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She snapped her fingers. “Exactly. I’m creating rather than simply analyzing.”
“Let’s wait on the stencil and reading nook for the time being. I’m not sure how long I’ll be around.” She wondered what it might feel like to fix up an apartment, to be expecting a baby. They probably hadn’t told anyone yet, and Vivi worked hard at not staring at Sabrina’s belly or giving away that she knew. “I don’t want to spend a bunch of Beatrice’s money on my office.”
“I get that.” She narrowed her brown eyes. “You’re not psychoanalyzing me right now, are you?”
Busted. “What would make you think I am?”
“You’re studying me. It’s probably automatic, isn’t it? You do it without even realizing it.”
“Are you analyzing me and this room like you would in the lab?”
“Not quite the same.”
“Isn’t it?” Vivi sat back. “I observe human nature because it fascinates me, but I don’t build a profile of everyone I meet.” Not anymore. “Your quirks, secrets, and skeletons are safe from me.”
“Cool.” The woman practically bounced as she turned for the door, not grasping that Vivi meant a specific secret. That was perfectly fine. “I’ll round up some folks to help us paint when I get back.”
“I can handle it,” Vivi assured her.
“You’re part of the team, now, Doc.” Sabrina’s voice echoed to her from the hall. “We work together in this place.”
Vivi shut her laptop, thinking about what she’d read in the files of the folks who had the most interaction with Sloane. Staring at the playmat, she considered the fact that she still had absolutely no clue about the girl’s nightmares. One of the books on dreams had a dozen sticky notes in it and she reread the specific sections that had stood out to her regarding children.
A knock startled her and she glanced up to find three people crowding the doorway. One was a tall, buff guy, the woman next to him was Savanna Bunkett, the investigative reporter, and the third was another woman, who favored Savanna.
The man leaned in slightly. “Hey, there. Are we disturbing you?”
Instantly wary of the TV reporter, Vivi closed her book and put on her neutral face. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“I’m Trace Hunter, and this is my wife, Savanna Bunkett.” He pointed to the other woman but before he could say anything, she volunteered her name.
“I’m Savanna’s sister, Dr. Parker Jeffries. We haven’t had a chance to welcome you to SFI, and just wanted to—”
Savanna pushed past both of them and smiled warmly, extending a hand. “We’ve heard so much about you from Beatrice. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Vivi had experienced so little human touch since everything had gone to hell, she hesitated before shaking. “I’ve seen your show. You certainly know how to get to the bottom of things.”
Parker laughed and Trace snorted. “That’s putting it mildly,” Savanna’s sister said. “Don’t worry, she knows you’re off limits.”
Once in National Intelligence, Parker was a cognitive scientist who’d studied the brains and behaviors of terrorists. “You’re the doctor involved in the Project 24 trials.”
Trace flinched and the Parker looked slightly embarrassed. “I’ve put that behind me, but it follows me, no matter how hard I try to get away from it. I’ve read your papers on treating PTSD with a combination of hypnotherapy and virtual reality reprogramming. I’m quite fascinated with the neuroscience field. If you’d ever consider letting me pick your brain, I’d like to offer some of our employees the option to try a version of Trident.”
They were sucking her in, bit by bit. Vivi smiled politely, reaching for some version of “no way in hell” that wasn’t bitchy. She started to say something, stopped, started again.
“Why don’t you come for dinner next week?” Savanna asked. “We can get to know one another and you and Parker will have time to chat.”
The thought made her stomach tense. “I’m sure that would be lovely, but…”
“You need time to think about it.” Trace motioned for the women to move toward the door. “Absolutely. No pressure. See you at the meeting.”
It was time for her group analysis of those who spent the most time with Sloane. Trace was one of them. “I’ll be there shortly.”
Breathing a sigh of relief once they’d left, she shook herself.What is wrong with me? She had to get over this phobia of talking to people again, going places. This building, while offering a refuge, was becoming a crutch.
She’d worry about that later. Closing up her office, she headed to Beatrice’s.
The group was all accounted for and waiting when she arrived. Sloane was absent, but Maggie was at Cal’s feet, and Vivi took a moment to pet her.
