23- Starting over… chapter twenty-three

Back to the garage the light drifty drizzle continued. Walter pulled the Malibu into the garage and closed up. Heading up to the den, reaching it he glanced at Megan's photo. "Good night, Megan," he said and continued into the bedroom to strip and get warm under the blankets.

Waking well rested in the morning, Walter laid cozy and warm in his nest for a while thinking of the conversation over dinner with Marta. If Richard has his eye on Marta as a possible acquisition he will be disappointed. If he is thinking of recruiting Sophia, she isn't a scientist so it won't be for the enterprise, he chuckled.

He got up started the coffee, took a shower and in boxers and towel around his neck went up to the roof to see what the day is looking like. Sunny with big fluffy clouds rolling through to the east, rather nippy with the breeze and damp from puddles all around. Looking at the roses, they were certainly looking a lot better than they were a few weeks ago. He went back to the kitchen to get some coffee, took the mug into the bedroom, took a sip and put it on the dresser as he was getting dressed in proper business attire to go join the tour.

Sitting at the desk, he opened the laptop to check mail, long list of data center reports- none with 'alert' in the subject line so all was good. One from Richard.

Walter- reminder- at the gate at 11:00. Richard

He hit reply:

Richard- See you there. Walter

Refilling his coffee cup, he turned off the brewer and, hearing Gina in the office he closed the laptop to put in its case and with coffee and case went down to the office.

"Good morning, Gina," Walter said pushing through the saloon swinging doors from the kitchen to sit in the easy chair. "I will be going to join the tour with Richard, so you will be alone all day. Make sure you keep the security feed going and check out anyone that comes to the door before you open it. Better to have them knock than take a risk here alone."

"Yes, Walter, I'm careful. I know the door behind me to the living area, the combo for the man-door, and keep my phone in my pocket should I need to escape some crazy, I can hit 911 on the way down the alley," Gina said. "Women need to always be careful. You have a pleasant day- should be some good conversation for you in the think tank section of the tour. Lots of math on the boards, lots of esoteric formula to keep you interested. You keep an eye out, too, Hans is an intern in that area, now. From what I heard, he was specifically requested by a couple of the gurus so his already self-important swelled head is even more swollen. Other than that, have a good time. You can tell me all about it when you get back. Have a great day."

Walter went into the kitchen to put his cup in the dishwasher, came back into the office to get his laptop case. Before leaving he turned, "Gina, there is a chance a strange woman may stop by with some dinner later this afternoon. Her name is Sarah, short auburn or possibly green hair- drives either an MGB, or an old Jag. Just let her in if I'm not back. Don't let her scare you- she may seem a bit strange, but is mostly harmless." That said he went through the kitchen to pull the Malibu out to go to the Elias Enterprises main gate.

Richard himself picked him up at the gate in an electric cart.

"The limo isn't here yet, we can go get some coffee. Thanks for coming, I really need a super math guy with that Russian barreling through. He had some talks with some of the think tank guys already and he left them in the dust- rather embarrassing to be truthful- even a couple of the new interns who are fresh out of classes and up-to-date for this stuff. I at least admit he is levels above my competency, others don't and they are less than happy with things. Nobody likes to be shown as lacking, and this Russian is REALLY getting on people's nerves and enjoying it." Walter laughed. "What is so damned funny? He is making us look like high schoolers. Typical obnoxious Russian when around Americans. Now I know why there was such a dislike of them during the Cold War- they make it EASY to dislike them."

"You may find it isn't that he is Russian as that he is a mathematician. I have tried to explain to numerous people that those who are math proficient are an unmannered, self-centered, unruly clan. And yes, I certainly include myself in that category- I have just learned over time, and by a lot of black eyes, that being somewhat civil to the non-math proficient makes life easier," Walter said still smiling. "Remember I told you that I may in time piss you off and won't even know it until you TELL me….. and it won't change a thing? Now you fully understand what I was saying?"

"I never found you to be 'obnoxious', Walter, and I have known you for some time, now. Will admit I find you strange- giving a billionaire designs worth a lot of money, trading a fortune in patent income for a car. I have learned you are just… shall we say… rather- eccentric. Nothing wrong with eccentric, you are Irish after all."

Walter looked at Richard, "what does being Irish have anything to do with it? After all these years I am more American than Irish, now, anyway. That reminds me, Marta also asked if I miss Europe, and flatly stated she does not like Americans. If she was one you had hopes of recruiting, think you best forget it. Have any shown an interest in jumping ship from the ESA….. maybe Sophia even though she isn't a scientist?"

Parking the golf cart by the steps to the headquarters main door, Richard chuckled, "Sophia is lovely, isn't she? And I do like the accent, but no, not looking to recruit her. Thought you were flapping your eyelashes at Marta- thought there was some chemistry going on there at the new year party." Opening the door for Walter he followed to go to the elevator to his office on the top floor. "I will be notified when the limo gets here with my guests, so have some coffee, relax because the Russian may get the blood pressure up before the day is out."

"No, no chemistry, she won't stay here; I won't go there, so impasse. I found her interesting, while the German accent isn't as pleasing to the ear as the Italian, but she showed no great interest. Just a pleasant evening practicing social interaction and that is it," Walter said. "It may be more interesting to watch the Russian today, I admit, it has been quite a while since interacting with a math proficient of this level. Might be fun."

Richard gave him a look, "there you go displaying your eccentricity again. That Russian piss off my people more I may throttle him myself. May make the afternoon enjoyable to see which of you gets on the other's nerves first- he is excitable and you tend to be unflappable, so yes, may be fun…. or I will just throttle him and be done with it. Could probably get away with it as justifiable homicide."

"I should have gotten a recording of this conversation to give to my attorney in the event in future I really do piss you off and you throttle me," Walter said laughing. "Will be fun watching you, but best keep a distance from the Russian- no one else can run this enterprise if you end up in jail."

Richard's secretary tapped on the door jamb- "Security just called the limo is pulling in."

"Let's go, Walter, it's showtime."

Richard and Walter were at the front door when the limo pulled up to drop off the eight passengers. Leading the way to the main space division complex, the offices and large conference rooms of the think tank eggheads as Richard referenced them was the first stop. In the conference room there were whiteboards on three walls filled with equations and formula pertaining to various parts of the program. There was a table of refreshments and coffee, many of the employees already present when the eight visitors, Richard and Walter entered.

Over the course of the ensuing discussions, Walter watched the Russian. Ilya went to the whiteboards looking over the mathematics before turning to laugh boisterously. "I love Americans, they do funny things just to keep it interesting," then headed to the refreshments to get some coffee and a Danish to sit at the conference table with a big grin.

Richard went to Walter, "you know what he is laughing about?"

"The answer on the third board is incorrect," Walter chuckled. "Your people do that deliberately? If so, someone was not thinking straight."

Leaving Richard to walk to the whiteboards Walter looked them over then turned to the Russian, "I see you spotted it, Ilya? Good eye, and fast computation… care to fix it?"

Ilya rose keeping his cup of coffee in hand joining Walter at the board. "You are the Irishman, yes? Marta has told me of you. Designer, computer programmer, and good at math- quite the skill set." He leaned toward Walter to quietly say, "some of us pick one subject and become the best at it rather than, how the Americans say it, 'half assed' at a number of subjects."

Walter smiled, "I do enjoy the American sayings, but, like I said, care to fix it or should I?"

Ilya smiled, took the eraser and wiped half the board clean to pick up a marker and continue the math to fill the board and reach the answer. "That meet with your approval, Irishman?"

"Yes, I approve, it is now correct. Congratulations on a job well done," Walter said turning dismissively.

"Hey, Irishman, would you have caught it if I had not laughed; could you have fixed it?"

Walter turned, "I think it may have been deliberate to see if any of the math gurus present noticed. But, never really know as there are even college level interns here just learning things. May have been a prank to see if anyone saw it. College students have such strange senses of humor as I am sure you are aware." He then turned again to leave.

Ilya, obviously getting a bit peeved at Walter's nonchalant attitude stepped up behind Walter to quietly say "up for a bit of competition, Irishman?"

Walter turned. "How so?"

"You have your computer with you, yes? There are sites with problems needing solutions. Search a site, I will pick a problem, put on board and see who answers first. Little Marta always carries a scientific calculator. I can have her join us and keep it quiet just between friends. What you say Irishman? I am sure you have done such as this before- with those less knowledgeable, maybe? Two empty boards over on the other wall."

"Are you sure?" Walter asked. "The conference going on, conversations everyone is having- you don't want to join in?"

"Come on, Irishman, the math is so much more fun than silly conversation."

Putting the laptop case down, Walter opened it up and handed it to Ilya, "Find your site and pick a problem while I get Marta and some coffee." Walter sauntered off to get a cup of coffee and went to Marta to whisper in her ear. She looked up at Walter, then flashed a look to Ilya, then rose to join them at the whiteboards at the back of the room. No one else in the room seemed to notice the three of them at the back of the room so conversations continued.

Ilya found a problem and put it on the top of the two whiteboards and turned to Walter. "Ready Irishman?"

Richard, ever observant noticed Ilya and Walter, and kept an eye on the proceedings while continuing to talk with others who had not noticed the quiet competition going on in the back of the room.

Walter appeared to hesitate a second, then picked a marker and both started to fill the boards with numbers and symbols. Walter glancing to keep up with Ilya and both seemed to come to the same solution at the same time. "Looks like a tie, Ilya," Walter said putting the marker on the tray. "Shall we return to the conference?"

"NO, Irishman, again." Ilya found another problem, erased both boards to write it on the boards. "Let us try again, a tie is unacceptable."

Walter smiled, "Don't you find this a bit childish? We are both proficient, fast or slow the answer is the same. We are missing possible important discussions."

"You were lucky to match on one problem. We try again." Ilya said. "Marta, enter in your calculator for solution. Ready Irishman?"

Walter again picked up a marker, and as happened with Hans in the condo at Christmas, while Ilya furiously worked filling his board, Walter stood and looked at the problem, when Ilya was half way to filling his board, Walter walked up to his, wrote the answer to stand back watching Ilya, totally focused on his board, continue. When Ilya finished he stood back with a smile and looked to Walter's board to see the same answer, Walter sipping his coffee.

"Are we done with this, now?" Walter asked turning to close and put the laptop back in its case then, picked up his cup return to the refreshments table for a refill followed by a string of Russian profanities. Seeing Richard looking at the Russian then at Walter, Walter smiled and went to the table to sit and drink his coffee.

Marta came over to Walter and showed him the answer on the calculator, he looked up and smiled.

"You goaded him, didn't you?" she asked. "I saw that hesitation, pretending to want to end it after the first problem. You certainly did make this interesting, but Ilya is very angry."

"Angry people make mistakes- one should not get emotional over math," Walter said quietly looking up at her. "A lack of emotion is a good thing in certain spheres, surprising Ilya has not learned that by his age. The Americans have jokes about excitable Russians- most not very flattering. One of the fun things about Americans- they laugh at themselves as well as the rest of the world."

Marta returned to her seat and continued a discussion with a couple designers. Walter glanced to Ilya who glowered at him from across the room. Richard and Sophia announced it was time to continue on to the fabrication section so everyone rose, many filled coffee cups and then filed out to walk back to the fabrication area. One of the managers of the area led the way explaining the fabrication was of small components that were then tested farther down the complex.

Walter hung back, pulled the laptop out of its case to open and check mail. Richard came to sit down next to him.

"What did you do?" Richard asked with a big ear to ear grin. "That was one very upset Russian. Have not seen a Russian that upset since viewing video of Khrushchev at the UN pounding his shoe on the podium….. thanks, does my heart good to see." He got up, "Shall we continue with the tour? Think they are fabricating one of your patented components- matter of fact, think I may make that known. Think that will further needle the Russian?"

"You go ahead, I need to check on Gina. I'll be along shortly," Walter said typing a message to Gina.

Gina- Just checking you are OK. Has Sarah shown up yet?"

Walter sat back sipping his coffee, within a few minutes the laptop signaled new mail.

Walter- All is A-OK here, no sign yet of any auburn or green haired strange person bearing food. Gina

Walter closed the laptop, put it in its case and rose to join the rest of the touring group. He entered the fabrication area to hear Richard explain the components presently in the build stage, "this one a patented design by an in-house engineer, Joe Baker, the next line working a component designed and patented, as a matter of fact, by Walter just now walking in."

Walter scanned the group to spot Ilya and give him a slight smile, then turned to follow the group as they went on to the test labs. Two hours of witnessing the test procedures and the exceptional facilities, many questions were asked of the test personnel which were answered and explained professionally. By four in the afternoon the tour was completed and the visitors with engineers, managers, Richard and Walter returned to the conference room to have a question/answer session before ending the day. When the visitors filed out to the waiting limo, Walter remaining at the table once again opened the laptop to check mail- nothing from Gina.

Richard returned to the conference room after seeing the visitors off to sit at the table.

"Was amazing how quiet the Russian was the rest of the tour. He sure had been quite talkative the past few days traipsing around the complex," Richard smiled. "Nothing better than a quiet Russian. Hope it lasts through tomorrow then they are off to Arizona. I was thinking of going there as well, but think I am going to hand them off to Gene, the manager over there. Is there something wrong?"

"I was expecting some company, but no sign of them as yet," Walter said.

Richard raised his eyebrows, "someone special, Walter?"

"To be honest, getting to be. One of those people that bursts onto the scene like the Santa Ana winds stirring everything up, then leave taking all the oxygen with them," Walter said glancing at Richard. "Am I explaining it correctly?"

Richard sat back in his chair. "Wow, will wonders never cease- never thought I would ever hear you talk like a man having an emotional episode- she must be something."

Walter snickered, "I thought Paige was something- where did that get me?"

"As I am divorced, I can tell you things can be difficult, but I am still on the hunt to try again. Sophia was interesting- love the Italian accent, but not a mesh. Gotta' keep looking- that is what makes the world go 'round."

Walter laughed. "Never thought I would be talking women with you of all people."

Richard laughed rising. "Walter, you are a garage dwelling hermit in the middle of LA- who else you have to talk to? I look forward to meeting this Santa Ana wind storm- hope it goes well."