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“What suspension? My recollection is that we gave you time off to help with this matter. If we understand each other, I have a proposition for you.”
I replayed his words in my head and nodded. The spin doctor was at work, and I was being instructed to keep the truth buried. My history had been rewritten.
In his alternate reality, he’d loaned me to the FBI to get the jewels back, which sounded a lot better than the truth. The media would have a field day if they learned he’d threatened to fire the very person the FBI credited with getting back his stolen items. It would be a public relations disaster for him, and at his level, PR trumped everything.
I chose a coy response. “I’m listening.”
“Paul Heiden’s mother has taken a turn for the worse.”
My heart clenched. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“He’s asked for some time off to be with her, and I need someone to fill in as acting manager while he’s away. Temporarily, of course.”
The prospect both thrilled and frightened me. What if my peers didn’t like working for me?
Kirby had thought I should try for a supervisory job, but I was pretty sure she hadn’t meant a whole department.
He stood. “Let’s go down and tell your people.”
I puffed up at the termmy people. With the note from my man this morning, and now this, today was certainly looking up.
Downstairs, the announcement to the group went better than I would have guessed. Kirby was naturally the first, but not the last, to congratulate me.
After the discussion died down, Mark took the opportunity to suggest lunch tomorrow.
I responded with something I hadn’t been able to say since arriving here. “I’ll need to check with my boyfriend first.”
His face dropped. “Sure. Uh... Congratulations again.”
Kirby’s voice sounded from my right. “Coffee time, Kell.”
I turned. “Already?”
When I turned back to thank Mark for his thoughts, he was walking away.
She approached and leaned in. “You looked like you needed a lifeline.”
“I don’t think he’ll be a problem anymore.”
Krause had opened up the empty office next to Mr. Heiden’s and instructed OPS to get me a key.
After the obligatory coffee run with Kirby, I settled in behind the desk. It might be temporary, but still, this was something else—unbelievable, actually.
I knew I wasn’t supposed to call Adam during the day, so I typed my message.
ME: Thank you. I have news for tonight
No response came.
By the end of the day, I still hadn’t heard from Adam. People I’d barely talked to in a month were coming into my new office nonstop, asking for advice or my opinion on one thing or another. It was so overwhelming that I bugged out earlier than normal.
Before heading down the escalator to board the Metro, I sent another text.
ME: You ok?
I only waited a minute before descending underground. The reception in the Metro system was good enough; I wouldn’t miss his response when it came.
My phone rang almost as soon as I boarded the train going north.
