The next afternoon, I received a phone call from Moira, the head librarian at the Williamsport Library branch I’d applied to. I had an interview scheduled for the following Monday. Smiling, as I hung up the phone, I shook off the remnants of the previous night’s nightmare and went to pick the kids up from camp. I knew one thing: I was going to ace that interview and get that job. At least then I’d have something to do during the day.
Chapter Eleven
Aaron
“Mr. Townsend, can you read the Daly report and sign off on it?”
I stiffened at the question that fell from this woman’s lips. Slowly, I turned from the window in my office to my new junior assistant who stood at the door. Suddenly, her face turned to a deer-in-headlights expression, and it became all too obvious that she’d realized she’d overstepped.
“Janice, you don’t ask Mr. Townsend to read over and sign anything without speaking to me first,” my executive assistant, Mark, informed. He pulled back from the conference table in my office and rolled over to her in his wheelchair, saying something in hushed tones. I merely watched as the new assistant grew paler and paler. A few moments later, she gave me a chagrined look and nodded before disappearing from my doorway.
“My apologies, Mr. Townsend. She’s still learning how the office works,” Mark stated.
“Not a problem,” I answered. Mark had been hired over a year ago, and his first week on the job, there had been a major office fire in which he sustained minor injuries. Thankfully, Carter’s squad was able to rescue him and managed to save the entire office from being engulfed in flames. After a short stint at the hospital and some time off to recuperate, Mark was ready to come back. He has been an asset ever since, having been bumped up to my executive assistant role.
“What report was Janet referencing?” I questioned.
“Janice,” he corrected.
I grunted.
“The Daly report. Daly is the top accountant at Oiltec.”
I nodded, being very familiar with the name.
“Send a copy to my email and I will read it over this evening.”
“I’ll do so as soon as I get back to my desk.”
We continued to discuss tasks that needed to be completed for the week and a series of meetings that I needed to prepare for over the next thirty minutes.
“I’ll be in tomorrow at eight,” I informed Mark before heading out.
I decided to leave the office a little early to get home. It was just after three in the afternoon and I figured the children and Patience would be home since it was their last week before school started. I was mistaken.
My driver held the door open for me to exit the car, and before opening my front door I knew the house was empty. Unaware of any activities or outings for the day, I called the driver that’d been assigned to Patience and the children.
“Where are you?” I questioned without any greeting.
“In front of the Williamsport Library, southeastern branch, Mr. Townsend,” he responded quickly.
The library, of course. Where else would Patience be? But then, the driver said something that surprised me. I hated surprises.
“Mrs. Townsend had a job interview this afternoon. I think it went well since she’s been there for close to two hours.”
I wrinkled my forehead. “And where are the children?”
“They were dropped off with their cousin, Diego, and his grandmother.”
I grunted.
“Here comes Mrs. Townsend now. Would you like to speak with her?”
“No,” I answered abruptly, “do not tell her you’ve spoken with me.” I hung up the phone and pressed my hand to the scanner that unlocked the front door. Charging through the walkway, I headed straight for my downstairs office, dialing numbers as I went. By the time my wife arrived home, an hour later with the children in tow, I had all the information I needed regarding her supposed new job.
****
Patience
