Page 38 of Elliot

“Louise? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Ms. Callahan. Are you enjoying your trip?”

“I didn’t go on a trip, Louise.”

“But I got that email,” Louise said. “It said you didn’t need me to come for the next week.”

“I believe you, Louise. I just wanted to check to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine. I’m not going insane; I promise … but I can’t find the email now. Let me look in my trash. Oh, here it is.”

“Louise, do me a favor and don’t do anything with your emails. I know someone who can look into it, okay? I’m not upset, and I do believe you. I’m just so happy you’re okay.”

“I’m fine. I’ll be there tomorrow like always.”

“No, that’s okay. You can have time off until I finish this project—paid, of course. I’ll call you when I’m ready for you to return.”

“Are you okay, Ms. Callahan?” Louise asked. “Is something going on?”

“Yeah, things are a bit crazy, but I’m fine. I’ll call you, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am. If you’re sure.”

“I am. Thank you.” She hung up the phone and looked over at Dan. “She’s fine.”

“Thank God.” Dan breathed a sigh of relief.

They waited for about ten minutes before one of the Guardians came down. “Ma’am, could you come with me?”

“Is everything okay?” She glanced at Dan.

“Yes, ma’am. We called Lima One, and he’s en route. Were you able to reach your housekeeper?”

“Who’s Lima One?” Maya frowned as she walked with her escort to the elevator.

“Sorry, Mr. Sawyer.” The man smiled.

“I was able to reach Louise. She said she received an email from me. I didn’t send one. I told her not to touch the email. I figured you’d have someone who could do a search or something.”

“Absolutely. That was a good call on your part.” When the elevator door closed, the man turned to her. “There’s a situation in your bedroom. We’re waiting for investigators to arrive with Mr. Sawyer, and he requests you don’t enter the bedroom until he arrives.”

Maya walked out into her apartment when the elevator opened. “No, I’d like to see what is going on.”

“Ma’am, it isn’t pretty.” The man shook his head. “You should really wait for Mr. Sawyer.”

Maya felt a cold shiver crawl up her spine. Okay, she’d wait until Elliot got there. “Then could you tell me what’s in there? I need to have an idea.”

“Someone went through your bedroom, destroyed some of your clothes, and it looks like they spraypainted on your walls with red paint. There are threats.”

Maya lifted her head. “Threats to what or who?”

“To you, ma’am.”

Maya dropped onto the couch, kicked off her shoes, and pulled her legs up, circling them with her arms.What had she done to deserve that?

She swung around to look at the Guardian. “Why did you call him Lima One? Elliot, I mean?”

“That’s been his call sign forever. He’s kind of a legend in Guardian.”

---