Chapter 4 #2
“Waiting for us?” Oliver asked Heath after they exited their car.
“Waiting for somebody to come. Like I said, the medallion thing spooked me.”
Oliver squeezed his arm. “It spooked us all.”
They went in through Heath’s studio. It was bigger than either of theirs because he worked mostly with groups. He switched on the light and searched the reception area and his office, then checked out the practice room. “I guess it’s all right here.”
Even though they hired someone to come in very early and sweep the place, they all remembered the snake incident and the barbell blocking the door and were overly conscious of their vulnerability.
Oliver unlocked his door and Finn and Heath followed him into his practice. They took the same kind of survey of his entire place then checked Finn’s studio. Each of them finally went to his own studio.
Finn stood in the doorway of his, though, staring out at the common area.
The juice bar for clients had recently been finished.
Already a few clients were drinking coffee at one of the eight tables.
Finn found himself scrutinizing them. He even walked around, ostensibly looking for a place to sit.
In reality, he was searching for a medallion.
Fuck. This was nuts. When he saw nothing, he went into his practice and then his office.
A knock at the door to his reception area, then it opened. Joe Larson, Scarlet’s boyfriend, stood in the doorway.
“Hey, Joe.” Finn stood. “Want to sit?”
“Yeah.”
Joe started to talk right away. “I’m at a loss, Finn. Scarlet and I aren’t seeing each other because of the mess going on here but I’m worried about her. She speaks highly of you. And you seem pretty fair minded. How is she?”
He studied Joe, a man in love if he ever saw one. “Scarlet’s sad, Joe. You haven’t known her long, but I can count on one hand the times I ever saw her sad.”
“Over the collective’s problems?”
“In an indirect sense. My guess is she’s sad over her separation from you.”
He laid his head back against the chair.
Finn studied him. His hair was uncombed, his face pale.
But mostly, his posture was defeated. Finn got up and sat down next to him.
Leaned his shoulder against Joe’s. “Hey, buddy, don’t give up hope.
This mess with the collective has to end sometime. She’s worth waiting for, isn’t she?”
He sat up straighter. “Of course. If she doesn’t find someone else first. I worry about that Krause guy sniffing around her.”
“Give her a little credit, Joe. She’s too smart to get involved with one of her guards.”
“Yeah. You’re right.” He stood. “I’m sorry to intrude on you. But I had to talk to somebody here.”
Finn took a card out of his pocket. “Here’s my contact information. Write down my cell number on the back.”
Afterward, Joe said, “Thanks, Finn.”
“You’re welcome. I love Scarlet and want her to be happy.”
“Hmm.” With that he left.
Finn dropped down and took out his cell. She answered on the first ring. “Hey, there.”
“I love you, Elise.”
“That’s nice to hear. What brought this on?”
“Nothing important. I just wanted a bit of contact.”
“I love you, too, Finn.”
“How’s the little one?” Elise was nearly at the end of her first trimester.
“I’ll be glad to get into the second trimester.”
“Everything’s going to be okay.”
“I know.”
“Take care, honey.”
“Right back at ya.”
Thankfully, Elise wasn’t the worrier type. And truth be told, he shared only a modicum of the concern he had about all their safety.
* * *
Scarlet loved Daisy’s condo. It was modern, with clean lines and perfect decor. But the best part was the huge screened-in lanai off the living room. “Wow,” she said as she followed Daisy out there. “This space is big.”
“Some people have pools in their screened-in area.”
“I like the treed lot, too.”
“Thanks.”
Finn and Elise came up to her. She kissed them both on their cheeks. “Hey, Scarlet,” Elise said.
“You’re gorgeous, girl. Even more than before.”
She put a hand on her belly. “I love being pregnant.”
“Except for the vomiting,” Finn said dryly.
“Which stopped. How are you, Scarlet?”
“I’m great.”
“No date?” Finn asked.
“No, not this time.” In truth, Scarlet wanted badly to ask Seth and Joe but ultimately decided against it.
Oliver pulled her away from them. “Want to help me grill?”
“Sure. Whenever you’re ready.”
The group had a lazy evening at the cookout. Everyone seemed to be a little bit happier when it was over. Scarlet decided being together calmed them. She treasured the group of people she considered more than colleagues. They were her family and she was going to be untroubled in their presence.
And then, everything changed!
* * *
Two days later, Jeff Marshall walked into the collective common area.
The six members waited there for him. He didn’t even sit down.
He said simply, “The FBI found the man with the medallion. His name is Lewellen Brock. He’s dead.
But they’re creating a timeline and it’s looking like he could be the architect of these attacks on the collective. ”