My thoughts drifted back to his conversation with Gilchrist–namely the subtle compliment he’d handed off. “Excel,” I whispered to myself, emphasizing the word. “Ex-cel.” Had he known I was there when he’d said it? That I’d heard him? What was it about a man known to be brilliant but grouchy handing out a random compliment like a decadent piece of chocolate that I wanted to savor before it melted?
