The Girl From Home: A Thriller by Adam Mitzner

Author:Adam Mitzner [Mitzner, Adam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781476764399
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: 2016-04-05T07:00:00+00:00

20

The Monday after New Year’s, Jonathan takes the bus into New York City, leaving the Bentley in the driveway of his father’s house. He hasn’t taken this hour-long ride since the summer after his first year of college, when he commuted into the city for an unpaid internship. The reason is the same now as it was then—he doesn’t want to pay the thirty dollars for parking. He’s been hoarding every penny ever since his Amex card was declined.

After arriving at the Port Authority, Jonathan navigates the subway downtown because a twenty-dollar cab ride is also a nonstarter. His destination, the Equitable Building, is three blocks east of the World Trade Center site, and a block north of Wall Street. The landmarked thirty-eight-story neoclassical structure maintains its prewar grandeur with a sand-colored, marble entrance that stretches the length of a city block, and a thirty-foot-high coffered ceiling. Nevertheless, it’s now considered a second-tier address, occupied largely by government agencies.

Jonathan stops at the security desk and momentarily forgets the name of Alex Miller’s law firm. He pulls the business card Alex gave him at the reunion out of his wallet.

“I’m going to Peikes Selva & Schwarz,” Jonathan says.

“Fourth floor,” the guard tells him.

Of course, Jonathan thinks. A floor without a view.

Jonathan meanders around different pathways on the fourth floor until he finally finds Suite 414, which has the name PEIKES SELVA & SCHWARZ on the door in cheap gold letters. Jonathan can’t remember the last time he was at any place of business that didn’t occupy an entire floor.

The receptionist is a pretty, twentysomething Asian woman with stick-straight shiny black hair and an easy smile. Jonathan gives her his name and tells her he’s here to see Alex Miller. She tells him to have a seat in the reception area, which is little more than two fabric-covered armchairs beside her.

“Mr. Miller,” she says into the phone. “Jonathan Caine is here to see you.”

A minute later, Alex Miller appears. He’s wearing a navy suit, blue striped shirt, and no tie.

“Jonathan, hey, good to see you!” he says, shaking Jonathan’s hand. Then he turns to the receptionist. “Julie, I’ve known this guy since high school.”

Julie smiles politely. At her age, Jonathan assumes she still sees her high school friends all the time.

“Mr. Miller, I’m sorry,” Julie says, “but Mr. Selva is in the conference room. He didn’t reserve it, but . . .”

Jonathan recalls all too well the petty power plays that are a mainstay of corporate life. Back when he wore a suit and tie, he was usually the one taking conference rooms without a reservation, and if someone at Harper Sawyer ever did it to him, there would have been hell to pay.

Alex doesn’t seem the least bit upset by the boss pulling rank, however. He turns to Jonathan and says with a smile, “Why don’t we just meet in my office, then?”

He leads Jonathan down a short hallway and directs him into an office two from the corner. Jonathan’s first impression is that Alex Miller’s office is small.

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