Page 71 (2/2)
"Elliot, you think I tried to kill myself over you?"
Elliot smiled a bit "When you put it that way, it does sound rather silly"
"Yeah Just a bit" He glanced at Wyatt, and swore he saw a tiny sly That cheered him up "Nah, Elliot I did not try to kill lum, okay? But if I a intently at the processor she orking on like she was trying hard not to seem like she heard them "It’s because of other stuff"
Elliot ruffled a hand through his black hair, then said, "For what it’s worth, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and I have an idea about what you can do"
"Huh?" Tom said
Elliot leaned closer to him "Do you knohat people appreciate reat first impression on them? Someone who has learned the error of his ways"
"The error of my ways?" Tom repeated
"Yes Don’t you see, Too You’ve had a life-changing, near-death experience, and you’ve lost a" He didn’t s happen You can legitiht If you apologize to the CEOs formally, maybe in a handwritten note on soive you a second chance"
Elliot said this so earnestly, but To set on his knees and ht," Toy on fancy paper on the wall Oh, and maybe add me to some other terror watch lists What stops that, huh?"
"That’s the chance you take," Elliot informed him "But your best opportunity lies in penitence Believe it or not, an apology e power trip?" Tom exploded, suddenly, unexpectedly furious, like some dam had burst "Make them feel like they’ve broken me like soive theain," Elliotthem know at every possible opportunity how otten you anywhere Just look closer to hoh the air "Karl is not ot here"
"That’s not how Karl sees it and it’s not how I see it"
"Fine Fine, then explain Tellto pulverize me is my fault"
Elliot leaned toward hiot here, you punched him in front of everyone"
"I was under the influence of a computer virus," Tom protested "Blackburn said so, too!"
"Yes, Lieutenant Blackburn said so In a way that sha the slip from a trainee half his size ‘Twice,’ I believe he said What do you think Karl felt?"
"Malice and hoes, like Karl always does"
"Humiliated, To to you about this?"