Pulse Points

Kasey shook her head. “Absolutely not. But thanks. As it is, I’m already wired to the max.”

“You’re not alone,” Don muttered, turning and pouring himself another big mug of coffee. “Still, I can’t stop hitting the high octane stuff. It’s keeping me going.”

That was when Kasey noticed how tired he looked, how dark the circles were under his eyes. What was his problem? she wondered. The same as hers most likely—lack of sleep. She had been pushing hard since the staff meeting two days ago. They had worked long, intense hours, and the finish line was not yet in sight.

And time was running out.

“Maybe we should get Hart in here to give us his opinion,” Red said, shoving a hand through his thick red hair, causing it to stand on end.

“Yeah, why not do that?” Lance chimed in. “I’m sure he could weed through some of this stuff which would give us a better perspective.”

Kasey didn’t hesitate. “No. When he’s brought on-board, I want ideas in place that will wow him.”

In fact, she hadn’t called Tanner back for fear he would want to know how things were progressing. More to the point, he’d probably want to have input. And while that was certainly his right, now was not the best time.

“You’re pushing yourself too hard,” Dwight said in his mild-mannered voice.

It was the first time he’d spoken in a while, which wasn’t out of the ordinary. He was a strange little man, considered a geek by the others, maybe because he had zero personality and kept to himself. That aside, Kasey had learned that he was talented and valued his ability as a writer. In fact, several of her favorite slogans had been his idea.

“I have to, Dwight,” she responded, her eyes touching on each one. “We all do. Remember time is not a luxury we have.”

“Hart must’ve known that when he hired you.”

“That he did, Don,” Kasey said on a testy tone. “But since I told him our agency was up to the task, we have to deliver.”

Don merely shrugged before picking up one of the sketches and perusing it. Though his expertise was sales and marketing, Don also had an eye for design. Shirley had told her that from the get-go, and she had found that to be true. Yet she didn’t plan on tying him up too long. He was needed more on the outside to drum up new business.

“So let’s get our backsides in the saddle, then,” Red said in his loud voice. “The fat lady obviously hasn’t sung yet.”

Kasey gave the art director a grateful nod, picked up her sketchbook and thumbed through the pages. Not bad, she mused. Some of these ideas were actually damn good, and Tanner would probably be pleased.

She mulled over each, then sighed. Something vital was missing on the pages. Kasey’s eyes narrowed, furrowing her brow. Suddenly she knew what it was. Her own brand of creative energy failed to leap off the pages.

Shirley would probably have disagreed, telling her she was too anal, too much a perfectionist, for her own good. Perhaps. But until she pleased herself, she wouldn’t please her client.

Especially this particular client.

“If Shirley was here—” Angie Thigpen began, her gaze on Kasey.

Kasey looked up and smiled at her.

Angie flushed. “I’m sorry, Kasey, I didn’t mean to imply—”

“It’s okay, Angie. I wish Shirley was here, too. We all do. She was the best.”

“She was good, all right,” Don added, fingering that mole on his lip. “But from what I’ve seen of your work, you’re no slouch.”

Kasey flashed him as much of a genuine smile as she could muster. The spoken and unspoken thoughts of Shirley suddenly forced the tragedy back to the fore-front of her mind. As if the others had picked up on that, a sad silence ensued.

Red was the first to break it. “Kasey, how’s the investigation coming?” His usual booming voice was now tempered. “Have you heard anything?”

“Nothing. Any day now, I’ve been expecting Detective Gallain to make an appearance and question us.”

“I still can’t believe she’s gone,” Dwight said, his lean features looking troubled.

Red tapped his pencil against a fingernail. “She damned sure deserved better than she got. I’d like to get my hands on the son of a bitch who was responsible.”

“You and me both,” Don responded, down in the mouth.

“So how are you holding up, Kasey?” Angie asked in a tentative voice. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”

Kasey stifled a sigh. “I’m still awfully skittish, that’s for sure. And have the tendency to look over my shoulder at odd times. Otherwise—” Her voice faded into nothingness. What else was there to say? What would be the point in telling them she hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep since the incident? Or how much she beat up on herself because of her inability to identify the killer.

“As long as you’re under police protection, you should be all right,” Red said.

“I have a feeling that service is about to come to an end,” Kasey admitted with a frown, “since I’m obviously no threat to the killer.” Just saying that word made her shiver.

Another silence fell over the room.

“Just how bad are things, Kasey?” Lance asked. “Financially, I mean?”

That question dropped into the silence like a small bomb.

Before Kasey could respond, however, he went on, “I know Hart’s given us a reprieve, but just how far can that go?”

“Even though I was a partner, I’m pretty much in the dark as to why the agency’s floundering. However, I intend to find out.”

Another uncomfortable silence descended over the room.

Monica Lee broke it. She stood in the door and said in an uneasy voice, “Kasey, Detective Gallain’s here.”

An hour later, Kasey faced the detective alone in her office, behind closed doors.

“Did the staff cooperate?” Kasey asked when Gallain was seated in front of her desk.

“Yes, but they didn’t know much.”

Kasey made a face. “I find that odd. Most of them have been with Shirley from the beginning.”

“Seems as if she kept her private life private.”

“Surely they were able to tell you something that would help with the investigation,” Kasey said.

“Either they’re reluctant to confide in me, or they truly don’t have a clue.”

“Why would they hesitate to tell you what they know?”

“The nature of the crime, Mrs. Ellis. Like you, they’re scared and don’t want to get involved.”