Page 61 of Reckless Chance
As my office door shuts, the whirring of the elevator signals Lowri’s imminent arrival. I’d stand up to greet her except there’s a rapidly increasing tightness in my trousers that I’d rather not show off when we’re supposed to be discussing business. Too bad we can’t start with dessert.
I shift in my chair, seeking a comfortable position while staring intently at the contract I’m supposed to be reviewing. Nothing will deflate an untimelyproblemas fast as the details of a supply agreement for gaming chips.
A ding sounds as the doors open. My head instinctively pops up. Lowri’s wide smile mirrors mine as we lock eyes.
“I brought my laptop to show you what I found. Is now a good time, or do you need a few minutes to finish what you’re working on?” Lowri asks, sashaying toward me.
“Now’s good. Join me around here, so we can both see the screen on your computer,” I say, as I stand to greet her.
Lowri sets her tote bag on top of my desk and melts into my arms for a warm hug. Taking a deep breath, my lungs fill with the welcome scent of orange blossoms. Mmm. She’s enchanting and addictive.
When we separate, I give her a quick peck on the forehead.
“Before we get sidetracked, tell me what you figured out. Have you solved the mystery as to how the tree’s platform collapsed?” I ask.
“Not exactly. I noticed a common thread between the earlier accidents though.”
She pulls her laptop out, setting it on my desk.
I’m instantly distracted as she bends over her keyboard to log in. My fingers wander to her inner thigh, inching her skirt up. There are real advantages to being married to your lawyer. It’s acceptable to cross lines that would be forbidden otherwise.
Sadly, her left hand reaches for my wrist and yanks it away. “Not now. There’ll be time for that later. We have work to do. Don’t you want to find out why there have been so many accidents?”
“Sorry about that. You are too tempting. What did you figure out?” I ask, clasping my hands on my desk, attempting to keep them off her for the moment.
“Let me show you the video clips. Here’s the first one,” she says as a video pops up on the screen.
“What am I looking for?”
“They’re getting ready to rehearse the first scene with the fireworks. Watch closely as they finish the setup of the sparklers at the back. Tell me what you see,” she says, hitting play.
“Performers are milling around the stage. Some are clustered in small groups chatting. I count six crew members working on props near the back of the stage.”
“How do you know they are crew?”
“The crew always wear navy shirts with the Athena logo across the back.”
Pausing the video, Lowri zooms in and points to a person in navy, wearing dark glasses and a baseball cap. “Keep an eye on this spot.”
“Okay.” The video resumes. The crew finishes their adjustments, and the rehearsal begins.
As the music builds, dancers leap across the stage and the pyrotechnic fountains, called gerbs, go off, producing plumes of sparks. The effect is dramatic.
Staring at the spot Lowri pointed out, the effect quickly changes from dramatic to scary. A bush nearby the gerb catches fire and goes up in flames as a dancer cartwheels past. The dancer falls to the ground, ripping off his burning sock. Screaming ensues, the crew runs out with fire extinguishers, and the pyrotechnic fountains burn out—all this happens within a span of about twenty seconds.
“Damn. Why was the bush so close to the sparks in the first place?” I ask.
“I doubt it was supposed to be. As you can see, the bushes in front of the other fountains of sparks are further away. Now, let’s look at the other two accidents we know about. The next video shows the wall before and during the fall.”
“Is that the same crew member working on the wall who was near the fireworks earlier?”
“I think so. Now, take a look at this last video.”
Lowri pops it up, pointing to the screen. “See that person checking the vines. Isn’t that the same baseball-capped person who was in the other videos?”
“I think so.”
“This final video is from the day of the show we attended. The last vine they checked was the one that ripped and sprained the ankle of the performer. The baseball-capped person is a common thread between the accidents. They were present immediately before each of the mishaps occurred. I suspect they either carelessly or purposefully caused each one.”
