Hurricane Watch - DK2 (22 page)

She gazed out the window until the other three returned, Kerry setting a plate down in front of her, then trotting off to get one for herself. Anne and Liz sat down, and settled napkins on their laps. ”So, Dar, what did happen to your leg?” Anne asked, taking a forkful of shrimp pasta.

”We were hiking and got into a little problem with a sinkhole.” Dar answered briefly, selecting a bit of cold crab and dipping it in mustard
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sauce. ”How’s the choir doing?” She asked Liz politely.

”Mm, it’d do better if I could talk you into joining,” Liz remarked, taking a sip of her sweetened tea.

Dar smiled briefly, acknowledging the compliment. ”My job prevents me from committing to that kind of thing,” she explained,

”and I get sent out of town a lot.” She glanced up as Kerry returned, settling into the chair next to her with a nicely loaded down plate. ”Got enough shrimp there?” she teased gently, grinning when Kerry stuck her tongue out briefly at her.

”So.” Kerry took a bite of garlic bread. ”Tell me about this arts program of yours. There were some classes there I’d love to take, that oil painting one, for instance.”

Anne launched into an enthusiastic explanation and Liz threw in comments, leaving Dar to listen and consume the plate Kerry had provided. Kerry laughed at some of the comments and reached over to touch Dar’s arm frequently as she replied. Dar was content to offer brief nods and short answers to the two other women.

”Ah, Dar, I’ve got to get you some of these,” Kerry interrupted, waving a crawfish at her. ”You’d really like them. Here.” She pulled a tail out and dipped it in butter, then offered it to her lover. Dar smiled amiably and leaned over, taking it between her teeth neatly and chewing it judiciously. ”Right?”

”Right,” Dar agreed, as they all laughed. A motion caught her eye and she turned her head to see a photographer focusing on one of the tables outside, measuring angles and taking a picture. Probably looking for celebrities, Dar mused, with a silent chuckle as she dismissed the man in khakis and returned to her lunch.

”THIS IS GOING to be a circus.” Dar made her way up towards the office, with Kerry pacing alongside. ”I think I’ll make a sign saying what happened and hang it around my damn neck to save me some time.” The cold wind accompanying a weather front that had come through that morning fluttered against her leather jacket, which she was wearing over a pleated, cotton shirt tucked into very comfortable cargo pants. It had been one of the few bright spots of the morning, aside from Kerry’s insistence on ‘helping’ her shower, and she was actually looking forward to appearing in the executive committee meeting so she could watch her co-workers fidget in their wool suits.

They went past the security guard, who waved, then did a double take at Dar, who just rolled her eyes and headed for the elevator. ”I’m damn glad it’s early,” the executive commented dryly. The trip up was quiet as Dar leaned against the wall, and Kerry fussed a bit with her lapel, which bore a pretty, filigreed rose pin, with delicately traced leaves. ”Did I mention how much I like this?” she murmured.

”About six times.” Dar allowed a grin to cross her face. ”You’re welcome.” They exited the elevator and proceeded down the hall, with Kerry getting a pace ahead to open the door as they reached Dar’s office. ”Well, here we go.”

Maria glanced up as they entered. ”Buenos Dias. Dios Mio, Dar!”

The secretary stood up and stared at her boss as Dar maneuvered into the office. ”What happened?”

Kerry walked ahead and opened the inner office door, leaving it open. ”Rough weekend,” she joked faintly, holding her casted hand up.

”Ended up shorter than expected, as a matter of fact.”

Dar exhaled. ”Long story, Maria. Let’s just say be ready for all kinds of crap to hit all kinds of rotary air movement devices today.” She paused in the doorway and half turned. ”In addition to the usual Monday disasters, I’m sure Mariana will be in here as soon as she gets in. We made a mess of things.” She turned back around and moved towards her desk, sitting down in her comfortable chair with a sense of relief and setting her crutches down on the floor next to her. She flipped on the computer and leaned back, hearing Kerry’s low voice in the outer room as she filled in Maria on the weekend. Her mail program came up and she winced, watching the new messages scroll rapidly down the screen.

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It used to be fun, she recalled. She used to even look forward to Mondays, when most of the really interesting disasters lifted their ugly heads. Now, she had other priorities. One ear focused on Kerry and she sighed.Her phone rang and she punched the button. ”Yeah?”

”Dar.”

”Mariana. Good morning,” Dar replied, lacing her fingers together and leaning back.

”Not very, it isn’t. We’ve got real trouble,” the personnel VP stated quietly. ”The police are on their way here. Fabricini pressed charges.”

Dar sat up and leaned on her elbows. ”Pressed charges? For what? I didn’t touch him!”

”Not against you,” Mariana replied, ”against Kerry, for assault. She broke his nose.”

”Oh, you’ve got to be kidding,” Dar snapped back disgustedly. ”He can’t be serious.”

”Dar, I’m not kidding, and he is serious. I’ve already talked to him and he’s not backing down. He’s going to press charges for assault and file suit against her for pain and suffering.” Mariana’s voice was very tense. ”I don’t know what he’s after, but...”

Dar gazed across the office quietly. ”I do,” she answered. ”I know what he’s after.” She exhaled, then nodded once. ”All right, thanks Mari. I’ll tell Kerry what’s coming.” She disconnected the call, holding the knowledge inside her as Kerry poked her head into the office.

”I’m going to run downstairs for coffee, want some?”

”Sure.” Dar mustered a smile. ”I’d love some.” She watched Kerry leave, then she studied the top of her desk for a few moments. Fifteen years. Her eyes strayed to the gilded clock resting on the shelf across the room, her ten year marker. Fifteen years. She took a breath and dialed a number, waiting for an answer. ”Get up here,” she stated quietly when it was answered, then hung up, and simply waited.

It didn’t take long. Fabricini walked into her office, his face half obscured by a white bandage and his skin covered with blotches and smears of lotion. He sat down without being asked and tossed a folder on her desk, with a quietly triumphant air.

Dar opened it, regarding the contents with an expressionless face, then glanced at him. ”What do you want?”

He didn't even pretend not to understand her. ”You out of here,” he answered with vicious satisfaction.

Dar gazed quietly at him. ”All right,” she answered, very simply.

”You call the cops and withdraw your charges, and you’ve got it.”

”Oh no, Dar. I want my pound of flesh out of that whore of yours,”

Steve replied, with a smile.

”You withdraw the charges, or no deal,” Dar answered, ”and you get countersued for sexual harassment.”

He kept her waiting for a long moment. ”Do you know how sweet this is?” he purred. ”It’s perfect. You’re sitting there, completely 118

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helpless and I’m loving every second of it.” He paused. ”All right, Dar.

I’ll leave your little piece alone, but I want you out of here today.”

Dar glanced aside at her mail, which had just finished downloading four hundred new messages. ”All right,” She agreed, handing him the handset of her phone. ”Call.”

She listened to him speak charmingly to the police, then hang up.

”Goodbye, Dar. It’s been a pleasure working with you.” He got up and left. Dar closed her eyes briefly. Now came the hard part. She picked up the phone and dialed Mari’s extension. The personnel VP answered immediately. ”Mari.”

”Dar, oh, good, glad it’s you. Listen, I was brainstorming with Duks, maybe we can find a way to—”

”I fixed it,” Dar interrupted her. ”He dropped the charges.”

Silence. ”Oh.” Mari was obviously startled. ”Well, I...I didn’t think he’d back down, Dar. I...”

”He didn’t,” Dar stated quietly. ”I just gave him what he wanted.”

She took a breath. ”I’m resigning.” A soft sound made her look up to see Kerry standing in the doorway, staring at her in shock. ”I’m going to put the paperwork in, just get it through, Mari,” Dar finished, then hung up. ”Shut the door.”

Kerry did, then she came right around the desk and put the coffee down, kneeling at Dar’s side and putting a hand on her arm. ”What do you mean you’re resigning?” she asked in utter confusion. ”Dar, what’s going on?”

Sad blue eyes regarded her. ”The police were coming here, Kerry.

He filed charges against you for assault and battery and filed a lawsuit for pain and suffering against you.”

”So?” Kerry sputtered. ”Let him! Dar, don’t you tell me you resigned because of that. I’ll...I’ll... How much trouble would I get into for punching him anyway? What are they going to do, sentence me to prison time for that? In Dade County? I don’t think so. You have to kill someone to even be booked in jail here.”

”Kerry, I’m not going to have that on your record, have you go through all that crap with the police and being charged, and taken down there, and go to court. God knows he could probably get a jury to award him who knows what in damages.” She cupped Kerry’s cheek.

”No, I can’t stand by and watch that, knowing it was my fault and I could have stopped it.”

”Dar, you can’t let him win like this.” Kerry argued fiercely. ”I’m not going to let you do it.”

Dar sighed and pushed the folder over to her. ”We don’t have a choice.” She nudged the folder. ”One of us would have had to leave anyway.”

Kerry stared at her, then she opened the folder, her eyes falling on a stack of 8” x 10” pictures. Her and Dar. Walking, shopping, standing on
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the boardwalk with their arms around each other. Her feeding Dar crawfish.

One striking photo that had caught her looking at her lover, with an expression even Kerry couldn’t explain away as anything other than adoration. ”Oh.” She closed the folder. ”Well, then, I’ll leave, Dar. Come on now, you’re a lot more important to the company than I am. That’s ridiculous.” She looked up at Dar. ”Can’t you call Alastair? Can’t you do anything?”

Dar studied her interlaced fingertips. ”I’m not sure I want to do anything,” she admitted.

Kerry stared at her. ”So you’re giving up?” She waved a hand.

”After fifteen years, just like that?” She shook her head. ”I don’t believe it.” ”C’mon, Kerry. I don’t regret my time here, but maybe it’s time to move on. It’s getting harder and harder for me to keep the hard edge I need to do this.” Dar pleaded with her for understanding. ”Not without carrying that over into my personal life, and I really don’t want to do that.”Kerry remained silent for a moment. ”What am I supposed to do?”

She asked, finally. ”You don’t think I’m going to stay in this hellhole without you, do you?” She stood and raked a hand through her hair. ”I can’t believe you’re giving up and letting him win,” she repeated softly.

”I...” She shook her head and walked to the inner door, opened it, and passed through without another word.

Dar was quietly stunned. “Well shit,” she muttered. Here she’d been, being rather noble, she’d thought, in putting herself between Kerry and a bad situation. But Kerry didn’t see it that way at all and rather than be grateful, she was disappointed.

Disappointed and angry.

Dar felt very confused, but didn’t have time to consider her options before her door slammed open and Mariana came in, her face upset and angry. ”You coming in here to yell too?” she snapped defensively.

Mariana stopped and looked at her. ”I’m here to try and talk some sense into you, Dar, you can’t just leave.”

”Why not?” Dar propped her chin up on one hand. ”Am I indentured?”

”No, no, Dar, you know what I mean.” Mariana took a seat.

”No, I don’t.” She shook her head. ”This is an at will state. I have no signed contract, the company doesn’t own me, and there is no reason why I can’t just walk out that damn door.” Dar stood, grabbing her crutches and pacing around. ”It’s what he wants, it’s what José wants, it’s what Eleanor wants. Maybe I am standing in their way.”

”What? Of course you are, you—” Mariana spluttered. ”Someone has to stand up to them, Dar, or else they’d wreck the company. You and I both know that.”

”Why me?” Dar whirled, and poked a thumb at her chest. ”That’s 120

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all I am is a target, Mari. No matter what I do, no matter how many fucking rabbits I pull out of my ass, no matter how many accounts I save, or how many points I made the stock rise, it’s always still ‘that damn bitch, Dar Roberts.’ Don't you think I get sick and fucking tired of it sometimes?” Her voice rose to a yell. ”Now I’ve got this buttfuck asshole you hired who does nothing but give me a damn hard time, and I don’t hear you saying a goddamned word to him, now do I?”

Mariana stared at her.

”No no, let’s leave that to that bitch. She’ll just give as good as he does, and shut him up, right?” Dar rounded on her. ”Right? I have to stand by and put up with a blatant, personal attack by another employee, and you’re telling me I can’t walk away? Screw you, Mari!”

Now Dar’s temper snapped. ”Why the hell didn’t you bring him up on harassment charges? Or fucking insubordination?” She leaned over her desk. ”Let me tell you something, he’s goddamned lucky it was Kerry that hit him, because if it’d been me, he’d have more than a broken fucking nose for it.”

”Okay, okay, Dar, calm down.” Mariana held her hands out cautiously. ”You have a point there, I know...”

Dar turned and went to the window, leaning against it with one hand. ”I know I do. I’ve been fighting all the battles here for so long, everyone else has forgotten how,” she stated softly. ”Well, you’ll have to find someone else to fight for you.” She let her head rest against the sun warmed glass. ”I’m tired of it.”

Silence. ”So this is just an excuse, isn’t it?” Mariana asked, quietly.