Bennett measured up Ruby with a deliberately overt slide of her eyes. “I think I have someplace more important to be than standing on these stairs having this ridiculous conversation. Good evening.”

***

No one could ever accuse Ruby of not being patient. As a professional archivist, patience was one of her job's many requirements, so undaunted by Bennett Archer’s rejection, Ruby bided her time. The following week, they continued to pass each other in the halls, but it wasn’t until Friday when Ruby tried again.

Entering the apartment building a few minutes before Bennett’s written-in-stone departure time, Ruby closed her umbrella and then raced up the steps, stopping when she reached the third floor. She glanced at her watch, and a minute later, the door to 3A opened.

“Hi there,” Ruby chirped. “You may want to grab an umbrella. It’s raining cats and dogs out there.”

Bennett regarded Ruby with a get-out-of-my-face stare. “Thank you for the weather report,” she said, closing the door. “And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do.”

“Speaking of things to do, what do you do for a living?”

“And that would be your business, why exactly?”

“Oh, it’s not,” Ruby said, daring a small smile. “I was just curious.”

Bennett approached the stairs, and stopping within inches of Ruby, she looked down her nose at the woman. “You may want to remember curiosity killed the cat…and leave it at that. Now, if you’ll kindly step out of the way.”

Ruby swallowed hard at the intensity she saw in Bennett’s eyes and quickly did as Bennett asked. Like a statue, Ruby watched as Bennett casually descended the steps, and she didn’t take her next breath until she heard the front door to the building close. “Jesus,” Ruby murmured. “This is going to be harder than I thought.”

***

Bennett climbed into the back of the sedan and closed the door behind her. “I can’t thank you enough for doing this.”

“What’s to thank me for?” Gus said, rolling up his window. “It’s my job.”

“And it’s also last minute, so please apologize to Cathleen and the children if I interrupted your weekend plans.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Gus said as he pulled out into traffic. “I had my supper, and when I left, Aiden was glued to the Disney Channel, Liam was on the Xbox with some of his pals, and Cathleen and Kenna were drooling over fashion websites, looking for the perfect dress for Kenna to wear to a dance that’s coming up at school.”

“What about Fallon? Isn’t she going to the dance?”

“No,” Gus said, seeking out the rearview mirror. “And that’s actually something Cathleen and I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Is something wrong?”

“I guess some folks would think so, but Cath and I want Fallon to be happy. That’s all.”

“And you don’t think she is?”