Chapter 1
Click. Click.
Clickable pens. The scum of stationary.
Click.
She slams her hand down on the table.
“One more time! Try me!”
“Deal with it Frost. You cut my quarterly budget. You get the cheap pens.”
Moira MacTaggert plunges the pen base down again.
Click.
Moira smiles. Emma grits her jaw.
“I know for a fact those are not cheap.”
“You’re right. I blew our stationary budget on the pens. There is no paper to write on.”
Click.
Emma groans.
“Point taken. I’ll take it under review. Update me MacTaggert.”
“He is ready to proceed. He said you would know the best way to approach this.”
“Mmm.” Emma leans back in her chair. “Is he willing to let me improvise a little?”
“Of course” Moira’s lips curve up.
“Then I’d like to try a little brute force.”
“Of the animal kind?”
“Is there any other?”
“Alright. Outline your play. Paperless, preferably.” Moira outright grins as she stands from her chair.
Click. Click.
Her heels echo on the floor as she strides out into the hallway.
Emma places the Lehnsherr file on the top of the stack. Finally, they can do away with the waiting game. Time to get to work.
“Alex, Armando is not a taxi service.”
“Whatever man, just saying. He’s driving you.”
“To work, Alex.”
“Hey Darwin! I’d start the meter now. Penalty rates for bad parenting.”
Armando grins from across the hallway. His suit jacket rumpled between his back and the wall he reclines on. He nods at Erik, palms his keys and stands up straight.
“Enjoy school Alex.” He calls out, turning down the hallway.
“Try to learn something.” Erik throws back over his shoulder, following Armando.
Alex snorts.
His father stops, turns and fixes him with a neutral stare.
“Changed your mind?” Alex asks.
“No. Take a jacket.”
Erik buckles his seatbelt as Armando pulls out from the curb. The windscreen wiper cuts an arc through condensation, revealing the busy street beyond. Traffic is less than ideal but he can see the sky and breathe fresh air.
He can feel Armando’s eyes on him.
“You good there?” He asks, hand resting on the window controls.
Erik glances to his left, waving off the concern.
They pull through the intersection and Erik is grateful for the movement.
He looks back at Armando.
“Thank you.”
“Not a problem. Takes me back to my Beat days except the clothes are nicer.”
“And stain faster.” Erik replies.
Armando laughs, exhaling through his nose.
“Yeah, yeah. Who would have thought coffee at a desk would be more hazardous?”
“Perhaps it is the people at the desks who are more hazardous.” Erik murmurs.
Armando shrugs beside him. He will take what he can get. Erik trusts him enough to get into an enclosed space with him. That’s what he calls progress.
Erik’s knuckles are whitening around his seat belt.
“Any news on the car?” Armando asks evenly.
“Routine wear and tear. It will only be overnight. This is a one off inconvenience, I assure you.”
“Learn how to take a favour Erik. I do not mind. Besides, pre-coffee Alex is a definite highlight.”
Erik grins. His fist uncurls.
“That boy…”
“…Would have walked into the wall if you hadn’t stopped him.” Armando laughs.
Erik huffs out a laugh in response.
“He did when he was a toddler. I had to cover the table corners with foam. He’d just bounce right off.”
“Must have a hard head. I wonder where that comes from.” Armando smiles wide at Erik.
“Eyes on the road.” Erik reprimands.
His eyes are smiling.
Armando eases to a stop. A metal gate bars their entrance to the underground car park. Concrete pillars and straight white lines are illuminated beyond by white artificial light. Erik hands him a crisp plastic pass.
Armando snorts at the photo glaring back at him.
“Wow.”
“Just scan it.” Erik sighs. His hand is clenching again.
Armando holds the pass up to the box beside his window and the metal gate slides to let them pass.
“Down here.” Erik instructs.
Armando pulls into the space marked with a solemn plaque declaring the entitlement of one ‘Erik Lehnsherr – R&D Manager’ to the precious city parking spot.
“Trade you a month’s donut entitlements for this parking spot?”
Erik’s teeth glint in the white light.
“Worth a try.” Armando mutters as Erik slams his door shut.
He has to jog to catch up to other man who is already halfway to the elevators.
Erik presses the button to call the elevator.
“Thank you again.”
“No worries. It’s what friends do.” Armando responds with a shrug.
The doors open and Armando steps in. Erik swipes his pass and selects the lobby floor before stepping back out into the car park. He indicates the fire stairs with a tilt of his head.
“Catch you tonight then.” Armando offers.
“Detective.” Erik nods once and the doors close on his retreating back.