You Had Me at Halo(53)

“I don’t know, man.” Andrew shook his head and frowned. “Somehow I don’t think I’m her type. I mean she doesn’t look like the sort of girl who would go for a tech-head. I think I was just deluding myself for awhile.”

“Why, you think she doesn’t like nice guys who are smart and have a good job?” Holly raised an eyebrow at him. Of course he would stand a slightly better chance if he wasn’t wearing one of those ties, but she decided now was not the time for fashion advice. Especially from Vince Murphy who seemed to perpetually live in Doc Martens and leather jackets.

“You really think I should?” Andrew sounded like he was faltering.

“Yes, I do.” Holly made a mental note to explain to Gemma why she should say yes. After all, just because Andrew didn’t dress in a flash suit like Simon Trimmer, was no reason at all for her to automatically rule him out.

For a moment she shifted uncomfortably as something nibbled away at the edge of her mind but before she could put it under the microscope, she caught sight of her watch. Phew. No time for deep and meaningful thoughts.

She said a hasty goodbye to Andrew and then she ran. If she wanted to get back into Level One, memory intact, then this was her best shot.





CHAPTER TWENTY


“Oh, you gave me a shock,” Gemma yelped as Holly came to a halt where her friend was standing by the bus stop around the corner from The Pool Palace.

“Sorry. I thought you heard me call out.” Holly apologized as Gemma quickly shoved her BlackBerry back in her purse. “Are you okay?”

“Of course I’m okay.” Gemma flushed as she glanced around and awkwardly fiddled with her hands. “Why wouldn’t I be? I just didn’t hear you arriving—that’s all.”

Holly narrowed her eyes. This wasn’t the first time Gemma had acted strangely around her today and she felt a small knot of disappointment form in her belly as she wondered if Andrew had been right about her friend?

Perhaps she didn’t want to mix with a technician? Holly hadn’t said anything earlier because she didn’t want to offend Vince, but he wasn’t here now.

“Are you embarrassed to be seen talking to Vince?”

“What?” Gemma squeaked as she clutched at her purse. “Holly, that’s ridiculous.”

“Is it?” Holly folded her arms. “This morning we saw you on the third floor running away from us, and then later on when we went up to your desk and you were acting all weird. Plus, you’ve been jumpy and fidgety all day.”

“No, I haven’t.” Holly glared at her. “Gemma, what the hell is going on?”

Her friend let out a long sigh before pulling a flyer out of her purse. She thrust it into Holly’s hand.

“What the—” Holly knitted her brows together as she studied the suicide help line brochure. Then she turned back to her friend. “Why are you showing me this? I’ve been pulling these things down all day.”

“I know and as fast as you’ve been pulling them down, I’ve been putting them up,” Gemma said in a miserable voice.

“That was you?”

“Holly, it’s not my fault. It’s just that after a certain incident, my boss thought we should...well...look into the matter more closely. Perhaps offer support for other staff members in case they are in a similar situation.”

“What, in case they were slipped some pills just before hopping into a fatal bath?”

“No! Of course that’s not what I mean.” Gemma wailed. “Look, you know what it’s like there. If they give you something to do, you just have to do it. I know one hundred percent that you didn’t commit suicide, and the sooner we find out how those pills got into your system, the sooner we can prove to everyone at Baker Colwell that you were tragically taken from us all before you reached the prime of your life.”

Holly sniffed. “I was, wasn’t I?”

“Yes.” Gemma nodded frantically. s NeYes, you were, and we’re going to find out how. No matter what it takes, and then we’re going to say ‘I told you so’ to anyone who thought otherwise.”

Holly gave another little sniff. Gemma always knew how to make her feel better.

“So are we okay?” Gemma peered from under her lashes, her voice laced with concern.

“Yes.” Holly gave her friend a sheepish smile. “We’re cool. To be honest I’m sort of pleased that’s the reason you’ve been acting so funny.”

“What do you mean?” Gemma pushed the flyer back in her purse and widened her eyes.

“I thought it was because you didn’t want to be seen talking to Vince. I thought maybe you were embarrassed.”

“That’s ridiculous. Of course I like Vince. A lot,” she added in a loud, clear voice.

“It’s all right, Gem. He’s not here.”

“What? But I thought—”

“It’s a long story,” Holly said as she explained her impromptu visit by Dr. Hill. “But he should be back sometime in the next few hours.”

“Oh.” Gemma looked relieved. “After everything he’s done for you, I didn’t want to offend him...so is he going to be all right?”

Holly nodded. “Dr. Hill said there wouldn’t be any side effects.”