FRIDAY, 9:30 A.M., AUGUST 2, 2001
“Well, look what the cat drug in...” a tall man drawled from behind his desk.
“Very funny, Bobbie, very funny,” a cat suit clad girl snapped as she stumbled into the fancy office.
It was tastefully decorated in beiges and grays. Two gray double doors opened onto a gray-carpeted floor and two beige chairs were seated in front of the hard wood desk. A whole wall completely made of glass offered a view of the New York City skyline behind the desk.
“Have a seat. Now, what happened?” Bobbie asked. He took out a cigarette and lit it up.
“Smoking’s bad for your health,” she warned.
“Don’t you think I know that?” Bobbie put the cigarette to his lips and blew out a smoke ring. “Want one?” He held out the pack of Marlboro Lights to the girl.
“Why not?” She lit one up, took a long drag, and sighed.
“You’re killin’ me here. What happened?” Bobbie demanded.
She took another drag. “I fell out of a seventy-second floor window, landed in a dumpster, was passed out for the next few hours, and got here by seducing a taxi cab driver. Wasn’t my day perfect?”
“Just another day.” Bobbie licked his lips nervously. “Did you get the information for the transactions?”
She looked down in embarrassment. She had always come through for Bobbie, and it was hard to tell him this. “No.”
Bobbie drew in a quick breath, and she could see he was trying to hold in his temper, and possibly a string of cuss words.
“Listen, I’m sorry,” she apologized. “The guard had a gun and was drunk. The computer was slow. But every cloud has its silver lining.”
“What’s the silver lining in your case?”
“The computer self-destructed itself, so no evidence can be linked to us. And the guard probably suffered some burns from the explosion.”
Bobbie grinned. “I like the way you think.”
She smiled in satisfaction, stood up, and headed to the door.
“Wait,” Bobbie said, “I’ve got another proposition for you, to make up for this failure.” He paused. “I don’t tolerate failures, and I’ve had many in secret transactions. But you’re different. You have always come through for me. That’s why I’m keeping you and offering you another job to do. Screw this one, and you’re as good as dead.”
She gulped and sat back down.
“Harding Enterprises was no big deal. I could’ve only made a few bucks. What really interests me is Jive Records. They’ve got a strict security system and lots of cash that would cling in my pockets. Get a job there. Dig up some dirt. Bed some insiders if you have to. Do anything, and I mean anything, to get this done.” Bobbie butted out his cigarette.
She studied her long fingernails. She had to do this. Her life depended on it. “Ok,” she said softly. “Consider it done.”
“That’s what I like to hear. Pack your bags. Your flight to Florida’s scheduled for three o’clock. Don’t be late.”
She turned and left the office. Besides, these heels were probably giving her corns, even though she was only twenty-two. And the cat suit had a tear up the side.
Just another day, she thought and smiled.