Page 46 of Rescuing Riley
“Patching Ms. Norton through,” Candace said.
The thick tension in the room solidified into cement.
“Wayne,” Ms. Norton said. “How are you?” Her voice had a rasp to it as though she were a long-time smoker.
“Delia, I’m good. I was calling to see if Liza made it to London.” Mr. Gansett’s hard look was riveted on Taylor.
Riley held her breath. If Liza had taken a plane to London, that would’ve explained why all Riley’s calls had gone straight to voice mail.
“Liza’s in London?” Delia asked.
Taylor hung her head, and a tear fell on her tan skirt.
Mr. Gansett bit his lip before responding. “So she’s not meeting with you about your designs?”
“No, Wayne. What’s this about? Is Liza all right?”
Mr. Gansett played with his mustache. “She’s fine.” He didn’t sound all that convincing.
Riley was relieved to know that she was right. Liza wasn’t on a business trip. Yet the notion of Liza being hurt or worse freaked Riley out more than ever. She couldn’t think about the worse. However, statistics had shown that the longer a person was missing, the more likely she wouldn’t be found alive.
Tears stung Riley’s eyes. She felt as if a swarm of bees had found a home underneath her eyelids. She picked a focal point past the hefty man behind the desk and counted the number of windows on the building across the street. She’d gotten to twenty when Mr. Gansett almost shouted, “Taylor, you’re fired.”
Riley blinked once then twice, a tear escaping down her cheek.
“I swear to you that Liza told me she was headed to London to see Ms. Norton. I swear it.” Taylor’s voice cracked in so many places.
As for Riley, she was trying to breathe.
Taylor’s nostrils flared as she swiveled her head slowly toward Riley. “This is all your fault.”
Riley’s mouth fell to her lap, where she was digging her nails into her palms. “How so?”
Taylor mashed her lips into a thin line. “I needed this job.”
Riley couldn’t help but laugh.
“Taylor, I need you to clean out your desk,” Mr. Gansett said as though he were used to firing people, which he probably was, given that he was the boss.
Courage seeped into Taylor’s eyes and washed over her body as she wagged her finger at Riley. Meek Taylor was gone, and a demon of sorts bloomed to life. “You will pay for this”
Mr. Gansett became a water stain on the window as Riley narrowed her focus to Taylor. “Tell me what you know about Liza.” she said rather than asked.
Taylor’s blue eyes were telling Riley nothing but showed defiance. Taylor was standing her ground. Maybe she wasn’t lying after all. But one thing bothered Riley.
“Who were you talking to when I found you in Liza’s office?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Taylor said calmly. Then she rose, tugging down her tan blazer. “I’ll pack my things.” She started for the door.
“Taylor,” Mr. Gansett said. “It might help your situation if you answer Riley’s question.”
Slowly, she turned, her arms hanging at her sides. “I doubt it. But if you must know, I was talking to Liza.” Then she left without another word.
Riley didn’t have time to gasp before her phone rang in her purse. She was certain it was Josh checking on her. But her body seemed glued to the chair.
She couldn’t say how long she sat dumbfounded, but the ringing of her phone once again zapped the life back into her.
Riley grabbed her bag and bolted out the door. She had to find Taylor.
