Breathing Space (Ellis McFadden Mysteries #1)

Chapter 4

T he rest of my workday slipped by without anything as interesting as Frank Kitson happening again. I couldn’t help but think about him every now and then. He was quite a looker and an avid reader to boot.

Not all men were. I knew that. Ned had been a reader. It was a good part of what made our marriage work. We’d had books in common.

Our daughter’s husband, Roger, hadn’t been a reader, other than what was required of him. It was part of the reason I’d never been as fond of him as I probably should have been, but Hazel had loved him. He’d always claimed he did so much technical reading for work that he didn’t have the time or patience to read for pleasure. Maybe he had the time now. May he rest in peace.

Before leaving, I made sure Itzak didn’t need me for anything, then I checked the printing progress in the break room. All was as it should be. Itzak would close up in an hour. I bade him good night, and Harry and I went back to our quarters.

I changed into jeans and a cute green and navy print blouse that hugged my curves, switching out the scarf in my hair for a green one that matched my blouse. I swapped my flats for a similar navy pair. If we were going to the Red Lion after dinner, I wasn’t going looking like a slouch.

I kissed Harry goodbye and headed for the dining hall. Dinner was salad and soup from the self-serve bar because tonight’s carnivore choice was baked chicken.

I’d tried it several times before, and even with gravy, I found it kind of dry. The roasted chicken I would have had. Since that wasn’t on the menu, I went with a big salad with a scoop of diced chicken and several spoonfuls of edamame, and a nice bowl of tortellini soup.

The girls were chatty, so I let them talk, content to listen. As much as I loved to contribute, my head was elsewhere. If I was honest, I was a little mad about Andrew and printing his stupid book. Mad at him, and mad at myself for giving in. Sure, it was my job, but I still felt like I’d capitulated.

Vashti nudged me. “Why are you so quiet? Are you feeling all right?”

“I’m fine. Sorry.” I smiled at all of them. “I’m in a bit of a cranky mood that’s my own fault.”

“Woolsey,” Vashti said, leaning forward like she was sharing a secret.

“What’s he up to now?” Benni asked.

I sighed. “He needed another book printed.”

“Another one?” Zanya shook her head. “That man.”

“Exactly,” I said. “You might find the book interesting, Zanya. It’s old and, judging by the printing time, must have a lot of illustrations in it.”

“That could be interesting,” Zanya said. “What’s it about?”

“Plant alchemy,” I answered as I speared a slice of radish and a chunk of lettuce with my fork, both nicely glazed with the ginger dressing I’d chosen. “More than that, I can’t tell you until it’s done processing.”

Vashti grinned. “If you’re still in a bad mood, think about Frank. That should cheer you up.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Settle down now. He’s just one of many patrons who use the library’s resources to?—”

“Are all the patrons so tall and handsome?” Vashti asked. “Do they all have such rugged good looks?”

Benni and Zanya made romantic noises and fluttered their lashes. Zanya, who was closer to my age, lifted her brows. “Is he single?”

“I have no idea.” Honest answer. I didn’t know. “He wasn’t wearing a ring, but he’s in Mech, and you know they don’t wear anything that could get snagged on the machinery.”

That seemed to put an end to that. We finished up and made our way to the Red Lion. It was busy, but I didn’t come here that often, so maybe it was always like this on dart nights. We found a table. A robot brought us a bowl of pretzels and took our drink orders. Despite generally abstaining from alcohol, it was a girls night out, so I went with a small glass of cider as planned. After Woolsey, I’d earned it.

Vashti ordered the same. Benni had a cosmic martini, and Zanya went with a Loovian beer.

The dart leagues were in full swing, and there was a lot of cheering when someone made a good shot. I didn’t know enough about it to cheer, but the crowd response was contagious. I clapped when everyone else did even though I had no idea what the rules were.

Vashti’s wristband started beeping. She glanced at it and shook her head. “Cruisers. They cannot stay out of trouble. I have to go. Head wound.”

“You’re on call?” Benni asked.

She shook her head. “No, but it’s a child, and I’m the pediatrics specialist. Sorry, gang. I’ll buy a round next time to make up.” She pushed her cider toward me. The glass was nearly full. “Good thing I didn’t have much of this. Enjoy. See you all tomorrow!”

“Bye!” I waved. “That’s a bummer,” I said to the other girls.

Benni sipped her cosmic martini. It was blue with a purple cherry floating in it. “Head wound sounds pretty serious.”

Zanya nodded. “How much you want to bet a cruiser overdid it in one of the simdecks?”

“Could be. Someone broke an arm this morning that way,” I said. I looked at Benni. “How’s Will?”

“He’s good,” Benni said, smiling. “We’re talking about sharing quarters.”

“Are you really?” Benni and Will weren’t just work partners. They were romantically involved, too. I didn’t want to be a cynic, but I hated to think what would happen if the personal side of things didn’t work out.

“Yeah,” she said. “We know it’s risky, but we’ve already agreed that if things don’t work out between us, we’ll do our best to put our feelings aside and remain civil.”

Zanya grimaced. “You really think you can do that?”

“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” Benni said. “But if it does and things are bad, maybe one of us can transfer to a different section.”

“And if you can’t?” I asked. There were only two other sections, so it wasn’t like they’d have a lot of options.

“Then we’ll have to be adults about it.”

Zanya raised her glass. “To Benni and Will!”

We clinked glasses and drank to that.

Half an hour later, Zanya started yawning. “You guys, I think I’m going to have to call it a night. I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right,” Benni said, downing the last of her second cosmic martini. “I have an early start tomorrow, too. I’ll walk with you.”

I had finished my first cider and was about halfway through the one I’d inherited from Vashti. Never one to waste resources, I powered it down. “I’m going to visit the ladies’ before I leave. You two go ahead.”

They were in a different direction than me anyway.

“All right,” Zanya said, leaning in to give me a hug. “See you for dinner tomorrow.”

“You bet.” I got up and realized I probably shouldn’t have drunk all the cider. Too late now. The room seemed to tip slightly, but nothing I couldn’t handle. “Have a good night.”

“You, too,” Benni said.

As they left, I carefully worked my way through the crowd toward the restrooms. There was a line, but it wasn’t long enough to make me leave. Once I’d taken care of business, vapor-sanitized my hands, and checked my hair and face in the mirror, I went back out.

The crowd had died down a bit, although the darts were still going on. I wondered if I should have a glass of water before I left. The cider was doing its thing, and I was just slightly unsteady.

Blast it. That was the problem with being a lightweight. I didn’t drink, so when I did, it hit me hard and I generally regretted it. Then enough time would go by so that I thought I could handle one drink, which I probably could, but I’d had two. I sighed and shook my head at myself while making my way toward the door.

Apparently, today was about making decisions I regretted. All I wanted to do was lie in bed with Harry and read.

A large figure blocked my path to the exit. I tapped him on the back. “’Scuse me. Could I get by?”

The man turned. A slow smile spread across his face. “Ellis.”

I blinked up at him. “Frank?”

“At your service. Are you heading out?”

“I am.” I almost said something about having too much to drink but managed to keep that to myself. That wasn’t something I wanted to share. I didn’t want him to think I was a lush.

He was in jeans and a worn flannel shirt and looked fantastic. He extended his elbow toward me. “May I walk you home?”

I thought as quickly as my cider-addled brain would let me. I’d only just met him. I wasn’t sure I wanted him to know where my quarters were. “You can walk me to the library. I have to check on something.” It was the truth. I wanted to be sure Andrew’s book had finished printing without any issues.

“I’d be happy to.”

“All right.” I took his arm. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Frank. I had no reason not to, after all. But growing up female, you learned to be circumspect about certain aspects of your life. It becomes a kind of built-in defense mechanism. Even more so when you find yourself unexpectedly single.

It was much quieter out in the corridor. I exhaled, already feeling better. But that might have been because I had Frank to lean on.

“So…” He drew the word out long enough that I picked up a hint of amusement in his tone. “ The Duke’s Wicked Wish ?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Hmm?”

“It’s not my usual thing, to be sure, but?—”

“Oh. Oh !” I tried not to laugh as I remembered the book I’d added to his list, but the cider made that impossible. To my dismay, I giggle-snorted. “It is historical. Although I can’t vouch for the accuracy. Sorry. I shouldn’t have included that in your books. I just thought?—”

“Oh, no. Too late now. I’m going to read it. Already started it, actually. Once I finish, I assume we’ll discuss it?”

I hadn’t read The Duke’s Wicked Wish yet. Right then, I vowed to move it to the top of my list and pronto. “Yes, absolutely.”

“You like those sorts of books, do you?”

He was warm and smelled really good. “I read everything because I like all kinds of books. It’s pretty much my job description.”

He grinned. “I suppose it is.”

The starliner’s corridors were nearly empty, and the quiet of the hour meant the soft hum of the ship’s mechanics could be heard very faintly. He got us back to the library without having to ask me for directions, proof that he was a true patron. But also, a man in his line of work ought to know the ship’s layout.

We stopped at the door. The glass front of the library showed the dark interior, only dimly lit by the electronics inside and the ambient light from the corridor.

He turned to face me. “You going to be all right?”

“You mean because I’m a little tipsy?” There was no denying it. I’d used him for support, and he wasn’t an idiot.

He nodded. “But also because you have to get back to your place after this.”

“I’ll be fine.” I lifted my chin slightly. “I know the way by heart.”

He let out a soft laugh. “I’m sure you do. All the same, be careful. I’ll see you around.”

I wasn’t ready to let go of him that easily. Not in my current state of artificially heightened confidence. “When will you be back to the library?”

“At least a week or so. Maybe two. Usually about how long it takes me to read through my books.” He studied me, eyes alight with curiosity. “But if we’re going to discuss this romance novel you’ve given me, maybe we could have dinner sometime. Luna’s? If you like Italian.”

“I do.” I hadn’t been to Luna’s. It took credits, and as the dining hall was free, it wasn’t a place I— Wait a parsec. Was he asking me on a date?

He held out his arm, pulling his sleeve back to expose his wristband. “If you give me your data, I’ll message you when I’m done reading.”

“All right.” I couldn’t very well say no after I’d started this whole thing by adding that book to his list. What had I thought would come of it? In my defense, it certainly wasn’t a date. All the same, the idea of going on a date was … interesting. And not entirely unwelcome. With a smile, I held my wristband to his. A tiny beep announced we’d successfully exchanged information. “Thanks, Frank. I look forward to it.”

I meant that, too.

He gave me a little nod. “So do I, Ellis. Good night.”

I held my wrist to the lock but kept eye contact with him. “Good night.”

A soft snick and the door opened. I watched him walk away for a few steps, then turned and went in.

The door closed behind me. The smile was still on my face.