While Doc's hand was being shook like the last glass of water offered to a lost man on the surface of Pittsburgh the other man present said . . .
"Thank you again for taking the time to see me. Thank you also for the offer but I'm okay just now. Would it be okay if I smoked though? It's been a trying time lately and I'm not sure where to begin with explaining all of this, why I'm here, any of it."
Releasing the grip a few things would be apparent to the recipient of the handshake. Everyone says handshakes say a lot and, sometimes, they do. In this case it's plainly obvious that whoever the Doc's shook with is used to formal events and has dealt with the marathon of introductions before.
On the face of it there isn't much to the man - late 20's, maybe 5' 7", medium length black hair with an occasional grey, a little overweight which is given away by a sight puff in his cheeks but the line of his well fitted but cheap black suit hides the slight swell of his belly.
On the face of the face of the man, however, little things seem more out of place. For someone who has the lines that many years of smiling and laughter, his face is creased with worry. Normally clean cut, a telltale shadow illuminates that he's been distracted from keeping a schedule lately. He's also looking a little pale although, at such a close distance, it's noticeable that he's pale in a rather odd way.
An almost vertical section running from his left eye, past the middle then right of his nose and stopping just touching his right cheek is just that little bit more flushed with colour than the rest of his face. Any further speculation, however, is interrupted by the nameless man saying
