Joy by Victoria Christopher Murray

Author:Victoria Christopher Murray
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: FIC000000, General Fiction
ISBN: 9780446553773
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Published: 2001-11-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

David quickened his step. He opened the front doors and his eyes skimmed the marble-floored lobby. It was too late for anyone to be there. When he pushed the button for the elevator, the doors opened instantly, and he waited until the doors closed before he pressed the number 17. He watched the floor numbers and counted silently along as he tried to calm his breathing.

At the seventeenth floor, he walked to the huge double doors with the gold M&A embossed in the walnut panels.

“Mr. Montgomery. What are you doing here?”

Gina struggled toward him, her cleaning cart rolling slowly over the carpeted hallway.

His hands shook and he returned the key to his pocket. “Gina … what … you're still here?” He glanced at his watch. The cleaning crew should have been long gone.

Gina grinned. “I know, we are very late tonight,” she started in her deliberate cadence. “Five people called in sick. It's that flu,” she tisked. “So, it's just me and Tony on the top floors.” Gina leaned against the cart and used her arm to wipe the sweat from her brow. Then eyeing him, she asked, “Why are you here so late?”

“I…” David swallowed hard. “I forgot… something.”

“I will open the door for you.” She tried to push herself between David and the door. “I have to clean your office next.”

“I have it.” David steadied his hand as he put the key in the door. He turned on the lights, as Gina's cart squeaked through the reception area.

“I will start on the other side, Mr. Montgomery. So that you can do whatever you came to do. Don't work too late, Mr. Montgomery.”

She continued to mumble as she meandered down the hall. David sighed, grateful for the few moments he would have alone. He passed Dianna's desk and the uniform cubicles that lined the office.

Suddenly he stopped, hearing something, but in seconds, it disappeared. The moment he began toward his office, it started again—a low moaning. He stepped toward the moan, and stopped in front of Anya's office. The door was slightly ajar and David walked in.

His eyes widened in shock. He picked up the overturned chair blocking his path, and stepped over papers that seemed to have been thrown from the desk. Stumbling forward, he moved through the wide office until he heard it again, this time louder and clearer.

“Anya!” he screamed.

She was sprawled on her stomach on the floor, her face buried in the pile of the carpet. He knelt, turned her over and drew back at the sight of the blood.

“Anya,” he whispered.

She moaned.

He jumped up, reaching for the desk. Where was the phone? His eyes bounced around until he located it in the corner. He picked it up, tapping the receiver button furiously. Nothing. He clicked it again; that's when he saw the ripped cord.

“Gina! Please, come quickly!” he screamed through the offices.

He ran back to Anya and held her head, mumbling softly, trying to propel her into consciousness.

“Mr. Montgomery, where are you?”

“In Ms. Mitchell's office,” he yelled.

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