[Critique Group 1] Marcia's May submission 2170 words

[Marcia Wick]

Chapter 14

Help Wanted

 

I had used the excuse of a business call to hasten Claudia's departure that
afternoon, but truth was I was anxious to telephone Officer Braun as soon as
possible to investigate the intrusion of my office. Regrettably, I would
have to reveal my many secrets to Robbie in order to solicit his help.

 

Unnerved, I retrieved and reread the cryptic message that had been left on
my desk. "I'M WATCHING YOU." . Was it Hamilton messing with my head? I
realized that Michelle was threatened because I was upsetting the status
quo, challenging my rival's position at Millwood. Or perhaps, I wondered
with regret, had my affair with Millwood's regional sales manager in Chicago
been exposed? The reveal would damage his reputation and jeopardize his
marriage. Worse yet, had someone at Millwood discovered that I was the
daughter of a famous television star and was intending to blackmail me for
their silence? I considered, the only people who had a key to my office were
the company's officers or Pete, Millwood's security guard. I had been with
Hamilton and Roberts on the factory tour, so it would seem they were
eliminated as suspects. On the other hand, I wouldn't put it past Hamilton
to recruit Pete to leave me the threatening note. 

 

I telephoned Robbie and asked him to meet with me the next morning. 

 

"I'm flying to New York City tomorrow. I know I've been avoiding you,
Robbie, but I need your professional advice before I leave town." 

 

, "Go on." Officer Braun's response was flat.

 

"The thing is, I'm being threatened. I don't know if it's because of a
workplace rivalry, or if someone has discovered my true identity." 

 

"You're not making sense," Robbie said.

 

"I'll explain more in the morning. Can I trust you to keep our meeting
confidential?"

 

"Of course, Veronica. The coffee date will be our little secret."

 

"This is serious," I said. "I'm being watched. I don't know if it's a prank
or if someone is stalking me. Please, just meet me at 8:00 tomorrow morning
at that hole-in-the-wall breakfast place outside of town. You know the one I
mean, on the back road to Grand Rapids? My flight departs at 11:00."

 

Having made the call, I began to second-guess my paranoia. Maybe I hadn't
secured the door when we went on the factory tour? Yet, Claudia had
expressed concerned about her purse. Was I so distracted by all the unwanted
visitors that I had neglected to follow through? Curious, I tested the lock
with my key, clicking the mechanism left then right repeatedly, when Mr.
Reed sauntered by.

 

"Having trouble with the lock, Veronica?" he asked.

 

The last thing I wanted was to call undo attention to my predicament.

 

"It's all good, Mr. Reed. "Just locking up because I'll be out of town for
two weeks."

 

"Hope you nail that interview for me with the editors of Contract Magazine
when we're in Chicago this June."

 

"It's at the top of the list when I meet with our public relations manager
in New York City next week," I said.

 

"Atta girl," Mr. Reed squeezed my upper arm like a piece of fruit. I
restrained myself from shrugging off his condescending gesture. 

 

Seated in a worn leather booth at the back of the dark diner the next
morning, I sipped my coffee, anxious for Braun to meet me as promised. The
sleepy clerk glued to a black and white television set took little interest
in her only customer. Fortunately, the coffee was fresh and strong. When
Robbie entered, I waved a hand in relief.

 

"Breakfast is on me," I said as he slid into the opposite bench. "I
appreciate your time; I know I'm not your favorite person these days.
Nevertheless, can you please promise that you won't talk to anyone about
what I'm about to tell you?"

 

The clerk perked up and approached our booth with a broad smile, prepared to
take Robbie's order. She obviously preferred his business to mine.

 

"Why, Officer Braun. You don't come round here often. How about the farmer's
breakfast plate with sausage and bacon? It's on the house," she said,
flirting with him like a school girl.

 

"That'd be fine," Robbie said, "but my friend has offered to pay."

 

"Oh? I thought she just wanted coffee and free refills."

 

The clerk gazed at Robbie like I was invisible. Just as well that she might
not remember me later, but I needed her to disappear so Robbie and I could
talk.

 

"Tell you what," I suggested. "I'll buy Officer Braun's breakfast, and
there's a twenty dollar tip in it for you, too - if you give us complete
privacy while he eats. This is a police matter, right Robbie?" I kicked
Braun's uniformed leg under the table to take his attention off the chick.

 

"Right, right," he echoed. "You didn't see me here today, Chicky," he said.

 

The girl pursed her lips behind an index finger and nodded. "Mum's the
word."

 

As soon as the clerk closed the door to the back kitchen, I said, "I can't
believe you called the girl 'Chicky'."

 

"That's her name. Chicky. Chicky Fowler. Believe it or not, they call her
dad Rooster, swear to God."

 

"Okay, enough local folk lore," I said, rolling my eyes. "I don't have a lot
of time. Just let me explain why I need your help."

 

"This better be good," Robbie said. "You've been avoiding me for months.
What's so important about meeting with me today?"

 

"Here's the thing. The reason I moved to Doe Lake was to get away from
prying eyes. Now, someone at Millwood is watching me and I need to know
why."

 

"Everyone in Doe Lake has been watching you since the day you came to town,
being the good looker you are."

 

I silenced Robbie with another kick under the table as Chicky the chick
returned with his platter of eggs, home fries, buttermilk biscuits, and
breakfast meat. She poured him a mug of black coffee without offering to top
off mine. 

 

"Leave the coffee pot and don't come back until I ask for the bill," I said,
thumping my mug on the grimy table for emphasis.

 

"Sounds like you mean business," said Robbie, forking a piece of sausage
into his mouth.

 

"Just shut up and listen while you eat. I don't have all day to make you
understand."

 

Robbie nodded and focused on his food while I disclosed my bitter workplace
rivalry with Hamilton, and then went on to reveal my sexual indiscretions.
When I confided that I was the daughter of a famous TV star, his eyebrows
lifted like a marionette puppet. Otherwise, his face remained
expressionless. If he was surprised, jealous, disappointed, or taking
pleasure in my predicament, he didn't show it. The consummate cop, I had to
admit.

 

"So, Veronica. Let me see if I've got this right. You've been hiding in
plain sight from the tabloids in Doe Lake because, pretty much, no one pays
any attention to what happens around here, right? And, even though you have
no intention of sticking around, you're pursuing a promotion you don't need
or want just to stick it to Hamilton. Turning a piece of bacon in the air,
he continued to tighten the screws. "Finally, You think that local boys like
me aren't good enough for your affection, but a married man from the city is
deserving. That about right?"

 

"Well, when you put it like that, yes," I said, meeting his emerald eyes in
defiance. "Don't judge me, Robbie. Please, just do your job and figure out
who is watching me, and why."

 

"Sure, Ronnie. I think I can schmooze with the big boys at Millwood. If they
know anything about your identity or affair, they'll want to brag about it.
Hamilton, on the other hand, is a feral cat. She'll scratch and claw to
protect her territory. But Pete is a mouse - he'll talk if I set the trap
right."

 

"Don't let anyone know you're snooping around or all hell will break loose."

 

Robbie smirked at my words. "Nah, nothing exciting ever happens in Doe Lake,
right?"

 

"Look, Robbie. I think Doe Lake is a great town. And you're a good cop.
Maybe, if I'd been born under a different star, I'd even consider being your
girl. But our stars are crossed. I could never fit in around here. Life in a
small town is too predictable. Growing up, all I've known is upheaval and
uncertainty. The good news is, I'll be leaving Doe Lake soon. After my trust
funds are released this summer, I won't be at the mercy of my marvelous
mother, the prying paparazzi, or horny men enthralled with my body any more.
I have a mind, too, you know. One day, you might even see my photograph on
the cover of a best-selling book."

 

Robbie shoved his plate aside and cupped well-manicured fingers around his
coffee mug. His puppy dog eyes regarded me, not like a bitch that he wanted
to fuck, but as if he actually cared about me as a friend. For once, I
wasn't feeling vulnerable to the heat of his testosterone. If we weren't
meant to be lovers, maybe we could be friends, I thought. On the other hand
.

 

"Robbie," I said, "You know there's another woman in town who cares for you.
I understand why you're angry with Claudia over that silly editorial, but it
was honest and well-intentioned. Claudia likes the people in Doe Lake, you
know. She could fit in, given time. She might even sample your venison
steak, if you ask nice."

 

"Actually, Claudia called me last night and asked me over to her place for
lunch today. You think maybe she wants to kiss and make up?"

 

"Treat her with respect, Robbie, or you'll be hearing from me." I glanced at
my wrist watch. "It's 9:00. I've got a flight to catch. If you learn
anything before I return, call me at the Waldorf. If I'm not in, leave a
message at the front desk and I'll call you back."

 

After slipping two twenty dollar bills under Robbie's plate, I thumped my
mug three times on the table top and stood. Robbie blocked my retreat and
gave me a warm hug for encouragement.

 

"Thanks for that," I said. "I'll leave you to sort out the change with
Chicky."

 

* * *

 

With Veronica out of town on business, Hamilton was intending to lobby
Millwood's president for the Marketing Director position opening in April.
The promotion had been hers until Veronica landed in Doe Lake like a
shooting star. The owners of Millwood, blinded by Barringer's beauty, had
invited her to apply for the position. Hamilton had hoped to intimidate her
rival, creating so much workplace animosity that Veronica would quit her job
at Millwood and depart Doe Lake, but Barringer had persisted like an
unwelcome pest that needed to be exterminated.

 

Equally pernicious, Michelle Hamilton wasn't to be under-estimated. She had
more than one weapon up her sleeve. Hamilton was confident that Millwood's
president could be convinced that she was the right pick for the job after
she reminded Mr. Reed of her loyalty to the Millwood brand. After all,
hadn't she coerced Doe Lake's mayor to look the other way when the company
"inadvertently" spilled toxic waste into a nearby creek the previous year?
She had helped Millwood Furniture leverage its value as the largest taxpayer
in the valley to buy the mayor's silence. Eventually, the mysterious fish
kill had been blamed on a rare algae that vanished without treatment.
Ultimately, if Hamilton was passed over for the promotion in favor of
Veronica, she wouldn't hesitate to take the story to the Grand Rapids
television station, and Doe Lake's future as a trendy resort would be
doomed.

 

* * *

 

Trying to understand women was almost impossible, but Robbie figured he was
coming around, about as fast as a large tanker reversing its direction on
the open sea. He acknowledte that he objectified women like Veronica and
Claudia based on their appearance, but women wanted to be appreciated as
beautiful, didn't they? At the same time, Robbie had already learned the
hard way that good looks alone didn't guarantee happiness. Why had he
thought good lookers from out of town would prove any different? 

 

As Veronica had suggested, Robbie would take a closer look at Claudia over
lunch. He would try to see beyond her pretty figure and understand her
underlying qualities - honesty and good intentions, strength and
stubbornness, perseverance and passion for her ideals. 

 

If things went well, Robbie wanted to invite Claudia to join him for the ice
fishing contest on Doe Lake later that month. He was pretty sure she'd never
experienced anything like it before. Sure, she had skied the Rockies and the
Midwest hills and valleys, but fishing through a hole on a frozen lake
wasn't likely anything she'd done before. 

 

# # #

 

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