Page 60 of No Escape

Tom laughed. “We’ve come a long way. Especially you, Valerie. But if you’re game, we can go a little further.”

“What doesthatmean?” Valerie asked.

“You’ll see… We’re almost there.”

The car moved to the side as it negotiated a gentle corner and Valerie felt the warmth of the sun on her skin through the passenger window. She took a deep breath and sighed in relief.

The car then slowed and stopped. Valerie heard the engine turn off and listened as Tom took his keys out of the ignition.

“We’re here,” he said excitedly.

“Can I take this blindfold off?” Valerie asked.

“No!” Suzie and Tom said at the same time.

“All right, all right.”

Tom got out of the car and opened the passenger’s door. He gave Valerie his hand and helped her out. His grip felt soft and strong at the same time.

Valerie instinctively lifted her hand to her blindfold.

“Don’t you dare, Birthday Girl,” Suzie said, taking her other hand.

“Watch your step,” Tom said as he led Valerie up a step and into a building.

Valerie’s best guess was he was taking her to the restaurant where they got engaged, but now she knew it was somewhere else. It was too quiet.

Valerie heard the ping of an elevator and then she was led inside. The elevator moved smoothly upwards, and she started to feel a mixture of excitement and nerves.

The elevator pinged again and the doors opened. She stepped out of it, led by Tom and her sister.

The first thing that hit Valerie was the smell. It was a mix of cleaning products and freshness—like they had been scrubbed and polished.

She took another step forward, feeling the carpet underneath her toes, and then another. She felt walls on either side of her, but she couldn’t see them.

“Just a little further,” Tom said. He moved her forward and then said, “You can take off your blindfold.”

Valerie hesitated for just a moment before pulling it away from her face. She had butterflies in her stomach.

What is all of this?she thought.

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the light, and when they did, she couldn’t believe what she saw.

In front of her was a polished oak door. The glass in it was misted, and on the glass, written in gold-leafed lettering, were the words “Law, Carlson, and Cooper Detective Agency.”

Valerie felt like she was dreaming. What had started as a simple birthday celebration suddenly felt like much more. She touched the door gently with her hand, feeling its smoothness against her skin.

“Is… Is this a dream?” Valerie said out loud.

“No dream, Valerie, but a calling,” the familiar voice of Will Cooper said from behind her.

Valerie spun around to several smiling faces. Standing beside Tom and Suzie were Charlie, Will, and Jackson Weller. Valerie’s eyes welled up with tears.

“We all know investigation is in your blood,” Will continued. “And we’ve got a place for you here, if you’re interested.”

Valerie didn’t have any words—she just nodded fervently and stepped forward to hug each of her friends tightly.

“This is amazing,” she said through her tears.

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