Christine knew where the University's Career Center was located, but had never met Dr. Milner, the director. As she walked through the door into the Center, she glanced around the lobby area before heading to the receptionist's desk.
"Dr. Milner?" she asked the student sitting there.
"She just stepped outside," the young man replied. "I think she was going out to get a soda. The machines are right down the hall."
"Description?" Christine asked.
"Older woman with short salt and pepper hair," was the response. "She's wearing a peach-colored blouse with a wheat-colored skirt."
"Thanks," Christine said, heading back out the door.
The description from the receptionist was accurate, and Christine soon located Dr. Milner, standing a few feet from the vending machines, drinking from a can of soda and talking to a student. She waited patiently until the conversation had ended.
As the student walked away, Dr. Milner turned to Christine and smiled. "May I help you?" she asked.
Christine immediately liked the unpretentious woman. She wasn't wearing much make-up, and some people would have called her dowdy, but she exuded a feeling of confidence and serenity that automatically made one trust her.
"It's more like what I can do for you," Christine bantered back. She held out the stack of brochures. "I came by to leave these with you. I think you're expecting them."
Dr. Milner accepted the stack and glanced at them. "FBI?" she questioned. "You're not the stereotypical agent who usually drops these off."
"I'm just the errand boy, so to speak," Christine told her. "My, I think the politically correct term is 'Significant Other', is with the FBI. His supervisor asked me to make sure these arrived safely."
"Well, you certainly came through on that front," Dr. Milner smiled. "Do I know you?" she asked curiously. "You seem familiar."
"I'm doing a post-doc over in the psych ward at the hospital," Christine explained. "You may have seen me coming and going on campus."
"I know now," Dr. Milner's face lit up. "You were at Dr. Michael's presentation on 'Research Into Human Sexuality' last fall."
"That's right," Christine confirmed. "I was on the organizing committee. You didn't come to the reception afterwards, did you?"
"No," Dr. Milner apologized. "I had another commitment. However, I remember that you were with a tall, skinny young man. He seemed a little uncertain about being there."
"That's Spencer," Christine laughed. "He's my FBI guy. Believer it or not, that was our first date!"
"On a first date, you take him to a sex lecture?" Dr. Milner was obviously delighted with the concept. "He must be some guy!"
"You can say that again!" Christine agreed.
Both women were so engrossed with their bantering, that neither of them noticed the man a short distance away, kneeling on the floor stocking the vending machines. He, on the other hand, was making certain he had a clear view of Christine so he would recognize her when he saw her again. Maybe it wasn't quite time for his "F" abduction, but with the opportunity practically falling into his lap, he couldn't turn it down.