In the Cold Hard Light of Day

Lila

Chris peered around the room, marked that Dane and she were alone, then strode in. Dane pulled himself deeper under the desk, and Lila choked back a laugh. He didn't look at her, but his jaw tensed.

Turning away as if she were looking out the window, Lila kept herself facing Dane enough to catch his eye. But Dane had his head down, pretending he was engrossed with the computer.

"What is it?" Dane he asked distractedly. Lila wondered if he felt as she did: Like her skin had become a radar for him, sensing his every move. Man, she was pathetic.

Then Chris threw a bucket of cold water over both of them.

"Chloe, she's refusing to come to work tomorrow. Says she doesn't feel safe."

"Can you blame her?" Dane muttered without looking up. "I told you, give her the day off."

"No, you don't understand, she's not coming back at all. She's getting a lawyer."

Dane's head snapped up, and Lila whipped around to face Chris.