Fateful Connections by Karen Charles

Author:Karen Charles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2023-03-28T14:40:29+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

It was unusually early for Matt to be heading to work. He did his early morning run through the countryside roads and grabbed a lite breakfast. He was driving alone today since Owen was just rolling out of bed. Dawn was approaching. It was still cool with fluffy, white clouds sailing lazily across the sky.

Matt was feeling happy, contented with his life. He had settled into his California life with relative ease. Owen and Matt had grown up in the Irish community of Marine Park in New York City. Their grandparents had settled there after immigrating to the United States. Owen and Matt’s father was a hard worker and joined the New York Fire Department. He supported the family well. Their mom was a dressmaker, bringing in extra income working from home. She had always been susceptible to respiratory ailments. One winter her flu bout turned into pneumonia. It was an excruciatingly sad day when they lost her. Owen was in high school at the time and Matt in junior high. Her loss turned their world upside-down.

Owen and Matt’s dad seemed to lose his zest for life. His firefighting buddies had rallied around the family. Both boys went on to earn college scholarships to the business school at Columbia University. After graduation, Owen accepted the job in Santa Clarita, California.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck again. Matt’s dad was killed in an accident while fighting a three-alarm fire. A flaming roof had caved in on top of him. Matt stayed on in the family home after his graduation, trying to regroup and decide in what direction to go. Then the horrific attack of 9/11 changed everything. After Matt’s visit to California to see Owen, they decided to sell their dad’s house in New York City. Matt moved in with Owen. They needed each other. They were family.

Arriving at the corporate offices, Matt pulled into the parking garage attached to the side of the building. It was a dark area. The dim lighting caused a shadowy effect, giving Matt an eerie feeling. As he approached the elevators, a menacing awareness crept over him. The hair on the back of his neck rose and his skin began to tingle. He heard footsteps rapidly approaching. He spun around.

“Conroy!” Matt almost shouted. “I didn’t expect anyone here so early!”

“Hi, Matt. Sorry to startle you,” Conroy apologized. “I have to pick up some paperwork to take to a training class on California tax law in Encino today.”

Relieved, Matt said, “My department has training this morning too, learning a new software application the IT division set up for us. I’m coming in a little early to make sure everything is ready.”

“Sounds great. Nice to work for a company always looking for ways to improve,” stated Conroy.

They had reached the elevators when Conroy exclaimed, “I forgot my key card in my briefcase! You go ahead. I’ll be right up.”

Matt took the elevator up to the third floor and busied himself getting set up for the training session. His heartbeat had calmed down, but he was still a little on edge.

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