Authors: Sandi Perry
"The
thing
is,
mostly
I'm
gay,
but
I
realized
it
my
fourth
year
at
college.
Let's
say
I
logged
quite
a
few
hours
undercover.
So,
there
are
still
a
couple
of
women
that
can
straighten
my
wigwam,
and
Ally's
one
of
them.
I
guess
my
hard
drive
switch
wasn't
a
complete
process."
"So,
why
not
just
go
for
it—unless
you
already
have."
"Our
friendship
is
too
valuable
to
take
a
risk
like
that.
If
you're
waiting
for
my
approval—"
"I'm
not—"
"—You
have
it,"
Kenyon
said.
"And
now
let's
focus
our
energy
on
keeping
Ally
safe.
I'll
keep
my
eye
on
her
when
she's
home."
Alex
nodded,
"I'll
keep
an
eye
on
her
when
she's
at
the
office."
She
heard
them
gathering
the
food
wrappers
and
hastily
curled
to
her
side,
feigning
sleep.
Their
words
touched
her
and
she
didn't
want
them
to
see
how
vulnerable
she
was
feeling
right
now.
Kenyon
went
to
peek
in
at
her,
"She's
fast
asleep."
"Now
what
do
we
do?
We
can't
leave
the
door
unlocked,
but
I
have
a
feeling
she'll
be
asleep
for
the
rest
of
the
night."
Ken
said,
"I
have
her
key.
Stay
here
a
minute
while
I
go
grab
it.
We'll
lock
things
up
nice
and
tight."
Alex
nodded,
"I'm
sure
she'll
'appreciate'
that."
Ken
smiled,
"How
many
times
did
she
tell
you
she
'appreciated'
you
today?"
"About
ten."
"Her
voice
sounded
real
formal?
Teacher-like?"
Alex
nodded.
Ken
let
a
low
whistle
out
through
his
teeth,
"Sorry
man,
looks
like
you've
been
downgraded."
"Sure
looks
that
way,"
Alex
sighed.
"But
don't
worry
about
me;
I'm
the
king
of
the
rebound."
Allison
grimaced
at
his
parting
words
and
before
she
could
formulate
a
coherent
thought,
she
was
fast
asleep.
Allison
dreaded
the
business
meeting
she
had
to
sit
in
on
this
morning.
Stanley
Garvey
was
going
to
chair
the
meeting
and
he
spoke
in
such
a
monotone,
she
swore
even
the
fresh
flowers
wilted
from
boredom
when
he
opened
his
mouth.
She
was
just
heading
towards
the
office
building
when
she
thought
she
saw
Ritchie
Patrick
across
the
street.
She
waited
for
him
to
get
closer
and
was
surprised
to
note
how
great
he
looked
in
a
Brooks
Brother's
suit
and
gray
wool
overcoat.
"Well,
you
clean
up
real
nice!"
she
exclaimed.
"Hey,
what
a
surprise.
Do
you
work
in
this
building?"
She
nodded,
"Don't
tell
me
you
do
too?"
"Nah,
I
have
a
client
I'm
on
my
way
up
to
see."
He
looked
at
his
watch.
"And
they're
a
real
stickler
for
time.
How
about
we
do
coffee
sometime?"
he
asked
as
he
backed
his
way
toward
the
elevator.
She
nodded
her
assent
fervently
and
went
up
to
her
office
with
a
smile
pasted
on
her
face.
*****
The
Board
of
Directors
at
RossAir
was
convened
and
Stanley
Garvey,
the
Chief
Operating
Officer
was
updating
the
group
around
the
polished,
wood
table
on
the
monthly
earnings
report.
Miraculously,
they
had
managed
to
recover
from
the
initial
hit
when
Daniel
Ross
passed
away
and
now,
with
rumors
about
the
possibility
of
foul
play,
the
company
was
once
again
flush
with
orders.
Allison
wondered
about
the
salacious
need
of
people
who
liked
to
be
two
degrees
separated
from
tragedy.
She
certainly
didn't
have
the
stomach
for
it.
The
sooner
she
could
pass
her
responsibilities
over
to
someone
worthy,
the
happier
she
would
be.
She
was
barely
keeping
it
together
at
the
gallery.
She
needed
to
give
Emily
a
substantial
raise,
maybe
even
take
her
out
to
dinner
to
show
her
appreciation.
And
now
she
had
the
added
stress
of
Kaitlin's
portrait.
She
was
worried
about
her
mom,
and
with
Kenyon
and
Alex
convinced
a
murderer
was
lurking
around
the
corner,
following
her
every
step,
it
was
no
wonder...
It's awfully quiet in here
,
she
suddenly
realized.
Several
pairs
of
eyes
were
focused
on
her
as
they
waited
for
her
to
add
her
thoughts
to
what
Stanley
had
said.