Ray grimaced. “Medical. He’s got something going on in his lungs. Hopefully, he can get it treated. But from what I hear, it doesn’t look good.”
“Damn. That’s a shame.”
“It is,” Ray agreed. “Holcomb was a DOR, and Wells got performance dropped.”
“Those two don’t surprise me,” Pierce said. “Wells thought he knew everything better than everyone. Now look where he is.”
“Yep. I told you after the first day that this class started that prick wouldn’t last through the first phase.”
“You did say that.”
“Now tell me a little more about this soon-to-be coffee date,” Ray said as they started walking.
Pierce chuckled and rolled his eyes as he fell in step with Ray as they made their way toward the offices.
CHAPTER TEN
Charley stepped outside, pulling the glass door shut behind her before turning the key to lock it. It was nearly ten o’clock, a lot later than she planned to stay. But at least she was able to knock out all the filing that had been piling up on her desk.
She adjusted her backpack on her shoulder and started across the parking lot toward her car.
It was a beautiful night. The moon was bright, giving her more light than the crappy streetlights provided. She needed to talk to the city about the lack of maintenance on the streetlights. On her street alone, four lights were out and needed to be replaced.
She was about halfway to her car when it felt like the air around her shifted. A chill suddenly shot up her spine, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up, giving her an uneasy feeling. She immediately sensed that she wasn’t alone. Someone was watching her.
Charley quickened her steps as she glanced around the parking lot. Nothing seemed out of place. No obvious figures were lurking in the shadows, and no one was visible. The only sound she could hear was her shoes tapping lightly on the pavement as she walked.
Her keys were already in her hand as she approached her car, and she pressed the unlock button before reaching the door. As soon as she was inside, she shut and locked the doors, pressing her back against the seat.
Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it was trying to climb out of her chest. She closed her eyes for just a second, forcingherself to breathe. She was in the safety of her car with the doors locked.
Tap. Tap.
Charley screamed, and her eyes flew open at the sudden knock on the driver’s side window. For a split second, pure panic took over when she saw the large man standing next to her car. Every worst-case scenario crashed through her thoughts at once.
However, recognition came a second later, and the terror gripping her chest loosened just enough for her to drag in a shaky breath. It was Mr. Olson, one of the security guards who patrolled the area.
Charley pressed a trembling hand to her chest as relief washed through her. His broad frame and shadowed features had scared the living daylights out of her. But now that she could make out his familiar face, his badge pinned to his shirt, and his concerned expression, the panic slowly began to ebb.
Heat crept into her cheeks as she released a small laugh, silently scolding herself for letting her imagination run wild. Or maybe it was that damn Netflix horror movie that Alyvia told her to watch.
She rolled her window down to apologize for her reaction, but before she could get a word out, he offered his own apology.
“I’m so sorry, Ms. Taylor. I didn’t mean to startle you. I came around the building and saw you sitting in your car. I just wanted to make sure that everything was okay.”
Should she mention to him about that creepy feeling she had when she felt like someone was watching her? Or would he think she was just going crazy from the lack of sleep?
“No need to apologize, Mr. Olson. I’m okay. You just caught me off guard. That’s all.”
He gave her a small smile. “All right then. I’ll let you be on your way. Drive safe.”
She smiled back. “Thanks, Mr. Olson. Have a good night.”
She rolled up the window and put the car in gear. As she pulled out of the parking lot, she tried to tell herself that she was imagining things. But no matter what explanation she came up with, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling as she drove home.
???
Twenty minutes later, Charley pulled into her aunt and uncle’s driveway. The glow of the TV in the living room spilled through the front window, and a pang of guilt settled deep in her chest.
