Now You See Me

by S. Y. Thompson

  Few cars remained in the underground structure and even though most people were gone for the day, Erin couldn’t take the chance. She refused to be caught in a compromising position by anyone who could spread rumors at the workplace. Carson seemed to understand that and spared an understanding look as they sat parked next to her Lexus.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” Carson offered shyly and was pleased when Erin squeezed her fingers gently, then let go quickly.

  “Yes,” Erin said softly. “Tomorrow,”

  The word sounded like a promise of so much more and it was obviously hard for Carson to open the door and walk away.

  Chapter Ten

  THE WEEK RUSHED by for Carson and suddenly, it was already Wednesday. She was so busy settling in that she barely saw Erin long enough to say hello. When she did, it was only in passing, with long lingering looks passing between them and little else. Each time Erin had her customary cup of coffee and Carson had come to believe it was practically an extension of her body. Each of the looks they shared threatened to set her blood on fire, but Carson thought her reactions to Erin’s gaze were all in her mind.

  It was doubtful Erin would ever compromise her work ethics by casting passionate looks in her direction, even if Carson thought Erin might be interested in her in a romantic way.

  She had no experience to go by in these matters, but Carson’s instincts insisted there was something between them. Without anything said directly though, she was willing to concede that she might be reading more in to it than there was.

  And I am so attracted to her that I would likely imagine things if she caught my eye in a board of directors meeting!

  At least Carson might be able to see Erin for a few minutes this afternoon. She had a meeting scheduled with her attorney, Ray Eldridge, concerning a new contract and if she was lucky, Erin would be available.

  Twenty minutes before she was due in Mr. Eldridge’s office, Carson took the elevator to the sixth floor and walked into the receptionist’s area. The same blonde secretary sat in front of Erin’s door that Carson remembered from the last time she had been there. She had her wavy hair pulled back into an untidy bun and fuchsia fingernails clacked at a computer keyboard.

  The young woman looked up when Carson came in and a guarded look immediately settled on her face. Well, she couldn’t really blame her after the last time Carson had practically stalked in here.

  “Amy, is it,” Carson asked politely. The secretary looked a little surprised at the unexpected display of manners and nodded uncertainly. “Is Ms. Donovan busy at the moment?”

  “Um, well, she’s not in any meetings or anything. Did you want to see her?”

  “Yes, if it’s all right, would you mind finding out if she can spare a little time?”

  Carson was uncomfortable exchanging pleasantries with the secretary. She wasn’t much of a people person, but she tried to keep in mind that the young woman worked for Erin, and if she kept her around, Amy must be good at her job. Erin Donovan wasn’t the sort to tolerate incompetence in any degree.

  “Sure, Ms. Tierney. Let me find out if she’s free.”

  Amy pushed the tiny intercom button on her desk and Carson could hear Erin’s voice on the speaker.

  “Yes?”

  “Ms. Donovan, Ms. Tierney is here to see you.”

  Despite the normal cloak of cool reserve that she pulled into place around her, Carson smiled when she heard Erin’s delighted voice on the intercom system. “Of course. Show her in, please.”

  Amy started to stand up, but Carson waved her away in a friendly gesture. “It’s all right. After the last time I shanghaied my way past you, I can get the door myself.”

  Again, she saw she had surprised Amy and was quite pleased with herself. See, Carson thought. I can do charming.

  Erin was already half standing when Carson opened the door and looked around the edge. For a moment they simply exchanged smiles before Carson spoke. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

  “Not at all. Coming to make sure I’m leaving work? It’s a little early in the day, isn’t it?”

  Carson closed the door and stepped to Erin’s desk, enjoying the playful banter. The fact that Erin brought up her altered schedule let Carson know that she hadn’t forgotten her promise, and that she didn’t resent it.

  “Actually, not this time, but I’m glad to see that you remembered it. I have an appointment to see Mr. Eldridge in a few minutes, but I wanted to see you first. I haven’t had a chance to talk with you much this week, what with moving in upstairs and all.”

  Erin’s eyes shaded to a lighter brown, and her gaze softened. She indicated that Carson should sit in her visitor’s chair and she sat down as well. “I’m glad you did,” Erin admitted. “I was beginning to think you had forgotten me.”

  So, she hadn’t been imagining things all week! Erin was doing more than merely acknowledging her presence when they met in the elevators, and the halls.

  “Absolutely not. I don’t think that’s possible.”

  What was it about Erin that made her want to flirt as soon as she saw her, Carson wondered.

  “Good, I’d hate to be the only one preoccupied.”

  “You, preoccupied at work?” Carson teased. “I didn’t think that was possible.”

  Erin laughed and the sound sent shivers up Carson’s spine.

  “Normally, I make it a rule never to be distracted at work, and I absolutely draw the line at office affairs. Nevertheless, I have to admit that doesn’t stop my mind from wandering on occasion. After all, I am only human.”

  Affair? Was that what Erin wanted, an affair? Carson almost choked on the thought, but Erin didn't notice and continued.

  “How’s the move going? Are you getting settled in all right?”

  “Oh, yes,” Carson said. “In fact, now that you bring it up I wanted to give you something.”

  She handed Erin one of her new business cards. “I just got these back from the printer. They have the new office number as well as my direct line, my cell phone number, and home phone.”

  Erin looked at the embossed card for a second.“I can’t imagine you giving these out to just anyone.”

  “No,” Carson admitted a little shyly. “These are the special ones that are only handed out to a select few. The others only have the office number and the fax line.”

  From the look on Erin’s face when she said that, Carson would have sworn that she had just given her a precious gift. A thought suddenly occurred to her and Carson felt the blood start to drain from her head.

  Oh no. Christmas is in less than a week! Am I supposed to get her something? Are we more than friends? Girlfriends doesn’t sound like the right term, at least not yet, and I have no idea what she thinks of that idea. However, she did just mention affairs, and suggested that she was thinking along those lines in regards to us. Oh, what am I going to do?

  Erin was asking something and Carson had to focus again with an effort. “So, you were going to tell me about the move.”

  “Right,” Carson had a little trouble keeping up with the conversation, because of all the distracting thoughts in her own head. “The electrician has finished running all the wires and all the equipment is in place. Now we just have to get all of the systems integrated, and ready the mainframe to switch everything over next week. I just needed to see Mr. Eldridge to finalize some details on a new contract.”

  “Oh? Should I ask?”

  Touched that Erin would ask if she was infringing on security, Carson reassured her, “No, it’s fine. Delphi Technologies is just doing some security research with the defense department. The contract itself isn’t secret, but no doubt some of the details will be.”

  “That’s quite a coup, isn’t it? Doing research for the government?”

  Erin was clearly impressed and Carson glanced down at the desk as she fought not to turn scarlet with pleased embarrassment. An old inkwell and fountain pen took up one corner of Erin’s desk. From the scratches, Carso
n could tell that the set had seen better days.

  She wondered about the significance of the ancient writing device. “Well, who if not our own government would need security?”

  “You’re very modest, but something tells me the Department of Defense would only go to the best and the brightest.”

  Finally, Carson lost her composure and met Erin’s eye with a grin. “You are going to make me blush if you keep stroking my ego in such a fashion.”

  Erin laughed and threw up her hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, but you can’t blame me if I’m impressed.”

  Altogether too pleased, Carson smiled and looked down at her watch. She only had a couple of minutes before she had to meet her attorney but she had to ask one final question.

  “What is the significance of the inkwell?” She nodded to indicate the device.

  It was Erin’s turn to look a little uncomfortable. “One piece of advice that my father gave me was never to forget that we all come from humble beginnings. Using the inkwell helps me feel grounded, and I think it gives things a more personal touch for me to sign everything that crosses my desk with it.”

  Sometimes Carson thought she had Erin Donovan completely figured out, and then at other times, like now, she realized what an enigma Erin really was. Nevertheless, moments such as these that gave Carson an unexpected glimpse into the depths of her personality.

  “You are a romantic.”

  A completely mischievous look crossed Erin’s face. “Guilty as charged, but don’t tell anyone. If my clients realized what a soft, jelly center I really have, they would take total advantage of me.”

  Carson laughed and stood up. “Your secret is safe with me, but I better get going or I will be late.”

  “I’m glad you came by,” Erin said as she also stood up behind her desk. “I’ve wanted to drop by to see you, but I couldn’t think of a good excuse.”

  “You don’t need an excuse. I want to see you as well.”

  Carson was just as surprised by her admission as Erin apparently was, and tried to pass it off by quickly saying, “I should go.”

  “I’ll see you at the Christmas party on Friday then?”

  “I’ll be there. Call me if you need anything.” Carson indicated the card in Erin’s hand and then walked out of the office.

  Call me if you need anything? What was I thinking? That sounded like a pick-up line if there ever was one! Carson groaned internally and resisted the urge to thump her head against the wall. What must Erin think of her?

  CALL ME IF you need anything?

  As soon as the door closed, Erin sank to her chair and her forehead struck the desk with a muted thud. She could think of several things she needed from Carson and none of them had anything to do with work.

  The kiss that had never materialized on Monday evening was the first thing that came to mind, just as it had all week.

  I’d love to start with that kiss, and see just how soft those full lips are. Or maybe we could share a moonlit swim on my terrace, sans the clothing, of course.

  Erin saw it all in her mind, Carson, as she emerged naked from the heated pool. The water as it cascaded from Carson’s body in a rain of light and steam in the cold, winter air. Her nipples would be hard, aching, and begging to be touched.

  Erin swallowed thickly and stood up. The office was no place for these kinds of thoughts, and she needed to get Carson out of her head for the time being. There was too much work to do to allow these fantasies here.

  This year it was her firm’s turn to plan the annual Christmas party and there was still a lot to do before Friday. Especially since her partners had summarily decided that, as a woman, she would naturally be better at planning such things. Erin was aware that it was only an excuse, but she didn’t really blame them.

  Nevertheless, she still had to finalize the arrangements with the caterer, see that the decorations were brought in and set up on time, and a host of other things she would likely forget until the last minute. In addition, there was the minor inconvenience of even attempting to practice corporate law.

  Coffee, Erin decided. The Starbucks kiosk had a mocha frappuccino with her name on it. I will not think about Carson Tierney’s very sexy body or how her skin would look underneath mine...No!

  Coffee, coffee...

  With that mantra firmly repeated, Erin took the elevator to the lobby. Distracted by how Carson had managed to become such a large figure in her life, Erin almost didn’t notice the crowd of the ever-present working class.

  The doors opened on the main floor and Erin stepped off, automatically destined for the coffee corner in the front of the building. She noticed a dark figure from the corner of her eye that struck an instinctive cord of fear in her psyche, and without thought, her eyes snapped to the left.

  There! Down the corridor to the security offices still cordoned off with yellow tape, was a dark shadow that Erin could just make out. The figure was large with dark, bushy hair, and fear burned a bitter acid taste in her mouth. Erin shrank back against the wall no longer concerned with mundane thoughts of caffeine or love.

  People continued to move past her, on and off the lift. Some even took a moment out of their busy lives to spare a curious glance to a woman who seemed to have temporarily forgotten her destination before they moved on.

  Then the man turned to the left as he reached the end of the hall and his profile was illuminated. It was only Bill Turner, Holcomb’s chief of security.

  Erin took a long, shuddering breath and then another. Adrenaline caused her limbs to shake and she felt like a fool.

  No doubt, Bill was completing his investigation before he reopened main security. Maintenance would have to replace the fire axe since the other had been confiscated for evidence, and the shattered containment box would have to be repaired. Of course, he would be here!

  As foolish as she felt, the incident had reminded Erin of something vital. In the excitement of a possible relationship with Carson, Erin had forgotten the murderer, and more importantly, that something about him was familiar.

  Starbucks forgotten, Erin was more determined than ever to figure out who he was. Her subconscious insisted she knew something vital. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have this nagging sensation in her gut, and Erin never ignored her instincts. They had come to her aid more than once, and she didn’t intend to ignore them now.

  Erin hadn’t heard from Detective Hutchins and could only assume that the police hadn’t learned anything more. She pushed away from the wall and walked back toward the elevator.

  It was time to do some old-fashioned investigating of her own.

  Chapter Eleven

  FRIDAY DAWNED CLEAR and bright, although the air was still at the freezing mark. The forecast called for temperatures to climb into the forties, and Carson thought that was practically a balmy day for Chicago in the wintertime. She remained skeptical, however, of the weatherman’s predictions for warmth.

  Her breath plumed and the frigid air needled deeply into her flesh as she crossed the underground garage to the elevator. She could hear the wind howl against the concrete abutment and could only imagine how much worse it would be in the open air.

  Even with the frigid environment, Carson walked with a bounce in her step. A small brightly wrapped package rested inside her coat pocket, and she was already looking forward to the Christmas party. It would be the first time all week that she could spend time with Erin other than the shared ale on Monday and the few minutes in her office on Wednesday.

  She only hoped Erin wouldn’t be too busy to spend a little time with her. Carson noticed that Erin had kept to her curfew all week even though Carson needed to work late every day. It was late when Carson left work, and each time she noticed that Erin’s car was already gone from the parking structure.

  Today Carson had only one appointment, but it would no doubt be a long one with the department of defense aide. It was also a critical meeting for Delphi Technologies and the contract potentially worth millions.


  Out of habit, she glanced and saw Erin’s car already in its space. Erin was notorious for getting to work early, and the sight of the vehicle solidified the feeling that all was right in the world.

  The doors closed and the elevator whisked Carson up to start another productive day.

  “YOU’VE GOT TO be kidding me!”

  Why did I even agree to take care of these arrangements, Erin wondered. She was so stressed that Amy had started avoiding her.

  The caterer flinched. “I assure you, ma’am, one of my people is already on the way. He’ll be here very soon.”

  “It’s twelve o’clock,” Erin pointed out succinctly to the man dressed in a white chef’s uniform. “The party is due to start in an hour. Please, tell me how it’s possible to forget eggnog and champagne for a Christmas party!”

  He cringed again and his face turned red. Obviously, the caterer was holding in a hot response, but the elevator pinged and his face cleared when the doors opened.

  “Ah! He’s here.”

  A young boy pushed a loaded cart out of the lift toward them. Erin thought he couldn’t be more than twelve and bore a striking resemblance to the caterer. Must be his son. Probably a family business.

  Erin wanted to make a comment on labor laws and ask if the boy was old enough to work, but bit her tongue. She let it go, just glad that everything was finally being finished. She would just be venting now and there was still too much to do.

  “Let it go before you have a stroke.”

  Erin turned around to find that Ray Eldridge had come up behind her. It was funny that he hadn’t been around all week, but showed up an hour before the festivities were to start. Figures.

  Ray was a tall, broad-shouldered man in his late fifties. He took care with his appearance, was always clean-shaven and dressed in an expensive suit, and he made quite an impression with his clients, especially the lady ones. Yet Ray had been married for twenty-seven years, and as far as Erin knew had always been faithful to his wife.