day.
When the others left, she said, “Today was productive, don’t you think?”
“It was.”
Her eyes filled with mischief. “And thanks for last night.”
No coyness here. He found he liked it. “You’re welcome.”
“Want a repeat tonight?”
“I can’t. I’ve got to go home and see my daughter.”
“We haven’t talked about her. It was a shock.”
“I guess.”
“So I won’t see you till tomorrow?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Do you care that you won’t?”
He scanned the area. No one was here. No working cameras in the room yet. So he slung his arm around her waist and kissed her.
“What was that for?” she asked breathlessly when he stepped back.
“That’s to tell you I’d like to see you tonight, even though I can’t. Just remember, Lizzie, this is casualbetween us.”
“Of course it is. You keep saying so.”
o0o
Zip City was bigger than the arena where she’d tightrope walked, but not as big as Speedway to Heaven, were she’d driven her very first race car. Ten lines, three stories high, spanned the large interior. Frosted glassed for the windows let in light. And below was safety netting, which she’d prefer to go without, butit was required, along with the advanced braking system. Riders would be propelled at thirty miles per hour through the full length of the warehouse-sized space.
After she paid her money, she went to get suited up. The helper said, “Hey there, you’re back.”
“Yep. You have a few more lines.”
“We do. We’re expanding.”
Over clothes she usually wore to yoga, she stepped into the bottomharness and secured the belts. A chest harness was next. Then the hard helmet. A bit of overkill for her tastes, but there weren’t many indoor zip lining places in the city.
She stood on the top platform, taking in the depth and breadth of the place. It got her jazzed up. Then she held the line and let go. She zipped over and down for a few feet, twisted a few times, then swung around untilher body was perpendicular to the floor. Woo-hoo! This was the best. She slept soundly that night. She always did after she scared the shit out of herself. The adrenaline spikes drained her.
The next morning, Elizabeita bopped into the museum, schmoozed with security people for a few minutes, then made her way back to the offices. The corridor was dimly lit as the lights hadn’t been turnedon. She glanced at her watch. It was only 7:30 a.m. She flipped on the switch to the hallway and walked down it.
Inside her office, she put her things away, then called up her email. There was the unknown address again. A creepy feeling made her shiver. She clicked into the message and read,
Blasphemers will be punished
.
Who will be first? You?
This was worse than the last few. Worse,she believed, than anyone else had gotten. Unless they received the same missive today. Deep in thought, she jumped when there was a knock on the open door
“Easy there.” Nick leaned against the frame. His brows furrowed. “You’re scowling. What’s wrong?”
She swallowed hard. “I’m spooked, I guess. I got another email from the kook.”
He gripped the doorjamb. “Mind if I take a look?”
“Sure. You can tell me it’s nothing.”
Going behind her, he leaned over, one hand braced on the desk. Her head filled with woodsy cologne, and she almost forgot about the disturbing email. Almost.
“This is not good. From what I understand, none of them have been this outright threatening.”
“How would you know that?”
“I was in the security office yesterday. I saw the emails.”
“Seriously? Why would they let you see them?”
“They were talking about it when I walked in. I just asked.”
“I-”
“Me, first.” He swiveled her chair around. “I’d like to see you tonight.”
“I can’t, Nick. Remember? I’m leaving on a trip for the museum. It was planned before we knew we’d get the exhibit.”
“Who’s going?”
“Only me. It’s five days of workshops,
When the others left, she said, “Today was productive, don’t you think?”
“It was.”
Her eyes filled with mischief. “And thanks for last night.”
No coyness here. He found he liked it. “You’re welcome.”
“Want a repeat tonight?”
“I can’t. I’ve got to go home and see my daughter.”
“We haven’t talked about her. It was a shock.”
“I guess.”
“So I won’t see you till tomorrow?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Do you care that you won’t?”
He scanned the area. No one was here. No working cameras in the room yet. So he slung his arm around her waist and kissed her.
“What was that for?” she asked breathlessly when he stepped back.
“That’s to tell you I’d like to see you tonight, even though I can’t. Just remember, Lizzie, this is casualbetween us.”
“Of course it is. You keep saying so.”
o0o
Zip City was bigger than the arena where she’d tightrope walked, but not as big as Speedway to Heaven, were she’d driven her very first race car. Ten lines, three stories high, spanned the large interior. Frosted glassed for the windows let in light. And below was safety netting, which she’d prefer to go without, butit was required, along with the advanced braking system. Riders would be propelled at thirty miles per hour through the full length of the warehouse-sized space.
After she paid her money, she went to get suited up. The helper said, “Hey there, you’re back.”
“Yep. You have a few more lines.”
“We do. We’re expanding.”
Over clothes she usually wore to yoga, she stepped into the bottomharness and secured the belts. A chest harness was next. Then the hard helmet. A bit of overkill for her tastes, but there weren’t many indoor zip lining places in the city.
She stood on the top platform, taking in the depth and breadth of the place. It got her jazzed up. Then she held the line and let go. She zipped over and down for a few feet, twisted a few times, then swung around untilher body was perpendicular to the floor. Woo-hoo! This was the best. She slept soundly that night. She always did after she scared the shit out of herself. The adrenaline spikes drained her.
The next morning, Elizabeita bopped into the museum, schmoozed with security people for a few minutes, then made her way back to the offices. The corridor was dimly lit as the lights hadn’t been turnedon. She glanced at her watch. It was only 7:30 a.m. She flipped on the switch to the hallway and walked down it.
Inside her office, she put her things away, then called up her email. There was the unknown address again. A creepy feeling made her shiver. She clicked into the message and read,
Blasphemers will be punished
.
Who will be first? You?
This was worse than the last few. Worse,she believed, than anyone else had gotten. Unless they received the same missive today. Deep in thought, she jumped when there was a knock on the open door
“Easy there.” Nick leaned against the frame. His brows furrowed. “You’re scowling. What’s wrong?”
She swallowed hard. “I’m spooked, I guess. I got another email from the kook.”
He gripped the doorjamb. “Mind if I take a look?”
“Sure. You can tell me it’s nothing.”
Going behind her, he leaned over, one hand braced on the desk. Her head filled with woodsy cologne, and she almost forgot about the disturbing email. Almost.
“This is not good. From what I understand, none of them have been this outright threatening.”
“How would you know that?”
“I was in the security office yesterday. I saw the emails.”
“Seriously? Why would they let you see them?”
“They were talking about it when I walked in. I just asked.”
“I-”
“Me, first.” He swiveled her chair around. “I’d like to see you tonight.”
“I can’t, Nick. Remember? I’m leaving on a trip for the museum. It was planned before we knew we’d get the exhibit.”
“Who’s going?”
“Only me. It’s five days of workshops,
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