Scott, find someone local in one of our newspaper bureaus in China to confirm a landslide hit a factory in Shenzhen within the past six months. Shenzhen Industries. Send me details ASAP.
Of course, Charles’s news article showing devastating photos of the landslide seemed convincing enough, but it never hurt to check. She didn’t read Chinese, after all.
Are you free? Felicity texted Cooper next. I have an update.
She had a brief flicker of doubt that maybe Charles was right and it wasn’t her place to spread Harvey’s secret purchases all over his office before he was ready to share. Maybe she should hold off telling Cooper. Even if her lover was discreet, it really wasn’t Cooper’s business to know, was it?
It’ll have to wait till end of day. Miles behind on clinic hours after being kicked out of office ystdy. Have dogs cats and gerbils wall 2 wall
Gerbils? Felicity shuddered.
Later, Felicity agreed in reply, relieved the decision was out of her hands. Btw is Harvey in?
No. Offsite all day. Tomorrow he’s in again.
Thanks.
Felicity glanced at her driver. “Change of plans. Take me home, please, Amir.”
“Yes, Ms. Simmons.” He gently applied pressure to the gas pedal and meandered them off in a new direction at his usual tortoise speed.
She had a brief fantasy of stretching over and stomping the gas for him.
Felicity’s phone rang, and she glanced down, seeing her boss’s name. “Elena?” she answered.
“Felicity, did you contact Jocelyn Mathers yet about transitioning her to the Bartell Corp masthead of her choosing?”
“No, I’ve been busy with Living Ruff. If it’s urgent, I’d be happy to—”
“Not necessary. I’d like to be the one to do it. I just wanted to see if you’d approached her yet. She’ll be a valuable asset.”
“Okay,” Felicity said. “I’ll take contacting her off my to-do list.”
“Yes. How’s it going? Do you have the case solved yet?”
“I think I’m close,” Felicity said. “I’ve made good progress. I just talked to Harvey Clifford’s brother-in-law today, and he was a lot more forthcoming than Harvey.” She dug her hand in her pocket, and it bumped against the white cat. “It should be case closed, except that one thing doesn’t add up. I was supplied a document that helped me in my investigation, and I can’t work out who sent it. Or how they managed it. Or why.”
“The plot thickens,” Elena said in a droll tone.
“Yes, well, if by thickens you mean frustrates, then it does.” Felicity pursed her lips. “So although I have a lot of answers, I keep feeling there’s more going on and it’s right in front of me, but I can’t quite see it.”
“Trust your gut and take the time you need,” Elena said confidently. “You will crack this. Especially given it’s something you care about.”
“I—” What? “What gives you that idea?”
“Felicity, I saw the TV clip of you attacking the mayor over homeless people’s rights to have pets in shelters and addiction facilities. I’ve only ever seen that look in your eye when your blood’s up. Like the time ten or so years ago when we were on opposing teams, and you were desperately trying to save that heritage paper in Connecticut. Did you know I only kept the paper operating as a going concern because of you? You made some valid points about its historic value to the community that your boss had completely missed. I didn’t even know newspapers still existed that were older than the formation of the United States until you pointed it out.”
Felicity blinked. Wait, she kept that paper going because of me?
“My point is, I knew the moment I saw you launching into the mayor in exactly the same way that this was important to you.”
“Important? Well, no, it was more that it was annoying me the way he was dragging his feet. It was of no consequence to me and—”
“Felicity,” Elena said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Remember who you’re talking to. Would you kindly not spin me bull?”
“Well,” Felicity said, sucking in a breath, “fine. I suppose I care. A little.”
“Good.”
Felicity could hear a smile in her boss’s voice this time, and she decided not to try and figure out why. The woman was perpetually mystifying.
“Do you need me for anything else?” Felicity asked. Her thumb in her pocket traced the plastic cat’s tail curled under its feet. Her nail dug into the bottom of the figurine, feeling something under it. A sticker?
“No, your replacement as chief of staff is somewhat adequate. It’d be nice if Scott stopped smiling all the time, though. His enthusiasm is usually far too much too early in the day. He reminds me of Mad—” She stopped dead.
“Madeleine Grey?” Felicity asked sweetly. She pulled the cat out and turned it upside down.
“Never mind,” Elena punched out far too quickly. “Anyway, I have to go. I’ll sort out Jocelyn Mathers; you sort out that charity. We’ll talk early next week.”
Felicity examined a small disc-shaped sticker, its color matching the cat. How odd. Everything else about the cat was so perfectly designed. Why would they shove something on it? She nudged the sticker with her thumbnail. It peeled up entirely, revealing three words. Her heart sank at what she was looking at. “Elena, before you go…how bad would it be if this does become a police matter?”
A long silence fell, then, “I trust you wouldn’t do that prematurely. I trust you. Remember my edict.”
“Um, if at first you don’t succeed, get out of my office?” Felicity suggested dryly.
“You do realize I said that as a joke.” The smirk in Elena’s voice was clear.
“Oh right, you mean along with ‘Be grateful I don’t know who you are.’” Felicity was capable of teasing her boss, too. Even if this was exactly the second time she’d ever done it in her life, and it was now twice in one minute.
A genuine laugh came down the phone, filling Felicity with delight.
