Rei
Or maybe that was my anxiety, because I was still waiting for how Conrad would react when he listened to the recording of my conversation with Quentin.
On the front door, I spotted a sign in hurried handwriting.
Baby sleeping. Come in quietly! NO knocking.
My lips tugged up sympathetically as I read the note. I could practically hear the sleep deprivation in her handwriting.
Instead of going in, I sent a text.
Rei: Looks like you’re tired. Are you sure you want me to come in?
My heart ached a little to send the message.
I missed Jada. Missed seeing her in the lobby at The Tower and being able to grab coffee during her work break.
It made me a little guilty to think it, but I missed having an adult conversation without her eyes drooping.
I knew she was in the newborn-baby trenches, but that didn’t make me miss her less.
After a few seconds of waiting, a text came through.
Jada: Come in. It’s okay.
Rei: Are you sure?
Jada: Yeah I’m
My eyebrows crinkled together, but I pushed in through the door, taking slow steps toward the living room.
Another text made my phone vibrate in my hand.
Jada: asuuuuuuuuuuusllllllllllisa
“What?” I whispered, going farther in. When I passed through the kitchen doorway, I saw Jada lying back on the couch, eyes closed and breathing deeply. Her phone was still in her hand, opened to our texts. Twyla lay in her bassinet near the chair, sleeping away.
A small chuckle passed my lips. That just confirmed our conversation wouldn’t have been all that productive anyway.
Careful not to wake her, I turned and walked back outside, going to my modest gray car.
I didn’t drive myself much, and to be honest, I preferred to spend my money on clothes, like the golf wear I’d put on.
When I searched the address on the sticky note, it was for a fancy mini golf place in town. I’d never waste an opportunity to accessorize with sparkling golf ball earrings and a hair clip shaped like a golf bag with the poles sticking out.
I had my hand on the car door when I heard the front door open and Bryce call, “Rei, wait up.”
I turned to face him, wrapping my jacket tighter around me. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were inside. Looks like she passed out.” I gave him a sympathetic smile that I hoped hid my disappointment.
He nodded, looking tortured. Bryce used to look all polished and healthy, but right now his hair was a mess and he had bags under his own eyes.
A newborn and the situation with Simon were clearly wearing on him.
“I try to help as much as I can, but Jada’s breastfeeding and Twyla won’t take a bottle yet.
I don’t think Jada’s slept more than two hours in a row since we’ve been home. ”
I glanced back toward the house, worried for her. “Can’t sleep deprivation kill you?”
“I asked her OB, and they said it’s normal to have interrupted sleep this early on. I have a lactation consultant coming tomorrow, but...” Bryce raked his fingers through his hair, looking a little lost. “Sorry, that’s not why I came out here.”
He walked a little closer to me, a serious look on his face as he said, “I just want you to know, whatever happens today, that Quentin is a good guy. One of the best there is.”
My expression puckered. “Whatever happens today?” I echoed. What was making Bryce and Jada act so oddly about this date?
Bryce only nodded, then turned to go inside. On the stoop, he said, “Have a good time,” and then slipped back through the door.
I got back in the car, a shiver going through me that wasn’t entirely due to the December chill.
Lately, everyone seemed to be acting off.
Just a few weeks ago, I would have counted Conrad as a friend, a trusted colleague at least. Now, he was threatening my business, hundreds of jobs, on a wild hare.
Jada hadn’t seemed happy about my date with Quentin. And why was Bryce trying so hard to convince me Quentin was good? What did he know that I didn’t?
Did I even want to know?
My car’s navigation directed me the rest of the way to the meeting spot, and I pulled into the pristine parking lot to find it empty, save for a sparkling G-Wagon.
Was that Quentin’s car? A thought of what we could do in that car popped into my mind, and I slapped my hand over my mouth. Clearly, this dry spell and all this stress were jumbling my brain.
I took a deep breath, clearing the sordid thought, and glanced toward the building. An armed security guard stood in front of the door. My mouth fell open, and I got out my phone to text Quentin.
Rei: Is this how it all ends?
I took a picture of the guard and texted it to him as well.
It had me even more curious about why Jada, Bryce, and Conrad were acting strangely. Was Q in the witness protection program or something?
My phone chimed, and I looked down at the screen.
Quentin: I was hoping it would help you feel safe. Especially with the attack on Simon recently.
“Aww,” I said to myself. “That’s actually pretty sweet.” Bryce’s words echoed through my mind. Quentin’s a good guy. He would know more than Conrad or me, right? Nevertheless, I tapped out a message on the screen.
Rei: Can you tell the scary man with the gun to... go away for a little bit?
Rei: Like maybe walk around the building or something?
Rei: I’ll feel better if he’s not staring at me as I go inside.
Quentin didn’t respond, but the guard touched his right ear... and then he walked around the side of the building and out of sight.
It made me smile.
So I checked one last time in the mirror, making sure there was no food in my teeth, or crusties in my eyes, or any small pieces of mascara fallen over my cheeks.
Then I got out of the car, walking in my fancy white golf shoes to the front door, to my date with Quentin.
I was ready to find out who he really was.