an's

lenge me. I hire them to get th

ir already questionin

ether, noting the two-hour gap she le

es. "You have meetings back-to-back all day. I figure

my nose. "I don't need you to figure anythin

u collapse from exhaustion, I doubt

ous backtracking. But she doesn't backtrack. She

t say anything. She'

," I finally say. "Move t

xpecting me to listen. "Okay," she says

ind myself watching her go,

ra

, and too many voices demanding my attention. Still

ers hovering over the keyboard. I recognize the sprea

bother. But

her, getting a whiff of her cur

sn't look at me. "I

formula myself, fingers brushing hers in the process. I freeze and she does

eter than before. "Next t

he screen. When she finally speak

ay before I think

d in work when my phone rings. I d

er. "F

, collected. "I trust ever

alwa

stractions." A pause. Then, "

are? She won't

Just another hire.I don't have ti

. "Let's hope she's more compe

phone tight

es, as if I haven't heard this speech a hundred times

y no

conversation is over, he

is back

e body g

week," he adds, voice laced with sati

nds, but I

ien

ne makes my

and rub a hand over my

way, I hear a small

toward

d open. Jus

eps in. Did someone h

when I look outside

unease

against it for a second

nne i

ght me anything, that