Silent Fall

monitors across one wall. A man and a woman sat in front of their respective computers. The man had on headphones, his fingers flying over the keys. He didn’t bother to look up as they entered the room. The woman, however, was quick to turn around.
    "Hello, Dylan," she said, a surprised smile on her face. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in Tahoe."
    "I just got back. Julie Bristow, this is my friend Catherine Hilliard. Julie is one of the best fact-checkers in the business, Catherine. She’s already saved my ass a few times."
    Julie pushed her loose glasses back up her nose. "Dylan thinks flattery will get him anywhere."
    Despite the fact that she was addressing Catherine, Julie barely glanced in her direction. The slightly plump brunette with her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail seemed entranced by Dylan. Catherine couldn’t help wondering if she’d had the same dazed look on her face when Blake Howard had been talking to her.
    "Yes!" the young man suddenly shouted, pumping his fist in the air. He must have realized they were there, because he took off his headphones and turned around. "I finally cracked the code."
    "Of his computer game," Julie said with annoyance. "He’s supposed to be working."
    "Hey, I’m on a break. Chill. What’s up, dude?"
    "Not much, Ryan. This is my friend Catherine. I’m giving her a tour."
    "Friend, huh?" Ryan said with a wink. "Wish I had friends who looked like her."
    "That might happen if you got out of the video arcade once in a while."
    Catherine wasn’t surprised to learn that Ryan was a video game freak. He appeared to be in his early twenties, and with his long hair, an earring in his ear, and a couple of tattoos on each arm, he looked like the kind of guy who would be more at home playing videos than checking facts all day long. "Congratulations on cracking the code," Catherine said.
    "Thank you. Thank you. I am the best."
    Julie rolled her eyes. "He’s hopeless," she said.
    "I liven this place up," Ryan replied. "Did you take Catherine to the studio yet?"
    "No," Dylan answered. "I heard there was a murder last night in the park. Do you have anything on it yet?"
    "Irina called in about ten minutes ago and asked us to do a background check on a woman named Erica Layton," Julie said. "I was just about to get started on it."
    Catherine’s heart skipped a beat at hearing Erica identified as the victim. She’d known it all along, but now it was definite. The pretty brunette she’d seen in the bar with Dylan just two days ago was no longer breathing. It seemed impossible to believe, even though she’d seen her in her head. She’d still been harboring some secret hope that it was all a bad dream.
    "What do you know so far?" Dylan asked.
    "Not much," Julie replied.
    "Did Irina tell you the cause of death?"
    "She didn’t say, and I didn’t ask. Why are you so interested?"
    Dylan gave a casual shrug. "I might want to cover it tomorrow."
    "You think you’re going to take the story away from Irina?" Ryan asked in amazement. "What have you been smoking, dude?"
    "Good point," Dylan conceded. "Irina is very territorial," he explained to Catherine. "She doesn’t like to share her stories."
    "Neither do you," Julie said pointedly. "So what’s up?"
    "Nothing. Just curious."
    "Do you want me to call you later if I find out anything?" Julie asked.
    "That would be great."
    "No problem. I won’t mention it to Irina either," Julie added with a small smile.
    "You’re a peach. Thanks."
    "It was nice to meet you," Catherine said. Ryan nodded and returned to his game. Something fluttered in Julie’s eyes, something she quickly tried to hide as she said good-bye and turned back to her computer.
    "She likes you," Catherine said as they left the room.
    "Who? Julie? I don’t think so."
    "Oh, come on, Dylan. She couldn’t take her eyes off you."
    "She’s nice, but I don’t date my coworkers. Everyone here knows that."
    "Knowing you can’t have someone doesn’t necessarily stop you from wanting them. Didn’t you see the way she looked at you?"
    "She’s just one of those people who stares a lot," he said. "Maybe her vision isn’t good; I don’t know. She always has those thick glasses on."
    "I don’t think her eyesight is why she stares." Catherine fell silent as they headed toward Dylan’s cubicle. "There are a lot of emotions in this building," she said a