Subj: Collinwood 2001 Year One Part Thirteen
Date: 4/11/01 8:31:36 AM Central Daylight Time
From: N.E. Collins

NOTE: There is a spoiler for the movie, Gladiator, in this part. If you have not seen it I do not wish to spoil it for any of you. So when you get to the word Gladiator just skip that part. It doesn't contribute a lot to the story.

Dr. Julia Hoffman entered her private office at Windcliffe in a bit of hurry. There she discovered young David Collins sitting at HER desk doing something on the computer. He didn't even look up as the doctor walked in, but he did acknowledge her somewhat. "You're late. Fifteen minutes late. You owe me fifteen minutes or that much money back, Dr. Hoffman."

He pushed an unknown button on the computer and leaned back in her chair.

Julia was livid. "Just WHAT do you think you are doing?"

She made her way speedily around the desk to get a look at the monitor expecting the worst. Her eyes revealed that the tools for scanning the disk for errors was in play.

David grinned like a Chesire Cat. "You can thank me later. I don't want to cut into anymore of our time together since you were so late."

He got up and sat in the nearest comfy chair. There was a magazine on the arm of it. People magazine, and Russell Crowe was on the cover. David thumbed through it absentmindedly. "You know, that movie Gladiator? They won't let me go see it, but I don't care. Because you know what? It didn't even happen. Well, the movie is real, but it's only fiction. I know ALL about it. I hate math, but I love history."

Julia was over her mad with the boy. He was royal pain and a lot of that had to do with his innate genius. It was difficult to maintain an authority over such a brain child. She had been seeing him regularly for almost two years now. He was a very troubled little boy and he was just about to enter his teenage years and there was much cause for concern as to just how he would develop. But Julia Hoffman liked a challenge and she even like David Collins. He was one of the most intellectual young minds that she had ever encountered and he served her a connection to the rest of the great family. Elizabeth Collins-Stoddard always made a big donation to the foundation every year now. And she even hosted a gala event at the great house on the hill itself. So in spite of any problems that David may have caused the good doctor she could weather his storm. And what had he really done? He was making her computer run smoother. Well, as far she knew he had. She wondered to herself. I wonder what he was doing before I got here? Was he looking at pornography? I really have to get a password protector on that thing. I could JUST see the headlines: HEIR TO FORTUNE CORRUPTED BY LOCAL SHRINK!

"Ok, David, I am sorry I am late and we will make up the time . Alright? Now, the last time you were here you were very upset about your new governess. I gave you suggestions on how to best work with her and not against her and yourself. How has that worked out for you?"

David continued to flip through the magazine and he didn't look up as he made his answer. "There's something really funny about her. Something that doesn't make any sense. It's not like the other ones. This one really DOES have a secret, but it's not HER secret."

Julia knitted her brows in confusion. "Who's secret is it?"

David looked up from the pictures and looked right at Dr. Hoffman. "My aunt Elizabeth. It's her secret and it's driving her crazy, Dr. Hoffman. Really."

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.