Heiser-The-Facade - Sparkling Eyes

cafeteria , Father Benedict stared at the clock on the wall as he seated himself. It wasbarely past eleven, which meant they had roughly five hours until their presence wouldbe required back at the conference room."What's on your mind, Andrew?" Brian asked, noting the Father's interest in thetime.The priest didn't answer. Instead, to Brian's bewilderment, he proceeded toremove the Salt and pepper shakers and the napkin holder that had rested atop the table toanother location several tables away. He surveyed those present in the cafeteria. The onlyother team members in the room were Deidre Harper and Melissa Kelley."Is there something wrong? Do you have some kind of allergy?" Brian asked."No," he answered , ` just a precaution.""You think someone's going to be listening to us? Come on, Andrew." Again thepriest left the younger man's question go unattended. He proceeded to run his hands overthe undersurface of the table, like a child looking for the piece of gum he'd stuck thereearlier."I'll say grace, if you don't mind," he added, as though he'd done nothing out ofthe ordinary."Go right ahead," Brian answered, somewhat embarrassed by the priest's oddbehavior. The two of them bowed their heads as Father Andrew crossed himself andprayed for God's blessing. He had hardly finished when he reached across the table andtouched Brian's hand."Son, you must believe me that the task that lies before us is one of utmostseriousness.""I think that's pretty obvious, Andrew," Brian noted, crumbling crackers into hissoup."Yes, in the context of what we've been told, the situation is weighty, but . . . I tellyou in all honesty that there is much more at stake here. There ..." Father Benedictstopped as a uniformed officer passed by the table on the way to the exit. Brian watchedthe priest's eyes follow the man until he was clearly on his way down the hall."Andrew, what's the reason for all this ... paranoia?""I just don't believe we've been told the whole truth about what's going on here,Brian. And neither does Dr. Chadwick.""I noticed his reaction, too. Could just be sour grapes at being kept out of the loopafter all his work for them.""I don't think so. I didn't read bitterness on his face; it was more like distress.Something isn't right; something has been omitted that we need to know. He isn't buyingit, so I suspect we shouldn't either.""I'm sure we haven't been told everything. When they want us to know moredetails, they'll tell us.""You still aren't following me, Brian," the priest said with a hint of exasperation."I can't help wondering if we aren't being deceived, not merely that we're only being toldpartial truth.""Why would you think that? I can't see any reason for your suspicion.""Well, I can't say I can give you one; it's just a feeling—an intuition.""You must have some basis for it," Brian remarked and then took a bite of hissandwich.60