Due to the medical dilemma back home, I extend my apologies, ladies, for getting this out slower than originally intended. Many thanks for the words of support and shoulders to lean on. J
The Silent Killer
Chapter Six
Tuesday – July 21st - 8:00 PM
Francine Desmond left herself into her apartment and made her way to the couch, on to which she promptly dumped all of her stuff in an unceremonious heap. From there she made her way into the bedroom, where she stripped off her work clothes. She tossed her heels onto the floor and her clothes flew in the general direction of her hamper.
She pulled out a pair of faded jeans and a black t-shirt and changed into them, grateful for the comfort they provided. After pulling her long blonde hair back into a ponytail, she made her way into the kitchen to heat up some leftover pasta in the microwave.
"Pasta for one, iced tea, and a workload for three," she said aloud, though there was nobody in her apartment to hear her.
She went back to the couch and retrieved her brief case, knowing that she had a long night ahead of her. Lee had come to her earlier in the day and asked, no, make that practically begged for help in getting the briefs ready for tomorrow's meeting since Amanda's availability was virtually non-existent this week.
Francine, of course, had helped him on one condition. He would owe her and he would owe her big. Not that she would probably bother to collect, but still, it had made a nice bargaining chip. He'd been quite pleased when she'd given him the completed documents before leaving for the day, even though it meant she was bringing some of her own reports home to complete.
Focusing on the task at hand, she began sorting out the different folders while eating only a few bites of her meal before pushing the plate away. She'd only been at it for about half an hour when her telephone rang.
"Hello."
"Jonathan, hi."
"I'm fine."
"No, I can't. I'd love to, but we're up to our neck in research at the moment."
Jonathon said something and she laughed.
"Well, if I'm lucky, Sunday afternoon?"
"I'd love to. I'll call you then. Goodnight."
She hung up the phone and sighed.
Why was it that now, when it seemed like their relationship might be heading somewhere positive, did she have to be up to ears in work?
She allowed her mind to drift back a few months earlier, when they had gone on vacation together and rediscovered so many of the things that had brought them together in the first place. It had been good, Francine smiled, very good.
Well, with any luck, the remainder of the week would unfold rapidly and she might be able to salvage part of her weekend. For the here and now though, it was going to be a long night and she needed caffeine.
She rose from her chair and headed to the kitchen, knowing that black coffee was going to be the key factor now.
Tuesday – July 21st – 11:30 PM (A private residence in Virginia)
Austin Smyth pulled himself wearily out of the hot shower and managed to pull on his pajama bottoms. Then, he picked up the box of allergy medication that he had picked up on the way home from work and swallowed another tablet down.
Earlier, he had hoped that Mrs. Sweet and Nice had been correct with her recommendation of allergy medicine but it seemed that the first tablet hadn't done a single thing for him in regards to relief. If anything, he felt worse.
It was the middle of summer, he mumbled to himself as he made his way to the bed and crawled in. It was ridiculous to even think of getting sick and yet, somehow, that's what seemed to be happening. He couldn't even recall the last time that he had been sick.
He set his alarm and then reached over to shut the bedside lamp off. Maybe with some sleep, he'd feel better in the morning.