Chris turned left instead of right. He was meeting some friends for lunch. The guy in the office said they wouldn't need him again for a couple hours.
"Hey man!" Three other guys in fatigues walked up behind him.
"Hey."
The four swaggered down the hall, joking and laughing.
"So, Chris-man, where you been?"
"Oh, new assignment. Guarding a body."
"From what?"
"Dunno. Running away, I guess."
"Criminal?"
"They say. Doesn't look it. It's a girl."
"Man, girls can be evil, too."
"I know. You don't have to tell me that. Remember that one girl? Man, she bit me. Broke the skin. Killer."
"Oh, yeah. That was hilarious."
"Sure. I don't remember that. Anyway, this girl just doesn't seem like the type. She's real pretty, too."
"Sure, man. Sure - there's a way to meet a girl."
"No. I mean, she's nice."
"So what's this chica's name?"
"Says Max. Who knows? They picked her up just out of here, I think."
Chris felt someone touch his shoulder. He turned.
"Excuse me, did you say Max?"
Chris looked at the small, redheaded girl. Her fingers tightened around the planner she was carrying. He'd seen her around…what was her name? Elsa? Elise? Eva.
"Yes, I said Max. Why?" The girl seemed pale."About this tall, dark, curly hair, olive skin?"
"Yes. And she had some weird mark on her neck."
"Why? I mean, why is she here?"
"I don't know. They found her just out of here. Devil's Tower, I think. But, I just guard the body."
"When?"
"Wednesday."
"Jesus. Where is she now? Right now? Do you know?" She seemed frantic.
"Some guy…some guy wanted to see her. Um,…" Chris searched for the name.
"Lydecker? Don Lydecker?"
"Yeah, that's it. Why? Are you okay?"
"No," she said very simply. "Thank you."
She turned and headed in the opposite direction, holding her pace just below a run.
