Part 8 (1/2)
”But I can't leave you...” she started.
”Yes, you can. You've got two kids.”
She was beginning to look pale. I didn't blame her. I wasn't feeling great myself. We hurried back to our side of the office. Just as we got to the hallway, I heard the guard getting off the elevator.
”Get out of here. I'll be okay,” I said again. Barbara nodded and headed for her desk. I ducked into the copy room because there was no other place to hide without running straight into the guard. I looked desperately around the room for a place to hide the notebook. If Ranson wanted it, she could find a way to come here and get it. I heard the guard in the hallway. He was talking to Barbara. Not good. I was hoping he would let her out since he knew her pretty well. But it didn't sound like he was going to. Even worse, I heard the sound of a second guard's voice. One to block the door and another to search.
Where to hide this? There were stacks of paper and two copy machines, one with a broken sign on it. Inspiration hit. I opened up the broken copy machine, exposing the inner workings. That's where I put the notebook. I had to sit on the cover to shut it, doing an untold amount of damage. Then I closed up the copy machine and figured it was time to bluff my way out of this place.
I walked out of the door and into one of the guards.
”What are you doing here?” he asked. What a clever question.
”That d.a.m.n copy machine. It always breaks down when you need it, and the little one doesn't collate,” I said in the best helpless female * 58 *
voice I could manage. He led me down to the reception area where Barbara was waiting with the second guard.
”Is something the matter?” I asked as innocently as possible.
”Break-in,” said a guard.
”No! Maybe we should call the police? You don't suppose he's still around,” I continued as a helpless female.
”You're going to have to wait here,” was all one of the guards said.
”But that's not possible,” I said. ”I'm supposed to meet my boyfriend in twenty minutes in the Quarter and I'm always late. So last week we had a big fight about it and I promised, I mean, promised him I'd be on time. If I don't show up he'll kill me, I just know it.” My guess was that the best way out of here was the bimbo route.
”Sorry, lady,” said the guard.
”I've already tried,” put in Barbara. She looked nervous, but she wouldn't fall apart.
”Can I at least call him?” Anything at this point. The two guards looked at each other. One of them shrugged.
”All right,” the other one said, ”Just make it snappy.” He led me to a telephone, then stood by to listen in.
I dialed Sergeant Ranson's number. Some bored clerk answered.
”h.e.l.lo, is Jo there?” I asked.
”No.”
”Do you know when he'll be in?” I almost said she, which would have been a bad mistake.
”He? Sergeant Joanne Ranson's a woman.”
”I know. But it's important that I talk to him.” Catch on, dummy.
”Sorry, she ain't here and I got no idea when she'll be back.”
”Well, can I leave a message?”
”Yeah, sure.”
”It's Michele and I've got a problem. I'm stuck here at work and don't know when I'll get out. Got that?” Write down that I've got a problem, dimwit.
”Yeah, but Ranson's out somewheres. I don't know when she'll get back.”
”Thanks anyway.”
The clerk hung up.
”All right, let's go,” said the guard.
* 59 *
”But I didn't get him. Let me try and call his mother. He usually calls her around this time of day.” The guard gave me an exasperated look, but shrugged okay. I dialed the number Ranson had given me for Alexandra Sayers.
”h.e.l.lo,” she answered.
”Hi, this is Michele. I can't get hold of Jo anywhere and I need to tell him that I've got a problem at work and can't leave. I'll meet him as soon as possible.” I hoped she caught my slight emphasis on as soon as possible as in help.
”You can't talk, right?” Alexandra asked.
”Right,” I answered, praising pagan deities that Ranson had backed herself up with someone who was not an idiot.
”Are you in danger?”
”Yes. And I'm not the only person stuck here. Barbara Selby, the office manager, is also stuck here. I know I'm always late, but this time I want Jo to know that I'm an innocent victim.” The guard was s.h.i.+fting from foot to foot, like he was going to break this off any minute.
”Okay, I've got that,” answered Alexandra on the other end.
”If Jo calls you, ask him if he could meet me at work,” I said. The guard made a cutting motion against his throat. Time was up.
”Right,” she answered.
”I've got to go.”
”Okay. Stay put. We'll get there as soon as possible.” She hung up.
I put down the phone.
”Geez, if I lose this boyfriend, it's going to be this company's fault,” I said and did what I thought was a flounce back to the guard's station.
As we got there, Milo and a man best described as goon got off the elevator.
”Search the floor,” Milo said. The two guards went off. I was hoping that Milo's goon would help, but he didn't. At this point, if it were just Milo, I would have risked jumping him. But I wasn't a match for two men with guns. We waited in silence for the guards to finish.
They came back and reported that we were the only people on this floor.
Then Milo left and went into the file room. He didn't stay there very long.