Free Mine at Last by Celeste O. Norfleet Page A

with?”
    “Sure. I’ll call for security.”
    “It was this morning. Maybe housekeeping picked it up?”
    “If they did, it still has to be handled through security.”
    Shauna nodded, hoping that the same guards who’d escorted her out earlier weren’t on duty this evening. She was dressed in the same outfit and heels from this afternoon. Still, it was possible they could confuse her for a reporter again. A few minutes later a guard came out through the security doors. He was thin and tall, well over six feet and probably weighed no more than one hundred pounds. “Hi, can I help you?” he asked.
    “Yes, I hope so. I was here earlier this morning and I think I accidently dropped a flash drive on the floor in the waiting room. Did anyone turn it in?”
    The guard shook his head. “Not to my knowledge. If they did, it would be in Lost and Found, but it’s closed right now. You can come back Monday morning at nine o’clock.”
    Shauna frowned. This wasn’t good enough. She needed that flash drive. “Okay, here’s the thing. I need the flash drive tonight and this weekend. Is there any way you can just check? It’s really important.”
    “Sorry, I wish I could help. That’s hospital policy. Lost and Found is in the hospital-services department. Their department’s closed on the weekends. No one gets in after hours. It’s for security.”
    Shauna understood, of course, but that didn’t make it any easier for her. “Well, what if something is found in the middle of the night, like right now? Where does it go?”
    “We hold it here in the back until the Lost and Found opens.”
    “Can you check to see if someone turned in a flash drive?”
    “Yeah, sure, I can do that,” he said. “I’ll check the daily write-up reports, as well. Flash drives would fall into the expensive and secure item category.”
    “Thank you so much,” she said.
    He disappeared through the security doors. Shauna waited impatiently a few minutes, then she glanced at her watch. It was just before midnight. She looked around the waiting area and decided to walk over and check herself. No one was sitting in the chair she’d sat in earlier that morning. She looked under, around and behind the seats, then moved the cushion. She went back to the security desk just as the guard was returning. He shook his head. “Sorry, ma’am. We have sunglasses, a book and a kid’s toy. No flash drive.”
    “Okay, thanks,” Shauna said, obviously disappointed.
    “No problem. Check back Monday morning at nine o’clock. Have a good night.” He paused, then spoke again. “See ya, Doc. Have a good night.”
    Shauna turned around. Dominik was standing right behind her. She looked surprised and then looked away, shaking her head.
    He smiled at her and then glanced up and answered the security guard. “Thanks, Rodney. You have a good night, too.” Then he focused his attention on Shauna. “Good morning, Ms. Banks.”
    She glanced at the clock above the check-in desk. He was right. It was exactly midnight. “Good morning, Dr. Coles.”
    “So, am I going to find you hanging out here most nights?”
    “No, not anymore.”
    “Don’t tell me you’re not going to be spying on us anymore.”
    “I don’t spy,” she said quickly. “And as I said, I won’t be doing that anymore.”
    He looked at her and could tell that she was serious. Apparently she meant it when she said she intended to excuse herself from continuing the job. “You’re dropping the job. I told you the kiss was...”
    She looked at him sharply. “That’s not what I meant,” she said, lowering her voice and moving closer to him.
    “What do you mean?” he asked, enjoying her sweet perfumed skin. This was the scent he remembered from before. It was floral and intoxicating. He realized he hadn’t gotten enough.
    “I believe my cover has been blown. I think I’ve been found out. The whole idea of coming here on off-hours was to be inconspicuous, to blend in and watch how the