Page 20 of Out of the Shadows

Wilson shook his head and knocked her on the shoulder.

She chuckled as she answered her phone. “What’s up, Esme?”

“What are you doing? Well, first, how are you feeling?”

“Fine. Except I’ve been banned from the office today andhave been relegated to being tortured by Wilson in the forest.”

Wilson scoffed beside her. “We’re barely on the trail. And it wouldn’t be torture if you knew how to navigate the woods properly.”

She rolled her eyes as Esme laughed.

“The man does have a point,” the other woman said. “Do you even own hiking boots, B?”

“You’re breaking up. I can barely hear you,” Bean said, deadpan.

Esme laughed harder and then coughed. Horribly.

Bean winced. “You okay, Es?”

“What are you doing hanging with Wilson?”

It didn’t escape her notice that her friend had avoided answering. But she’d go with it. For now. “I’m looking at Tactical’s outdoor survival classes and giving feedback to the boss from a regular person’s point of view. But the more I hear about the classes, the less I’m inclined to actually do one.”

“It’s a really great class,” Esme said. “You should totally do it.”

“Yeah, but you know me. I’m strictly an indoorsy sort. There’s not much motivation for me to try one out, you know? I mean Wilson’s cute and all, but he’s notthatcute.”

“Hey!” the man in question protested as she teasingly elbowed him in the side.

“I’m pretty sure my mishap yesterday freaked out the boss man. I think this is his misguided way of trying to help me find my Zen. Something about the healing power of nature...” Bean scrunched her forehead. “Or was it balance?” She shrugged. “Whatever, I’m plenty balanced already.”

Wilson snorted, and Bean shot him a glare. At the same time, Esme scoffed, “Uh,right.”

“Neither one of you jerks is at all funny,” Bean grumbled.

Esme laughed and broke out into a hacking cough again.

Bean pulled her phone from her ear and held it up, looking at Wilson in concern.

He cringed and called out, “You sound like shit, Esme.”

Bean put the phone back to her ear. “You sound terrible. Are you okay?”

“That’s why I’m calling,” she said, her voice raspy. “I just got off the phone with Frazier and wanted to give you a heads-up. I have a bit of pneumonia and?—”

“Abitof pneumonia?” Bean’s eyes widened. “Holy shit, have you been to the doctor?”

“Yes, Mom.” Esme sighed. “I’ll be down for at least the next couple days, so I’m not going to be able to join Frazier at the charity event on Saturday.”

Tingles of trepidation inched up Bean’s spine. “And?”

“And I suggested he take you instead. In fact, I have a delivery scheduled to arrive at the office later today for you. There are a few dress options. I included shoes, jewelry, and all the other accessories. Pick an outfit, and you can be my stand-in.”

Bean closed her eyes, took a deep breath in, counted to ten, and let it out. “Esme, you know what I dislike more than nature?”

“Crowds. I know. But you’ll be fine.” Bean could practically see Esme dismissing her concern with a wave of her hand. “It’s work, just a run-of-the-mill charity event. You don’t even have to go asyou. Consider it an undercover thing. You and Frazier have plenty of time to come up with some sort of cover identity and a good backstory. Besides, who else is he going to bring?”

“Uh, how aboutanyoneelse?”

---