Hooked

covered the top of Colin’s desk, and a screen saver fluttered across the monitor. He’d left the computer on. She peeked outside the door, listened, and checked her watch. Eight thirty-five. Appointments were scattered, but she was pretty sure they began on either the hour or half-hour, so everyone who was here was working, except the hostess. She tiptoed down the hall to the front. Charles sat at his desk, engrossed in what she now knew were sudoku puzzles. She only needed a few minutes.
    She tiptoed back to the office and slipped inside, easing the door closed. Tawny had already decided Rick Martell had something to do with Cindi Dyson’s disappearance. All she needed to do now was prove it. If she could corroborate that Sarah Marshall had worked at Upper Eighties, she was out of there for good.
    Riffling through the loose papers on the desk, she saw bills: electric, water, phones. Nothing like sign-in sheets, calendar, or a date book. That had to be on the computer. She jiggled the mouse, and the computer screen came to life, exhibiting a monthly expense report. That made sense. She was about to minus the screen when her eyes wandered to the task bar, and she saw the word Schedule. She clicked on it, and there it was. Today in date book form, complete with room numbers and hours.
    She saw Marsha’s name next to client TC at eight thirty in room thirty-two. That was on the third floor. Tessa, room twenty-two, second floor, near where Tawny was last time and where she would be again tonight. The initials for Tess were AG. Tawny saw her name, but there was nothing but the room number and time. No initials. She didn’t see Darlene’s name. Good. One thing she wouldn’t have to worry about.
    She clicked a back arrow and the page changed to yesterday’s date. How far back would she have to go to see Cindi’s name or Sarah/Serena? When was Cindi’s last night? About two weeks ago? Three? Click, click. No Serena. No Cindi. She kept turning the calendar back and scanned each page. Still nothing. Could Colin have wiped the two names off the computer? That would be the smart thing to do. Immersed in her search, she didn’t hear a sound until Colin’s voice wafted over her left shoulder, and they weren’t welcoming.
    “What are you doing in my office?”
    The voice frightened Tawny into a quick turn. She sucked in an audible breath. Colin appeared confused at first, then angry.
    “Oh, you scared me, Colin.” She let out a long whew ! and flapped her hand over her heart. “No one was here, and I forgot where Benny told me to go.”
    “Really.” It wasn’t a question. “You could have asked Charles. He has tonight’s schedule.” He moved behind her and glanced at the screen. “You have the wrong date too. If I remember correctly, I had billing on the screen. The schedule is in the task bar, and it’s on today’s date.” He pointed. “That page is two weeks old. Don’t you know what day it is?” He slammed down the cover of the laptop.
    She faced him and responded as haughtily as she could. “Actually, I wanted to know if my Monday night’s client was on the computer. No one would tell me his real name, and I wanted to know. Then when I touched the pad on the back arrow, it kept flipping over. I couldn’t stop it.”
    “That’s why there’s a mouse, Ms. Dell. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were spying.”
    She forced a laugh. “Why would I spy? I wanted to know who I was with Monday, and I want to know who I’m seeing tonight. I don’t like not knowing. I’ve always checked out my clients to make sure they’re not nut jobs.”
    Colin huffed. “That’s what I do. It’s why Benny hired me. You work here, you accept you’ll be with a safe partner.” He stared at her for a long time. “Is that all, Ms. Dell?”
    She wanted to ask how safe Sarah Marshall or Cindi Dyson had been, but without proof, that would be way out of line. She couldn’t slink out of there like she’d done something wrong. The best defense is an offense. “I still don’t know who my appointment is with, Colin. I like to know ahead of time. Would you tell me, please?”
    “I don’t know. Benny arranged your appointment both times. He seems to think you’re special.” With a sneer, he said, “Me? Not so much. Now if you don’t mind, I have work to do.”
    “You haven’t been much help,” she said, exasperated.
    “My job isn’t to help you. I work for Benny. I suggest you check with Charles