The next morning Corey showed up bright and early for work. As soon as he put away his jacket and went into the rec room, planning on going straight up to the dorms, he was buttonholed by Archie, Silas, and two other employees.
“I saw on the news there was a murder in your building,” Archie said, sounding macabrely elated.
“Yeah. I guess there was a lot of excitement for a few hours there,” Corey replied. “I slept through it.”
“You’re so kidding,” Silas said. “How could you?”
“I don’t live on the same floor?”
“Okay. I suppose that makes sense. Still….” He looked at Corey skeptically as if he didn’t believe what he’d said.
Corey forced a chuckle. “I know. I’d have liked to have seen what was happening too.”
“Oh, by the way,” Archie said, “Mr. Zimmer wants to see you.”
“Now what?”
“You’re asking me?”
“No,” Corey muttered as he walked away, “it was a rhetorical question.” Moments later he was knocking on his boss’s half-open door.
Mr. Zimmer nodded for him to come in, then pointed to the chair across from his desk. “How are you holding up?” he asked after Corey sat.
“Um, fine? Why?”
“I saw on the news someone was killed in your building.”
“True, but it wasn’t in my apartment,” Corey lied. He seemed to be having no problem doing that, for which he was thankful. The last thing he needed was people at the shelter knowing he was involved.
“I didn’t think so. If it had been, I’m sure the police would have paid us a visit, since you work here. But that’s not why I wanted to see you. I talked with the board of directors as I promised, and they’re all for your idea about the fundraiser.”
“Great! When is it going to happen?”
“They were thinking on Valentine’s Day, which falls on a Friday this year. Make it a romantic dinner with entertainment afterward, wrapping up with the silent auction.”
“That works and would probably get lots of attendees.”
Mr. Zimmer nodded, smiling. “I just thought you’d like to know.”
“Thank you.” When his boss didn’t say anything else, Corey got up and left.
He was halfway through the rec room, again on his way to the dorms, when he saw someone who looked vaguely familiar. At first he thought it was one of the homeless men who was an on-again, off-again regular. Then, with a lurch of his stomach, he realized it was Scott, but not as he’d seen him the day before in Darin’s office. Now he fit right in with the other men who were there to get in out of the cold. His hair looked as if it hadn’t been washed, or combed, in over a week. He wore dirty, ragged jeans and a tattered jacket over a hoodie that had probably once been black, although it was now a faded gray and well worn. He was slumped on one of the sofas, one arm protectively wrapped around an old backpack. In his other hand, he held a dog-eared paperback novel. He seemed to be reading it, but when Corey looked closer, he could see Scott’s glance flicking from person to person, studying them for a moment before moving on. Somehow, his being there made Corey feel better. Safer.
Not that my stalker would be here… I don’t think. Unless he’s doing the same as Scott, but still….
He continued on his way up to the dorms to monitor the men handling cleanup. He wasn’t surprised when, a few minutes later, Scott appeared and pitched in, his backpack now slung over his back.
For the rest of the day, wherever Corey went, Scott seemed to be as well, although not overtly. He just hung around, appearing for all the world as if he were just another homeless person trying to stay inside where it was warm.
Yes, it does.
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