Just to cover herself, she’d generalized that while Ryne worked mostly in the Oregon area, he never revealed exact locations. This, she said, was because of his great commitment to the environment and his desire to prevent people from disturbing the delicate balance of nature in the places he worked. It was a bit sappy, but any person who claimed ‘they didn’t exist before photography’ could very well say something like her final statement.
Mel stared at the picture that had wolves in the distance. Something niggled in her brain when she looked at it, as if there was something she should know or remember. Unfortunately, the harder she tried to bring the thought into focus, the more it faded away. With a sigh, she gave up and shut down the computer. She was too tired to think. Maybe in the morning she’d be able to figure out what it was about that picture that called to her.
Yawning, Mel stood up, hoping the sketchy report would satisfy Aldrich and get him to leave her alone for a while. Heading towards the couch—she’d told Lucy to sleep in her room—she shed her robe and lay down, intent on getting a few hours sleep before going to see the lawyer. As she tried to get comfortable on the old and lumpy couch, she bemusedly realized that at some point during the night, her fever had broken. Thank heavens for small mercies.
Chapter 31
“Are you sure you’ll be all right?” Lucy stared at Mel with a frown. “You still don’t look so good.”
The two women were leaning against the kitchen counter sipping coffee and preparing to start their day. Mel, however reluctantly, had to head off to meet with Aldrich, while Lucy was going to spend the morning taking a bus tour of the city that Mel had recommended.
Rolling her eyes, Mel reassured her friend, yet again. “Honestly, I’m fine. The fever broke last night. My arm’s not as sore. It’s just a lack of sleep and nerves over this meeting that are making me look less than prime. I’ll go see Aldrich and give him this report while you take a tour of the city. Then we’ll meet back here for lunch and go shopping.”
“Why don’t you just e-mail the report and come with me?”
Mel sighed. “I wish, but Aldrich hates e-mail. He wants face to face contact. I think he likes to watch people squirm.” Noting Lucy’s concerned expression, she added a light laugh. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
“Well...if you’re sure.”
“Go.” Mel made shooing motions with her hands. “You know you want to take the Chicago Gangster Tour and see where Al Capone hung out. If you don’t leave now, you’ll miss the bus.”
It took some doing, but Mel finally had Lucy out of the apartment and on her way. Gathering her purse, the report on Ryne and a jacket, Mel left as well, though with considerably less excitement than Lucy had. She really didn’t want to see Aldrich and she really didn’t want to give him the report. It just seemed so wrong. Even if Ryne was a jerk, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was betraying his trust.
Her mental debate lasted all the way to Aldrich’s office and continued as she sat in the intimidating reception area, waiting to see him. At least, being a Saturday and outside usual business hours, the secretary was absent. Mel could still recall the feeling of disapproval that had emanated from Ms. Sandercock, Aldrich’s personal assistant. Sitting in her presence had been distinctly uncomfortable. A young paralegal breezed through and cast a friendly smile her way, before grabbing some files and leaving again. Idly, Mel wondered if the young woman would end up as nasty as her employer after a few years under his tutelage.
Shifting in her seat, Mel fiddled with the report; curling the corners with her fingers then trying to press them flat. An incredibly ugly clock ticked away on the wall, its sound accompanying the bland music that was piped in from hidden speakers. It was a far cry from sitting and waiting inThe Broken Antler. At least there, Armand would be giving her beer to drink. Maybe that’s what she needed right now. Some alcohol induced bravado to get her through her encounter. An inelegant snort escaped her as she contemplated Aldrich’s response should she stumble into his office tipsy and wiggling her ass. She doubted he’d be as amused as the patrons had been at the bar the other night.
She stifled a sigh and smoothed the wrinkled papers in her hand. The longer she waited the worse she felt about giving her findings to Aldrich. Something about the man made her uncomfortable. She crossed her legs and inhaled deeply before staring at the neatly typed pages for what seemed like the hundredth time. She owed no loyalty to Ryne, not after the way he’d treated her. Yet they had a verbal agreement giving him final veto.