Page 61 of Kaine

No description, no date, no location.

There doesn’t need to be. I throw the card down and run over to the marketing work station. There’s a stack of invitation being prepped to send out to local construction companies and real estate corporations as well as local politicians. The front read “Ash Industries welcomes you to the launch of FIREFREE.” I flip it over.

There. Under “Time,” it says, “12:30 p.m.” It’s the same. Exactly the same.

I carry Ash Industries’ invitation back to my desk and hold them side by side, my eyes darting from one to the other, over the identical printed time. How could they replicate it? We haven’t even sent it out yet.

The phone on my desk rings and I throw the cards down, startled. I answer the phone, running my hand through my hair; it comes out damp with sweat.

“What?” I growl into the phone.

“Judging by that greeting, I take it you’ve seen it.”

“The card with the date and time?”

“Yeah.”

“How do you know about it?”

“Because I got one too. And I’m not the only one.”

“Fuck. Who else?”

“Lucas and Carmen.” He names two mutual friends, also CEOs of their own companies.

“He’s hitting big names. And I can guarantee you, it’s more than just the four of us,” Xavier says what I’m dreading. “What is going on, Kaine?”

“I don’t know, Xave. Fuck, I don’t know. How was your card delivered?

“By mail. Stamp, no return address, obviously. You?”

“On my bloody desk.”

“Shit. Again? How is this happening?

“I don’t know, but I’ve had 50 people come in and out of my office today, most of them have come to my desk at one time or another, it could’ve been any of them.”

“You called Dylan?”

“Yeah, it’s why I’m calling, he needs you to give him clearance for the security cams of the building.”

“Fine. I... er, I need to call him anyway.”

“Why? What do you need to talk to him about that I didn’t tell him?” Xavier asks, his curiosity pipped.

“It’s nothing,” I evade the question.

“Doesn’t sound like nothing.”

“Remember when we used to joke about you charging me by the word?”

“Yeah. Actually, Jade said the same thing to me the other day.”

The mention of her name stops my brain functioning, and in that instant I forget Xavier’s there.

“Hey. Mr. Talkative. What’s your point?” he prompts me.

“You talk too much, that’s my point.”