by Jett Abbott
“But A.J., what about—”
“Kevin. Do you have a problem with that?” A.J. stared at him and watched him shifting from foot to foot.
“No. I’m just saying if anything happens he’s much more intimidating than Selene. That’s all.”
“Hmm, you might be right.” A.J. saw Kevin relax a bit, thinking he had won. “But I want Selene at the university when Clarissa’s there. Brax can take over from Selene when Clarissa’s at home.” Biting the inside of her mouth, she tasted blood. If she popped a pill right now Kevin would be suspicious. So A.J. took a long, deep breath and tried to relax. “Besides, hopefully whoever sent that assassin doesn’t know he’s dead yet.” A.J. looked back out the window and continued, “maybe it will buy us some time.”
A.J. sat back down at her desk and ran her hands down her black slacks, picking phantom lint off the crease. She wanted to look as relaxed as possible. She had a plan and now she needed to implement it. The phone rang and A.J. picked it up.
“Yes Gail.”
“Ms. Lockwood. I have Dr. Mayfield on from research and development. He says there is an emergency in the lab.”
“Thank you, Gail. Put him through.” A.J. covered the receiver with her hand as she saw Kevin get up. “Stay. We aren’t finished yet.” A.J. watched as Kevin pretended not to listen to the one sided conversation. Clearly, he was paying attention. He hadn’t gotten as far as he had in her organization by being stupid. If she had only known sooner, she would have been more careful about what she had said in front of him. Sighing dramatically, A.J. put the receiver back in the cradle and scrubbed her face.
“A.J., is everything okay?”
“I’m not sure, Kevin. Seems one of our employees has gone rogue. Dr. Mayfield thinks he has stolen a good part of the hemoglobin research. He can’t seem to find the last critical research experiments and the notes on them. It seems the guy hasn’t come in to work for the last week, complaining of the flu or something.” A.J. turned to her computer and brought up a screen on the research department. “Kevin, do you know Walter Masten?”
Kevin looked like he was concentrating, moving his eyes across some phantom paperwork. “No, the name doesn’t sound familiar. Is he a recent hire?”
“Not according to HR records.” A.J. pointed to the screen and then looked back at Kevin. “I know I’ve asked a lot of you lately, but I need someone I can trust down in R&D figuring this out. Think you can handle it?”
“What about Clarissa?”
“Hmm, maybe you’re right. Shit, this is going to cost us millions if he took that research.” A.J. tried to look perplexed as she looked back at the computer screen. Taking a deep breath she let out a dramatic sigh, and laid her head back. She slowly started to drum her fingers on the arm rest of the chair. Clearly, she was trying to create as much tension in the room as she could. “I need to go down to R&D and see what I can find out. This might take a few hours, Kevin. Can you hold down the fort for me?”
“Tell you what. I’ll go down to R&D and see what I can find out. You wouldn’t know what to look for. I’m the one with the hemoglobin research background. It might not be anything, A.J. Who knows.”
“Are you sure? It might take longer than a few hours to go through all those records and experiments. But I need someone I can trust down there. As I said this could cost us millions, Kevin, if we can’t come through with that new product.” Standing, A.J. stood next to Kevin and slapped him on the shoulder. “I appreciate this, buddy. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“Come on A.J. It’s no big deal.”
“Naw, I’m serious, Kev. You’ve had my back for a long time. Eighteen years to be exact and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. I mean…”
“Okay, okay. You’re making me uncomfortable. Geez, A.J.”
“I’ll have your calls forwarded up here. You know you can’t get reception down in the bunker.” A.J. watched as Kevin fumbled with his cell phone again and stumbled over his words.
“Well…I can…I mean…”
“What? You got a hot date and haven’t told me about her?” A.J. chuckled opening the door to her office.
“No. No…I…I mean what if Brax or Selene calls?” Kevin palmed his phone and shoved it into his pocket.
“I’ll have Gail take a message. If it’s an emergency, I’ll send someone down to get you. Thanks again, buddy. Hey, I’ll walk down with you to the lab. I want to touch base with Dr. Mayfield and get some idea how long this will take. Man, I really appreciate you doing this, Kev. I see a big bonus in your future, buddy.” A.J. knew she was laying it on thick, but Kevin just lapped it up. He was a pleaser and because of that he just couldn’t say no, ever, to anyone. It would be his one fatal flaw.
A.J. waited as Kevin changed into his bio suit and went through the sterilization chamber into the lab. “Hey, Kevin.” Throwing him a thumbs up, A.J. pressed the intercom again. “Keep me updated.”
“Will do.” Kevin threw back two thumbs up and went past the second set of doors that would close him off from the rest of the world for a few hours, maybe even a few days, if A.J. played her cards right. A.J. went through the lockers and found Kevin’s clothes. His cell phone sat on top of his stack of clothes and A.J. pocketed it. She would have to wait until she was in the privacy of her office to go through his list of contacts. Pulling the intercom phone, A.J. dialed Dr. Mayfield’s office.
“Kevin’s inside. You know what to do. Thanks. Let me know when it’s done.”
Slamming the receiver down, A.J. looked back into the lab and shook her head. It was too bad it was going to have to be handled this way, but A.J. knew she didn’t have any other options if she was to keep Clarissa safe.
###
Clarissa entered the steel and glass structure for the second time that week and she still marveled at the interior lobby.
“Good Morning, Miss. Can I help you?” A glint of recognition struck the officer. “Oh, it’s you. Back again, I see.”
“Good Morning. How are you?”
“Well, I woke up alive today so it’s a good day.” It was clear by the way the man was smiling he was flirting with her. “You look much better than you did yesterday when you left. Are you feeling better?”
Clarissa smiled and wished she could flirt back but she wasn’t built like that. She had watched Carol turn a man’s head with just a few words, but she was more direct.
“I am feeling much better thank you. I’m here to see, Mr. Alexander or Mr. Lockwood.”
Clarissa could tell from the look on the young man’s face that she had said something funny.
“Well, Mr. Lockwood is a Ms. and I’m not sure she is available, but I did see Mr. Alexander this morning.”
“Oh how embarrassing—” Clarissa pulled the note from her purse and laid it out on the desk. “Well, I guess I just assumed that the company was owned by a man. You can’t tell from the name,” Clarissa said, pointing to the note.
The young man picked up the note and smiled, “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I would never have guessed this big company was run by a woman either. Easy mistake to make. Let me see if someone is available to see you.”
Clarissa could hear the officer talking to someone as she looked around admiring the lobby again.
“Excuse me. Could you tell them I have a letter for Ms. Lockwood that I would like to deliver personally?” Clarissa informed the officer.
“Okay Gail, I’ll send her up. See you at lunch.” Clarissa felt herself get excited as the desk officer smiled at her. She would finally meet the person who had made the masquerade ball possible and her life a bit easier. “Ms. Graham, you can go to the fifth floor. Gail will be waiting for you there.”
“Great, thank you so much.” Clarissa smiled and made her way to the elevator. Yesterday it was the third floor, today the fifth. She was working her way to the top she thought, chuckling at her own silly joke. As the doors opened, an older woman stood waiting for her.
“Pl
ease follow me,” she said with a sweeping gesture across another lobby. This one wasn’t as stately as the one from yesterday, but the understated elegance was easy to appreciate. “Please have a seat and I will see if I can find Mr. Alexander or Ms. Lockwood. Can I get you anything while you wait?”
“No thank you. I’m fine.” Clarissa thought again about what she would say to now, “Ms.” Lockwood. She suddenly felt that the words she had rehearsed were inadequate for such a generous donation. How could she possibly thank someone who had practically saved the masquerade ball for the next five years? Anything she said would pale in comparison to the generosity of Ms. Lockwood. Clarissa’s palms started to sweat and she felt her heart start to beat faster. She hadn’t expected to be so nervous, but now faced with the possibility of facing her benefactor, she was downright scared. Clarissa closed her eyes and tried to relax. A deep breath, a soft sigh and Clarissa felt the tension leave her body. She tried to clear her mind, but the events of the night before crept to the front of her thoughts. What had happened was beyond strange. She knew she should be scared out of her wits, but she had been through hell before, and last night wasn’t hell. Close, but definitely not hell. Her nice orderly life was practically upside down, but the delivery today had righted it somewhat. She knew she needed to figure out the who, what and why of last night, but right now she had business to take care of. She could think about last night later, after lunch, she told herself as she felt herself become nervous again.
###
A.J. heard the light tap on her office door.
“Come in.”
“Ms. Lockwood, I can’t seem to find Mr. Alexander. That young woman from yesterday is here waiting in the fifth floor conference room. She asked to see either you or Mr. Alexander, but I thought that since she had seen Mr. Alexander perhaps he could see her again.”
A.J. felt her body tense when she heard Gail’s announcement. Clarissa was here? What was she doing here?
“Did she say what she wanted, Gail?”
“She informed Larry at the front desk that she wanted to hand deliver a thank you letter.”
A.J. hadn’t anticipated that Clarissa would want to personally thank her for the donation for the masquerade ball. She felt a tingle run through her body as she thought about seeing Clarissa, but she quickly dashed those thoughts. It wasn’t the time and she wasn’t ready. But the possibility of talking to Clarissa gave her pause, however brief.
“Gail, can you tell her that neither I nor Kevin is available. Please tell her we’re in a meeting and…” A.J. didn’t want to seem insensitive, considering Clarissa had gone out of her way to come and thank her personally. Quickly writing out a note she handed it to Gail. “Gail, could you please give her this and please express how sorry we are that we are not available to meet with her.”
A.J. had to see Clarissa a little more closely. Taking the stairs up to the fifth floor, she slowly opened the door from the stairwell and watched as Gail walked Clarissa to the elevator. She felt like the hunter as she watched Clarissa. Clarissa’s smell drifted in the air and A.J.’s body reacted to the scent. She was beautiful up close and A.J. could barely control herself. Desire began to coil inside and she felt the tendrils of excitement course through her. She could hear Gail extend A.J.’s apologies and then she heard something she hadn’t expected.
“I don’t mean to pry, but could you tell me a little about Ms. Lockwood? She has been so generous and I would like to send her a thank you gift. Perhaps flowers, or candy. Something to show my appreciation.”
“I’m sure that isn’t necessary, Ms. Graham. I’m not sure there is much I can tell you about Ms. Lockwood. She is generous, so I’m not surprised by her gift to the university. I can tell you she is very fair with her employees as well.”
A.J. watched as Clarissa smiled. Somehow she knew Clarissa wouldn’t be deterred from her mission on finding out more about her. Clarissa had a dogged determination that A.J. had seen personally when they were together. Listening again, she heard Clarissa continue her line of questioning.
“Well, perhaps you can tell me if she likes the symphony, the theater or perhaps she has a favorite restaurant or vintner? I would really like to thank her with a personal gift that she would appreciate.”
“Well….”
“Please, this has been the most generous gift we have ever received and I just can’t be happy with a simple note and two VIP tickets to the masquerade ball. I am sure you understand my dilemma. Surely you’ve been in a similar situation with her generosity?”
A.J. knew she was trying to appeal to Gail’s softer side. She didn’t have the heart to tell her it wouldn’t work. Gail had been with A.J. for almost as long as Kevin and wasn’t a push over.
“Well, I can tell you, I honestly don’t know what her favorite restaurant is or her favorite wine. Sorry. But, perhaps she would appreciate something personalized from you. If you have a favorite photographer or something simple, I’m sure she would appreciate that. She seems to love black and white photographs.”
A.J. was shocked that Gail had noticed such a minor detail. She did, in fact, love the dramatic style of photography. She had several around her office and more in her penthouse. The drama of the black and white contrast reminded her of her past and it was a journey she took willingly. Perhaps it spoke more of how she saw her life, black and white with few areas of gray.
Pulled back to the two women, A.J. watched as Clarissa thanked Gail for her candor and quickly left. A.J. started to close the door when she heard Gail call her name.
“Ms. Lockwood?” Opening the door slightly, A.J. looked at Gail and then the elevator. “Don’t worry, she’s gone,” Gail said, walking towards A.J.
“How did you know?” A.J. knew she had been discrete in her observance of Clarissa, but something had tipped off Gail.
“Perhaps it was the quick intake of breath when I mentioned the photographs in your office.” A.J. watched Gail smile as they walked down the corridor. A.J. smiled back at the older woman and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“You are full of surprises, Gail.”
Chapter Twenty Three
Clarissa fanned herself with the envelope from A.J. Lockwood. The faint scent of cologne wafted by her nose. While it wasn’t familiar to her, she knew it was A.J. Lockwood’s. Who else’s could it be? Perhaps Gail’s? No. She had smiled at Gail’s common perfume when she first met the woman, something a lot of the older professors at her university wore. The cologne was fresh and inviting, alluring. Clarissa debated with herself on whether she should open the note or wait until she was alone. The pedestrian traffic around her was distracting and for some reason she felt the need to be alone when she read the note. If Ms. Lockwood had taken the time to write it, she wanted to take time to give it her full attention.
Clarissa’s cell phone buzzed in her pocket and she quickly collected it and put the note in her purse. Carol’s number streamed across the screen, causing Clarissa to smile at her friend’s impatience.
“Couldn’t wait could you?”
“What? I was worried. Can’t a friend be worried?”
“Of course you can, but what were you worried about? Geez, it isn’t like she was going to ask for the money back. Besides, I didn’t even get to see her.”
“She? Wait. You mean A.J. Lockwood is a she?”
“Yep.”
“No Shit. Now, I really am sorry you didn’t get to meet the infamous A.J. Lockwood. I bet she’s some battle axe that eats kids for breakfast.” Carol chuckled, “Oh, Clarissa, I’m sorry you wasted your time, but at least you got a big fat check anyway.”
“Ever the optimist. Well, if it is any consolation, she sent me a note.”
“What does it say?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t opened it yet.”
“Why haven’t you opened it?”
“I want to give it the attention it deserves, so I’m waiting until I get back to my office.”
“Oh, well, I’ll wait
for you then. I want to see what it says. This is exciting, kinda like getting a gift you’re just waiting to unwrap.”
“Carol, you’re being a little dramatic don’t you think?”
“What?”
“Look, I’m almost back, so wait for me in my office and we can read it together.”
“Okay, hurry. I can’t wait to see what she says.”
“Okay, Okay.” Clarissa snapped her phone shut and laughed again. Carol was acting like a kid who just couldn’t wait for Christmas.
###
A.J. opened the envelope and removed the two tickets first. She quickly read the short note thanking her for her donation and asking her to attend the masquerade ball as Clarissa’s guest. Her disappointment quickly evaporated as she thought about the personal invitation to be her guest at the masquerade ball. She thought she might attend, but the invitation made it a certainty that she would. She had worried that she might have to cancel her plans to attend when things had changed so rapidly in the past couple of days. But now she felt excited at the possibilities of seeing Clarissa, talking to her and possibly sharing a dance with her. She would have to make sure her costume was appropriate for the time period, but most importantly, her mask needed to hide her identity until she was ready to reveal it.
A.J. pulled Kevin’s cell phone from her pocket and began looking through the text messages. As she scrolled through them, she spotted a few from Brax letting Kevin know where he was. But as she continued further down, a text message from DM jumped out at her.
Kevin, Good Job. Finally. After all these years she is within my grasp. Call me for further instructions. DM
A.J. felt her body quake as she read the text. DM had known the whole time. But where was he and what was he waiting for? Clarissa wasn’t safe anymore and now she needed to act fast or lose Clarissa forever. A.J. wrote the number on a piece of paper to give to Selene, then finished scrolling through the call list. Other than her number and Selene’s, Kevin didn’t get many calls. Lucky for her.
