Page 39 of Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World
“I don’t believe so. My people found no traces of violence at the homes of our employees, and you know how the Conclave likes to leave messages behind.”
“Our Outreach division has been monitoring some unusual communications from within the NYPD. Reports of missing persons have skyrocketed over the past week, mainly here in Manhattan but also in some of the other boroughs. The authorities are at a loss to explain it.”
I peeked over my shoulder. Ms.Yamada was frowning at the floor, arms crossed. “I know Tomas was looking into the employees who vanished here in the building,” she said at last. “Has he had any success?”
“No. His people keep dying. I asked him yesterday to investigate these other disappearances in the city and the results were the same.”
Silence fell as the two women looked at each other. “If our quarterly projections continue to trend downward,” Ms.Yamada murmured at last, “Management will notice. And They will want answers.”
“I’ll speak with Tomas again,” Ms.Crenshaw replied crisply, “and loop in Barney as well. He might be able to learn something from our investors.”
“Wonderful. Thank you, Margaret.”
“Of course, Sachiko. I’ll keep you informed.”
As Ms.Yamada glided from the room, I stopped my half-hearted scrubbing and turned to look at my boss. She was already tapping away at her phone. “This seems bad,” I observed.
Her dark eyes rose to meet mine. “Potentially, yes. A few hundred missing people is relatively unimportant, but our oracles dying is more of a concern.” Lowering her phone, she added, “Clear my schedule for the rest of the day, Colin, and cancel my lunch order.” Then she was gone, leaving only the sound of her Louboutins receding down the hallway.
Levering myself off the floor, I tidied away the cleaning suppliesand then cleared her calendar. While I did so, I considered the encouraging news that these disappearances were now starting to affect the company’s bottom line. That meant Ms.Crenshaw would be extra grateful when I stopped the Thing. I might even get a commendation from Management! I had no idea what that might look like—an intern of my very own? Free ice cream in the cafeteria?—but it would probably be pretty great.
For the rest of the day, I indulged in elaborate fantasies in which I stood in front of the executive board and announced that I, Colin Harris, had saved them all. They chanted my name and lifted me onto their shoulders while Ms.Crenshaw, with tears in her eyes, told me she was incredibly proud. Then I made Sunil and Tamsin rub my feet and fetch me coffee while addressing me as Senior Vice President in Charge of Kicking Ass.
Everything was going to be amazing, just as soon as I figured out what to do.
On Sunday afternoon, Eric tookme and Amira to visit the Cloisters, the Met’s incredible museum of medieval art. As we explored its hushed stone corridors and courtyard gardens, I understood why this was one of his favorite places in New York. Once we’d had our fill of the Middle Ages, we sprawled on the verdant grass of Fort Tryon Park, watching kids run around screaming while their exhausted parents reconsidered their life choices. I studied Eric surreptitiously as he lounged casually on one elbow, muscled torso on full display in a tight T-shirt. A gold chain encircled his neck and there was something suspended from it, its outline visible beneath the thin cotton. In a dizzying moment of dissociation, I imagined that Iwasthat thing, lying against his warm skin, listeningto the pulse of his heart. I came back to myself only when he reached out to clasp my hand in his.
Amira watched us with the satisfied expression of a successful matchmaker. “I’m so glad I brought you two together. You’re adorable.”
I blushed self-consciously and ducked my head as Eric twined his fingers through mine.
“And I’m glad you encouraged me to tag along today,” she added. “Things have been so strange lately. Colin told me about those traffic accidents in Midtown the other day, and all I see on social media lately are stories about missing people. If I weren’t here, I’d be doomscrolling at home.”
My good mood evaporated. “Yeah,” I mumbled. “It’s weird.”
“What do you think is going on?” she asked us both.
I shrugged uncomfortably.
Eric slowly let go of my hand. “I don’t know,” he responded quietly.
“C’mon. You must have theories.” Amira generally pursued answers with the same ruthless single-mindedness of an apex predator hunting its prey. It made her an excellent scientist but, at times, an inconvenient friend.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” I insisted a little wildly. “Just an optical illusion.”
They both eyed me skeptically. “What do you mean?” Amira asked.
“Or a hoax,” I suggested. “Yeah. A hoax! All these missing people are actually in New Jersey, and in a few days there’ll be a big reveal and we’ll all laugh about how freaked out we were.”
“I’m not sure that’s the case,” Eric murmured diplomatically.
“New Jersey?” Amira repeated.
“I don’t want to talk about it!”
The two of them exchanged a glance, then obligingly switched to discussing their yoga class and its cast of colorful characters. Eventually, Amira said that she needed to head home and work on the paper she was co-writing with her advisor. We all got to our feet and I gave her a hug before sending her on her way.
For a while, Eric and I strolled the pathways of the park, hand in hand. The skies clouded over as the afternoon faded toward evening and a brisk wind started to blow in from the river, making the greenery around us sway and bend. Eric became more and more subdued as our surroundings darkened, and eventually I gave his hand a little squeeze. “Are you okay?”
