?" Martin asked completely innocently, and I could have hugged him for it.
"Ellingham, just because you're married doesn't mean you can't eat out." The slimy bastard smirked towards me. I knew exactly who'd be on the menu if I went out with him.
"Actually, I don't like London very much. I just came down to keep Martin company. So if I'd ever come down here again, I know who'd my favourite escort would be." I declared and looked up at Martin, who seemed to be completely confused.
"Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me." Finally he let my hand go. "Ellingham, good to have seen you again."
"Yes." Martin nodded slightly. "And thanks for letting me have the tickets with such short notice."
"No problem. I'll walk you to the lift."
"I'm sure you don't need to bother. We'll find our way." I told him testily.
"No bother at all. I have to get back to the old treadmill anyhow."
I took care to have Martin between myself and the doctor, as he was the type suffering from wandering hands.
To be continued…
