Page 19 of 1st Shock
"Oh, shoot." She clunks herself on the head. "I'm sorry. UPS delivered your supplies and the phone blew up. By the time I got done, he was gone, and I forgot to lock up."
"It's all right."
Fresh out of college, Haley is determined to do a good job. We're probably an entry-level stepping stone for a pretty twenty-two-year-old with a psychology degree, but I can't blame her for the fact we'll more than likely lose her in a year. She's only been with us four months, but she's good. Conscientious, punctual, and doesn't mind grunt work mixed in with the not-so-grunt.
"I had Jack put the boxes in your studio."
Did I mention she's on a first name basis with all the delivery guys? They love her. She hands them coffee and they put the packages wherever she wants. The fact she's a tall blond with a face I'm dying to sculpt doesn't hurt.
"Thank you," I say because when you get boxes and boxes of art supplies, it's nice to have someone else carry them for you.
"Do you need me to unpack them?"
"No. Thanks. I'll take care of it."
I find said boxes neatly stacked in the corner of my office by the closet. There's nothing pressing in there, so I add unloading them to my mental to-do list for the day.
Silence descends on my sanctuary and after the wacky morning I've had, I pause for a second and close my eyes. I inhale then release the breath, allowing my brain a few brief seconds of rest. A musky scent hangs in the air. UPS man Jack, I assume, laying the aftershave on a bit heavy. I'm not one for scented soaps and I wrinkle my nose, wishing for a window to crack open.
I turn to the stand where Avery waits. "Good morning," I say. "Plenty to do today."
A flash of white catches my eye and I glance to the far corner. Something churns inside me and I feel a burst. Like a pilot light that won't fire, and I hate it.
"Haley!"
The flame inside finally ignites and the initial paralyzing shock melts away. I'm on the move, heading straight to Emily.
"What is it?"
Haley's voice is breathy, rushed. I scoop up the soft, honey blond wig sitting on the floor and point to the harsh platinum one on Emily's head.
"What happened here?" My voice is clipped, teetering on the edge of control.
I should check that, but...no. Haley's been an employee long enough to know I don't like my work touched. At all.
She's also aware of my obsession—yes, I'll admit it—with Emily. The fact that someone has come in here, intomyspace, and touched her drives me nearly insane.
Has she not suffered enough? Murdered, left in the cold like trash for years and now this?
Haley's mouth opens, forming a silentoh."I...I don't know. It's the first I'm seeing it."
Resisting the urge to touch the ugly platinum wig, I set the honey blond on my work table, push past Haley and head to Charlie's office. "Was Jack the only one in there?"
Haley follows me, her long legs easily keeping pace. "As far as I know. I got here at eight forty-five and the alarm was still on."
"What time did Jack arrive?"
"Um, around ten-thirty, I think. You don't believe he...?"
She thinks? Excellent.
I flip the light on in Charlie's office and note my twitching hands. The rage is streaming now, all that roiling emotion flooding my brain. I remind myself to stay calm. To focus. Whoever touched Emily, I'll get the bastard.
I know this because we have 24/7 video surveillance.
"It couldn't have been Jack," Haley says. "Why would he do that?"
"I don't think it is."
