Full Circle

by Dillon Watson

  Kara Alexander, medium build with a mile of dark curly hair, had desk duty. She was on the phone when Sara crossed over to her. Sara could tell from Kara’s side of the conversation that someone was worried about returning to the building. She figured they’d get a lot of these types of calls this morning.

  “That’s the fourth one,” Kara said, after ending the call. “Bet there’s a lot of sickness going on today. Speaking of which, didn’t expect to see you here today. You earned a day off with pay.”

  “Nothing better to do.”

  Kara’s sky-blue eyes widened. “You need a life, my friend. I can think of a million better things to do. The top of which is taking an uninterrupted nap.” Kara had two young, active boys and an ex-husband more enamored with his girlfriend than his sons. “But maybe being here is like getting back on the horse that threw you. Done that plenty of times.”

  “In a way. I should take my station at the back door.”

  “Hey, you get any calls to be on TV yet?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You’re a hero. Bet those national shows are going to be all over you.”

  Sara had seen it happen too many times to take that bet. Forgetting about her phone was turning out to be a good thing. “You think they’ll call here?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Then I’d better go warn Jackson.” Sara took the steps two at a time. She waited for him to hang up the phone. “If the news people call for me, could you please tell them I don’t have a comment and I don’t want to be on any show.”

  “Could be you miss a free trip to New York City, fleeting fame and glory.”

  “Could be I don’t want fame and glory, fleeting or otherwise.” She thought she saw approval on his face as he nodded.

  “Yeah. You can catch those pesky reporters who get by Roger.”

  Once positioned at the back door, she took some satisfaction in watching a miserable-looking Roger deal with the small group of reporters, who were undoubtedly salivating for sound bites.

  “Good morning.”

  Sara turned to see Mikaela had snuck up on her. “Morning again. You’re here early.”

  “When you look like I do, it’s better to get here before everyone else,” Mikaela said, lowering the oversized sunglasses she was wearing. “I’d like to have as few people as possible pretending my face isn’t a wreck.”

  Sara noted the great job Mikaela had done to camouflage the bruising. “Hey, if it wasn’t for the eye no one would know a thing. You look good,” she added, pleased to see Mikaela’s smile brighten in response.

  “The wonders of makeup.”

  “How’s the neck? Still stiff?”

  “Actually, it’s been okay since some wonderful woman gave me two massages. Better than it was before the hit, actually.”

  “I do what I can,” Sara said with a good deal of satisfaction. But there was still a part of her that wanted the opportunity to use her hands to pound on Nina.

  “That you do. How about you? You okay being here?”

  “I am. Already did the tour of the tenth floor. Between us, I was a little jumpy, gun-shy I guess you could say. But I did it. And you know what? Despite everything bad that happened, there’s going to be a baby girl with my name. How cool is that?”

  “Way cool. And I’m thinking you won’t be alone with the jumpy. God forbid, but I might have to thank Nina for punching me. Hearing how the drama played out is not at all the same as having been here, so there’s some gratitude there.”

  “I can be grateful you weren’t here without thanking Nina for anything. Not when she hurt you.” She couldn’t stop herself from gently stroking Mikaela’s face. “She won’t get another chance. Not when I’m around. She’s not only dealing with you now.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that. Better go before someone I know shows up. But you know, what other people say isn’t so important anymore. I have someone special in my corner.”

  “Call if you need me to deal with anyone.” As Sara hustled to open the door for someone carrying a large package, she regretted not telling Mikaela that she was the special one. She’d make up for that at dinner tomorrow.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Mikaela was on her third cup of coffee when Talya arrived and came to an abrupt stop to stare at her. “The eye feels better than it looks. I promise.”

  “Not exactly what I expected. From your description I was expecting, I don’t know, a misshapen head at least.”

  “If you knew how long it took me to get my makeup just right, you’d understand.”

  Talya peered at her more closely. “You did a great job is all I can say. So, how’s the rest of you feeling?”

  “Worried my looks could spark more talk. I almost stayed home again today, but that struck me as cowardly.”

  “Considering how little leave you’ve taken since working for me, it wouldn’t have been unreasonable to take another day. Especially today, given what happened yesterday.”

  “I heard. Channel Two had a reporter outside at four thirty this morning, rehashing what they reported last night.”

  “She and others are still down there. I noticed a couple of people stopped to chat.”

  “People cope in different ways.”

  “It was nerve-wracking to be hustled out of a meeting only to see an ocean full of cops who looked like they were ready to go to war in the lobby. All we knew was there was some situation on ten. Of course, the rumors floating around verged on the outrageous. Then, get this, they tell us we should go home. That’s great, I think, and then I realize my purse with my keys and driver’s license are in my office. Of course, later I knew why they wouldn’t let anyone up. All in all, a good day to be gone.”

  “Don’t I know it. Patrick make it back?”

  Talya nodded. “Told him he could come in late or not at all. He knew one of the guys who got shot.”

  “Oh no.”

  “They went to high school together, lost track until they ran into each other here. People say it all the time and you think, yeah, yeah, but you never know when the end’s coming.”

  “Sounds like you should have come in late as well.”

  “Thought about it. Thought about having Jason stay home from school. But life goes on and as I’m sure you’ve seen by now my schedule has gone to hell. I rescheduled some of the critical meetings while I was waiting to get back up here. Make a note that Gerri will be running the meeting for Brannon’s old section. I couldn’t fit it in.”

  “Any idea what the specially called meeting is about?”

  “None whatsoever. I do know it could not have come at a worse time. For me at least.”

  “Anything I can do? I’ve already done the notes from Friday’s meeting, sent them out. Sent out the notices for next Thursday’s meeting and sent you the draft you requested outlining the tasks and skills my job entails. I guess I should say my old job now.”

  “What time did you get here?”

  “Early. Figured I’d put in some time before the staring and chatter started. My plan is to hide out near my desk, get some filing done and finish the cleanup I started in December.”

  “How would you feel about reviewing one of the reports Christine miraculously found? There’s no rush, but it would be nice to get something off my desk.”

  “I’ll take it.” Anything was better than filing.

  Mikaela revised her opinion after reading the first few pages of the report. Given how poorly it was written, she understood why it had gotten “lost.” She began the painstaking task of turning it into something readable and wondered if she could get extra credit in her business writing course for the rewrite.

  At nine thirty, with a headache making threats, Mikaela switched to filing. A person could only take so much. Patrick arrived soon thereafter, his eyes filled with sadness. “Sorry,” she said and gave him a hug.

  “Thanks, but I should be consoling you.” He took a long look at her face. “You okay? I mean, this
isn’t going to turn into a problem, is it?”

  “No,” she said firmly. “Apparently riding in the back of the police car can be a big wake-up call.” She’d also found out through Suzette that Nina’s seeming obsession with her had been brought on by getting dropped publicly by the college student and then seeing Mikaela on the date from hell. When Mikaela wouldn’t take her back, Nina’s ego had gotten involved.

  “Still, you never know.”

  “I can’t live my life worrying about what might happen. That’s not really living, you know? And what are you doing here already anyway? Talya said you could come in late.”

  “It is late.” He shrugged. “Okay, I got the boot for hovering. And it’s not as if Nate and I were that close anymore. He was somebody to have lunch with now and then, maybe a beer after work.”

  “Doesn’t matter. You knew him, so accept the condolences and concern.”

  “Good. The gang’s all here.” Gerri walked in, dressed in yet another nice suit. “You two okay?”

  “I’m better,” Mikaela said. “What about you?”

  “Missed most of the excitement. I’d gone on a Starbucks’ run, so I had my bag with me. When I got back and found out they weren’t letting anyone in the building, I went home and worked from there.”

  “There weren’t many of us left by the time they brought the guy down,” Patrick said. “He looked like an ordinary guy, not some crazed lunatic who would shoot up an office. Shows you never know. They’re saying he thought his wife was having an affair. Damn shame he didn’t confront her at home.”

  “No,” Gerri said. “The damn shame is that he felt the need to solve the problem with a gun. They showed photos of his kids. Think of what could have happened if he’d confronted her at home.”

  “I knew one of the guys who got shot,” Patrick said quietly. “Saw photos of him and his kids, showed him some of mine.”

  Gerri looked stricken. “Oh, Pat, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

  “It’s okay. You couldn’t.”

  “It’s tragic any way you look at it,” Mikaela said to diffuse the situation.

  Patrick nodded. “I’m gonna go do…something.”

  “Me and my big mouth,” Gerri said, once he was gone.

  “You’re both right. Let it go for now. He’ll deal.”

  Gerri sighed. “She in? She sent me a text about covering an afternoon meeting.”

  “Dennis called an emergency meeting of all managers. She’ll be stuck in there for a couple of hours. Then she has a meeting with Bill. Should be back by twelve or so. Maybe you could meet over lunch?”

  “That works.” Gerri slung her coat over her arm. “In my office keeping my mouth shut if needed.”

  Patrick was back moments later with a brightly wrapped package. “Almost forgot. This ought to take care of any run-ins with Thing One and Thing Two.”

  “Consider ‘you shouldn’t have’ said.” Mikaela ripped off the wrapping paper, then opened the box to find a colorful pen.

  “It’s a two-for. A pen and a recorder. You run into them again, hit this button and everything said is on record.”

  “I love it!” She jumped up and gave him a hug. “Functional and pretty.”

  “Knew the pretty would get you.”

  “Good thing Laura appreciates your worth or I’d be tempted to steal you. You, Mr. Manes, are Guy Numero Uno.”

  “Praise indeed coming from a Sapphic sister. If you were truly grateful…” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  “No, no, no, no, no,” she said firmly. “Not going to happen.”

  “A guy’s gotta have a dream.”

  “But it doesn’t have to include me and your wife. Next time I’m telling her.”

  “She knows.”

  Mikaela threw back her head and laughed. “I’ve missed having you around. Welcome back.”

  Talya returned at ten to noon, crackling with energy. “Two things. One, have a pizza from Rosa’s delivered. Two, tell Gerri and Patrick meeting in my office in twenty about reorganization and other things.” She walked toward her office, stopped and turned back around. “Where’s my head? Third thing. They need you in HR at three.”

  Mikaela groaned. This can’t be good. “What now?”

  “Bullshit is what it is.” Talya exhaled. “I’ll explain more in the meeting.”

  “Can’t be good” had gone to DEFCON 4 in Mikaela’s mind. Talya wasn’t one to throw around expletives at work. The Two strike again, she thought, as she dialed.

  She stuck her head into Talya’s office a minute later. “They can’t guarantee delivery until one. I can go pick it up faster than that.”

  “If you don’t mind.” Talya reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. “Take this. I’ll get us something to drink while you’re gone. Diet Coke okay?”

  She nodded. “It should be ready by the time I walk there. I ordered the Greek one you like so much. Tell me the truth. What have they done now?”

  “Shut the door.” Talya waited until Mikaela was seated across from her desk before she began. “Someone, or I should make that plural as the implication was that it came from a group, sent a letter to HQ.”

  “Letter?”

  “Complaining about management ignoring allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct in this office.” Talya rubbed her eyes. “That’s what the meeting was for. We wasted a couple of hours arguing about how these new charges should be addressed. I say wasted because HQ had already made the decision that certain staff members will be interviewed by outside consultants, in addition to there being a mandatory training session for everyone on harassment in the workplace. You’re being interviewed because your name came up in the letter.”

  “Figures. Has anyone thought about waterboarding Ilene to get at the truth? I know it’s not popular, but I don’t think it’s been formally declared illegal, at least not yet.”

  Talya snorted. “And here I was going to suggest a death match. You, Ilene, steel cage. Winner gets the job.”

  “That could work.” She tried to smile and found she couldn’t. A simple lie was getting too much play and she was damned tired of being on the wrong end of things. “Isn’t this calling a meeting, scheduling workshops over the top? Why hasn’t Dennis explained the whole jealousy situation?”

  “He has and would be the first to agree with you. His hands are tied.”

  “Well, it stinks!” She really wanted to kick something. If this kept up, she might as well invest in steel-toed boots. Some enterprising company probably made fashionable ones for the femme ass kickers. “I’ll go to the thing at three, but I want it noted I might be a hostile witness.”

  “So noted.”

  “It’s not funny,” she said, catching the little twitch in Talya’s lips.

  “Absolutely not.”

  Mikaela frowned when Talya’s tone said the opposite. “Very hostile.”

  * * *

  Mikaela came out of the small conference room on eight feeling as if she’d been through the longest thirty-minute period of her life. She hadn’t been accused of anything, but the constant questions, thrown at lightning speed, had left her with a raging headache. Closing her eyes, she leaned back against the wall and took a few breaths to get back on center. A hand to her shoulder brought her eyes open. Seeing Debbie, she braced herself.

  “This isn’t right,” Debbie said quietly. “I’m sorry they’re doing this to you.”

  “Doing what?” she pressed and activated the pen in her pocket.

  “I heard you were going to get fired. You should sue. They can’t let you go for nothing.”

  It took her a moment for it to sink in that, strangely enough, Debbie was once again being supportive. “Actually, they can. But it’s kind of funny because no one told me I was being fired. How come you know and I don’t?”

  Debbie looked away. “I’d rather not say.”

  Her lips tightened and she fought back the urge to strangle the messenger. “Why am I not surprised? Well, you c
an scurry back and tell the other rats I still have a job. Oh, and FYI, their latest ploy has upper management in an uproar, so if I was you, I’d find new friends.” She pushed away from the wall and took the stairs at a reckless pace, wishing she could outrun the shit storm hanging over her head. Now she was being branded a fired cocksucker.

  The door opened as she reached for the knob and she forced a smile when she saw it was Sara. “What are you still doing here? Shouldn’t you be on your way home?”

  “After yesterday, we’re checking the floors more thoroughly.” Sara peered at Mikaela. “Hey, you okay?”

  “Not really. It’s been a hell of an afternoon.” Mikaela rubbed her temples. “On the plus side, only an hour before I can get out of the damn place.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “What isn’t?” she replied with a half sob. “Sorry. Trying not to lose it here.”

  Sara reached for her hand. “You want me to wait, give you a ride?”

  “I’ll be fine. I just had a rough interview with HR, followed by hearing the latest gossip involving yours truly.” Mikaela blew out a sharp breath. “Need to shake it off, let it go.”

  “You found out you didn’t get the job?”

  “At this point, I would consider that good news. Listen, I can’t talk about it now or I’ll go to pieces. Maybe I could call you later?”

  “Come over for dinner tonight?”

  “I wouldn’t be good company. Tomorrow’s better.”

  “And I was good company last night? Come on, it’s your turn. I want to help.”

  “You sure? I desperately need to vent. Okay, more spew than vent. I warn you it won’t be pretty.”

  “I’ll wear protective gear.” Sara gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Come over whenever. I’ll be waiting.”

  “Thanks.” She framed Sara’s face between her hands. “You’re a lifesaver. Now I’d better go before you get caught in the damn rumor.” She waited until Sara’s footsteps faded away before she opened the door and returned to her area.

  Talya was at her desk in a second. “Don’t need to ask how it went,” she said. “Your demeanor says it all.”

  “I get they had to do that, but I feel dirty. Like I did something wrong. And get this, the newest rumor is that I’m getting fired. Is there something you forgot to tell me? Because if you’re going to fire me I can go now. Be done with this stupid stuff.”