Page 55 of Sinner

We both laughed, but I now wondered whether I had a fucking clue what I was getting myself into.

“There’s just one thing about the event. One tiny thing.”

“Now you tell me. What?”

She hesitated briefly. “It’s a masked party.”

“What? For a fifteen-year celebration and the release of a new game?” But in a way it made perfectly good sense. Anonymity in the gaming world was a necessity. Plus, it would make for a juicy concept around the release of Dark Nights. What an appropriate name. “As in full costumes?”

“Just masks. Any kind.”

A slight series of creepy crawlies swept up my spine. “That’s… interesting.” Make my own rules. Maybe I’d use that as a mantra.

“It could be fun. I know a little place we can grab a couple masks as well,” Stephanie said.

“Is there any store in town you don’t know?”

“A few. After work? Shopping? Maybe a little vino. I do need a buddy with a shoulder to sob on.”

“Oh, yeah. You sound really broken up.” She’d been through more men in one year than I’d dated in my lifetime. And I was twenty-six years old, for God’s sake.

“I am. Not. But it will be fun to do some shopping.”

As if she didn’t have some new fabulous outfit on every time I saw her. “Yes, it’s fine. Where do you want to meet?”

She mentioned a location and I made a mental note, praying my screwed-up brain wouldn’t forget.

“One last question,” Stephanie muttered and I’d be damned if her tone wasn’t coy.

“What?”

“Are you ever going to explain why you’re using an assumed name?”

“Um, maybe.”

“You do know falsifying records could get you fired before you’re hired.”

“I’m willing to take that chance. Just remember if anyone recognizes us at the event, I’m Sophie. Got it?”

“Oh, so mysterious. Got it.”

After we ended the call, I tossed the phone on my desk and glanced at the screen again. At least something had worked over the last few days.

The night would haunt me for a long time. Since then, I’d seen no sign of him. Not one. But I’d felt him. As if he was enjoying remaining in the shadows, making me as uncomfortable as possible.

I was so lost in thought that I hadn’t noticed someone was suddenly standing right by my cubicle door.

The presence made me jump.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Jessica. I didn’t mean to scare you.” My boss was standing right there. He was such a nice guy, but only came down to the trenches when we had our group team meeting. Other than that, he stayed behind a locked door performing magic with codes and designs.

“It’s okay. Just a little jumpy today. What can I do for you, Mr. Carter? Um, Sam.” He’d insisted only first names be used by everyone.

He grinned. “Do you have a couple minutes? I’d like to talk to you.”

“Of course.”

He nodded over his shoulder and I followed behind him like a dutiful employee when I also felt as if I was betraying the man. Yes, people switched jobs often including in this industry, but he’d been very good to me, including nurturing my original games by offering his supportive advice.

---