The drive back to Erin’s apartment wasn’t long and before she knew it she was standing in front of her door trying to figure out how to invite Carson in. On the short drive from the restaurant she was more and more occupied with thoughts of being alone again. Spending time with Carson she was actually able to forget about the horrors she had endured in the office building. But with the prospect of being alone in the apartment those memories were returning in full force. Erin didn’t want Carson to leave, but how in the world could she possibly ask her to stay?

The bloody elevator flashed in her mind and with it a fragment of the nightmare from last night. Carson threaded through the dream, woven intermittently with the dead. Several times Erin came awake with a scream on her lips and Carson’s severed head in her mind.

Erin dug the key card out of her bag to open the door. She was afraid Carson would suddenly leave and she blurted out, "Can you stay for a bit? I have a very nice wine that I haven’t opened yet."

"Is it the same kind we shared at dinner?"

Her enthusiasm made Erin laugh. At least she’d found a way to keep Carson around a little longer. Carson walked into the apartment right behind her and Erin closed the door before she answered.

"Actually, it’s another white; Beyer Equisheim Riesling Alsace ’95, but I assure you it’s just as good."

"I would like to try it."

While Carson settled on the sofa Erin got out the wine, a bucket of ice and a couple of glasses. She felt a little silly for giving in to the nameless dread that made her ask Carson to stay, but she was glad she had agreed. Erin was well aware that Carson seemed to be making a lot of concessions for her this weekend. After all, she was the head of a major technologies company and must be very busy. Yet through all this Carson was there when Erin needed her.

This is the last time, Erin thought in disgust. Tomorrow I’m going to have to go to work and I have to pull myself together.

Erin sat beside Carson and unloaded the wine paraphernalia before she sat the wine in the bucket and picked up the corkscrew. She opened the bottle and poured a small amount into each glass and then handed one to her guest. For some reason it was important to her for Carson to enjoy the wine. In this setting, in the comfort of her home, it would be so easy to imagine this was an intimate exchange until Erin looked up and noticed the innocent curiosity in Carson’s eyes.

Her expression showed none of the desire that burned through Erin’s veins.

"What shall we drink to?"

What indeed, Erin considered. She had already decided at the restaurant that she couldn’t afford to take chances with her heart. Her clients would never accept a lesbian attorney and it had been six long years since someone had betrayed her on a personal level. Since Rose. She just couldn’t go through that again, but what she could do was cultivate the tentative bond that was growing between them.

"How about to new friends?"

Carson clinked her glass to Erin’s lightly. "To new friends."

After the first sip Carson looked up at Erin quickly and then said, "This is just as good as the other. You seem to know a lot about choosing good wine."

"It’s a bit of a hobby. One of the few vices I allow myself."

"That and the black sludge you drink for coffee," Carson teased.

Erin shrugged lightly, unoffended. "Well, a girl has to have some vices."

They sipped at the wine for a few moments and Erin could feel the evening drawing to a close. She tried to think of something to say that would extend their time together and finally asked the question that had been burning in her mind all weekend.

"Why do you think he did it?"

Carson lowered the glass to rest her forearms on her knees. She looked like she preferred not to discuss the subject but finally she answered. "I don’t know. Maybe it was just a random event."

Erin shook her head. "I don’t think so. If that were the case it would be a lot easier to choose a less secure location. If he was just after money, there’s an endless selection of convenience and liquor stores he could have hit."

"I agree. He wasn’t after money. But what could be in your building that would make him willing to kill so many?"

Erin smiled slightly. "It’s your building now too, remember? But he must have had a reason."

"What’s in the building? If we could figure out what would make such an attractive target, we might be able to figure out who he is."

Erin wanted to point out that they weren’t detectives, but the prospect of identifying the killer outweighed her common sense in this area. She had phoned Detective Hutchins earlier and was told that he was off duty today, so that was out. What would a little idle speculation hurt?

"There’s not really much in there, a few law firms and such. The twelfth floor has been gutted so that’s out. Marsters Research has a lab on the eleventh floor. There are even a couple of stockbrokers in the building, but no actual cash."

"Well, it’s obvious why he would take out the security guards, but didn’t you say that he killed someone else?"

"Yes, he killed Ed Cupper."

"Who was he?"

Erin felt another tug of guilt for making fun of Ed right before he died, but pushed the feeling away as irrelevant for the moment. "He was one of the owners of the building, but he was basically just an office worker. The only thing significant was that his pass card would operate on all the floors, but since the murderer cut the power that wouldn’t have been important."

"So you think Mr. Cupper was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time?"

Erin nodded sadly. "The thing is I’m sure I’ve seen him before."

"Of course, you probably saw him everyday."

"No, not him. The killer."

"What?"

Carson jerked a little in surprise and sat her glass on the coffee table. "Why didn’t you mention this before? You have to tell Detective Hutchins."

"I didn’t remember before. I guess I was just so frightened by what happened that I didn’t realize it at the time, but ever since…I keep getting this feeling that he’s familiar."

"And the reason you haven’t told the homicide detective?"

Carson sounded a little angry and Erin was touched that she was so concerned for her safety.

"I tried to call him this morning, but he’s off duty. It is Sunday, you know."

"You will call him first thing in the morning."

Erin laughed at Carson’s demanding tone. "Yes, ma’am," she said and saluted the woman she was quickly coming to regard as a friend.

"Erin, this is not funny. You do recall that he has seen you and knows that you work in the building?"

The attorney relented a little. Carson was just worried for her and she was right. The fact that the killer knew what they looked like was one of the things that had concerned Erin most since the whole nightmare began.

"I know. But, honestly, I doubt that he would come back to the building after the police have been swarming all over it. I’m sure security has been beefed up as well and I promise that I’ll be careful."

"Very well." Carson’s reply was a study in casual, but her expression made her look like she was chewing on a lemon, and the tone said, ‘if you insist’. "Just promise me one thing. Promise me that you will leave work before it gets dark outside."

"I can’t promise that. I have appointments all week long and I can’t just suddenly cancel them. What would my clients think?"

"Fine, don’t cancel them. Reschedule them, just until the police catch him. Please, Erin."

It was that softly uttered ‘please’ that made her break. Her schedule wasn’t really that busy since this was Christmas week, she just hadn’t wanted to give in. The few appointments that Erin did have could be easily rescheduled and this wouldn’t be for long. Surely the madman had left enough DNA evidence and fingerprints that the police would catch him fairly quickly.

"All right, but only for the time being."

"Thank you."

Erin took a small sip from her glass and then ran a finger around the rim. She was distracted with the thought that Carson was so concerned for her, but no doubt it was natural that two people would be drawn together after such an ordeal. But was Carson so unaffected by what had happened on a personal level that she was only concerned with Erin’s safety? Hadn’t Carson felt something, fear, anger and even a little helplessness? It was true that she kept a shell in place to protect her feelings, but she couldn’t be completely untouched by such a trauma.

"Did you have nightmares, too?"

Erin’s voice sounded frail and she realized that she had admitted to a certain vulnerability because of how she had worded the question.

Carson sat back against the sofa and stared at her feet. "Yes, of course. I do have a heart. But, Erin, there is nothing weak about experiencing nightmares. You knew these people so it is only natural. To be honest, I would have to question your humanity if their deaths left you unaffected."

Erin’s hands shook slightly and she hoped Carson wouldn’t notice. To cover the tremors she reached for the bottle and refilled their glasses. Some of the wine slopped over the edge of a glass and Carson reached out to take the bottle from her.

"Erin, are you okay?"

She took a deep breath, tempted to reveal her inner turmoil. Finally she clamped down on the urge and said, "Yes, I’m fine."

Carson looked doubtful, but didn’t challenge her. "With all the nightmares you must not have gotten much sleep?"

"Not much," she admitted reluctantly, and wondered where Carson was going with this.

"Me either. I didn’t even know them. I don’t know how I would have survived if you hadn’t been there."

Erin realized that Carson was probably exhausted and it had been a long day. With the alcohol they had consumed on top of that she must be pretty worn out. It seemed like too good an opportunity to be true, but she was still concerned about being alone in the apartment enough to ask, "Are you all right to drive? I must admit that I’m concerned about you driving home."

"I am tired, and perhaps a little off balance."

Erin smiled gently. "I have a spare bedroom. You could stay. Assuming that you don’t have other plans or an early morning appointment that is."

"One of the nice things about being the owner of a company," Carson said slowly, "is that I will be where I wish to be when I wish to be. And no, I am not supposed to meet anyone else."

Had Carson just admitted that she wasn’t seeing anyone or only that she wasn’t seeing anyone tonight? Erin felt compelled to find out and asked, "But surely there’s someone who must be wondering where you are?"

Carson suddenly smiled and said, "Why Erin Donovan, are you fishing?"

Erin blushed scarlet and looked away while Carson laughed out loud.

"I’m just curious," Erin said defensively. "There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?"

"No, I guess not." But Carson still had a smile on her face. "If we are going to be friends it’s only natural that we know certain things about each other. Very well, no, I am not involved with anyone. To be truthful I have never been involved."

"Ever?"

Erin was more than a little surprised. Carson was a gorgeous woman and could have anyone she wanted.

"No," Carson chuckled again. "School and my company have taken all of my time."

"Isn’t there anyone you were ever interested in?" Erin was digging a hole, but the topic was too fascinating to drop.

"Once. But that was a very long time ago. I was a freshman in college."

This didn’t sound like a happy story. From what Ray Eldridge had told Erin about his client Carson had barely been a young teenager when she started college. Most of the other students would have been at least five years older and undoubtedly look at others closer to their age group for a romantic tryst.

"What happened?" she asked softly.

Carson hesitated for a moment and Erin wasn’t sure she was going to answer. "I returned to the dorm late one night and she... Let’s just say that the person I had feelings for was already involved elsewhere."

Well, that answered that question. Erin didn’t know why it was so important to find out Carson’s orientation, but now that she had she was sorry she had brought it up. The woman definitely played in the same league, but she was still off limits. Knowing she was gay was just going to make things that much harder.

"What about you?" Carson asked. "Is there a boyfriend waiting in the wings somewhere?"

Good, she thinks I’m straight. That’ll make it easier.

"No, no boyfriend." Erin grinned. "I work a lot."

"But surely there has been someone?"

God, she just won’t quit!

"It’s been a while," Erin finally admitted. "About six years."

"What happened? Did the knight in shining armor fall off his horse?"

Carson was trying to be lighthearted in her approach to the reason Erin was no longer involved and the attorney appreciated it. She didn’t want any maudlin episodes either. They were just sharing personal histories in an attempt to get to know each other. But even though Carson had assumed she was straight, Erin didn’t want to lie. She couldn’t admit the whole truth either so she settled on answering generically.

"The person I was involved with decided that I worked too much. They moved on to greener pastures."

Carson’s expression altered a little, but she didn’t question Erin any further.

"So, I guess all of this means we won’t be interrupting any plans if you want to stay tonight." Touché, Erin thought. She managed to bring the conversation around to Carson spending the night without it sounding overly awkward or forced.

"No, but are you sure you don’t mind? I know how easy it is to get accustomed to your own company."

"It’s no problem," Erin assured her. "The truth is as much as I have to be at work early tomorrow I’m not looking forward to it. But I don’t want to disturb you too much by having to get up that early."

"It’s highly unlikely that you would disturb me since the guest room is at the opposite end of the apartment."

"I’m glad to see that self-guided tour gave you some perspective. So, can I consider that a yes? That you’ll stay the night?"

Carson returned Erin’s slightly shy smile and nodded. "Yes, I’ll stay."

None of her clothes could possibly fit Carson, but Erin was able to scrounge up a t-shirt she had bought for her father and hadn’t sent yet. The sales tag still hung from a sleeve and the shirt was large enough to fit her well, although a little tight across the chest. Carson assured her that it would be fine.

Soon they were prepared to retire and Erin reluctantly said goodnight to Carson. After she had walked down the hall toward the guestroom Erin spent a few minutes cleaning up the wine glasses.

Her thoughts were in a whirl after the day spent with the computer executive. Carson was definitely more than Erin bargained for when she first met her. At first Erin had thought her annoying, egotistical and stuck-up. Now she knew better and her heart struggled against her common sense.

For so long she had allowed only work to intrude on her carefully constructed world. Then in one moment she had met a woman that had turned her entire structure upside down. It was going to be so hard to go back to the unfeeling woman that lived only for her job, but there was no other choice. Erin would never put herself in the same position as before. She couldn’t.

Rose was as different from Carson as night was from day, but the comparison was still relevant. Erin had trusted the small Italian woman completely, tendering her heart only to have it returned in one broken moment when Rose informed her that she couldn’t live without passion. She accused Erin of being uptight and rigid when Erin felt she had given everything she had. Well, at least everything she had after her work was complete.

In the next moment Rose was gone and Erin told herself never again. She couldn’t go through another heartbreak and her clients deserved better than an attorney who was distracted by her private life.

Now along came Carson Tierney, computer geek and Wonder Woman all rolled into one.

Erin still remembered how calm and contained Carson was during the Holcomb incident, as she had started to call it in her mind. The woman was nothing short of amazing in a crisis and filled with tenderness and an all-consuming passion that Erin could sense simmering just beneath the surface. It was a passion Erin could lose herself in and it was something she couldn’t allow.

Erin heaved a frustrated sigh and walked into her bedroom very aware of the other woman at the other end of the apartment. Maybe a nice cold shower was just the thing she needed before she went to bed.

Chapter 8

Carson awakened suddenly and rolled over in the darkness. She was surrounded by unfamiliar objects and for a moment didn’t know where she was. Then the memory of last night returned and she smiled slightly as she relaxed back against the pillow. A slight headache throbbed behind her eyelids from the unaccustomed amount of alcohol she had consumed, but even that couldn’t dim the experience of spending the day with Erin Donovan.

Bits and pieces of their conversation flitted through her mind and she thought of Erin explaining her most recent unsuccessful relationship. Erin’s careful gender-neutral wording hadn’t escaped Carson’s notice even if she hadn’t commented on it and she idly considered the implications now.

A straight woman would have said ‘he’, not ‘they’. It was enough to convince Carson that Erin was a lesbian, but it was also obvious that she didn’t want to acknowledge that just yet. Carson didn’t really mind. Erin didn’t really know her and apparently wasn’t comfortable sharing such a personal fact. She would just have to prove that she could be trusted and maybe one day Erin would let down her guard. If she didn’t Carson would just have to secretly adore her from a distance, but her new knowledge gave her hope that if she was patient enough Erin might one day notice her in a romantic way.

Carson turned and looked at the small clock on the nightstand. The red numerals glowed in the darkness and the time read five fifty.

Erin had said she needed to get up early and Carson wondered if she was already gone. She got out of bed and pulled the covers up before she walked down the dark hallway. Carson was familiar enough with the apartment to navigate the short hallway with the aid of the light that came in from the windows. Quietly she walked into the kitchen and listened for any sounds from Erin’s bedroom. Silence was all she heard.

She was tempted to stand in the doorway of the bedroom to find out if Erin was still asleep but decided against it. She padded on bare feet back into the living room and realized that there was a lumpy form on the sofa. Carson hadn’t noticed Erin’s sleeping form the first time through because she hadn’t expected to see her there.

Erin was huddled into a shivering ball as she slept fretfully on the leather sofa. She must have come out during the night and fallen asleep without retrieving a blanket. Carson wondered if she had experienced more nightmares that kept her from sleeping comfortably in her own bed.

Carson picked up the throw from the back of the sofa and shook it out to place over the cold woman, but stopped before that. For a moment she gazed at Erin, unable to tear her eyes away from the nightgown-clad figure.

Erin wore a gown that shimmered in the low light, the color undetermined in the darkness. But the garment clung to the small figure and revealed small, firm breasts, a flat stomach and strong shoulders. Carson took a deep breath against the suddenly tight feeling in her belly that caused her nipples to contract painfully. Then she quickly and carefully covered Erin before she walked back into the kitchen.

Oh my God!

Carson rested both hands against the marble kitchen island and shuddered as she stared at the surface. She had never felt anything as strong as this, not even when she had fantasized about Gloria in college. She had wanted to be with the track star, to feel the softness of her skin and even dreamed about kissing the full, pouty lips, but it hadn’t been anything like this. Just watching Erin sleep had brought out an almost painful yearning to touch her.

Last night during dinner and then later at the apartment she had experienced the desire to touch Erin or do something to make the woman notice her in a romantic way. But she had been unprepared for the sharp stab of pure desire she had felt only moments ago, or the sudden pool of moisture between her legs.

Carson pushed away from the island with shaky hands. She needed to do something to keep herself busy and to prevent herself from rushing back into the living room and taking Erin into her arms.

Familiar with the layout of the kitchen, Carson started the coffee maker and dug in the refrigerator for some breakfast items. As usual Erin’s cupboards were almost bare. It reminded Carson of the Mother Goose nursery rhyme and she smiled a little. There was little to choose from and she settled on English muffins, jam and butter to go with the coffee. A small sound at the doorway made her turn around.

Erin stood at the entrance to the kitchen with the throw wrapped around her shoulders and her hair mussed. She looked so beautiful that Carson had to force down another surge of passion that she hoped didn’t show in her expression. She was so focused on getting her own emotions under control that she almost didn’t notice Erin’s eyes sweep up her legs to the hem of the long shirt. Almost.

Even partially asleep Erin’s blue gaze pinned her in place.

"I’m glad to see the shirt worked out all right."

Erin’s voice was husky with sleep and Carson turned quickly to reach for a coffee cup. Maybe it was just the fact that they had spent the night in the same apartment, but sharing breakfast in their sleepwear lent an intimacy to the situation that had Carson reacting to every innocent look or comment. She needed to get herself under control or Erin was sure to notice something.

She poured coffee into the cup and then handed it to Erin. "Good morning. I didn’t mean to wake you."

"No, I’m glad you did. I wouldn’t have heard the alarm from the living room. I guess I just didn’t expect to fall asleep out there."

"More bad dreams?"

Erin nodded and sipped her coffee. Then she helped Carson carry the muffins and jam to the table.

"This was very thoughtful of you," Erin said casually as they sat down. "I could get used to having you around."

Carson’s eyes bugged a little, but she kept her mouth shut while she slathered butter on her muffin. Honestly, what was wrong with her? Erin didn’t mean anything by her comment.

"You better go easy on that stuff or the next thing you’ll need is angioplasty."

Carson looked up to see the humor reflected in Erin’s eyes. Then she noticed that she had a heaping mound of butter on the muffin and flushed in embarrassment. Carson pushed the bulk of the oily treat onto her plate and sat her knife down.

"I’m sorry," Erin said softly. "I didn’t mean to embarrass you."

"No, it’s all right. I guess I’m just a little distracted this morning." That’s an understatement.

Erin nodded. "Yes, I guess we both have a lot on our minds today. It seems like a lot has happened since Friday."

The haunted look was back and Erin was obviously thinking about going back into the Holcomb Building.

"It’ll be fine. The building will be full of people, there will be more security, and you’ll be leaving work before it gets dark."

Erin looked at her and smiled. "You’re not going to let me get away with working late are you?"

"You did promise." Carson raised a haughty eyebrow and got the laugh she had been trying for.

"Well, not to worry. This is Christmas week and there will be very little going on at work. I’m sure the few clients I have scheduled will be happy to postpone things until next week. What are your plans for the day?"

"I need to get ready for my staff to move in. I have to make keys for the individual offices, get identification tags made, move the servers and have the electrician run the lines, as well as have diagnostics run on the equipment."

"Surely not all of that in one day," Erin said in surprise.

Carson flushed a little. "Just the keys and identification tags today. But we do need to start moving equipment and get the electrician in. It will take until at least Wednesday to get everything moved and diagnostics will take a few more days. The main system won’t be switched over until next week, but there is a lot to do before then."

"Just don’t forget about the Christmas party on Friday."

"Excuse me?" Carson frowned a little. She didn’t know what Erin was talking about.

"Didn’t Ray tell you? Every year the company hosts a Christmas party on the sixth floor. All of the businesses in the building are invited."

"Is this mandatory?"

"Well, no. But you are the new kid on the block so to speak, and people will be looking for you to attend."

"You’re saying it would have an affect on Delphi’s image if we don’t go?"

Erin chuckled a little and said, "Somehow I don’t think you’d care in the slightest what people thought of you, but it would look like you’re part of the team if you show up."

Part of the team? Was that true or perhaps Erin just wanted her to go.

"Are you going?"

"Of course. Who do you think got stuck setting the whole thing up? Please say you’ll come."

The hopeful look on her face was enough for Carson. "Very well. What time?"

"Great! The festivities will begin at one, and don’t forget to bring a Secret Santa gift." Erin reached over and patted Carson on the hand in a friendly gesture. "Now, I better get ready for work before I’m late."

Erin scurried into her bedroom and Carson sat staring dumbfounded after her. What was it about Erin that usually left her feeling like she had been run over by a steamroller?

Carson looked at her watch, surprised to find that it was almost six thirty. It would be past seven before she got home and she had a lot to do today.

Secret Santa?

*

Carson could still feel Erin’s hand where she had patted it before she left the table. She thought they had grown closer than mere friendship over the weekend and was somewhat disappointed that Monday had arrived. As she drove home to shower and change she contemplated what her next move should be. That was when she realized she was determined to win Erin’s affections.

Affections? What is this, a Shakespearean play?

Carson snorted at herself, but couldn’t deny what she wanted. She wanted Erin, but it was more than simple desire. Everything about Erin affected Carson, from the way her eyes sparkled to the little dimple in her cheek when she smiled. She could see the curve of Erin’s lips in her mind and she gasped at the sudden rush of arousal.

A car honked and Carson jerked back to the present. She pressed down the brake pedal and came to a stop just past the line at the traffic light. The other driver sent her a disgusted look and then traveled on.

Carson focused on her driving and finally pulled into the heated garage. When she walked into the living room of her house the indicator light on the answering machine flashed insistently. There were six messages.

Who could possibly be calling her over the weekend? Carson pressed the button and got her answer immediately.

"Hi, it’s Laura. It’s Friday night. Where the hell are you? Why do you have a cell phone if you never have it on? Call me back."

Carson smirked, deleted the message and listened to the next one.

"Hi, it’s me again. It’s Saturday morning. There’s something going on at that new office building of yours. The news is still sketchy. Do you know what’s going on? Call me."

From there the messages became more frantic as Laura apparently found out that Carson was involved in the ruckus at the Holcomb Building. In the last message Laura was just short of panicked.

"Carson, where are you? I’m worried sick! You call me as soon as you get this message!"

Carson picked up the handset and dialed Laura’s number. The phone was answered on the first ring.

"Hi, Laura…"

The other woman immediately interrupted her and said, "Carson! Where the hell have you been? Are you all right? Why didn’t you call me back?"

"I’m sorry, Laura. I haven’t been answering the phone."

"No kidding? You didn’t think anyone might be worried about you after what happened? It’s been all over the news!"

Carson frowned. She didn’t listen to the news and had no idea that this would happen. She thought the police were trying to keep things quiet, but then again Detective Hutchins had said they would put out a description of the killer over the wires. Did those wires include the media? Apparently so, and she wondered what kind of circus Erin was walking into at the moment.

"I didn’t mean to worry you, and yes we’re okay?"

"We?" Then Laura seemed to remember something from the newscast. "Oh, that’s right. There was someone else in there, an attorney, right? Ms. Donohue?"

"Donovan, yes. Erin Donovan was downstairs on the sixth floor when it started. All the power went out and she found a dead man right outside her office. Then she managed to get to the security office without the killer seeing her, even though she saw him."

Carson continued to tell Laura all that had happened and how impressive and resourceful Erin had been throughout the whole ordeal. Laura was uncharacteristically quiet while Carson recounted the tale, only interrupting to clarify a point or two during the entire dissertation.

When Carson finally finished all Laura said was, "You sound quite taken with her."

"She’s amazing." Carson realized she sounded dreamy as she leaned back into the sofa, but couldn’t have cared less.

"Carson Marie Tierney, you have a crush on her! In the middle of a crisis situation no less!"

Carson laughed at her friend’s reaction. "Maybe, but it’s pointless. She’s conservative as possible and if she isn’t straight she’s so far back in the closet that she might as well be."

"But that’s not going to keep you from trying, is it?"

"When did you learn to read me so well?"

"It’s in your voice." Laura sounded like it should be apparent. "Well, if it doesn’t work out I guess you’ll just have to worship her from afar."

"Speaking of seeing her again," Carson said and changed the subject. "We need to start moving the equipment today. The electrician is meeting us at one on the tenth floor to start running wires for the server extensions."

"You do realize that I know you’re trying to distract me?"

Carson sighed. She should have known Laura wouldn’t let her get away with anything. "Laura, it’s not that I don’t trust you. You know I tell you everything. I’m just not sure she’ll ever look at me that way. A couple of times this weekend I thought that she might be interested, but there was never anything clear."

"You mean you spent the weekend with her? You have so got to tell me everything!"

"Laura! Can’t you just understand that I don’t want to jinx anything by talking about it right now?"

"Now you’re just being superstitious, but fine. Whatever. I’ll let it go for now and you can tell me all about her when I meet you at the Holcomb Building."

Carson shook her head at Laura’s insistence, but her friend was still talking. Again, Carson had that impression of a steamroller bearing down on her. Laura and Erin would get along famously.

"You get the keys made and I’ll meet you in front of the service entrance at eleven. That will give me and the boys time to load some of the equipment into the van. They can make another trip while we set up what we have."

One of the things Carson appreciated about Laura was her no-nonsense approach to problems that at first looked insurmountable to Carson. Laura came in and started barking orders and miraculously problems disappeared and some semblance of order came to the chaos that had previously reigned.

"Okay, but Laura don’t forget you need to go by security to get your identification tag made. And wear something besides a hippy t-shirt? They’ll need a picture."

"Fine, I’ll try to dress the part. But just for today. You know us programmers don’t have to wear skirt suits like you yuppie desk jockeys do."

Laura wasn’t that old, but preferred to dress like a throwback to the sixties when peace and love and free-flowing drugs were the norm. To Carson’s knowledge Laura had never used drugs, but she still ascribed to the peace and love philosophy.

"I was never a desk jockey and I don’t wear skirts!"

"But you do still have the public image to hold up," Laura pointed out.

"I can’t argue with that."

"Now, you’re being smart. I’ll meet you at eleven."

Carson agreed and hung up the phone. Laura always managed to bring things back into perspective and Carson felt more relaxed than she had for a week.

A quick shower, change of clothes and another cup of coffee and Carson was back out the door. It seemed like she was never home these days and she wished she had more time to enjoy her home, but maybe she would get the chance once they finished the move.

Carson drove to the Holcomb Building and pulled around back to the service entrance. The van with the Delphi Technologies logo had already been backed to the loading dock and Carson parked the Lexus in the small lot next to it.

The rear doors were open and Carson saw three people moving equipment onto dollies. Laura turned around, spotted her and waved. True to her word she wasn’t wearing a ‘peace’ t-shirt. Instead she had on a blue turtleneck that complimented her gray eyes and a black leather jacket. Her curly brown hair bobbed in the breeze as she walked toward Carson with a huge grin on her face. Carson noticed that she still wore blue jeans, but since they were moving equipment it didn’t matter.

Laura rarely wore anything but jeans to work and since the photo for the id tag was only from the shoulders up they wouldn’t show.

"Hey, about time you showed up. I thought we were going to have to do everything ourselves."

"You mean you’re not finished?" Carson asked in mock disappointment. "I really thought I had waited long enough."

"Funny," Laura teased her back. "Seriously, that’s the last load."

She nodded toward the two men. Jeremy and Mike waved at Carson and then pushed the load into the service entrance.

Carson waved back and then reached into her pocket. She fumbled past her cell phone and pulled out a set of keys. "We’ll need to stop by security to have the rest of the keys made, but I’d like you to have the office next to me. The guys can decide which one they want. While we’re at security I need to trade my loaner tag for my permanent." Carson indicated the generic identification tag that was clipped to her lapel.

"Did you stop to get your photo taken when you got here?"

"You don’t think I dressed up like this for no reason do you?" Laura asked.

Carson tried to ignore the cell phone that rested like a weight in her pocket. She didn’t normally carry it around, but she had today in hopes that Erin would call her. There was no reason to think that she would, but Carson kept it with her just in case.

"Where are you putting the equipment? All the doors are locked."

"We’re just piling it up in the hall for now since we got here a little early for our id tags. Figured you’d have to show up eventually with the keys."

"It’s not my fault you’re early," Carson bantered back. "And you know I’m never late."

The two women walked through the service entrance and into the main lobby of the Holcomb building. Carson had become familiar with the elevator banks last Friday and led the way without thinking. When they stepped into the lobby she halted with a visible start.

"Yeah," Laura said quietly. "Seeing it in person really gets your attention."

Yellow crime scene tape roped off one of the elevators until maintenance could get all of the blood cleaned up. More yellow tape was strung across the hallway that led to the security office and a guard stood next to it to keep the more adventurous from investigating on their own.

Guards were everywhere in the lobby and Carson realized that Holcomb had gone a little overboard with security since Friday. A thin woman in a guard uniform also stood next to the information desk where Carson had called the police. The woman looked tiny in the uniform and Carson shook her head. If this woman had encountered the madman last week she would not have survived.

"Carson."

She turned at the sound of her name and was suddenly looking into Erin’s blue-gray gaze.

Erin wore a red skirt suit with a slit up one side and three-inch pumps. Carson thought the garment was what people called a power suit, and it did indeed make Erin Donovan look powerful. Carson felt the world recede slightly as Erin walked up to her, her glance flitting over to take in Laura before they returned to Carson.

"Here." Erin handed her a cup of coffee. "You look like you need this more than me."

She must have just come from the Starbucks kiosk in the corner, Carson thought and took the hot cup. She mumbled thanks and took a sip of the strong drink while Erin introduced herself to Laura and shook hands.

"Are you all right?" Carson asked. "I didn’t realize how it would feel to walk in here today."

Erin nodded. "Yes, I’m fine. It was a little disconcerting, but security insisted on escorting me to my office until the rest of the staff got here. And at least they kept the other elevator closed until they could get it cleaned up."

The tightness around Erin’s eyes were a testament to how hard it had been for her to come back in here and be confronted with visual signs of what they had gone through.

The closeness from the weekend seemed to have evaporated and Erin was almost a stranger again. Carson felt the distance keenly and wondered if the weekend was really all Erin had needed from her, just some company until she could deal with her inner demons and find some sort of peace.

"I kept my cell phone on just in case you needed me," Carson admitted.

There was no good reason to tell Erin that, Carson just wanted to reconnect with the senior partner somehow, to know that she hadn’t imagined the friendship and perhaps more that had begun to develop between them.

Erin looked like she might say something, then hesitated and simply said, "Thank you. I appreciate that. Well, I better get back." She turned to Laura and said, "It was nice meeting you."

Then she was gone. Erin’s long, confident stride carried her across the lobby and into a waiting elevator. She turned around and her eyes connected with Carson’s until the doors finally closed.

"Wow," Laura said softly.

"Tell me about it."