Chapter Thirty-Eight
Thirty-Eight
As if playing to some sort of secret soundtrack written exactly for that moment, just as Thomas turned to walk away, the music and the light show at the fountain by which Mary and Thomas were standing changed to something a lot more dramatic.
Thomas had taken less than four steps back in the direction of the ramp when Mary acted on pure impulse, disregarding even the voice inside her head.
‘How did you know that I’m not from San Francisco?’ she called out, her tone firm… demanding.
Thomas turned to look back at her, confusion showing in every corner of his face. ‘I’m sorry?’
‘Just now, in the exhibition.’ Mary pointed at the Legion of Honor.
‘When we were talking about where to go for food… you said something like – “since you’re not from San Francisco, shall I pick?” How did you know that I’m not from San Francisco?
And don’t tell me that I’ve got an accent because I know I don’t. ’
Thomas gave Mary a very subtle shake of the head, as if he was having trouble understanding her. ‘What do you mean, Mary?’
‘I mean exactly that, Thomas,’ she replied, her voice firmer still. ‘How did you know that I’m not from San Francisco?’
Thomas’ eyes narrowed at her. ‘You told me.’
Mary didn’t even hesitate. ‘No, I never.’
‘Well…’ Thomas agreed with a single nod. ‘Not in so many words, no.’
‘And what the hell does that mean?’
He’s just trying to buy time while he thinks of some sort of answer, the voice inside her head warned her.
Thomas took a breath. ‘It’s something that I do without even thinking about it,’ he tried to explain. ‘It’s… just how my brain works, really.’
‘What is?’ Mary asked. The confusion was now all over her face.
‘Reading between the lines,’ he clarified.
‘Double analyzing words and sentences to find hidden meanings… listening for what’s not actually being said but is still there for you to hear.
It’s a necessity for the job I do. Unfortunately…
’ Thomas gave Mary an apologetic shrug. ‘After so many years, my brain does it automatically and all the time, not just when I’m working.
I really don’t even notice that I’m doing it anymore. ’
Mary returned the shrug, but hers was full of doubt. ‘What the hell are you talking about, Thomas?’
‘You’ve never been here before,’ Thomas explained. ‘At the Legion of Honor. You told me that, remember?’
Mary’s brow furrowed, as if she was searching her memory.
Thomas read her expression and decided to help.
‘ “Wow, this place is simply amazing.” That’s what you said once we stepped into the museum, remember?
You were really surprised by how beautiful its interior was, which in turn surprised me, so I asked you if this was your first time at the Legion, and you said that in fact it was. Do you remember that?’
‘Yes,’ Mary nodded, her tone a lot less firm than a moment ago.
‘OK, so from that fact alone, you told me two things that weren’t actually spoken, but extracted from your context.
’ He used the fingers on his right hand, enumerating each reason as he spoke.
‘One – you couldn’t be from San Francisco.
Every San Franciscan knows about the Legion, and they know how beautiful this building is – inside and out – because this place is like a heritage to the city.
And two – you haven’t lived in San Francisco for more than just months…
probably not even a year. If you had and you enjoy art, which my educated guess is that you do, you would’ve been here before, for sure.
In San Francisco, this place is right at the top of the list for any art enthusiast.’
Mary’s look went one hundred percent pensive, as she pondered over everything that Thomas had just said.
‘That was how I knew…’ Thomas paused and pressed his lips together before correcting himself.
‘Actually, a better word would be “deducted” that you weren’t from San Francisco.
Like I’ve said, my brain does things like that automatically and in a blink of an eye, without me even realizing that I’m doing it.
I do apologize. I didn’t mean to overstep a line, or upset you, Mary. I really didn’t.’
That’s actually not a bad explanation, the voice inside Mary’s head accepted it. It sort of makes sense… in a weird way.
‘So, what is it that you do?’ Mary asked, her tone skeptical, but not nearly as much as minutes earlier. ‘You said that it was a necessity for the job you do. So, what are you? A psychologist or something?’
Thomas’ chuckle was subtle. ‘No, I’m not a psychologist, but I do use a lot of applied psychology in what I do.’
‘Which is?’
‘I’m a…’ It looked like Thomas was trying to figure out how to better phrase what he was about to tell Mary.
‘Investor, of sorts… a venture capitalist, if you like. I get a lot of people coming to me with a new business idea… or an already established business with a lot of potential but lacking the funds and the direction to grow. Sometimes it’s just a vision for a new business or start-up.
They all come to me for one reason only – capital.
’ He shrugged. ‘In that line of work, you need to learn how to read between the lines… how to break down their sentences and thoughts so that you can see the real bottom line – not the one that they are trying to sell you. You need to be able to spot the slightest inconsistency with what they’re actually telling you so you don’t fall victim to their plot.
You have no idea how often people will try to sell you a bag of lemons, but make you believe that you are buying a suitcase full of gold.
There are a lot of con artists out there, Mary, all of them looking for a quick and easy buck…
and when I say “buck”, I’m talking millions. ’
Yet again, Mary got the feeling that Thomas was being as truthful as he could.
‘I really wasn’t trying to double analyze you, or anything like that, Mary. I’m sorry that it sounded like I was.’ Thomas tucked his hands inside his trouser pockets and nodded a sad goodbye. ‘Take care of yourself, OK?’ For the second time, he turned to walk away.
And for the second time, Mary halted him before he had a chance to cross the road.
‘Are you still hungry?’