Deadly Paths
Page 31
She drained her glass and slammed it down. One by one the executives left. She picked up her chair, sat back down, and cradled her head in her hands at the table. Someone was still with her. Why was there someone still with her? She just wanted to be left alone.
"Grace, you can't pull shit like that," Marty said. "Just because you went through a traumatic event and just because the government suits from Washington came and said they needed you at your post doesn't mean they won't fire you if they have to! You think any of those guys give a damn about your issues or even the people that died?"
Grace shook her head, trying to comprehend something he had just said.
"Wait, what?"
"They don't care Grace."
"No, not that. You are saying more people from Washington visited with the network execs?"
"Of course. They helped get everything straightened out, and put Jake Joyner back on the show, helped us edit things, even gave us some beautiful footage of stuff that didn't even really happen. It's a gem of a job just wait till you . . . Grace?"
"It-its nothing Marty. Look, I'm sorry I won't do anything like that again. I just need to be alone for a bit."
He put a hand on her shoulder.
"Take the rest of the day off, Grace. We'll find you a new executive producer when you get out there to China. That was the last thing we needed to tell you."
She nodded. He got up and left. After a few minutes, an Asian waiter came over to her.
"Can I get you something else ma'am? A to-go box perhaps? Everything has been paid for, including this. . ."
A bottle of her favorite red wine was set in front of her. It was much more aged and much more expensive than what she had been drinking and toasting to.
"I didn't order this," she informed the waiter.
"Oh it was a gift. He said to bring it to you when you were on your way out."
Grace narrowed her eyes at the waiter and studied the bottle. Only a handful of people knew her favorite, and none of them were at this luncheon, or even in this state for that matter.
"Who is he?"
"A gentleman at a table over there."
She followed where the man was pointing and saw an empty table.
"You didn't see him?"
"No."
"Well he left a short while ago. Are you sure you are ok to drive?"
She waved him off. "I'm walking back to work, but I'm fine thanks. Sorry for getting so loud earlier."
"That's alright ma'am they explained everything. Oh! Don't forget your fortune cookie."
Grace looked at the empty table and down at her bottle of wine, frowning. She picked up the small boat-shaped cookie off the tray in front of her, and stuffed one of the two halves into her mouth as she read the label on the bottle and chewed. It was from her birth year. A chill went down her spine, prompting her to read her fortune.
WATCH OUT IN CHINA. NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS. ~ SM.
Grace bolted from her seat, knocking it over again. She gave no thought to the bottle left on the table as she ran out onto Las Vegas Boulevard. She looked both directions, ran several hundred yards one direction, then doubled back. It was no use. Whoever, had sent her the message and the wine was long gone. She felt like crying, but no tears came.
"Steve," she breathed, just like she did when she prayed. "Scott. Wherever you are, please, please tell me. Why isn't anything ever what it seems?"
* * * *
THE END
Copyright © 2021 by Jack Parker