Page 8 of Whispers of Redemption

CHAPTER 3

Cassie swung the door open and strode into the reception area of Priority Courier Service. She removed her ponytail holder and pulled off her company-required blue baseball cap, combing her fingers through her sweat-dampened hair. “It’s a hot one today,” Cassie said, fanning herself with the cap.

Tami Hall, one of the co-owners of PCS, glanced up from her computer. “Yeah, it is. I think we hit ninety today, and the humidity is crazy,” she said, then added, “You’ve got something on your shirt.”

Cassie looked down and noticed a dark yellow splotch next to the “Your Package. Our Priority.” tagline under the PCS logo on her blue uniform polo shirt. She made an exasperated sound. “I swear this happens every single time I get mustard on my sub for lunch!”

“Hang on.” Tami bent down and rummaged inside her purse. She pulled out a stain remover pen and handed it to Cassie.

“Thanks!” Cassie rubbed at the mark until it was no longer yellow, just a big wet spot on her shirt.

“Don’t worry, it’ll dry fast,” Tami said, taking the pen back and shoving it into her bag. “You’re done with the first part of your route already?”

“Yup! If I keep up this pace, it looks like I may get to escape early today.” Cassie grinned, handing over her clipboard with the route paperwork. She rested her chin in her hands as she surveyed Tami’s desk over the countertop. It was cluttered with papers and sticky notes, but Tami always seemed to know exactly where everything was.

“You didn’t speed, did you?” Tami arched a brow.

“Of course not!” Cassie blinked her wide-set green eyes, her features the picture of innocence. “I would never do that!”

“Hmmmm.”

“Have you ever gotten a call complaining about my driving?” Cassie asked, already knowing the answer. In her three and a half years working for PCS, she’d been employee of the month five times and had never been involved in an accident. Plus, she held the record for the most successful deliveries of any courier at the company.

“I know, I know,” Tami laughed, holding up her hands in mock surrender. “You’re a rock star. The queen of our couriers.”

“Ha! More like a princess of pain in the—”

“You better not finish that sentence, Brett!” Tami said sharply, cutting him off as he approached the counter to stand beside Cassie. Brett handed Tami his own clipboard. He was tall and lean, his build almost scrawny, and he wore his straight, brown hair long, but it lacked any visible style. He still had his sunglasses on. Cassie knew it was because he thought they made him look cool.

“Something bothering you, Brett?” Cassie turned to face him, hand on one hip.

Brett sneered at her. The silver ball on his pierced lower lip bobbed upwards as he tightened his lips. But he didn’t respond, just turned on his heel and stalked across the room, heading toward the door that led to the back offices and garage.

“What was that about?” Tami asked.

“Nothing,” Cassie said, turning her attention back to Tami.

“If you say so.” Tami looked back at her computer screen. She made a few quick taps on the keyboard. “So...it looks like I need you to pick up some boxes in town from Velocity Printing for delivery to Creative Solutions Marketing. And then you’ve also got a high-priority pick-up from your favorite client.”

“Olga?”

“Yes, apparently, she has a very important package she needs you to take to the airport.”

“I can do that,” Brett said from across the room. He’d paused and turned, pulling his hand back from the doorknob. “I handle Olga’s deliveries, too.”

“Sorry, Brett, it makes more sense for Cassie to do it. Besides, she finished up her initial route first.”

“First...first...” Cassie lingered over the word. “That has such a lovely ring to it, doesn’t it, Brett?” She smirked at him, enjoying the rainbow of reds and purples mottling his normally sallow complexion.

“Shut up, Cassie,” he said, and shoved the door open so hard that it hit the doorstop with a violent bang.

“Careful!” Tami shouted at his retreating backside. Then she turned to Cassie. “He has such a bad attitude sometimes—especially toward you.”

---