After we hung up, I knew that I wanted to do something for Hannah. Something romantic and unexpected.
She was having a tough day at the office. She sounded tense.
I remembered my mother telling me, when I was fifteen and dating Sandy Wallis, that girls always liked flowers. It let them know you were thinking about them.
I had been deficient in the flowers department. The wilted bouquet I had given Hannah on our first date definitely didn’t count.
So I would have the biggest bunch of flowers I could afford sent to her at work as a surprise.
I knew that Hannah worked at the Western Railways main office downtown but wasn’t sure which floor. I opened a browser and found the number for Western Railways and dialed.
“Western Railways, Tamara speaking. How can I help you?”
“Hi, Tamara, I’m trying to find out what floor my girlfriend works on. I want to send her flowers. She’s having a rough day.”
“Aww, that’s so nice of you,” Tamara gushed. “What’s her name? It’s a small office, so I probably know her.”
“Hannah Whelan,” I told her. I pulled up a website for a local florist and found a bouquet that was perfect. Orchids and daisies instead of roses. They suited Hannah perfectly.
“Hmm, I don’t know a Hannah. Maybe she’s new. Let me have a look for you,” Tamara said.
“She works for Brandon Healey, if that helps,” I offered.
“Brandon Healey?” she asked, sounding confused.
“Yes, as his admin. He’s the CEO, right?”
“Yes, he is, but his administrative assistant is a man. Are you sure that’s who she works for?”
The voice was yelling at me again. So loudly, my head felt full. My heart started to beat quickly. “I’m sure that’s who she said she worked for, but maybe I got it wrong. Or she moved departments and didn’t tell me.”
I could hear Tamara clicking on her computer. “Well, I can tell you that we don’t have a Hannah Whelan who works for Western Railways.”
“Do you have any other offices?”
“Sir, there’s no Hannah Whelan in the company. I did a staff search and she didn’t come up. I’m not sure what to tell you—”
I hung up the phone.
Hannah didn’t work for Western Railways.
Why would Hannah lie about that?
Because she’s got something to hide.The voice taunted me. Derided me for being so blind.
Everyone has secrets. I knew that all too well.
So what were hers?
Chapter 18
Hannah
I called in to work. I lied. Said I was sick. No one would care. I was a nonentity.
My presence wouldn’t be missed. Definitely not by Chuck Bennett. Nor anyone else.
Except Kyle. He’d notice. But that didn’t matter.
