Unfurling

Concussed, Out of the Office

Paige briefs Neesy on the projects currently underway with the team and adds that she is to call her anytime if she has questions.

Neesy hugs Paige once they reach the office and then steps out.

The car continues to Paige’s apartment complex.

Slowly walking up to her apartment, Paige is surprised at how much her head hurts. Once in her apartment, she settles herself on the couch with her phone in arms reach and charging.

Listening to television is not as great as watching but it is the only option since the movement or colors, she’s not sure which, is adding to her headache. While listening, she starts thinking about the events of the morning and questioning the motive.

Her laptop contains proprietary information for the company but not just anyone will be able to decipher the lingo or the projects. She doesn’t believe her laptop was the motive which then leaves her. Now the questions are who and why.

He is up getting ready for his shift and wondering how she is doing. There are so many things he wishes he’d done differently this morning. Like talking to her more and introducing himself or perhaps he should have chased the guy who robbed her. Knowing that once he gets to work, he’ll be able to make some discreet inquiries puts him a little at ease.

The maintenance man is behind this, he thinks. I’m not sure why but that car is the same one that was out in front of the office building earlier this week. I am certain of that.

Pouring himself a cup of coffee to help get him through his shift, he moves to the window in the kitchen. He isn’t seeing a lot of movement on the sidewalk and now he wonders if the incident this morning will put people on edge.

Stewing about when and how he’s going to get his hands on the maintenance man, he sees the couple from her office building coming out.

Well, he thinks. There’s trouble in paradise.

Their body language can plainly be seen, and it isn’t cozy like before. They are walking together but stiffly, their heads aren’t bent together, and there is at least a foot in between them.

The woman is shaking her head vehemently and then the man grabs her elbow. The woman wrenches it free and stalks to the parking garage alone. The man is left standing there with his mouth open. He follows behind slowly, but the woman is in the elevator and gone before he even reaches the vestibule.

Guess that’s over, he thinks.

His eyes move back to the building but there’s no sign of the maintenance man. He may have to grab him first thing in the morning and he’s not sure he wants to do it in his work attire.  Continuing to watch out the window, he wonders if he’ll see the car again. Perhaps he can grab the guy from the car first. Either way, he will be reaching out to one of those two men.

What could she have possibly done to warrant the robbery this morning? He also wonders if she would have been hurt more had he not arrived on the scene so quickly. These were questions one or both men will have to answer. This he knows.

I cannot stand this; Paige thinks sipping her coffee. Four days into this concussion and I’m going stir crazy.

She sits on her couch cross-legged and sets her mug on a coaster on top of her end table. Starting her audio book, she picks up where she left off yesterday. Paige has found that this is the only thing to pass the day that doesn’t give her a headache.

Leaning against the kitchen window, he watches the people scurrying to their jobs on the sidewalk below. He hasn’t seen her for four days now which is an indication that her concussion was worse than he originally thought. He sees her car still on the top floor. He’s surprised she hasn’t sent someone to retrieve it.

He was off work yesterday and is off again today along with tomorrow. Hoping he’ll see the maintenance man, he’s in street clothes in case he gets the chance to talk to the man and maybe hurt him. Hurt him like he hurt her.

The car carrying the guy who ran into her hasn’t been around. He’s been keeping an eye out for it not just when he’s at home but also when he’s heading to and from work. It’s like it disappeared but he’s not buying that. He suspects the owners are laying low considering the  circumstances.

Finishing the last of his coffee, he puts the empty mug in the sink and moves back to the window. He sees the unhappy couple arrive in the parking garage and park on two different levels, but land in the vestibule together.

The woman refuses to even look at the man. The man attempts to begin communication with the woman, and she stalks off towards the building. The man remains behind standing on the sidewalk with his hands clenched and then gets bumped into by someone in a hurry to get to their job. The man wheels on the individual and he can’t hear the words, but it must be nasty considering the faces of both.

Wow, he thinks. That is not a side I’ve ever seen with him.

He watches the man head to the building and disappear inside. A few minutes later, out comes the maintenance man. This is what he’s been  waiting for, so he exits his apartment and jogs down the steps to get across the street before the man disappears back inside.

Reaching the street, he crosses briskly and heads directly towards the maintenance man who is on his cell, head down.

“Hey,” he calls out.

The maintenance man looks up, “Do I know you?”

“No,” he responds trying to remain calm. “There was a car out front of this building about a week ago. You got a bag from them. I need information on the occupants.”

“I don’t know them,” David replied. “I had food delivered. They were the delivery guys.”

“What business did you order from?” he questions.

“I’m not sure that it’s any of your business. Why are you asking? You a cop?”

“No, I’m not a cop. A theft occurred within the last week and a woman was hurt as a result. I’m trying to get to the source.”

“Isn’t that what cops are supposed to do?”

“Look, all I need is the name of the restaurant.”

“Well, you aren’t a cop so I don’t believe I have to give it to you.”

He couldn’t very well beat it out of him, or could he? The guy isn’t going to give up anything. Time to try a different tactic.

“I’ll give you $50 for the name of the restaurant.”

David says nothing nor is he looking at him.

“Okay, make it $100 just for the name of the restaurant.”

“What’s this to you if you aren’t a cop?”

“Why does it matter? It’s $100 you didn’t have.”

“It was Cheese & Saucers,” David shares, holding out his hand for the money.

“Now was that so hard?” he asks fishing in his back pocket for his wallet.

“So, what’s your name and why is this a big deal?”

“Mike and it’s a big deal because a beautiful lady was injured. Here’s your
money,” he thrusts the bill out and heads down the block.

He could feel the maintenance man’s eyes on him as he walks down the block. Deciding on a different route home and entering the back of the building won’t lead anyone right to his door. He isn’t sure he should have shared his first name though.