Chapter 5

After hiding in my office the last few days for lunch, it was high time I ventured outside. I couldn't hole myself up because of those damned Reapers. There was a café a few blocks away which seemed like the ideal spot for lunch today. It was a place I frequented often since I started working here. The patrons that ate there were from the neighboring businesses, so there was always an opportunity for some socializing. Today I picked it because it was close by, and I could keep alert as I walked there.

The sky was portentous today. The usual gray clouds were replaced by dark, pendulous ones that threatened to let loose at any moment. I made it a point to walk briskly, avoiding anyone in a black trench coat while humming 'Don't Fear the Reaper' as I went. It was becoming my new mantra.

I arrived at JCafé on Northeast Holladay Street in record time. The place wasn't crowded, but there were enough people to keep my eyes occupied. The waitress took my order of a hummus & tabouleh plate, and I scanned the restaurant for a table.

My usual spot by the window was vacant. I slid into my seat, pointing the chair at an angle so I could people watch. I didn't recognize anyone today. Too bad, because it would've been better to have someone I knew here.

I munched on my veggies as a familiar face came through the door. It was a woman that worked at one of the law firms next door who also enjoyed this little place. We'd had lunch together a number of times and she seemed friendly. She wasn't genuine, but it was likely her profession was partly to blame for that. Still, she seemed interested in chatting, and I welcomed the human interaction. I really needed to start branching out and make some friends.

"Adalind!" I called out as she walked into the café. Thank goodness she came here for lunch today. The perfectly petite blonde, who made Chloe look like a plain Jane, turned and smiled in my direction. She walked over to my table with her artificial smile in place.

"Hi, you're here! I hadn't seen you in a while and was starting to think you'd found a new place to start having lunch," she chuckled.

"No, I was out of town for my father's funeral."

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that, Renée." Her intense blue eyes softened as she sat down across from me. A waitress came by and she ordered her lunch. "So tell me everything."

I told her what had happened and she nodded in all the right places. She reached for my hand. Hers were like ice and a shiver ran clear down my neck.

"You must have been outside awhile," I said. "Your hands are freezing."

"Oh!" She nervously put her hands in her lap. "Yeah, I stood out front with one of the girls from work, sorry."

Her meal arrived and we had supernatural-free conversation that I relished in. Topics like sales at fashion stores and the newest bistros to try were discussed at length. Just real normal, female conversation. The topic changed to relationships, and I mentioned that Monroe and I we're doing really well.

"So, whatever happened to the guy you had your eye on?" I asked. Adalind had told me about a guy she'd been talking to off and on since November. They met when he'd kept her out of harm's way from a bee that was chasing her. She was highly allergic and said that bees were practically deadly if one got close enough. Adalind was real vague about him and hadn't mentioned him in a while.

"It's been a few months since I've seen him," her eyes twinkled as she spoke, "but it's a work in progress."

"Good things come to those who wait," I said with a smile.

Her lips curled up. "That is so true."

The alarm on my cell phone buzzed, startling me. "Oh my, I really need to head back to work. I have a training in twenty minutes!" I stood up while gathering my things and tossed my phone back into my shoulder bag.

"I do hope I see you again for lunch soon, Renée." Adalind stood as well and that artificial smile reappeared on her lips.

"Of course!" I replied as we paid for our meals. "I enjoy our conversations."

"So do I," she beamed as we both headed for the door.

As we walked out, Adalind got into a black SUV with tinted windows. Funny, she only worked down the street. Why did she need a ride? I shook off the thought as I hurried back to my building. I had ten trainees waiting on me!

A/N: Can we say Ruh-oh?! (;