Heiser-The-Facade - Sparkling Eyes

Deidre chastised him."What's this on the sheet?" Brian asked, peering more closely at several smallspots."Blood," Melissa answered."Blood?" Deidre queried, her attention arrested."Yes I've been having some bleeding lately.""Forgive me for my ignorance," Brian interrupted, "but if it's your time of themonth, wouldn't that interfere with your version of events? ""It isn't my time of the month," Melissa retorted."Then why are you bleeding?" Deidre wanted to know."I've had it happen before, usually at times when I'm under stress—prelims,dissertation defense—that sort of thing. I guess my body counts having my life disruptedand career threatened as sufficient reasons to do it again.""Get it checked, girl.""Which side did you think I was on?" Brian asked, changing the subject."You were on that side," she retorted, pointing to the spot nearest the wall."There does seem to be some discoloration," Father Benedict perceived, "but it'shard to tell if there's really a shape there." The others agreed. "At any rate, Malcolm saysthe scents are the same.""Maybe you're just trying to save a fellow guy's ass," Melissa accused."Listen, sweetheart," Malcolm rebutted, "Brian can take care of himself. As faras I'm concerned, if he did nail you, more power to him. The only thing I'd want is thedetails, comprende?" Melissa crossed her arms and left the bedroom."Thanks—I think," Brian said, unable to suppress a grin."No problem. For the record, I'd say nothing happened between you two.""I would concur, under the circumstances," Father Benedict added, feeling themattress."What a surprise," Melissa cracked, re-entering her bedroom, having overheardthe conversation."We could have Dr. Bandstra check the door logs—we'd know when anyonewent in or out," Deidre suggested."We would only know if the door opened," Father Benedict reminded her. "Onlyyour own card can open your door from either the outside or inside. We'd have no wayof knowing if the person who opened the door would have let someone in.""Wait a minute," Brian suddenly remembered, "when I got out of the shower thismorning Melissa—or whoever it was—was gone. She couldn't have gotten out withoutmy card.""I didn't get out, because I wasn't there!""Well then how did I supposedly get out of your room?""You could have used my card.""I don't know the code.""So you say."Brian gasped in exasperation. "I could just as easily say you know mine and arehiding it. Your stubbornness is pointless.""Maybe it was someone else—in both cases," Malcolm thought aloud, "and theseother individuals had cards that overrode all others."203