Forget to Remember

number on the phone she still held in her hand. She carried on a brief conversation as Carol and the man eyed each other while pretending not to. Betty hung up the phone.
    “Katherine’s not going to be in until mid-afternoon, maybe two thirty.”
    The man’s voice, which had been very business-like, suddenly became more conversational. “What’s your name, young lady?”
    Betty looked around as if she were not certain he was talking to her. “I’m Betty.”
    “Well, Betty, as I said, I have to deliver this into the hands of Katherine Simpson, but since you work here, I can tell you a little about what’s in it.”
    “I’m a volunteer.”
    The man smiled a slightly lopsided smile. “That’s okay. The envelope contains relevant information about the Sakai estate.”
    That got Betty’s attention. “Is it from the attorney—Mr. Vigiano?”
    The man’s voice became lower—more conspiratorial but he didn’t try to exclude Carol from the conversation. “Actually, no. It’s from an interested third party who wants to see justice done. I’ve been instructed to give the information not only to Katherine Simpson, but to the members of your board of directors. You wouldn’t happen to have their addresses, would you?”
    Betty shook her head. “Katherine will have to tell you that information.”
    “Time is of the essence here.”
    “Katherine will be here at two thirty. Why don’t you come back then?”
    “Well…I’m sure you don’t want them to be able to say the foundation lost out on millions because of something you didn’t do…”
    Betty’s voice became very cool. “Katherine’s meeting with a donor, but give me your name and phone number, and I’ll have her call you as soon as I hear from her.”
    The man patted his pants pockets. “Sorry. I don’t have my business cards with me. My name’s Basil. I’ll be back this afternoon. I just hope it won’t be too late…”
    He paused, as if waiting for Betty to say something, but when she didn’t, he spun around on one foot, opened the door, and left the office. Betty watched him go.
    “What a strange man. Well, Katherine’s very clear about not giving out information.”
    Carol wanted to stay on her good side. “That sounds like a sensible policy. Identity theft and that sort of thing. I’ve taken enough of your time. Maybe I’ll come back this afternoon also.”
    They said good-bye, and Carol left. She walked down the stairs. Even if it wasn’t necessary for security reasons, it was good exercise. As she exited the building, she looked around for the delivery man but didn’t see him. Was he somehow helping the foundation plot against her?
    She walked between two cars in the first parking row to the driver’s side of her car in the second row. A Jeep was sitting to her right, backed into the parking place. She noticed the driver’s window was open. Careless. Then she saw a slight movement in the front seat of the Jeep.
    Fear gripped her gut as she opened the door of her car. A voice from the Jeep said, “Turn right out of the parking lot and go to the Starbucks, two blocks on the right. Wait for me there.”
    Carol quickly got into her car and closed and locked the door. It was the voice of the delivery man—Basil, or whoever. She looked in her outside mirror, but she couldn’t see inside the Jeep. Did he know who she was? She had to get out of here.
    She backed out of her parking place, forcing herself not to panic and cause an accident. As she passed the front seat of the Jeep, she caught a glimpse of Basil. He was apparently talking on a cell phone and ignoring her. She drove to the parking lot exit and was about to turn left when she suddenly realized who he was. He was the private detective Paul hired.
    She changed her mind and turned right. Sure enough, in two blocks she saw the familiar Starbucks sign. She pulled into the driveway. This time she backed into a parking space as Basil had done. It would allow her to make a faster escape. She was learning how to be a detective. She went inside and purchased herbal tea, the cheapest item on the menu, and then went outside and sat at one of the tables.
    It was cloudy and cool, but she was wearing her raincoat. Its airtight construction kept her warm. The constant din of the urban area assailed her ears, mostly from cars, trucks, and an occasional bus passing on the street. A few people went into and out of the coffee shop, but nobody sat close to her. The distance from