by MJ Miller
Chapter Five
Luce’s phone rang precisely 24 hours later. On the dot. Already at work at her desk, she expected it.
“Luce Porter,” she answered promptly.
“Ms. Porter, it’s Kat Downing? We met yesterday?”
“Of course, Kat, and again, it’s Luce, please,” she chuckled.
“I just wanted to thank you again and tell you that I am most definitely interested in anything you have available. Not to sound desperate, but I kind of am!”
“Well, naturally, or maybe it’s just you know your uncle has been texting me incessantly and I desperately want him to stop!”
“Oh my god, I am so sorry! He’s very overprotective. I’m not sure I mentioned it, but he’s kind of more of a parent than an uncle. We’re really close.”
“No worries, Kat, I get it. I’m like that with my sister, and she’s only a few years younger than I am. The good news is, you can tell him to put his phone away. If you could possibly come in this afternoon, we can talk about details, OK? The internship is yours if you want it.”
“I want it. Oh my god, really? I so want it. Anytime? Or I can come now or whatever?”
“Relax, Kat, anytime today is fine, how about lunch. My treat. I can meet you in the lobby, say at 1 O’clock. Any earlier, we’ll spend 2 hours just waiting to order something.”
“Perfect, and thank you, Luce.”
“I’ll thank you to stop thanking me. You earned this. Got it?”
They said their goodbyes, and Luce smiled as she relaxed in her chair. Kat was going to be an awesome member of her crew. She wondered what it was that kept her using a wheelchair. She seemed robust and healthy otherwise. And she did say she could walk a bit. She could ask Andy, of course, but that would be wrong. No, she’d wait, and when the time was right, Kat would tell her.
The lunch idea turned out to be a perfect one, as maintenance had arrived to fix the doorway anyway. She was also expecting them to bring up a desk for Kat. The job wouldn’t officially start for another week, but at least things could be ready for her.
She headed down to the lobby and found a lone bench to sit on. The lobby, which had once been the epitome of New York elegance, had been ‘renovated’ and was now empty of cozy seating and lush carpet. The crystal chandeliers had been replaced with contemporary lighting, and the elegant mahogany phone desks replaced with touchscreen kiosks. It had been modernized, which in Luce’s mind simply meant sterilized. No character or personality. Much like her townhome. She’d always thought to redecorate it after moving in. Make it her own. Put her stamp on it. Instead, she’d left it as is. Elegant, cold, and sterile. Giving everyone who entered the impression that’s who she was. She wondered if that’s how Andy saw her. Aloof and unapproachable. The ice queen.
She glanced over as she saw Kat come in and stood up to meet her. They headed outside, and Luce suggested they head to a café around the corner. It was a good spot, quiet, away from the hub of 7th avenue. They placed their orders, and Luce wasted no time.
“Kat, I need to go over some job details. First and foremost, it’s full time. And we’re not talking 8 hours a day, we’re talking salaried, beck and call… I know you live downtown near campus, so be assured we’ll cover the ride share costs if you have to head home after hours—no late-night subway rides. But there will be late nights. Can you do that?”
“Absolutely.”
“The job pays $3000 a month. Which is more than some, less than others. No benefits. But your daily expenses, for the most part, we’ll cover.”
“It’s fine, really. My rent is already covered, so I’m good.”
“The office hours are 8 to 5, but if you need extra time in the morning, you tell me.”
“I don’t want any special treatment, Luce. I need to live in the real world, if I need to get up an hour earlier, I’ll make it happen. Promise.”
Luce grinned at Kat. “Well, if you have a hot date and are out really late, just text me.”
Kat laughed. “It’s about as likely as being asked to headline a runway show at the fashion institute.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve got a good sense of humor Kat; can I ask about it?” She motioned towards the chair.
“Not much to tell really, I was born with a rare deformity in my knees. They can’t hold my weight, so I can only take a few steps without them giving way.”
“Nothing can be done?” Luce asked openly.
“Knee replacements, but not until I reach full growth, which could be a year or two away, or another five. Until then, there’s no point. I’ll outgrow the replacement.”
Nodding towards her legs, Luce continued. “Your legs appear well-toned, not that I’m interested in them, but how do you manage that?”
“It’s important that I keep the muscles strengthened and toned. I have a strict exercise regimen. It’s just my knees that don’t work, so I have a personal trainer a few times a week but I can reschedule around work. He usually comes at 7, but I’ll just have him come at 6.”
“You’re quite remarkable, Kat, and determined, I believe. You’ll be a great asset to our team. You’re probably wondering exactly what you’ll be doing?”
“I am!”
“Well, mostly, as we discussed, you’ll be my shadow. I juggle quite a bit, from production schedules to programming changes to new programming concepts. In fact, I know you don’t officially start until next Monday, but I’ve got a file full of concepts for new programming I need to be screened. Meaning you sift through and tell me what’s worth looking at and what’s not…”
“Wow, that sounds fun, actually! I’d love to. I’m done with finals so plenty of time on my hands.”
“Good,” Luce chuckled. “We get at least 25 or more log-lines a day. Are you familiar with those?”
“OMG, I must have done 50 of those last semester! I actually enjoyed it, though. It’s like creating the perfect tweet, isn’t it? Telling an entire story in one sentence!”
“Exactly, so I’ll forward what we have, just mark the ones you think have merit. Leave the others. We don’t delete anything, and we always respond. You’ll be doing that as well. Don’t worry, we’ve got a template to use.”
“So now it’s like I’m the cruel professor, eh?” Kat laughed. “I had so much rejection in the class I’d have stuck pins in a voodoo doll if I’d had one.”
“Sounds like this is the perfect way to start off. I’ll send the file over later. I’ve got you set up with an email account as well as a secure laptop, by the way. We’ll stop by IT for those. And look, if you need to start an hour later on your training days, you let me know. That’s certainly something we can work with.”
“Yeah, but you shouldn’t have to. I really need to be just like everyone else, Luce, it’s important.” Kat sighed and leaned forward. “Listen, I love Uncle Andrew, he’s the best there is, but he’s worse than a helicopter parent. I guess I should tell you that upfront. Knowing him, he’ll be interfering. Checking up on me. Checking up on you. He can’t seem to help himself. He’s always been that way.”
“Why? I’m just curious? I mean, I’m sure he loves you. You’re his niece, but why so involved?”
“My parents weren’t.” She shrugged. “They had this vision of having the perfect child. And I wasn’t. My uncle took over their role. He was always there, they weren’t.” Kat looked down for a moment, then looked up directly at Luce.
“I’m not telling you this so you’ll pity me. Please don’t.”
“I wouldn’t, Kat. But it helps to understand your situation. I can handle your uncle. I have before.” Luce winked and smiled.
“I know,” Kat replied with a grin.
“I don’t want to know, do I?” Luce replied.
“Nope,” Kat took a bite of her salad. “You definitely don’t.”
Luce pondered that but decided to tuck it away for later.
They finished up their lunch and started to head back towards the office when Kat’s pho
ne rang. It was actually quite loud, startling Luce. Especially the ringtone. Sounded suspiciously like the theme from Miami Vice. Luce thought that was odd for someone so young.
Kat grabbed her phone from her purse and barked into it.
“I’m kind of busy,” she said abruptly. Clearly annoyed, though there was a smirk on her face. Must be her uncle, Luce realized and looked at Kat for confirmation. Yep.
Nodding to her phone, she whispered “Give it to me,” and reached for it.
“Andy?”
“Oh crap, did I interrupt?”
“Yes, you did. We are having a final interview. And if you don’t want to blow this for her, I suggest you wait until she’s ready to bring you up to date. And let us finish our conversation.”
“Just tell me, are you hiring her?”
“Confidential, Detective. I’m hanging up now.” And she did.
Kat was doubled-over laughing. “I cannot believe you did that. That was awesome.”
“Yeah, but I’ll probably end up paying for it somehow, though it was worth it.”
“Thank you, Luce, really. I wish I could do that. I always come off sounding ungrateful and bitchy. I don’t mean to.”
“No, you don’t, you’re just a young woman trying to live her life, and he’s stepping in all the time, right?”
“How’d you know?”
“Ha! I did it to Annie. Only it was worse. I’m sure when you meet her, she’ll tell you.”
“I look forward to it. I can’t believe I’m finally going to have a life! Yes!” Kat did a little bouncy thing in her chair, raising her hands in the air, making Luce laugh. It would be fun having her around. Someone to mentor, someone to take care of again. Someone to fill that hole.
Chapter Six
Luce hadn’t been this excited in a very long time. The Ghost Ship event was coming up in a matter of days. Maybe she’d finally discover the secrets behind it. Would she be the one to solve the legendary mystery? It was going to be amazing, that much she knew. She finally had a little downtime, thanks to Kat. What a godsend she’d been. For the first time in months she felt like she had all her ducks in a row. Kat had turned out to be the perfect intern. Smart, enthusiastic, and always up to take on more and more. Which left Luce with a little free time in the evenings, and what better way to spend it than selecting an outfit for the Mystery Dinner.
Normally, she’d have just chosen a simple pencil skirt and blouse, neat, tidy, nothing flashy. But for some reason she wanted to make a splash. Oh, who was she kidding, she thought with a smirk eyeing her closet. Somewhere, deep down, or maybe right there obvious to all, she wanted Andy to notice. She suspected he did notice her already, but the friction that seemed to always be there, right at the surface, twisted her stomach in knots. She was Luce Porter. Cool, calm, collected and never flustered by a man. But Andy Holman? He wasn’t your typical man. Her efforts to maintain control seemed to slip away in his presence.
She hadn’t always been that way. She sighed as the negative thoughts creeped in. The ones she held at bay. The ones she refused to allow access to. Shaking it off, she grabbed her phone.
“Pick up, Annie, hurry up.” Luce muttered, pacing her room. She needed Annie to distract her.
“Um, hey Luce, not a good time” Annie spoke quickly, a laugh in her voice.
“OMG you two are sickening. Listen. The teal cocktail dress or the black capris?”
“What’s the occasion?”
“My gift? Mrs. Bowers? Ghost Ship?”
“Hmmm. Who are we out to impress? Wouldn’t be a certain detective now would it?”
“Hell no. I mean, no. Not at all. I just want to look good, is that a problem?”
Annie laughed. “The cocktail dress, Luce. Definitely. And that’s not why you called. Spill. What’s up?”
“Nerves. I don’t know why that man makes me nervous. I don’t do nervous anymore. Not since Jack. You know that.”
“Jack was a class A bastard, Luce, and doesn’t represent the male species. He was a one of a kind jerk.”
“You say that now, but back then…” her voice trailed off with a shake. Jack had been, at one time, that guy. The one she imagined spending her life with. Ticked off all those boxes. Until things got messy.
“He played you Luce; made you think he was a stand-up guy but when push came to shove his true colors oozed out of him. Now. Enough of Jack. Let’s go back to Andy and the dinner shall we? Are you coming out with Jen or taking the train?”
“Hadn’t decided yet. I’ll let you know after I talk to Jen.”
“Cool. We’ll all meet here, at our house and drive over. You realize it’s only a half-mile or so from us.”
“I didn’t realize that, no. But that’s good. If it’s boring we can always just sneak off.”
“Luce, you are going to have an amazing time. Now, tell me about Kat? You like her?”
“I hate to admit it, but Andy’s the one who did me a favor with her. She’s perfect. Just don’t tell him that.”
“Oooh… so you owe him big time. The dinner invite and Kat. Hmmm. I’m sure he’ll find a way to have you pay it all back!”
“Don’t go there, sis, leave it alone.”
“No can do Luce, he’s seriously hot!”
Luce could hear Chris whispering in the background and Annie giggling.
“Save it Annie, I’ll see you Friday night.”
Luce hit a button and tossed her phone on her bed, deciding to try on every dress hanging in her closet. She needed to be prepared. Make sure she had the right accessories. Stripping out of her work clothes, she reached into her closet when her phone rang again. Probably Annie with one of her one more thing calls.
Glancing at the screen her eyes widened.
No. Not a good time.
“Hello?”
“Hey Luce, it’s Andy.”
Luce started to shift uncomfortably. Standing in her bra and panties was definitely not the way to have this conversation. Her whole body buzzed.
“Andy? Um, what can I do for you?”
Oh my god did I just say that standing here half naked?
“Want to carpool Friday night? I’ll pick you up around 4. Or is that too early?”
“Aren’t you supposed to wait for me to say yes?”
“Seems you just did. See you then!”
“But,” Luce let out a sigh. He’d hung up. Should she call back? Text him? Say no thanks?
She glanced in the mirror. Still half-naked. With a body blush to boot. Nope, not calling him back. Tossing the phone onto her dresser, she flopped down on her bed and stretched out, staring at the ceiling, wondering how she’d get out of this one. An hour or more in the car with him could be the end of her sanity. But the little devil on her shoulder was saying it could be the beginning of something too.
He was annoyingly prompt. Precisely at 4pm her buzzer rang. Luce was ready, naturally, she’d been ready for a half hour. She’d chosen the dress Annie had suggested, and she had to admit it was a good choice. She stopped nervously pacing back and forth and buzzed him in, gnawing on her lip nervously. Something she rarely did. Annie was the lip gnawer, never Luce. Except around this one singular detective. Nothing to be nervous about, she thought. She should be excited. It was going to be amazing. This was all just nervous energy. Breathe.
She had the door open the minute he knocked. Slipping by him into the hall, she quickly locked the door and headed out.
“I’m not double-parked you know, and hello to you too,” Andy called after her. He smiled though, admiring the way she swayed as she walked. Shaking his head, he followed after her, picking up the pace to catch up as they exited her building. And chuckling as she nearly jumped when he took her elbow to steer her towards his car. When he stopped, she glanced up at him, a look of confusion on her face.
“I thought you drove a Subaru?” she questioned him suspiciously. “That’s what you were driving last time.”
“I like to mix things up,” he laug
hed as he opened the passenger door.
“This is a Lexus. How is it you drive a Lexus?” Luce was now confused. As confused as last summer, when he’d arranged for her to fly out to see Annie after she was run off the road in Ohio during a crazy and dangerous adventure. She knew then he’d sprung for the airline ticket, the hotel and anything else she needed. Which would be nearly impossible on his NYPD salary.
She slipped into the passenger seat and waited until he’d settled in and started to pull out. She’d had a chance to give him a good once-over now. Designer slacks, expensive cotton tailored shirt, no tie, a few undone buttons at the collar. Even more expensive cuff-links. She’d never seen him dressed in anything other than a pair of jeans or khakis and a polo or t-shirt. Well, that along with his leather bomber jacket that seriously made him eye-candy. Attire that fit a guy like him. This was suspicious.
“You’re not on the take, are you?” Luce asked suddenly. It occurred to her, and she was known to be fairly unfiltered at times.
He let out a laugh. That wonderful deep throaty laugh that made her sigh. Only this time it was in frustration.
“Don’t laugh, you’re dressed like a GQ model and drive a Lexus. Unless you’ve been promoted or changed jobs… seems awfully suspicious. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“And you’re a TV program producer who’s got a fabulous 2-bedroom on the upper west side. But does that make you a high priced escort?”
Luce blushed furiously and sputtered. “An escort? Seriously?”
“On the take? Seriously?”
She bit her lip and clamped down to stop from responding.
“OK, fair enough Luce. I know that reporter in you is just going to stew on it. Ask me anything and I’ll try to answer it truthfully. Just not about work. That’s off limits. And since turnabout is fair play, I get to ask you anything too.”
They had an hour or so to go, and she didn’t want to ride in silence, so she simply nodded her agreement.
