Page 27 of Deadly Designs

Aja Blue’s office was modern and clean, with trendyfurniture and a plethora of green plants. He recognized the sofa inthe reception area as one he’d spotted when checking out herwebsite. The matching chairs too. It was a welcoming space thatfelt creative and energizing.

The office was like the woman: sleek, elegant, andbeautifully proportioned.

Christian shook his head. He wasn’t here to waxpoetic on Aja Blue’s work environment. He needed to catch a vandal.The quicker the better before the threats accelerated into attacks.He approached Sara Lea.

She smiled up at him and batted her long lashes. “Hi,Christian.”

“Hey. When was the last time you talked to Jay?”

Her brown brows scrunched as she gave the questionsome thought. “I guess it was when he left after we called thepolice last week. You know about that, right?” At his nod ofconfirmation, she added, “It was right before Aja Blue took off fora few days.”

“You didn’t talk to him when he called?”

Sara Lea shook her head, sending her riot of brunettecurls tumbling over her shoulders. “He texted.”

“Do you still have the message?” Christian asked.

Sara Lea grabbed her phone from her desk. “I thinkso.” She pulled it up and handed it to him.

He read the message:Taking a few days off.“That’s it?”

Sara Lea shrugged and nodded at the same time.

“What did he say?” Aja Blue asked, coming up behindhim. He held the phone so she could read. “That is surprisinglybrief for Jay. He’s usually quite loquacious.”

He didn’t want to worry her, but it was a genericmessage anyone could have typed. There was nothing personal in themissive. It was blunt and to the point.

“Did it come to your phone or the company one?”

“You know, I hadn’t thought about it before, but itcame to the office number.” Sara Lea looked perplexed. “I’msurprised Jay didn’t text me instead. Usually, he would have doneso.”

Christian asked the other two employees, Marla andDarwin, but neither had spoken with Jay since last week. Both werevisibly concerned. The group seemed tightly knit. It was unlikelyJay would’ve disappeared without contacting one of them.

Aja Blue approached. “We should search hisworkspace.”

He was about to suggest the same thing.

He followed her to a modern wooden desk with copperaccents. “Is this one of your designs?”

Aja Blue’s cheeks pinkened. “It is.”

“It’s beautiful.” He held out his arms to encompassthe room. Each was unique, but they complimented each other. “Theyall are.”

“Thank you. That’s kind of you to say.”

“I mean it.”

Aja Blue looked pleased with his praise as she turnedon Jay’s monitor.

“I’ll look through his drawers while you check thecomputer for clues about where he might’ve gone. Do you have accessto his email?”

She shook her head. “I don’t like to micromanage myemployees. I trust them.”

Jay’s desk was neat and tidy. Two of the threedrawers had organizers that held pencils, paper clips, scissors,rubber bands, and a pile of coins. The bottom one held largeritems, including a box of tissues and a bag of Reese’s Pieces.

Aja Blue glanced over and smiled fondly. “Jay lovesthem. I had them stocked in our vending machine, but the packagewasn’t big enough for him. He had to go out and buy the megasize.”

Christian found nothing suggesting where he’d gone—nopamphlets touting the beauty of Bora Bora nor brochures expoundingon the joy that was Disney World.

---