“I’ll have you know thatIwas an altar boy at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Abilene, Texas.” He splays his fingers across his chest and gives me a demure look.
It’s hard to imagine Aaron as an altar boy, mainly because it would have required that he be silent and obedient, two things I don’t think he comes by naturally. But I could see him digging the robes. He has an aptitude for drama, I think, as I take in his mint-green shirt and turquoise-print tie, which, to be fair, somehow go annoyingly well together and shine against the warm tones of his complexion. “And now?”
“Space disco is my new religion.” He grins wickedly. “All those synthesizers and laser sounds… totally gets me hot.”
A laugh escapes despite my somber mood, and Aaron looks genuinely pleased with himself.
“That’s better,” he says. “I didn’t recognize you there for a minute. Now, what are we figuring out?”
“Hmmm?”
“You said you were trying to figure something out, so what is it?” His chin drops. “Don’t leave me hanging here. If you’re into some weird Bible fetish or a kinky satanic sex cult, I want in.”
Oh god, I wonder,am I into a kinky satanic sex cult?Is that all the Fathom is? Seems like a lot of trouble to find new members. I take a breath. “No, it’s nothing really. I just… I found something in my mailbox—I think it must be my neighbor’s—but I’m curious what it means. Seems peculiar.”
Aaron wags his fingers at me, wanting to see what I’ve found.
I reach into my purse and pull out the note card, handing it to him. “I thought maybe it was a Bible verse,” I explain.
He purses his lips as he studies it, flipping the card over and back again when he sees that the other side is blank. His shoulders shrug jerkily. “I don’t know. Could be an address? Maybe they meantavenueand left off thee.”
I take the card from him. An address wasn’t something I’d thought of, but it seems far-fetched. Who lives at666anywhere? Surely, it’s like the thirteenth floor of a hotel—just a number they skip over when they come to it. “Yeah, butwhatavenue?”
“TheAve. Duh. University Way in the University District. I mean, that’s not what the signs say but it’s what everybody calls it.”
My cheeks redden. How did I not think of that? The University District is near Ravenna Park, where our first meeting took place. I glance up at him. “Aaron, you’re a lifesaver.”
He beams. “You can buy me drinks later and tell me more about how wonderful I am.”
“Yes!” I agree without thinking, gathering up my things. Iknow I’m not supposed to be at the location for two more days, but I want to go scope it out now, find out what resides at 666.
“Really?” he asks, looking genuinely taken aback.
“Sure,” I say because now I don’t know how to get out of it. “But not until next week. I’ve got a…thingthis weekend.”
He rises from my desk. “It’s a date. You going somewhere?”
“I forgot I had an appointment this afternoon,” I lie. “Will you let HR know?”
He nods. “You sure that’s such a good idea after…you know?” He grimaces.
I guess gossip has spread since my dressing down in Calvin’s office the other day. I’m sure our little “tête-à-tête” this afternoon didn’t help. “You know about the inquiry?”
“Oh, Jude,” he says, patting my arm. “Everyone knows.”
I sniff. “Can’t be helped,” I tell him. “An appointment is an appointment. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with taking a little time off when necessary.”
“It’s your funeral,” he mutters.
I steer around him and my desk, my things gathered in my arms, but before I can get away, he calls, “I want to hear more about this sex cult when you get back!”
All heads in the room swivel my direction as I start for the door. More speculation is the last thing I need right now. When I throw eye daggers at Aaron, he mouths,You’re welcome.
But I don’t have time to chastise him or worry about Calvin having one more thing on me.
Time is running out, and I’ve got a date with the devil.
8THALASSA
