Page 24 of A Pawn for Malice
Connor was a jokester, and she loved his witand relaxed manner. She wasn’t surprised to learn that he and Bryanwere lifelong friends, had attended the same University together,and planned on acting as his Counsel throughout his politicalcareer. Besides her own duties, she would be working with himclosely, writing memos in opposition and support to the legislationhe would draft for Bryan, fill in for Bryan and meet withconstituent groups and lobbyists, and be Bryan’s eyes and ears onthe Codes Committee, that he Chaired.
Jessica decided to take a quick break, beforeBryan returned to the office and asked Missy where the nearestladies room was. The Legislature was in session now, and thingswould be quiet for a while. When she exited the office, she wassurprised to see the hallway empty. She gazed to her right, and allthe office doors were closed.
As she turned to the left, she thought itrather strange a man was standing at the end of the corridor,leaning against the wall, and staring back at her. There wassomething very nefarious about him. His hair was dark brown, longand unkempt about his shoulders, and he wore a tattered and fadedJets baseball cap that rimmed the top of his wide, black eyeglassframes.
He looked at her as though she was someone hewas waiting for, and pushed himself away from the wall. He pulleddown his baseball cap, looked up at the ceiling for some reason andsmiled. When he looked her way, his expression was like one ofrecognition and, maybe, satisfaction.
She looked over her shoulder to see, ifperchance, there was someone else behind her, he had recognized. Noone was there except for a man, who had just exited a room furtherdown the hallway and went in the opposite direction.
She swallowed nervously, as a warning of fearran through her. She halted briefly, then questioned, if perhaps,she was just overreacting. He was waiting for someone, that’s all,she rationalized in her mind. When she looked back at him, shestill didn’t feel right. The pressure in her bladder increased,prompting her to move forward, and she did.
She looked directly at him, and the hairsstood at attention at the back of her neck. Goosebumps danced alongthe skin up and down her right arm.
Something isn’t right. Something justisn’t right.Her inner voice warned.What if Hal hired himto find me? Forget the bathroom … turn around.
Not even a foot of space separated them, whenshe made up her mind to retreat down the hallway. It was toolate.
The stranger bolted forward and blocked herway, a villainous sneer planted upon his face.
“What changed your mind … me?”
“I beg your pardon,” she shot back, as shetried to side-step around him.
Maybe I can make a mad dash for thebathroom, she rationalized, as she saw the bold black lettersthat readLADIESon the door just a few feet away.
He blocked her way again and she gasped inhorror.
“Let me pass please.” She glared back athim.
His tiny weasel-like eyes leered back at herthrough his thick, bifocal glasses.
“You’re that Dalton woman. Gallagher’s richfiancé,” he spat.
“I am not.” She blasted back. She looked atthe elevator doors, wishing them to open.
“Don’t lie ta me, bitch. I gots your pictureright here.” He waved a tattered newspaper clipping under hernose.
She stepped back in fear, shaking her headprofusely in argument.
“No, you’re wrong. My name is Jessica Wilton.I was just hired by the Senator. I can show you my driver’slicense.” She slipped her purse from her shoulder and attempted toopen it with fingers, that refused to cooperate.
He clutched her forearm in a vice-like grip,making her squeal painfully.
“Lying bitch,” he snarled, increasing thepressure on her arm.
His eyes glazed with anger, as his cheeksflushed and beads of sweat seeped from every pore on his face.
Jessica was horrified at his reaction.
Just in the nick of time, the elevator belldinged and the doors glided open, and it was Bryan’s face she sawfirst. It was also obvious to the him and the other two maleoccupants, that something was amiss by the scene taking place infront of them and the look of utter panic on her face.
The madman released her, pushed her hardagainst the wall, making her slam her head. In a flash, he boltedtoward the Exit stairs, and was gone from sight.
She went down hard, as squiggly, white wormsdanced before her eyes.
Bryan ran forward, catching her, before shehit the floor, while the other two men went in pursuit of theassailant.
“Jessica, shit, are you alright?” He criedout, as he cradled her in his arms, quickly examining her for anyobvious signs of injury.
