was about to send out an SOS.â
âTrust me, I understand. Donât bother bringing your bag, though. This is my treat. Just make sure you have your access card.â
âItâs in my coat pocket.â Taryn took her parka from the coat-tree in the corner. âSounds like the Evergreen coffee room isnât up to your standards.â
âThere is no coffee room. Just a cocoa room.â
âYouâre joking.â Taryn followed her out the door. âWho doesnât have a coffee room?â
âEvergreen Industries.â Belle headed briskly down the hall. She could walk fast for a short person.
Taryn had trouble believing the building had no coffee available. âDonât the employees complain?â
âJust me. Everyone else is fine with the cocoa. So I make the trek to Cup of Cheer every morning.â She swiped her access card through the reader and the elevator opened.
âThanks for inviting me along.â Taryn noticed Belleâs access card was the same as hers and Coleâs. The only difference was in the coding and the name embossed on the back. What Taryn wouldnât give to have possession of that card for thirty minutes.
âIâm glad to do it. Iâd walk back with you, but I have some things that require my attention in town. Iâm sure youâll find your way back okay.â
Taryn laughed. âI canât imagine anyone getting lost in Gingerbread. Hiking around Mistletoe Mountain could be a different story, but I donât plan on doing that.â
âThatâs good.â They reached the lobby and Belle waved at Jolie S. Garland, who was still on duty. âThatâs a treacherous mountain. Iâd stay away from it if I were you.â
âI didnât bring my hiking boots, anyway.â Taryn zipped up her parka as they started down the sidewalk that led to the heart of town. âWhatâs your job at Evergreen?â
âIâm in HR.â
âSo youâre in charge of the elves.â
Belleâs head whipped around. âWhat?â
âI figured you knew, but maybe not.â
âKnew what?â
Taryn thought it was strange that Belle actually seemed upset. Maybe she was the sort of person who didnât like being the last to find out what was going on in the company. âColeâs put all sorts of goofy names in the database. It fits because youâre a Christmas ornament manufacturer, but I had to laugh. HR is titled â
Elves
,â and customers are listed under â
Naughty or Nice
.â Like I said, goofy.â
âOh.â Belle let out a breath. âI guess I did hear something about that system. Leave it to my geeky brother.â
âHeâs one of a kind, all right.â
âHe is. Gotta love him.â
Taryn thought it wise not to respond to that comment.
Belle switched the topic, which was probably a good idea. âYouâre from Seattle, right?â
âI am.â For the rest of the walk, Taryn answered questions about her native city, one Belle had never visited. Coleâs name didnât come up again.
The coffee shop seemed even busier than it had when Taryn and Cole had driven by first thing that morning. She and Belle had to stand in line, and Taryn took that opportunity to scan the extensive coffee menu. Belle kept looking around the shop, almost as if she were expecting to see someone. She seemed agitated.
The line moved slowly, and Belle continued to glance over each time the door opened. âDo you know what you want?â she asked as she continued to survey the crowd.
âIâm getting an extra-large eggnog espresso. That should do the trick.â
âIt should.â She looked away again. âAha. I just saw someone I need to talk with.â She fished in her purse. âHereâs my wallet. Order me a large double-shot peppermint latte, and Iâll be right back.â
âOkay.â
Learning to Kill: Stories