I formatted it, logged it into the system, my finger hovering over the send button. Five fifty-nine.

I stood, glancing over the tops of the cubicles toward Felix’s office. Allie sat on the edge of his desk, giggling. Legs crossed, thigh exposed, boobs inches from his face. He was one step away from drooling on his button-down shirt. God bless the little tart.

I pounded my finger down on the enter key, sending my column in just as the clock changed to six. I held my breath, waiting for confirmation that I’d made it in time. Two second later, the little window popped up telling me my open note to my stalker would indeed appear in the morning edition.

I let out a sigh so big it ruffled my hair, then closed my eyes and fell back into my chair with a moan of relief.

“What was that?”

My eyes popped open to find Cal suddenly at my side, his gaze on my screen.

“Uh…my column. I forgot to send it in earlier. Just made it under the wire. Lucky, huh? Well, that’s it for today. Ready to go?” I gave him my best attempt at a breezy smile.

His eyes narrowed. Unfortunately for me, Cal was no dummy.

I ignored him, instead grabbing my purse, flipping off my desk light, and heading for the elevator.

Only I didn’t get far.

“Bender!”

I must have been a little on the jumpy side, because at the sound of Felix’s voice booming from his office, I think I peed my pants a little.

“Yeah?” I squeaked out, my heart leaping into my throat. Please tell me the blonde did her job…

“Your column,” he said, his eyebrows hunkering down in an angry slash.

I licked my lips. “What about it?”

“It’s late.”

I did a mental sigh of relief so loud, I swear even Aunt Sue could have heard it. “Right. Sorry. I just sent it in. Must have slipped my mind earlier.” I smacked my forehead in a super-graceful move as if to illustrate the point.

Felix nodded. “Good.” Then disappeared back into his office.

And I made a beeline for the elevators before anything else could go wrong.

At Cal’s place we found a note from the aunts saying Sue had over-boiled the macaroni and they’d gone to pick up hoagies for dinner. Cal mumbled something about getting some paperwork done and headed off to his bedroom. Which was fine with me. After the nerve-wracking day I’d had, I could use a little me time anyway.

I plopped down on the sofa and booted up my laptop, checking my email. I half-hoped, half-feared another note from my stalker, but my inbox was conspicuously empty. As in no messages at all. Not a one. Marco was right, news of my involvement with the police was spreading faster than a summer wildfire, and my informants had all gone mum.

This sucked.