Patterns of Deceit

In an office just below the crow's perch sat Roland Veasel, Adrienne's boss and confidant of Dr. Kent. An always impeccably well-dressed man with a trademark bow tie, he was in his mid-fifty's. His prematurely grey hair and affected wire-rimmed glasses gave him a scholarly appearance, and his well-rehearsed smile created the illusion of friendliness. He was neither. Nor was he the sophisticate his style of dress would indicate. A long-time friend of the director, to whom he owed his position, Roland was a schemer who spent more time covering his tracks and taking credit for the work of his staff than doing any himself. In only two short years as Associate Director of Philanthropy he had created a paralyzing hostile environment within his department - similar to that which marked his twenty-five year tenure at Leland University's hospital. Those with class, talent and initiative had either left the museum or been "laid off". Those remaining did so out of fear that they would be unable to secure another job given the current economic downturn.