Sunrise at Sunset (21 page)

The sword was suspended upon a felt-covered set of wooden blocks. The blade appeared to be approximately three feet in length and was made of a steel alloy of some kind. It was edged on both sides and had a small groove running down the flat length of the blade from the simple crossguard to about six inches before the tip. The hilt was of the same steel construction and included a large rounded pommel set at its base. The weapon appeared to be well-maintained and oiled.

“Nice replica,” Caleb noted admiringly.

“It’s not a replica,” Katrina’s voice uttered from the doorway, startling him and causing him a small jolt.

He turned to curiously look at her as she walked over to the display case to stand beside him. Her arm absently wrapped around his waist as their attention returned to the sword inside the display case.

“It was my husband’s,” she noted quietly.

“He was a collector?” he carefully asked, hoping for additional information about her past.

She quietly considered his question and paused as if deciding how to respond further.

“It was his father’s, actually,” she added.

He looked at her with an intense, sidelong glance. “Your husband carried this sword?” he asked with more emphasis than intended.

“It was usually above the fireplace, actually,” she explained. “My husband was a farmer by trade. Most of his days were spent plowing or tending the animals.”

“Katrina, would he have used this sword if he were called to duty?” Caleb gently pressed.

She turned to regard him with a somber stare that revealed nothing of the thoughts going through her mind.
Sorry, but you’re going to have to work this one out for yourself
, she considered thoughtfully.

“You know, soldiers regularly carry swords in ceremonies, even today,” she muttered before kissing him on the forehead. She removed her arm from around his waist and silently left the room.

He watched her depart and returned his gaze to the sword before him.
Yeah, but this looks nearly medieval
, he soberly considered.

He wished that he had more depth of knowledge in the area of historic weapons.
Could she be from the medieval period? And how unreal would that be?

Katrina returned to her computer console, concerned over the growing issue of vampires going missing. First, it was Garett in Paris, and then Octavia in Trondheim, and the past week Wallace from Lima, Peru, had disappeared. She communicated daily with Alton regarding the investigation that he was performing, but so far he had no definitive clues or possible explanations. They were equally uncertain as to whether any of the vampires were still alive, though Alton was inclined to think not. The question as to the common thread associating them was still elusive, as well.

Caleb returned to work the following day, borrowing Katrina’s car to get home just after dawn in order to change into dress clothes and grab some revised lecture notes. His coworkers were relieved regarding his quick recovery, though his strength was still slow in returning. His dean was particularly happy to see him at such a late stage in the semester. Katrina texted him twice that day to check up on him, and he called her once at midday.

That evening, Katrina came by his apartment following a quick detour to pick up dinner for him. He marveled at how caring and attentive she was with him, and she even departed early so that he could get some additional rest. He didn’t want her to go, but was in bed scarcely ten minutes before falling asleep. He was also none the wiser as Katrina watched him for a short time from outside on his fire escape through the sheer curtains of his bedroom to ensure he settled in nicely.
Old habits
, she quietly reflected before stealthily departing to drive home.

As the week of finals finally came to an end, Caleb had a strange visitor to his office Friday afternoon. A tall, dark-haired man appearing to be in his late thirties and wearing a navy blue suit introduced himself as Harry Maddox, personal aide to Ms. Alondra Vargas, the President of Corporate Research Enterprises. The company had recently located in the Atlanta area and was seeking talented people with strong research skills to apply for part-time corporate research projects, which their company performed for client businesses.

According to Maddox, as he spoke with some of the faculty at Robert Fulton Community College, Caleb’s name was recommended more than once, so Maddox wanted to make a special effort to reach out to him. Maddox searched for prospective talent at local colleges and universities because professors often had spare time available in their teaching and off-semester schedules to perform the needed research. Also, their professions were geared around the collection and dissemination of information, which made them ideal as part-time contract staff for the company. Caleb was informed that the salaries for such research projects were substantial and worth the time spent on them.

He considered the offer and quickly decided a little extra money would be welcome for gifts during the upcoming holidays.
Besides,
he considered,
there’s somebody important in my life now that’s worth showering gifts upon.
He agreed to fill out one of their online applications and submit it by the end of the week.

Maddox seemed confident an interview would be forthcoming soon after sending his resume, and he thanked Caleb for his time. Later that day, Caleb was feeling hopeful for a little reprieve from his constant penny-pinching, and it boded well that he might be able to pay for more of the activities in which he and Katrina took part. Despite Katrina’s recent assurances that her wealth was more than enough for them both, he still felt self-conscious about the topic.

It was a sunny but chilly afternoon as Caleb drove his car across town to the office complex in Atlanta’s business district. He was happy the fall semester was over, and he was dismissed from college-related duties until mid-January. And as promised by Mr. Maddox, Caleb had an interview scheduled less than a week after emailing his resume to CRE. Rather than risk disappointment, he decided not to tell Katrina about the opportunity unless he was actually offered a position.

The building was a four-story, modern-looking structure composed of glass facade housing a variety of commercial offices. He parked in an outdoor visitor’s spot and went in through the main building entrance.

The interior lobby of the first floor was professionally decorated and sported some comfortable-looking chairs and office sofas interspersed with small metal-framed glass end tables. In lieu of a receptionist, a large LCD display presented a listing of all the various office names and corresponding room numbers. The business owned and operated by Ms. Alondra Vargas was Corporate Research Enterprises, LLC.

“Room number 404,” Caleb muttered as he spotted the office listing.

Inside the elevator, he used the closed shiny doors to double-check his appearance. His conservative black suit and starched white shirt was complemented by a splash of color in his bright red tie. He was trimmed in power colors and exuded confidence from the realization.

He absently wondered how many people would be competing for the position. He exited the elevator into the plain-looking hallway and noted the variety of door plaques as he passed by. Some doors were glass and had the name of the business etched into them, while others were solid wooden doors relying on the small plaques next to them to denote the business name. As one might expect, the more social-oriented businesses used the inviting glass door methods, such as the two doctor’s offices and one family planning office.

CRE’s door was one of the solid oak wood doors utilizing a plaque. It wasn’t surprising, since their business mission was geared around research and likely wasn’t intended for the general public. He opened the door to the office and immediately noticed the sweet scent of fresh-cut flowers in the air.

The room was painted in rich earth tones and sported a couple of outdoor, Central America-themed pictures. Two large, wooden lateral filing cabinets were against the wall to the left, and a set of office-styled guest chairs were next to them with a small table between the chairs. One chair was occupied by a blonde woman in her mid-forties wearing a light-colored business suit.

Harry Maddox rose from a desk to the right of the door entrance. Maddox’s desk was flanked by smaller filing cabinets and a bookcase filled with binders and reference materials. A telephone, computer, and laser printer were sitting atop the desk, and stacks of folders covered most of the remaining area.

Maddox smiled in a friendly manner and walked around the desk to greet Caleb. “Good afternoon, Mr. Taylor. I’m so glad you agreed to attend the interview with Ms. Vargas.”

“Nice to see you again, Mr. Maddox,” Caleb replied crisply as they shook hands.

Maddox gestured to the empty seat next to the lady to the left and offered, “Please have a seat. I apologize, but we’re running a little behind this afternoon. Ms. Spencer is next, and your interview will follow hers.”

“Thank you,” Caleb replied and took a seat next to the lady, who smiled pleasantly at him in passing.

He watched Maddox return to his desk and begin preparing printed materials and placing them into a manila folder as he glanced at Caleb and inquired, “Mr. Taylor, we have your online application and references, but is there any additional information you would like to add before the interview today?”

Caleb shook his head and smiled, and the phone on the desk came alive on loud speaker. A female voice with a Hispanic accent announced, “Harry, I’m ready for the next applicant. Please send in Ms. Spencer.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied and nodded to the lady sitting next to Caleb.

As the woman rose from her seat, the door to the inner office opened and someone who Caleb recognized from the college exited from the office. It was Jason Newman, a middle-aged professor of English with whom Caleb had chatted on two or three occasions.

A woman with jet-black hair wearing a dark business suit and conservative high-heeled shoes stood slightly behind the man exiting the room.

“Thank you for coming in today, Mr. Newman,” the woman issued in a professional tone. “We’ll be in touch if you’re selected.”

Newman thanked her and nodded to Caleb with a friendly expression as he exited the office.

Ms. Vargas smiled at Caleb in an appraising manner before greeting Ms. Spencer and closing the door behind them.

Wow, my prospective employer is beautiful
, Caleb reflected. He sighed, glanced over to the desk where Maddox was busily typing away and resigned himself to reading a news magazine on the table next to him.

Within half an hour, the office door opened and Ms. Spencer departed. Caleb rose from his seat and swallowed a little nervously as Ms. Vargas appraised him briefly.

“Caleb Taylor, I believe?” she ventured after considering him for a moment.

Well, that’s a good start, I suppose
, he thought hopefully as he reached out to shake her hand. “Yes, ma’am,” he replied politely. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise,” she responded pleasantly. “Please come in.”

The room was moderately sized, though at least twice as large as the reception area out front. The furniture in the room was all matching walnut, with a large executive desk, behind which were twin bookcases flanking a curtained window. Two comfortable-looking reading chairs sat in front, with a small sitting area with a couch and coffee table to the left, and a small conference table with seating for six to the right. The window behind the nearby couch was open, though the tinting subdued the light levels.

Ms. Vargas gestured to one of the elegantly finished leather reading chairs, while she orbited the desk to sit in the high-backed leather chair before Caleb. She touched the tips of her fingers to one another on the desktop while considering him, as if studying him. He swallowed once and smiled back pleasantly.

“Mr. Taylor, thank you for coming in this afternoon,” she began. “Please tell me a little about yourself.”

He related his experience as a history professor at Robert Fulton Community College and his graduation with a master’s degree in history from Georgia State University. He explained his interest in history was both professional and personal. He smartly tied that into the benefits such skills brought to a research position like the one he was applying for.

Ms. Vargas listened with interest, only interrupting once to ask him to describe in further detail his college thesis on the role of women and minorities during the American Civil War. After he finished speaking, Ms. Vargas nodded her head and adopted an introspective expression.

“We’re an international group, with research offices located throughout the world. We locate in areas of customer need and relocate where necessary on short notice,” she explained. “Please be aware the position is only part-time and temporary, but we’re happy to work around your available hours, so long as we receive your research reports back in a timely fashion based upon the communicated deadlines.”

Caleb nodded, “Yes, ma’am.”

“Our clients are companies preparing for a host of activities, including possible takeovers, market expansion, and reorganizations,” she stated. “They appreciate discretion and expediency.”