Laurie sighed into the phone. “They’re going to kill both of us now. I’m an accomplice.”
Amanda giggled. “I’m just going to the campus to sign some papers and come right back. It’s the middle of the morning. What can possibly happen?”
For all the hot air Amanda filled the room with spouting how absurd it was for her to be confined to the condo like she was, she did look around in every direction as she headed swiftly to her car and then locked the doors immediately before starting the engine.
Nothing suspicious appeared to be in her path.
Ten minutes later she pulled into the crowded campus parking lot and turned off the engine. There were students all around, laughing and talking with their friends.
She exited her car, locked the doors, and strode quickly toward McField Hall. Using the same entrance as before, she took the elevator and made her way to the fourth floor to meet with human resources instead of the second floor where the anthropology department was located.
When she stepped into the office, she blew out a long breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. It wasn’t as if she actually thought she was in danger. She truly believed everyone was overreacting. Instead, her fear stemmed from having her safety pounded into her for days on end and the knowledge that if she got into a bind, she’d be listening to “I told you so’s” for eternity.
She forced a smile on her face and clasped her hands at her sides as she approached the woman at the front desk. “I’m Amanda Williams.”
“Oh right. Margaret is expecting you. I’ll let her know you’re here.”
“Thank you.” Amanda turned around, but instead of sitting on one of the plush chairs, she trailed along the wall where the entrance was, taking in the enormous collection of art projects. Some of them were amazing. All of them were undoubtedly from students past and present.
“Amanda?”
She spun around when she heard her name, glad she’d opted for her favorite pink flats today. They kept her from tripping and falling in her agitated state. They also matched her pink blouse, the same one she’d worn the morning she’d first mated with Logan and Sawyer. Today, she smoothed her hands down her cream dress pants, however. The jean skirt of last Saturday wouldn’t have been appropriate.
The older woman with a tight bun smiled. “Right this way. It won’t take long. Just some paperwork and you’ll be out of here.”
Amanda was relieved. The sooner she got back to the condo without anyone missing her, the better. So far neither man had tried to contact her mentally, and she was doing her best to block them.
After less than a full week to practice, she was amazed by her abilities. Especially since she was under such duress.
She followed Margaret to her office and took the offered seat across from her desk.
Margaret handed her a manila file and a pen. “It’s mostly self-explanatory. I’ll let you get to it. Let me know if you have any questions.”
“Thank you.” Amanda dipped her head, took a deep breath, and got to work.
Twenty minutes later, she handed the folder back to Margaret and stood.
“Excellent. That’s all I need. I’ll let Lucy know you’re good to go for Monday.”
“Thanks.” Amanda smiled at the woman and left the room.
She didn’t realize how nervous she was until she reached the elevator and it didn’t readily arrive. Her hands started shaking, and she clenched them at her sides to keep from being obvious. Sweat broke out on her brow next. And then her mouth grew dry. She tried to lick her lips to no avail.
The woman at the front desk spoke. “Oh geez. Sorry. That elevator doesn’t always cooperate. I usually take the stairs when I’m going down. It seems like if I wait, it never comes. If I leave, it will ping behind me the second I step too far away to catch it.” She giggled and went back to work, lowering her face and leaving the choice up to Amanda.
Ten seconds later, Amanda felt like an idiot. The girl would think she was lazy if she couldn’t descend four flights of stairs. So she finally turned around, opened the door to the stairwell, and stepped out of sight.
When the door shut behind her with a resounding slam from the change in pressure, Amanda nearly jumped out of her skin. “You’re being ridiculous,” she muttered under her breath.
She took the stairs two at a time, her ears perked up to ensure she was alone. Goose bumps rose up her arms and down her back, so she walked faster.
As she rounded the second platform, she came to an abrupt halt.
“Amanda Williams. Tsk tsk.”
That was the last thing she remembered. She never even had time to scream before a syringe was plunged into her arm and she collapsed into the arms of a stranger.