“I know it,” Douglas said, and then curiously—“Who’s the oddball?” He gestured at Kennon with a pudgy thumb.
“Our new veterinarian, Dr. Kennon.”
“Oh—great! Now you tell me!”
“There’s nothing like making a good first impression,” Alexander said with ironic emphasis. “I hope he cuts you off from the Lani. He’ll have the authority to do it, since he’s taking Old Doc’s place.”
“He can’t. I’m an owner. I own-”
“You own nothing. You’re a minor. And under the terms of Grandfather’s will, you’ll own nothing except an allowance until you reach legal age. And that brings me to the reason I brought you here. Just when did you gain the right to reorganize the household staff? Just when did you get the power to interfere with the experimental program?”
Douglas flushed dull red and bit his lip. “Do we have to go into this in front of strangers?”
“Kennon’s my agent,” Alexander said coldly, “and he might as well learn about you and the others from the start.”
“Well—what do you want him to do—watch me crawl?” Douglas asked bitterly. “You’ll make me do it. You always do. Do you want me to beg, to say I was wrong, to promise I won’t do it again?”
“You’ve done that already,” Alexander said. “Several times. You need a lesson. I won’t have you meddling with valuable animals.”