Chapter 6: Finding Arnold Lewis

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Sometime later she ended up on the outskirts of the city on a less populated street, the sign on the corner stating it was SW Palms Street. Cruising down the road, she looked at the addresses and found she was fortunate enough to be going in the right direction. There were a couple people walking on the sidewalk but it was mostly deserted.

Soon 450 rolled into view and she slowed down and pulled over, not wanting to miss the building. Grabbing the will and keys from her bag, she got out of the car and locked it, resting her hip against the door as she looked up and down the street. Down the street on the left, a building had the numbers 452 on them and July figured it was the one she was looking for.

The building was a cream color with a tan trim and the front window has its blinds closed. It looked empty but there were people in the shops next to it on either side and she hoped that someone would be there.

Walking cautiously to the door, July timidly knocked on it. She heard the shuffle of a chair moving inside and the sound of high heels walking across the floor and then the doorknob turn. The door opened slowly and a gust of cool air hit her, bringing promised reprieve from the heat. Standing in the doorway was a middle-aged women dressed in a black flowing skirt and a white dress shirt. She was tall and slim and looked like the type of person who would fuse over someone even if she wasn't their mom. She had dark green eyes and red hair that matched her lips. Freckles dotted her face and she wore a warm smile, revealing a set of perfectly white teeth.

"Can I help you?" she asked politely but as soon as their eyes met, she froze. July got the feeling that she knew this person and her mind was working over time to put a name to the woman's face but was coming up blank.

"Yeah, umm… I'm here to talk to Arnold Lewis. I was told to come here to talk to him," July answered warily not sure how much she should say.

"Come in and sit down." The woman turned around and starting walking in, leaving the door open.

July walked through the door and quietly closed it. The feel of the air conditioning hit her first and she welcomed it with much relief. The roomed smelled like peaches, which was amusing since the walls were a peach colored.

Stepping further into the room, she took in the furnishings: a cream colored leather couch, several filing drawers that loomed in a corner, a desk that had several picture frames along with a computer and phone, and along the wall was a counter that had various office appliances; it looked like any other office but more personal, it wasn't as detached as most offices. Someone would be able to tell that this office belonged to someone who loved doing what they did and made this place homey. There was several painting on the walls and a beautiful rug took up the space between the couch and the desk. How deceptive the outside was. The outside had made the building look abandoned while the inside was welcoming.

July shook her head as the sense of familiarity rose up in her again. What was it about this place that made her feel like this?

The woman immediately opened a door that looked like it led to the back of the building and disappeared behind it. July sat on the edge of the couch and stared at the will and set of keys that she held in her hands. The woman who had greeted her instantly reappeared as quickly as she had disappeared.

"He will be with you in a-." She was cut off when the door opened. The man July assumed was Arnold Lewis stood in the doorway. He was tall and looked very much like the role of a lawyer in his dark blue business suit, tailored cut. His brown hair was started to turn gray at the temples and he had a slight belly. The man took one glance at July sitting on the couch and abruptly stopped, his brown eyes wide and his mouth hanging open.

July felt something spark in the back of her mind again, the feeling that she was forgetting something, like she knew who this man was.

"Robin…?" he gasped out and July stood up.

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tbc…