Fifty
Ari pressed her ear against the door, straining to catch the words filtering through the thick wood. Nancy was talking to someone.
The voices were muffled, but she could still make out Nancy’s low, sharp tone. And the other voice… Ari wasn’t certain but if she had to guess? She’d heard a voice like it before, during the speeches.
Helen.
She bit the inside of her cheek. If she was right, this wasn’t good. She didn’t know much about Helen, only what Nancy had let slip in passing. Former boss. Complicated history. The kind of woman who knew exactly where to press to make someone squirm.
Judging by the way Nancy’s voice had dropped even lower, Ari would bet Helen was pressing now.
Ari flattened her palm against the door, willing herself to hear more. The occasional mumbled syllable cut through but not enough to piece anything together.
Her pulse picked up, her mind racing through the worst possible outcomes. Was Helen threatening Nancy? Had she called security? Were they physically fighting? Did Helen have her in a headlock? Was Nancy bleeding out from a knife wound?
Ari had to tell herself to calm down.
She swallowed hard, clenching her jaw. She hated this. Being stuck here, locked away like an afterthought while Nancy was out there dealing with whatever the hell this was.
A sharp burst of laughter rang out, but there was no humour in it.
Ari’s stomach twisted. Nancy was in trouble. And Ari had no way to get to her. This day had started terribly and was doing its best to plumb new depths.