Chapter 2

Emily left the building that housed the administrative offices of the prestigious Johns Hopkins University and cross the campus with slow steps.

The air was still warm from the begining of September and the girl allowed herself to take a cup of coffee from the Starbucks kiosk located along the way. She takes a little more time, enjoing the sunlight before finally returning to her car parked a little further on the student parking lot.

Once before her car, she leaned against the hood to finish her still steaming coffee. She wondered if it was possible that life would always be like that: sweet and promising, guaranteeing bright hopes for the future ...

Then she thought no, probably not.

Although not inherently pessimistic, she knew how quickly you could get out of this temporary bliss in which she seemed to evolve since joining the faculty: an easy life, loving and caring parents, the best friends you imaginable, scandalously high academic achievements... Only dream more?

Emily threw down her now empty cup in a trash can nearby, before getting into her car and start to get to Lightman Group, where her father had recently hired her to complete her census research internship fourth year.

Even though it was traveling slowly, for the obvious leagues of red lights of Washington, she rehashing the fresh conversation she had had with Gladwell. No doubt he was interested in her research project, even if trying to hide his enthusiasm. He had issued a small flat on methodological issues, but she was doing relatively well, maybe even too well. In advised psychologist that he was, Emily had expected a question of motivational order from his part. Her choice of subject was, nevertheless, under benign.

After all this would be hard enough to justify herself to her father so who cares?.

I read everything that my father and some other less talented authors have been writing about the "natural" and I find it fascinating. The findings on the profiles of its people are unequivocal: read the other to survive ...

I share the same need for my part: the other kind of "natural" fool the other to survive.

My father is not a natural even though his gift is amazing and the effects are extremely similar. He worked hard for this for over 20 years.

For my part I am a natural for the other type: I grew up beside the greatest human lie detector across the country, or probably even the world, I had to learn to lie beyond excellence to survive.

Building on my life on an protective illusion is an extraordinarily complicated exercise: it's painful, it's scary and it's every day.

I do not lie with delight, but with necessity.

Does it makes me feel less guilty?

Probably ... After all I have a strong survival instinct.

I'm good in my field, I may be one of the best. However I live in fear that my family finds out what I spend my life desperately trying to hide. I live in fear of committing an error, sooner or later, that will be fatal to me ... but until it, I live.

Emily used her pass to the terminal of the staff car park Lightman Group and the barrier rose before her. She parked at her emplacement and then went down to get the elevator and go to the upper floors as two times a week.

She passed the desk of Heidi, who hung on her phone, nonetheless a charming smile, waving her hand. She then struck the office saying 'Cal Lightman', and penetrated even before being prompted. Her father greeted her, looking up from his record.

- "Hello my darling, how was your interview with 'Henry heart of dragon'?" He began sarcastically.

-" Very well, thank for worring. And do not call him like that please, I recall that my mentor and he does everything he can for me"! Crops she amused.

- "I also do everything I can for you love and I do not feel entitled to as much esteem from you" ...

- "Ha ha you make me cry, thou hast not really encouraged when I announced that I've chosen to work with him, if I remember correctly!"

- "Because it broke my entrails to see my little genius and her talent in the hands of the 'enlightened conscience guy' "!

- "This 'enlightened conscience guy' as you say so, has two degrees higher than you dad".

- "You tore my heart ..." Cal exaggerated his gestures with accompanying the speech in a grotesque grimace that makes laughed his daughter.

It would destroyed him to know. The amplitude of my secret is such that he would ask himself if he had ever known me. He loves me so much, I can not do that to him, nor him, nor to my mother.

Cal now mimicked a stroke stake in the chest with the help of a pen and Emily laughed uproariously.

He would put my whole life and his in question, searching in vain for what he had missing, he could have changed. The problem is that he would not have been luckier than me when it all began. I have not had the choice, the only thing I can do now is doing the best because this butterfly effect affects all my movements, all my decisions and any of my thoughts ... and it creates the remarkable illusion of my life.

-" I gotta go, I have work to do" . Emily cut at this moment of complicity.

-" And do not mess with this, it seems that the boss is a tyrant! Just a sound of corridors". He blurted.

- "This is what I heard. Can I still use your office this morning? You're on the field right?"

- "Absolutely, Gillian and I have an appointment to interview all the bankers of the group 'Pearson & Goring'. There is one who is accused of diverting more than $ 500,000 and of course the shareholders are not very happy. Suffice to say that it will be fair to suit and ties and liars ... You never noticed how the two were often subtly linked?"

- "I thought you were against the amalgam like that?" She tried with feigned naive.

-" I have educated you so well" ... Rejoiced Cal. " In short my office is to you, am trying to make it as presentable as it is today!"

- "As if I was the disorderly us both!" Dropped the girl before running off with a smile. "Good luck for this morning".

- "You too". He shouted across the hallway.

Emily arrived in the makeshift office of Locker, who seemed busy with his new mini basketball hoop, she lets the young man heard a subtle clearing of the throat which startled him.

-" Em Gee, you scared me! I thought it was" ...

- "My father or Ria"? She questioned curious.

-" Actually I do not know exactly which one I care the most scared". He confessed sheepishly.

- "Well reassure you, this is only the 'student' ... So, you could find the items I asked you? " She continued more seriously. Locker pointed a battery fairly consistent review of all kinds.

- "Everything except the data of Shaver et al contrebalencement in 1978! Who's the beast"? Strutted the young man fidgeting from left to right.

- "Not the Beast of basketball I hope, I saw you miss no fewer than eight baskets in the space of not even 15 minutes!" Ria suddenly interrupted which in turn entered into the office.

- "Because you spying on me now"? Eli replied an indignant.

- "No but we can not say that you're the discretion embodied and 'shit' all clams are visible from the top copier"! Ria defended herself.

- "Oh you're is just a little frustrated because it's quiet now, and it must play the secretaries"!

They bicker all the time and come to completely forget my presence. I spend a lot of time observing them and all the others. If they had any idea of their chances and their ridiculous stupidity. This is sometimes a painful sight to watch two people who obviously attracted to each other, turn around and never engage while evidently, each waiting for this ... All this time wasted, all that mess and on behalf of what good reason?

- "Hey Emily". Note finally Ria Torres." How are you?"

- "Very well thank you". Grin Emily. "I came to retrieve items that Eli was able to find me because I did not yet pass to remove its myself from the archives".

- "Oh my god, what do you do in return?" Ria asked suspiciously, raising an eyebrow toward Locker.

- "I'm just fill some reports, nothing too bad and anyway I really need this documentation". Asserted the girl.

- "Hey!" Said Locker indignant to the attention of his colleague. "I want you to know that I am not a bully after all"!

- "I do not bet on that". Replied Torres. "Anyway Emily, you can ask me the next time it will be a pleasure to accompany you to the archives".

- "It's nice Ria but I think I'll receive my badge in the week". Declined Emily preparing to leave. "Thank you anyway".

- "No worries". Ria said before the girl left the room.

It's not that I do not like Ria, in contrary, I find her very very nice, the fact remains that she's definitely the biggest threat to me.

Ria is staggering, really stunning. I understand why she was hired in the first place and I know that in her presence I have even less place for error than ever. The slightest gesture, the slightest twitch of my hand would be enough for her to discover the whole truth. Unlike my father, her outsider's view will not let me no chance for doubt it, and I'll be over for good.

Emily returned to her father office and settled down comfortably with a coffee before the plunge in her readings. She loved these moments: read and think about nothing else ... almost. She was sometimes so deeply immersed in her work that she lost all sense of time, like this morning when she saw, looking up at the clock, it was already 11:45 AM. She began to assemble her business to leave because she had to be on campus early in the afternoon to attend her working group in social psychology.

Just before disappearing from the office, she heard voices raised in the direction of the room, voices, though still unclear, leave no doubt as to the identity of future visitors.

- " You've still no concrete evidence to bring charges againt Tucker Jones! Cal you know that Pearson and Goring will never want to take the risk of a false statement. They are not followers of the 'false preaching to learn the truth' if you want my opinion and you will have to seriously rethink your action methods!" Lectured Gillan Foster entered the room at the heels of a very angry Cal.

- "We'll gain valuable time! No but seriously how many major investors come in golf attire at the office knowing to be under investigation of an outrageous media coverage? I'll bet $ 100 this guy is involved in this case in addition to being the biggest idiot ever!" Yelled Cal.

- "Maybe, but we need proof anyway"!

Cal sighed exed before dropping into his chair wearily.

- "Well then we will send Ria at the time, I did not return there".

- "I never doubted it". Gillian quipped before recording the discreet presence at the other side of the room.

- " Hi Emily, I do not know you were here this morning". She says, approaching the girl to come and kiss.

- "In fact I'm about to leave". She clarified. "Tough morning"? She snapped to attention of both.

- "Do you remember the festival's 50 years of your maternal grandfather"? Questioned Cal.

- "I see". Emily nodded now convinced.

- " Tell me, I know you already have dinner with your mother before last night, and that your schedule is hectic as a student, but would you made me the pleasure to settle your Wednesday night to your father?" Asked Cal.

- "You have something special in mind"? Questioned Emily, not really settled by this proposal. She had promised her friend Charlotte to go see a movie with her.

- "Nothing special really but Gillian and I had quite a difficult job recently and have thought a quiet night we would do no harm if you're up to join us. You're getting rare these days" ... He tried to make her feel guilty.

- "Stop it Dad, you know it's not against you or mom, who also make me reproach, but I have a lot of work right now" ...

- "Yes it stop Cal". Defended Gillian. "Everyone does not die of want to see you in your beautiful kitchen apron". Laughed, she openly making a nod to Emily. The girl smiled in reply.

- "Feels like the apron is out for the party and it does not leave me much choice" ... She yielded.

- " I knew you could not resist me". Cal overcame joyfully raising victorious arms to the sky. Emily raised her eyes.

- "That's it Dad, you're the best" ... She says, kissing him. "Then I'll see you Wednesday. Goodbye Gillian". She added with a gesture and a smile.

- "See you Wednesday Emy". The young woman replied looking away, getting ready to hit two words to her partner about the forcing methods he used on his daughter.

The game is extremely subtle, I must not get lost and keep in mind that I have to usually let the situation turn in my favor, without trying to provoke it too directly.

I am not a complet monster, I even tell myself that I also do that fot all of them. I lie to preserve them in a sense.

Anyway, how could I say to my father that the only thing that I ever loved in my whole existence, is Gillian Foster?