intentions.”
Nikki shrugged. “I don’t really want the
job.”
“I don’t know why not. The big chair is kind
of cushy.” She bounced up and down for emphasis, and Nikki
laughed.
“Too cushy. It sucks you in.”
“I’ve got the girls running down the missing
reports,” said Jane, hanging up the phone. “It may be that we can
find duplicate copies that weren’t deleted because they weren’t
connected to the same server. We’re also looking for the agents who
filed the reports. Once we’ve got a list of names I can send some
people out on interviews.”
“Good. Make sure you update someone on the
case before you leave.”
“I’m leaving?” Jane looked at Nikki, panic
stricken.
“You’re not fired,” said Nikki, and Jane
sighed in relief. “We’re on unpaid leave.”
“And you should probably leave the state,”
said Darla matter-of-factly.
Jane looked horrified. “No, no, no. Remember
what happened last time you tried to make me take time off?”
“I remember you disobeyed orders, hacked
into the computer of an international arms dealer, and got stuck in
a German hotel eating sausages,” said Jenny. “You obviously don’t
know how to vacation, and require my assistance.”
“Do I really have to go on vacation with
Jenny?” demanded Jane, turning back to Darla.
“Frankly, I don’t really care,” said Darla.
“But I want you out of reach of any council investigators. Outside
of Nikki, you’re not exactly political animals. I can’t trust you
to say the right thing. Leave town, and stay out of sight for at
least two weeks. I’ll call you if I need it to be longer.”
“Sweet,” said Jenny.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing the girls. And
didn’t you say your mother’s been bugging you to come visit?” asked
Ellen, turning to Nikki. Nikki made a face. She didn’t need
reminding.
“But,” said Jane, looking distressed. “I
can’t leave the state. My computers… my research… my giant
crossword puzzle…” Her eyes bounced to each of her teammates in
turn, looking for help.
“Honey,” said Jenny, standing up. “You
clearly need Cancun more than I do. Come on, Nikki, help me get her
outta here before she chains herself to the desk in protest.”
August
III
Empty Bed Blues
“Hey,” said Nikki, picking up the phone as
she fumbled for her keys.
“How’d it go?” asked Mr. M.
“We’re on unpaid leave for two weeks while
she handles the political stuff. Does your wife know you’re asking
about her work?”
“I’m asking about my friend’s life. It’s a
clear distinction,” said Mr. M primly. “I can’t help it if your
life happens to involve her work.”
“You argue like a lawyer,” she said
affectionately.
“How fortunate that I am one,” he said, and
she could hear his smile over the phone. “Look, it’s not my fault
that the two of you have decided to work for an international
corporation who take its motto, ‘helping women everywhere’ a little
too seriously. If you would just work for the CIA like I did, we
wouldn’t have this problem.”
Nikki laughed. “Actually, I was thinking
about your wife’s edict to avoid anything stressful.” She climbed
the stairs to her apartment, pausing to check the mail.
“I don’t find you stressful,” said Mr. M.
“What I don’t understand is why she’s not checking in on you
herself.”
“She called while I was in the car,” said
Nikki.
“Ah! That explains her mysterious, sudden
trip to the grocery store.”
“I think it’s taking all she has not to call
Darla and meddle,” said Nikki.
“I really wouldn’t mind if she worked,” said
Mr. M. “She doesn’t have to be home every minute to take care of
me. I had surgery. I’m not incapacitated.”
“You had open heart surgery,” said Nikki.
“With complications. And let’s face it, left to your own devices,
you’d probably be chowing down on bacon and trying to run a 5k or
something.”
“I would not,” said Mr. M. “I
Nikki shrugged. “I don’t really want the
job.”
“I don’t know why not. The big chair is kind
of cushy.” She bounced up and down for emphasis, and Nikki
laughed.
“Too cushy. It sucks you in.”
“I’ve got the girls running down the missing
reports,” said Jane, hanging up the phone. “It may be that we can
find duplicate copies that weren’t deleted because they weren’t
connected to the same server. We’re also looking for the agents who
filed the reports. Once we’ve got a list of names I can send some
people out on interviews.”
“Good. Make sure you update someone on the
case before you leave.”
“I’m leaving?” Jane looked at Nikki, panic
stricken.
“You’re not fired,” said Nikki, and Jane
sighed in relief. “We’re on unpaid leave.”
“And you should probably leave the state,”
said Darla matter-of-factly.
Jane looked horrified. “No, no, no. Remember
what happened last time you tried to make me take time off?”
“I remember you disobeyed orders, hacked
into the computer of an international arms dealer, and got stuck in
a German hotel eating sausages,” said Jenny. “You obviously don’t
know how to vacation, and require my assistance.”
“Do I really have to go on vacation with
Jenny?” demanded Jane, turning back to Darla.
“Frankly, I don’t really care,” said Darla.
“But I want you out of reach of any council investigators. Outside
of Nikki, you’re not exactly political animals. I can’t trust you
to say the right thing. Leave town, and stay out of sight for at
least two weeks. I’ll call you if I need it to be longer.”
“Sweet,” said Jenny.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing the girls. And
didn’t you say your mother’s been bugging you to come visit?” asked
Ellen, turning to Nikki. Nikki made a face. She didn’t need
reminding.
“But,” said Jane, looking distressed. “I
can’t leave the state. My computers… my research… my giant
crossword puzzle…” Her eyes bounced to each of her teammates in
turn, looking for help.
“Honey,” said Jenny, standing up. “You
clearly need Cancun more than I do. Come on, Nikki, help me get her
outta here before she chains herself to the desk in protest.”
August
III
Empty Bed Blues
“Hey,” said Nikki, picking up the phone as
she fumbled for her keys.
“How’d it go?” asked Mr. M.
“We’re on unpaid leave for two weeks while
she handles the political stuff. Does your wife know you’re asking
about her work?”
“I’m asking about my friend’s life. It’s a
clear distinction,” said Mr. M primly. “I can’t help it if your
life happens to involve her work.”
“You argue like a lawyer,” she said
affectionately.
“How fortunate that I am one,” he said, and
she could hear his smile over the phone. “Look, it’s not my fault
that the two of you have decided to work for an international
corporation who take its motto, ‘helping women everywhere’ a little
too seriously. If you would just work for the CIA like I did, we
wouldn’t have this problem.”
Nikki laughed. “Actually, I was thinking
about your wife’s edict to avoid anything stressful.” She climbed
the stairs to her apartment, pausing to check the mail.
“I don’t find you stressful,” said Mr. M.
“What I don’t understand is why she’s not checking in on you
herself.”
“She called while I was in the car,” said
Nikki.
“Ah! That explains her mysterious, sudden
trip to the grocery store.”
“I think it’s taking all she has not to call
Darla and meddle,” said Nikki.
“I really wouldn’t mind if she worked,” said
Mr. M. “She doesn’t have to be home every minute to take care of
me. I had surgery. I’m not incapacitated.”
“You had open heart surgery,” said Nikki.
“With complications. And let’s face it, left to your own devices,
you’d probably be chowing down on bacon and trying to run a 5k or
something.”
“I would not,” said Mr. M. “I
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