The coffee hadn't helped wake Rachyl up, and poring over the list of things needing to be done over the next couple of weeks found her eyelids drooping heavily.
***************
Gothic-ah's manufacturing floor got very quiet at night, without the rows of sewing machines chugging away or tersion machines clunking with their stretchy ways.
As she maneuvered through the racks of finished clothes, she saw someone, two someones, between the racks, one male, one female. Neither she recognized. Meegan was nearby, too; she could smell her perfume.
Both of the people approached Meegan; the female left, leaving the male - injured? - alone with her friend. They were talking, then they suddenly started towards the back elevator. The man took a knife from his pocket and sliced his own cheek open.
Rachyl joined them. They continued to talk inside. Something about this man felt... wrong... now that Rachyl was nearer him.
Meegan took him to the surplus fashion room, then entered. Something shifted; Rachyl found herself both following Meegan, who was now dialing her Blackberry, and watching the man leaning against the door. Meegan was asking for Aron but talking to Jeeves; the cuts on the man's face slowly closed. Meegan selected a shirt and pants for him, then rejoined him in the hall.
Another shift, and Rachyl found herself in the passenger seat of Mr. Swiftwood's Jag, hurtling along the streets of Nachton. She joined Aron as he took the stairs three and four at a time, while Meegan watched the intruder change clothes.
Everything melded together. They exchanged words. Aron looked ready for battle. He insulted Meegan's nose (which any other time would have drawn a laugh from both Meegan and Rachyl) but the designer opened her verbal can of whoop-ass on the injured - or now, not so injured - man.
Another shift, but this one felt different... It was almost like looking at two halves of a split-screen TV.
On one side, he left, leaving Aron and Meegan alone in the hall. Meegan took Aron into her office (please not on the desk, Rachyl said to herself) then wrote a note, and exited. In the alleyway they found the two guards, dead; Meegan called 911 and they left in his Jag.
On the other... The intruder jumped towards Meegan but Aron's rapier came out of his cane, swinging for the other man. Strike - blood flew through the air as Meegan slammed against the wall, unconscious. Aron and the other man battled up and down the hall; Meegan stood up and picked up Aron's rapier-cane. She drove it between the attacker's shoulderblades, but was rewarded with a feral backhand that gashed her throat, pouring blood onto her black t-shirt. Aron yelled, time slowed down. The man's head turned back to Aron just in time to see the aluminum support of a cubicle wall whistling towards him, but he didn't react quickly enough to duck. More blood spurted as the man's head bounced off the walls.
Aron kneeled at Meegan's side, the blood was flowing slowly now, her skin almost white from the loss. The color in her eyes was dim, the spark almost gone. Her lips worked, forming the words "Help me, Aron..." and her shoulders slumped. Aron brought his rapier to his wrist and cut deeply, then pushed the flowing blood to Meegan's ashen lips... And her wounds slowly, excruciatingly began to close, as color returned to her face.
***************
Rachyl woke with a scream, cold sweat pouring down her brow, soaking the blotter in the middle of Meegan's desk. There hadn't been any blood in the halls when she arrived, so she knew the second split of her dream wasn't a true event.
She reached out to the phone and picked up the receiver. The clock read nine fifty nine.
Gothic-Ah - Office Memo and that Day
Rachyl leaned tiredly against the back of the elevator as it rose to the third floor. "Where's -my- assistant to bring -me- coffee when I have a completely horrible night?" she complained to herself, then almost smiled as she realized how much she enjoyed being "there" for Meegan. Morning, noon, and night. Dill sat at her feet, tail waggling happily.
She'd decided to wear the dark grey wool jacket, with a white cotton shirt, grey muslin trousers, and that cute polka dotted tie today... Even though she hadn't slept very well after the night she'd had could really use another couple hours' sleep.
She'd left her PC on the night before to do the weekly maintenance suggested by their IT department; Meegan's note was on the keyboard. "Great. S's house."
After closing out the maintenance programs, she opened her email and found over a dozen emails asking about Meegan and the police tape in the alley outside. Dill flopped near the door to Meegan's office. She opened a new message and began typing.
"Attention all Gothic-ah Employees.
I bring sad news to you this morning.
Last night two of our security guards were found dead in the alley outside the warehouse, victims of apparent foul play.
The police are doing everything they can to discover the perpetrators of this heinous crime.
To those of you who are wondering why Ms. Masters has not arrived today: She is well, and is in protective custody as it seems she is a witness to these events.
As a precaution, nightly security has been doubled and daily security has been implemented for the duration of the Nachton PD's investigations, and will likely continue further into the foreseeable future.
There are a couple policies we wish to implement:
Buddy system. Do not go out to your cars, your bus stops, or anywhere outside of the building alone. Take two or three people with you. If you must stay late, make sure your supervisor is aware, and either they or another duly designated representative will stay with you.
Contact system. Everyone's supervisor should have been given upon the date of your hiring emergency contact numbers. HR will be verifying this information and updating it if necessary.
Should you be approached by any reporters outside of work, your only responses should be to give them my contact information and to say "No comment."
Thank you all for your time. Any further news will be brought to your attention.
~Rachyl Walker
This information is Gothic-Ah Confidential."
She emailed the memo and printed out a copy then rung the publishing department. "Tony. Get my email? No? Wait a sec. Yup, there it is. No, I don't have any more information. No, I'm not going to ask. No, Tony, I just want you to print this up as a memo and post it in all the memo-posting spots. No, Tony, I'm still not going out with you. Does that take care of all your questions in advance?" The voice on the other end of the phone answered a meek "yes" and Rachyl simply thanked Tony and hung up.
She stood from her desk and opened the door to Meegan's office; Dill ran in and flopped onto his bed and closed his eyes. Rachyl grabbed the remote on the desk and shut the curtains then picked up the phone.
The clock on the phone read eight-ten a.m.... And something inside her told her to wait a little while. So she set it back down, stood, reopened the curtains, then walked down the hall to find some coffee.
Rachyl
19 years ago
Rachyl
19 years ago
The voice that answered the phone was male, sounded slightly tired, had a bit of a smile in it, and was very familiar.
"This is Meegan's personal answering machine. Meegan is unfortunately busy at the moment, but if you leave a message after the beep, she will be able to ignore you properly until she is once again available."
And with that, the line went dead.
Rachyl stared at it. "At least Aron has a sense of humor," she thought.
Then her cell rang from out in her office. She leapt up and ran to get it, Dill barking as she did.
"Meegan? Where are you? Oh right I know that. Are you ok? You're not hurt are you? What happened?"
Meegan laughed into the phone line. Her voice too was tired, but had an odd quality to it... serenity? Rachyl wasn't sure she'd heard that particular tone before, but she'd heard something close to it not a week prior, when laying in her arms at the Piazza.
"I'm fine. No, I'm not hurt. It's a long story and this line may not be secure. I'll call you back later today. Love you Rach, be safe."
As the line went dead a second time, it was all Rachyl could do not to stare at the phone and yell "WHAT?" at the brush-off she was getting.
Meegan was getting "some." And... something told her Mr. Swiftwood was more than just a friend.
"You too, Meegan."
Rachyl hung up her phone, and returned to the larger office, put her arms on the blotter in front of her, crossed them, and her head impacted them with a thud as she started to cry.
"This is Meegan's personal answering machine. Meegan is unfortunately busy at the moment, but if you leave a message after the beep, she will be able to ignore you properly until she is once again available."
And with that, the line went dead.
Rachyl stared at it. "At least Aron has a sense of humor," she thought.
Then her cell rang from out in her office. She leapt up and ran to get it, Dill barking as she did.
"Meegan? Where are you? Oh right I know that. Are you ok? You're not hurt are you? What happened?"
Meegan laughed into the phone line. Her voice too was tired, but had an odd quality to it... serenity? Rachyl wasn't sure she'd heard that particular tone before, but she'd heard something close to it not a week prior, when laying in her arms at the Piazza.
"I'm fine. No, I'm not hurt. It's a long story and this line may not be secure. I'll call you back later today. Love you Rach, be safe."
As the line went dead a second time, it was all Rachyl could do not to stare at the phone and yell "WHAT?" at the brush-off she was getting.
Meegan was getting "some." And... something told her Mr. Swiftwood was more than just a friend.
"You too, Meegan."
Rachyl hung up her phone, and returned to the larger office, put her arms on the blotter in front of her, crossed them, and her head impacted them with a thud as she started to cry.
Rachyl
19 years ago
Rachyl was glad she'd kidnapped a couple boxes of tissues from the supply closet for Meegan's office and their... occasional trysts. The pile on the desk stopped getting bigger a few minutes ago... and she felt better.
Knowing that Meegan was alive... made her feel good.
Knowing that Meegan was alive and safe... made her feel great.
Knowing that Meegan was alive and safe and in the arms (or even bed!) of a man she herself'd had such an odd experience with... didn't quite bring Rachyl over the hump of "ecstatic Meegan's safe."
She sighed heavily, then paced, Dill sitting forlornly near her feet the whole time.
"When's later?" she thought suddenly to herself.
Knowing that Meegan was alive... made her feel good.
Knowing that Meegan was alive and safe... made her feel great.
Knowing that Meegan was alive and safe and in the arms (or even bed!) of a man she herself'd had such an odd experience with... didn't quite bring Rachyl over the hump of "ecstatic Meegan's safe."
She sighed heavily, then paced, Dill sitting forlornly near her feet the whole time.
"When's later?" she thought suddenly to herself.
Meegan
19 years ago
Meegan picked up the sleek black phone and punched in her personal line, something told her Rachyl would be in her office. If not she'd fly in there to answer. Two rings had Rachyl on the other end.
"Meegan?"
"Hi Rachyl, sweety. You ok?" She could hear the tears in Rachyl's voice, and they made her sad. She leaned back in the big chair tucking her knees to her chest, her feet to her backside.
"Meegan?"
"Hi Rachyl, sweety. You ok?" She could hear the tears in Rachyl's voice, and they made her sad. She leaned back in the big chair tucking her knees to her chest, her feet to her backside.
Rachyl
19 years ago
"Yeah, I just feel bad, I stepped on Dill's tail on my way to pick up your call."
Soft cooing could be heard as Rachyl tried to comfort Dill.
"I'm much better, thanks, knowing you're safe and alive. Mind telling me just what the HELL is GOING ON?" Rachyl cleared her throat. "Sorry. So yeah, go ahead."
Soft cooing could be heard as Rachyl tried to comfort Dill.
"I'm much better, thanks, knowing you're safe and alive. Mind telling me just what the HELL is GOING ON?" Rachyl cleared her throat. "Sorry. So yeah, go ahead."
Meegan
19 years ago
Meegan didn't believe her, but she wasn't going to press. If Rachyl wanted to cover her tears by making up stories, who was she to judge. She's done the same herself.
"It's a long story. Have a bit?"
"Yeah, I'm good. I wasn't planning on taking lunch today anyway."
Meegan sighed softly, Rachyl didn't eat much when she was stressed. "Well I'll give you the abridged version, then I need to ask you some favors." She took a deep breath, pushing her fear into a tight knot in her belly, refusing to let it enter her voice.
"While I was working I took a break. I went down to the factory floor and two people managed to get past the guards. They..."Were vampires. "Were not nice people. The woman wanted to kill me, the man convinced her not to. So I decided to help him out. I found out he was a very bad man, so I called Aron while I was getting clothes for him. Aron came, scared him away and took me to his home." She took a deep breath. She had to stop there, now was not the time to tell Rachyl that she was in love with a vampire, much less one the woman knew.
"Here is what I need you to do. I need the surviellence tapes from midnight to four, replaced with bogus tapes. I need the real tapes messengered to me here. Use BikeX-press their fast, ask for Jude, he's the best. Then I need you to not, and I repeat not speak to the police, or the press. This must not look like anything but a random killing. Do you understand,
Rach?" She played with the black cord on the phone, twisting it around and around her finger.
"It's a long story. Have a bit?"
"Yeah, I'm good. I wasn't planning on taking lunch today anyway."
Meegan sighed softly, Rachyl didn't eat much when she was stressed. "Well I'll give you the abridged version, then I need to ask you some favors." She took a deep breath, pushing her fear into a tight knot in her belly, refusing to let it enter her voice.
"While I was working I took a break. I went down to the factory floor and two people managed to get past the guards. They..."Were vampires. "Were not nice people. The woman wanted to kill me, the man convinced her not to. So I decided to help him out. I found out he was a very bad man, so I called Aron while I was getting clothes for him. Aron came, scared him away and took me to his home." She took a deep breath. She had to stop there, now was not the time to tell Rachyl that she was in love with a vampire, much less one the woman knew.
"Here is what I need you to do. I need the surviellence tapes from midnight to four, replaced with bogus tapes. I need the real tapes messengered to me here. Use BikeX-press their fast, ask for Jude, he's the best. Then I need you to not, and I repeat not speak to the police, or the press. This must not look like anything but a random killing. Do you understand,
Rach?" She played with the black cord on the phone, twisting it around and around her finger.
Rachyl
19 years ago
Rachyl noticed the pause in Meegan's "long story short" and continued to listen quietly.
"Well, unfortunately Meegan, I can't do the first thing that you asked... Because it's already been done. I was waiting on a VCR to be brought up from the presentation room for when the detective gets here at two. I'll find one of the sets from when you stayed late last week and have it duplicated. I'll write myself a memo to have the internal security system upgraded and to have cameras and lights installed outside. I'm sure Jude wouldn't mind a free lunch. And yes, you will definately explain this in every single last detail, down to the little things you paused to sugar-coat for me, when I see you. Do you understand, Meegan?"
She tried not to make the last sound too sharp; she'd wanted to give it a spin of sarcasm, but also wanted her friend to understand she really needed to know the truth. She giggled, partly out of nervousness, partly because she probably sounded really funny ordering around her boss just then.
"Well, unfortunately Meegan, I can't do the first thing that you asked... Because it's already been done. I was waiting on a VCR to be brought up from the presentation room for when the detective gets here at two. I'll find one of the sets from when you stayed late last week and have it duplicated. I'll write myself a memo to have the internal security system upgraded and to have cameras and lights installed outside. I'm sure Jude wouldn't mind a free lunch. And yes, you will definately explain this in every single last detail, down to the little things you paused to sugar-coat for me, when I see you. Do you understand, Meegan?"
She tried not to make the last sound too sharp; she'd wanted to give it a spin of sarcasm, but also wanted her friend to understand she really needed to know the truth. She giggled, partly out of nervousness, partly because she probably sounded really funny ordering around her boss just then.
Meegan
19 years ago
Meegan's feet dropped to the floor and she leaned her elbows on the desk. "Feel better? Rachyl, you need to know there there are things I may never be able to tell you. It is all very complicated. Now if you're finished being childish I have some other things I need you to do, as my assistant, not my friend. Right now, I have to be your boss." Meegan hated this, she wanted to just tell Rach everything, but she needed to keep her as safe as possible and that might mean, not telling her anything more than she just had. Rachyl, hadn't spoken and she took her silence to mean acquiescence.
"You need to schedule all of my appointments for two days a week. Not the same two days, every week. I can't have a pattern. I don't know how long this is going to go on, so lets start with the next four weeks. I will need to have a drafting table, and my full design supplies shipped here. I will be sending finished designs via courier." She opened drawers until she located pen and paper, to jot down what she had told Rachyl to do.
"You should find two completed winter designs on my drafting table. Get them to pattern and have samples made, I'd like a set of the winter line samples sent here. I need you to back up my hard drive on CD and wipe the machine clean, it is very very important you do this. Do not reinstall the programming, just wipe it and shut it off. "
She tapped the pen to her lips in thought. She had so much to do and was restricting herself to two days a week in the office, things were going to be hectic.
"Also I need my laptop from my condo. Rachyl, do not go there alone, infact. I'm going to send Jeeves for that instead. I don't want to risk your life, and he can handle just about anything. I'm going to need my music CD collection as well, there is a black case on top of the stereo cabinet that they go in. "
She swiveled back and forth in the chair, her mind going ninety to nothing and she was having a hard time making sense of most of it. Especially since under it all was the love she had just found and she could not keep from focusing on it.
"Send a memo to the team leads, and only team leads, about my new work schedule. Do not email it. I am not to be emailed either for that matter. We have a meeting with the cloth supplier on wednesday next week, schedule all my other appointments around that one, and then on Thursday. That should work nicely. Ok I think that takes care of everything for now."
She slumped back in the chair again, it was this part that made her stomach hurt. "Now I need to ask you something as a friend. Unless you have any questions first."
"You need to schedule all of my appointments for two days a week. Not the same two days, every week. I can't have a pattern. I don't know how long this is going to go on, so lets start with the next four weeks. I will need to have a drafting table, and my full design supplies shipped here. I will be sending finished designs via courier." She opened drawers until she located pen and paper, to jot down what she had told Rachyl to do.
"You should find two completed winter designs on my drafting table. Get them to pattern and have samples made, I'd like a set of the winter line samples sent here. I need you to back up my hard drive on CD and wipe the machine clean, it is very very important you do this. Do not reinstall the programming, just wipe it and shut it off. "
She tapped the pen to her lips in thought. She had so much to do and was restricting herself to two days a week in the office, things were going to be hectic.
"Also I need my laptop from my condo. Rachyl, do not go there alone, infact. I'm going to send Jeeves for that instead. I don't want to risk your life, and he can handle just about anything. I'm going to need my music CD collection as well, there is a black case on top of the stereo cabinet that they go in. "
She swiveled back and forth in the chair, her mind going ninety to nothing and she was having a hard time making sense of most of it. Especially since under it all was the love she had just found and she could not keep from focusing on it.
"Send a memo to the team leads, and only team leads, about my new work schedule. Do not email it. I am not to be emailed either for that matter. We have a meeting with the cloth supplier on wednesday next week, schedule all my other appointments around that one, and then on Thursday. That should work nicely. Ok I think that takes care of everything for now."
She slumped back in the chair again, it was this part that made her stomach hurt. "Now I need to ask you something as a friend. Unless you have any questions first."
Rachyl
19 years ago
"The only question I have is, 'What if my life is endangered just by knowing you?' I've written everything else down so far. And childish or not... I still want to know. You know how muh..." Her throat clamped up and shut off her voice. She nearly sobbed.
Clearing her throat again, she whispered, "Go ahead."
Clearing her throat again, she whispered, "Go ahead."
Meegan
19 years ago
She sighed heavily, she knew what Rachyl was going to say and it broke her heart. She had been afraid that Rachyl's love for her went beyond friendship and now she was certain it did. She put her forhead to the desk and spoke into the phone. "Rachyl, my dear, sweet, loving, friend. Your life is in danger, because I call you friend. My next call will be to a personal security company. I'm not going to risk finding you dead, so you get to have a body guard. But my question has nothing to do with that." She sighed again, swallowing her tears.
"Rachyl, Can you keep Dill? I can't bring him here, so I need your home to become his."
"Rachyl, Can you keep Dill? I can't bring him here, so I need your home to become his."
Rachyl
19 years ago
Tears quietly streamed down Rachyl's face as Meegan made her plea to understand how her life was in danger. Dill must have sensed something was up, because he crawled back over to her and rested his head on her foot, and looked up.
"I need your home to become his."
Her hand instinctively dropped to caress the mutt's head, and she heard him whining slightly. "Of course."
Swallowing a sob, Rachyl quipped, voice heavy, "See, you did this just cause you didn't want to go apartment hunting with me. Yup, that's what it is."
She wanted Meegan there to hold her, to rock her to sleep, tell her everything was going to be okay. That everything was normal. That life could continue, that the two men who died were just a random accident.
But everything was not okay. She stifled a sniffle, held the phone with her shoulder, and grabbed a tissue to stem the tears.
"I need your home to become his."
Her hand instinctively dropped to caress the mutt's head, and she heard him whining slightly. "Of course."
Swallowing a sob, Rachyl quipped, voice heavy, "See, you did this just cause you didn't want to go apartment hunting with me. Yup, that's what it is."
She wanted Meegan there to hold her, to rock her to sleep, tell her everything was going to be okay. That everything was normal. That life could continue, that the two men who died were just a random accident.
But everything was not okay. She stifled a sniffle, held the phone with her shoulder, and grabbed a tissue to stem the tears.
Meegan
19 years ago
Meegan took deep steadying breaths, pushing the unshed tears away. When she could trust herself to talk she cleared her throat and spoke, her voice heavy with loss.
"Thank you Rachyl, that means the world to me." Another deep shuddering breath. "I wish I could tell you that everything will be fine, but I will not lie to you. The man that is after me is very dangerous. I want you to be careful, Rach. Try not to go anywhere between dusk and dawn and keep close to your body guards. Can you do that for me? I need you to do that for me."
"Thank you Rachyl, that means the world to me." Another deep shuddering breath. "I wish I could tell you that everything will be fine, but I will not lie to you. The man that is after me is very dangerous. I want you to be careful, Rach. Try not to go anywhere between dusk and dawn and keep close to your body guards. Can you do that for me? I need you to do that for me."
Rachyl
19 years ago
Keeping her dog safe meant the world to her. Keeping her friend safe with armed escorts meant the world to her. But did the friend?
Rachyl didn't care. Meegan was doing what she thought was right, and as much as it hurt, she needed to be there... or as the case may be - not be there - for her friend. Her lover. The woman she...
Stop thinking like that, you're only making it hurt more. Like a spoon cutting out your heart. "It's dull, you twit..."
Normally thinking of that movie quote would make her giggle and prattle on in a bad British accent, but right now, the only words her brain - and then her lips - would form was a simple, "I will do anything you ask, Meegan."
Rachyl didn't care. Meegan was doing what she thought was right, and as much as it hurt, she needed to be there... or as the case may be - not be there - for her friend. Her lover. The woman she...
Stop thinking like that, you're only making it hurt more. Like a spoon cutting out your heart. "It's dull, you twit..."
Normally thinking of that movie quote would make her giggle and prattle on in a bad British accent, but right now, the only words her brain - and then her lips - would form was a simple, "I will do anything you ask, Meegan."
Meegan
19 years ago
Meegan sighed once more. She wanted to make everything right for Rachyl, but she couldn't her heart belong to Aron and it just didn't have room for the both of them in that way. She could love Rachyl as the amazing friend she had become. She could probably even continue to share her body, but her heart was not available. Meegan wanted to tell her everything, share with her the incredible joy that raced through her even now, but it would have to wait until they were safe, and she did not know how long Panos would hunt her.
"Thank you Rachyl. I need to go now. I have other calls to make. Oh and Rachyl..."
"Yes?"
"I love you, thank you for being there for me."
Meegan swallowed with difficulty, pushing this new wave of tears back. She managed to stop all but one. She swiped at it with her fingertips. 'I have to be strong for her. I have to be.'
"Thank you Rachyl. I need to go now. I have other calls to make. Oh and Rachyl..."
"Yes?"
"I love you, thank you for being there for me."
Meegan swallowed with difficulty, pushing this new wave of tears back. She managed to stop all but one. She swiped at it with her fingertips. 'I have to be strong for her. I have to be.'
Rachyl
19 years ago
There wasn't anything else Rachyl could say, not without bursting into a Niagara of tears, so she simply hung up.
Meegan's last words echoed in her mind...
"I love you, thank you for being there for me."
"I love you, thank you for being there for me."
"I love you, thank you for being there for me."
But they didn't reach her heart. She knew then that the tall, beautiful, intelligent, special woman didn't feel the same way Rachyl did, as Rachyl did her.
She picked up her cell phone and threw it as hard as she could... But being out of practice, her aim was bad, and it bounced off the edge of the couch into the corner, landing on Dill's bed. He ran over to it happily then returned with it in his mouth. He dropped it between Rachyl's feet on the floor. When he saw Rachyl wasn't going to reward him, he whined once as if to say, "Gee, thanks. Just remember, I'm here too," and trotted off to his corner.
Rachyl was cried out. She stared at the video tapes on the corner of the desk, and rung the production room again. "Where's my VCR and TV, Fred? And bring me four blank tapes."
She printed out a couple pages of calendar sheets and started the hours-long backup process of backing up Meegan's PC. She called down to the Supplies office. "Joan, I need one of Meegan's extra drafting tables boxed, as well as the usual monthly run of her supplies. Set it aside in the office; I'm going to need it soon."
She realized both the CD case and the laptop were at Meegan's condo; Jeeves would have to get them.
The VCR arrived. Luckily, it was the cart she'd been hoping for - the editing cart which held the duplicating machine Meegan occasionally indulged in for having her make special presentations for clients. She popped one of the blanks in, as well as one of the week-old tapes, and set it to duplicate.
She put the four other tapes in a box and called BikeX-press. "Hi Jimmy, I need to talk to Jude. It's Rachyl from Gothic-ah. Yes, it's important, I'll buy him lunch. No, Jimmy, Jude. I don't want Dan. Now, Jimmy. Thank you." She quickly explained to Jude where she needed him and when, when the first tape finished. As she finished explaining, she popped in the second.
The clock she'd bought and placed in her office dinged one p.m.
Meegan's last words echoed in her mind...
"I love you, thank you for being there for me."
"I love you, thank you for being there for me."
"I love you, thank you for being there for me."
But they didn't reach her heart. She knew then that the tall, beautiful, intelligent, special woman didn't feel the same way Rachyl did, as Rachyl did her.
She picked up her cell phone and threw it as hard as she could... But being out of practice, her aim was bad, and it bounced off the edge of the couch into the corner, landing on Dill's bed. He ran over to it happily then returned with it in his mouth. He dropped it between Rachyl's feet on the floor. When he saw Rachyl wasn't going to reward him, he whined once as if to say, "Gee, thanks. Just remember, I'm here too," and trotted off to his corner.
Rachyl was cried out. She stared at the video tapes on the corner of the desk, and rung the production room again. "Where's my VCR and TV, Fred? And bring me four blank tapes."
She printed out a couple pages of calendar sheets and started the hours-long backup process of backing up Meegan's PC. She called down to the Supplies office. "Joan, I need one of Meegan's extra drafting tables boxed, as well as the usual monthly run of her supplies. Set it aside in the office; I'm going to need it soon."
She realized both the CD case and the laptop were at Meegan's condo; Jeeves would have to get them.
The VCR arrived. Luckily, it was the cart she'd been hoping for - the editing cart which held the duplicating machine Meegan occasionally indulged in for having her make special presentations for clients. She popped one of the blanks in, as well as one of the week-old tapes, and set it to duplicate.
She put the four other tapes in a box and called BikeX-press. "Hi Jimmy, I need to talk to Jude. It's Rachyl from Gothic-ah. Yes, it's important, I'll buy him lunch. No, Jimmy, Jude. I don't want Dan. Now, Jimmy. Thank you." She quickly explained to Jude where she needed him and when, when the first tape finished. As she finished explaining, she popped in the second.
The clock she'd bought and placed in her office dinged one p.m.
Meegan
19 years ago
((Meegan out))
Rachyl
19 years ago
All four tapes had been duplicated by one thirty and shipped out with Jude. Rachyl gave him a sizable tip and told him to get himself lunch somewhere nice or get some for the whole courier place. And no, she was not going out with him.
The drafting table and supplies were ready to be picked up; the memo was probably a bad idea, so Rachyl printed a memo prompting an emergency meeting in Meegan's office at four.
Meanwhile, instead of sitting numbly at Meegan's desk, she quickly took Dill outside to piddle, then returned, refreshed his water and food bowl (since she hadn't had lunch), nibbled on a granola bar from her purse, and sat down from refreshing herself in the ladies' room just moments before the detective arrived.
The drafting table and supplies were ready to be picked up; the memo was probably a bad idea, so Rachyl printed a memo prompting an emergency meeting in Meegan's office at four.
Meanwhile, instead of sitting numbly at Meegan's desk, she quickly took Dill outside to piddle, then returned, refreshed his water and food bowl (since she hadn't had lunch), nibbled on a granola bar from her purse, and sat down from refreshing herself in the ladies' room just moments before the detective arrived.
Rachyl
19 years ago
The detective's interview went swiftly; Rachyl turned over the duplicated tapes without question. Similarly, the emergency team leader meeting went quickly; everyone expressed their condolences for the guards' loss and agreed with the implementation of the buddy and contact systems.
Five p.m. rolled around and Rachyl realized she was more than tired. She also hadn't eaten anything but the granola bar and was starving, and as she thought of food realized she was suffering from a bit of low blood sugar.
When she arrived in the lobby, a darkly dressed, handsome and bulky - and a good foot and a half taller than she was - man stood from a chair and approached her.
"Ms. Walker, I'm here from Nachton Personal. I haven't been waiting long; I apologize for my tardiness. I'm Jack Bennett." She shook his extended hand and couldn't help but wonder why the name "Jack" always seemed to crop up in her interpersonal male relationships.
"Pleasure to meet you Jack. I won't deny that I don't find this arrangement at all satisfactory, but considering the circumstances, Ms. Masters decided you and your colleagues would be the best bet for me." Dill tugged at his leash, indicating he wanted out of the building.
"My plans for the night include walking Dill, here, at the dog park four blocks down The Strip, then probably going either to the Mall, or directly home."
Jack nodded. "Very well, Ms. Walker."
"And call me Rachyl," she admonished.
Five p.m. rolled around and Rachyl realized she was more than tired. She also hadn't eaten anything but the granola bar and was starving, and as she thought of food realized she was suffering from a bit of low blood sugar.
When she arrived in the lobby, a darkly dressed, handsome and bulky - and a good foot and a half taller than she was - man stood from a chair and approached her.
"Ms. Walker, I'm here from Nachton Personal. I haven't been waiting long; I apologize for my tardiness. I'm Jack Bennett." She shook his extended hand and couldn't help but wonder why the name "Jack" always seemed to crop up in her interpersonal male relationships.
"Pleasure to meet you Jack. I won't deny that I don't find this arrangement at all satisfactory, but considering the circumstances, Ms. Masters decided you and your colleagues would be the best bet for me." Dill tugged at his leash, indicating he wanted out of the building.
"My plans for the night include walking Dill, here, at the dog park four blocks down The Strip, then probably going either to the Mall, or directly home."
Jack nodded. "Very well, Ms. Walker."
"And call me Rachyl," she admonished.
Rachyl
19 years ago
Dill must have pooped a ton. At first, she couldn't imagine what he'd been eating to have to go so badly... then she remembered, somewhat to her own chagrin, that she'd only walked him once that day.
She debated going to the Mall as Dill finished his third bout of business and scooped it with the shovel-and-brush combos hanging about the dog park, then dumped it in the litter box. She decided not to; she'd either wait til she got a female guard or one who wasn't staring so lecherously at her ass.
When she approached him standing like a statue near the walking track, she looked up at him, arms firm at her sides, trying not to accentuate her curves as she stated quite firmly, with an undertone of "Yes, I -can- kick your ass", "Please. Stop looking at me like that."
She debated going to the Mall as Dill finished his third bout of business and scooped it with the shovel-and-brush combos hanging about the dog park, then dumped it in the litter box. She decided not to; she'd either wait til she got a female guard or one who wasn't staring so lecherously at her ass.
When she approached him standing like a statue near the walking track, she looked up at him, arms firm at her sides, trying not to accentuate her curves as she stated quite firmly, with an undertone of "Yes, I -can- kick your ass", "Please. Stop looking at me like that."
Rachyl
19 years ago
(( Continued in A Walk in the Park. Lock please. ))