“Whoa. We already got divorced or I’d be worried about the tone of your voice.”
“It’s about the pig,” she announced loudly, anger tinging her voice.
Fran must have heard things escalating quickly, and clogged over with her perfect posture. “Can you keep it down?”
Gabby covered up the mouthpiece. “Sorry. Fight with an ex.” She frowned. “I really need to take this. I’ll just go in Kramer’s office for a minute. Oh, and I forgot—” She pointed to the bag on her desk. “I got you a cinnamon scone.”
After turning off the brooch camera for privacy, she hustledfrom her desk to Kramer’s office, not waiting for Fran’s reaction. Just to really sell it, she said in an impassioned voice, way too loud for the office, “I want the pig back.” Carmen poked her head around the corner, wide-eyed, and mouthed, “The pig?” to Fran.
Yep. She was putting on a fairly decent show.
“Jesus, Gabby. What’s your problem?” Phil said. “We’re talking about a guinea pig. You never even liked the thing.” That was true, but it wasn’t about her. This was about Kyle and about getting into Kramer’s office.
“It’s Kyle’s pet, and she misses it.”
“You have the dog and the house. I think I should get the guinea pig.” Phil was being so petty it was unbelievable. A grown man living in a hotel did not need a guinea pig.
“No, Phil. It’s not for you or me to split. Kyle should get the guinea pig. It’s hers.”
With the windows fogged for privacy, she commenced ransacking. Phil, completely invested in the debate, gave a bunch of dumb reasons he should keep the guinea pig. He named it (he did not), he was better at guinea pig care (um… for real?), and he was all alone in the hotel.
That last one stopped her in her tracks. Phil was lonely, and he had just admitted it. For once, he’d been vulnerable and honest. For a second, she wanted to fix it, to rescue him from his loneliness, but she couldn’t. Not right now.
Focus on fighting about the guinea pig, Gabby.He started blathering again, at which point she went back to searching drawers. There wasn’t a lot of paper in the sleek office. Glass walls, glass desk, no knickknacks. In the digital age, physical transparency didn’t mean anything, because there was nothing to see, no piles of cash or diamonds sitting around. Everything worth hiding wasalready in the cloud. She’d searched everywhere just as he finished talking. Ransacking was pointless.
“Phil, you left. You chose to leave. It’s one thing to make that choice, to take your things, but to take Kyle’s pet? It’s more like you’re holding it hostage so that she comes to see you. Dr. Piggie belongs with Kyle. Not to mention, are you even allowed to have a guinea pig in that hotel?”
He made a growly noise, probably because she was right.
“Just be a good dad. Maybe find somewhere to live where the kids can be a part of your life.” With a furtive glance out the door—no one was looking for once—she sat down at the computer and booted the sucker up. It’s not like she knew what the codes looked like or what the file name would be. She didn’t know what she was doing, but it was the only place in the office left to look.
To her shock, Phil relented. “I’ll drop the pig by later.”
“Thank you.”
Instead of hanging up, he hung on the line for another beat. “You’re right. I should look for an apartment.”
“That’s a great idea.” She thought about saying more, about how she wanted to do better co-parenting, to remain a family, but just in a different shape. Instead, she said, “See you later, Phil.”
She hung up the phone, no closer to finding the codes, but on the other hand, she’d really made some progress with Phil. It only took spy training and being threatened with death to be able to stand up to her ex. If she survived the night, life was going to be better. She kicked back in Kramer’s chair and savored the moment.
As usual, Fran couldn’t mind her own business. She burst into the office without knocking, catching Gabby red-handed relaxing. “What are you doing, Camille?”
“I needed some privacy. Some personal stuff came up.”
“There was a lot of noise in here, Camille. What was with all of the banging?” She narrowed her eyes with suspicion. “I hate to bring this up, but—”
Gabby leaned back. “Oh really?” Did Fran know she was an EOD plant? How could she?
“You’re stealing office supplies. My favorite coffee cup is missing, and I don’t know where any of the roller-ball pens are. And now you’re going through Kramer’s things? That’s audacious.”
Gabby started laughing. Fran was so far off base it was funny. “You’re kidding me.”
“If I tell Kramer you’re stealing supplies, you will lose this job.”
Why would Fran care if Gabby was stealing supplies? Who didn’t steal supplies now and then? Pens? Come on, Fran!
Gabby stood up to her full height. “Fran, I could give a damn about your stupid mug.” She shook her head in disgust. “I was trying to be your friend.”
