Miranda Garrett looked at the clock for the hundredth time. There were still forty-seven minutes left in her shift. She shuffled some papers restlessly from one side of her desk to the other and looked again. The second hand had yet to make a full circle.
Across the hallway, Andrew Ackles was packing a file-box. Miranda watched him. Today was his final shift. Most of the office had reacted with surprise when he told them he’d given his notice. Miranda had felt a keen sadness, although she didn’t know why.
She tried to think of all the times she’d actually talked to him and couldn’t count past five. His leaving should not have registered with her. Now, she chewed her pen and glanced at the clock once more.
Forty-four.
Ackles began to leave but stopped just inside the door to his office and went back for something.
In that moment Miranda made up her mind. She grabbed her coffee cup and her coat and intercepted him before he made it back out.
“I’m coming with you,” she told him.
He was puzzled. “Why?”
She couldn’t answer but followed a half-step behind down the hall and to the stairs. While Andrew waved and said his goodbyes, she was silent.
When they got to the lobby, he turned for the underground parking. Miranda held his arm. “No. This way.”
They left the building out of the front door. Miranda showed him to her car and they got in. He placed his box on the back seat.
“Where are we going?” he asked while already guessing the answer.
“We’re going to drive,” she told him.
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