Page 2 of Speak No Evil

The driver eased to the curb, one wheel hitting a pothole. The side doors slapped open. The woman descended and gestured for the little girl’s hand.

The child balked, and the doors started to close. If no one did anything, the family would be separated. “Hurry!” The mom clapped her hands.

“Wait,” Gwen called out, “Don’t close the doors yet!”

The passenger in a nearby seat pressed the stop request strip, and Gwen took the little girl’s hand and lifted her down the steps and out onto the sidewalk. The exit doors snapped shut behind them, and the bus pulled away.

The youngster’s face turned red. Seconds later, she started bawling. Loudly. The mother cradled her close and shook her head at Gwen. “She insisted I let her go down by herself, but I shouldn’t have listened. Thank you for helping me. I hope this is the stop you wanted, but I have a feeling it isn’t.”

“No problem.” Gwen smiled. At least, helping the mother had gotten her away from the creepy, long-haired guy at least. “I’m glad to help.”

“Mommy, I was so scared.” The toddler swiped at her eyes.

“I know, sweetheart.” The mother took her hand. “We will practice another time. Come on, wave to the friendly lady and we’ll go home.”

Gwen wiggled her fingers at the child and watched them walk away. She’d gotten off many stops before the one she wanted, but with the streets emptier she would probably find a free taxi.

A perusal of the avenue and adjacent streets turned up empty. She squinted in the direction of Midtown, but the next bus looked a half-mile away. She swiped the screen of her cellphone and pulled up the subway map. Shucks, even the subways had abandoned this section of Fifth Avenue.

She really would love to skip this errand, but Erin had always gone the extra mile for her when the tables were turned. All she could say was Erin had better study the workbook and ace her exam.

Movement caught her eye. She tensed. Two men came out of the building halfway down the block the mother and children had walked. The neon sign casting them in shades of green and pink suggested they’d left a local watering hole.

The offices in the area must be closed for the weekend now, emptying the sidewalks except right outside the bar. The only noise came from the occasional passing car. She shrank into the shadows of the hi-rise office building behind her, not crazed about attracting attention. Their voices faded as they walked away from her, and she let out a held breath.

She didn’t need to hang around, though, and glanced up the avenue again. No cabs were visible so she started walking.

Ten minutes later, she finally saw a free cab. Before long, the pinkish granite and glass facade of the Meta Hellenic Shipping building came into view. Lights shone in the vast lobby of the modernistic mid-rise steel and glass structure. She paid the fare and jogged inside, striding directly to the burnished elevators.

“Miss?” A security guard in a blue uniform rose from behind a circular desk she’d never noticed.

“Oh, hey!” She strode over.

“You need to check in here first.”

“Sure. I’m looking for an engineer with the shipping company. Is Will Strongbow still here?” She crossed her fingers.

“I’ll call.” The guard sat behind a computer and assessed a screen.

“Please.” She swiped away the sweat dripping down her temple and listened to the exchange.

Assured Will would be down soon, Gwen settled on a leather padded bench under the windows and waited. She crossed and recrossed her legs.

The engineering department occupied the twentieth floor, but the building had plenty of elevators, which were apparently locked since most of the workers here had left by now. Was that why Will was taking so long?

That didn’t matter. After the way she’d treated him, she pretty much expected him to make her wait. No doubt he was nicer to beautiful and smart Erin. She always seemed to put men on their best behavior.

Gwen stared toward the elevators. What did she care, anyway? She wasn’t looking to turn some guy’s head. Far from it. What she needed to do now was retrieve this cursed study guide and leave. Get to the train station and go home.

* * *

Will Strongbow stood at the floor to ceiling windows of the engineering department tossing a pen and watching the sun sink lower over the Jersey side of the river. Below, lights already glowed along the darkening New York City streets. He didn’t like the idea of a woman traipsing around in the deserted financial district alone, but he’d wait her out.

The cell on his desk rang. This could be Gwen calling again. He snatched up the phone and checked the screen. Nope, no such luck. “Hey, Charlie, how’s the party going?”

“You need to get over here now! The birthday boy is treating everyone to more rounds.” Charlie burped. “Ex-cuse me.”

Will shook his head. Sounded like everyone was getting lubricated. “I’m still waiting for Erin’s friend.” Getting seriously worried, too.

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