Ellen got into the cold car, turned the heat up, and took off down the street under a cloudy sky. Her BlackBerry started ringing as soon as she left the block, and she steered the car with one hand and dug in her purse with the other, finding the device by its smooth feel. She pulled it out, and the screen showed the same unknown number as before, so she answered the call.
"Ellen, where are you?" It was Sarah Liu, sounding panicky. "I've been calling you. You missed the projects meeting. Marcelo asked about the think piece."
"Damn." The Thursday projects meeting. She'd completely forgotten about it, preoccupied with finding Amy.
"Where are you?"
"I wasn't feeling well this morning." Ellen was fast becoming an accomplished liar. "Was Marcelo pissed?"
"What do you think? When are you coming in?"
"I'm not sure, why?" Ellen checked the dashboard clock, 10:37.
"We should meet about the think piece. I want to see your draft."
Ellen tensed. The week had flown. She hadn't even transcribed her notes from Laticia Williams. "We don't need to meet and my draft isn't ready."
"When will it be? Our deadline's tomorrow."
"Sarah, we're grown-ups. I don't have time to give you a draft, and I don't need yours. Don't tell Daddy."
"What the hell are you doing? You didn't call Julia Guest, and I greased it for you."
Ellen switched lanes to pass a VW Beetle, fighting annoyance. "Thanks, but I have my own leads. I won't need to talk to her."
"She's connected in the community, and she wants to talk to us."
"People who want to talk are never good leads. I don't need the community spokesperson."
"Why not call her, even for background?"
"I know what I'm doing." Ellen braked, checking the car on the way downhill. "Let me handle my end. You handle yours."
"Have it your way, but make that deadline."
"I will."
"Good-bye." Sarah hung up, and Ellen hit the gas. She had to make the deadline, or she was out of a job. She pressed the button for information, then took the ramp to the expressway.
Heading east under a threatening sky.