Is This True?

Chapter 6

What did I do?

Or more importantly, what was going on?

Denise ushered me quickly outside my office room right before I could swarm her with an armload of questions. I didn't even bother telling her I had completed her favor for her nor the embarrassing moment I had encountered with that one man. Usually, I could share anything with her right down to what I last had to eat! Even if we'd only met a week ago, we seemed to have become really good friends.

"Did he say what he wanted or at least what was so urgent?"

I had to ask her at least a couple of questions to prepare myself for what was up ahead.

Denise only shook her head, making me even more nervous than before.

"No, he didn't and I didn't ask either. I just do what I'm told and don't ask questions."

She gave me a small glare, but the hidden smirk in her voice told me she was only teasing. If I hadn't been so used to this type of atmosphere, I would've believed her straight off.

"You know, Jenn? Asking questions is going to get you into trouble one of these days."

I only chuckled at Denise's wisdom as we quickly approached the conference room doors.

"Thanks for the advice, Denise. Why don't you tell me something I don't know?"

"You're about to."

Denise and I both neared the door as she opened it for me, again, Mr. Woods waiting patiently on the other side of the long desk. I gulped back my nervous swallow. With my hands behind my back and my knees buckling beneath me, Denise pushed me forward before whispering to me, "I have to go grab those copies in my office, but save me a seat, will you?"

I turned back to look at her and nodded before hurrying to find myself and Denise a seat, but unfortunately, there were no two unoccupied seats beside each other. She would have to sit in front of me, I suppose unless no one sat there.

"Who are we still missing?"

Mr. Woods asked, beginning to pace the room and eyeing each of us individually for an answer. Like I would know the answer to that one. I barely know anyone around here.

"Miss Richards and Mr. Davis are the only ones not present," One young woman three seats away from me replied, not even looking up from the files she was holding. She seemed pretty professional and intelligent, probably after working here for so long--"long" indicating a few years. She couldn't be that much older than me.

"Miss Richards is only grabbing her files for her part, Miss Harper," Another man about the age of thirty replied.

"Does it matter what they're doing? All that matters is that they get here." The woman, I assumed was Miss Harper snarkily replied.

"And they will, just be patient."

The woman tilted her head upward in frustration, her eyes drawing together in defense; but closed her mouth shut to prevent a further argument. I could assume that these two did not get along very well at all.

"Well, if Miss Richards is retrieving her files at such a lovely pace--" Another woman I didn't recognize continued, "where on earth is Agent Davis?"

Didn't anyone use first names around here?

"Who knows?" Miss Harper shrugged her shoulders before leaning her elbows on the desk.
"Probably spending his paycheck on the coffee upstairs or maybe, he's working his charm on some poor, unfortunate woman."

Her eyes darted towards me, almost in hatred, but I looked quickly away. Why did she look at me for? I didn't even know her and besides, I hadn't even met this guy, I think.

"He makes me sick."

"Enough!"

Mr. Woods stormed near the table again away from the window.

"I will not tolerate any more of this trash talk in this room, understand? You're not being professional. If you don't agree with the rules around here nor have equal balance with your fellow agents, I permit you to leave permanently."

The room was deathly silent except for the soft ticking of the clock and the gentle rap of someone tapping a pen on the desk. Other than that, it was in beautiful harmony. No one in the room wanted to leave--permanently, that is. Whoever this Miss Harper was, surely didn't make a very good impression on me along with anyone else in the room. Why must everyone be so down to earth?

"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen."

My stomach nearly dropped.

A voice broke the awkward silence when someone emerged into the room. "Sorry I'm late, but duty called." The man shook his coffee mug in hand.

"Took you long enough." Miss Harper murmured, propping her face up with both hands.

"What?"

The man almost squatted on the floor to meet her level. "You miss me?"

Oh, if looks could kill.

"Mr. Davis, please." Mr. Woods impatiently extended his hand for him to sit which thankfully wasn't beside Miss Harper. One more comment from him and he'd be in for it.

Setting his coffee mug down on the table, he took a seat conveniently in front of me.
"Nice to see you again, Miss Patterson."

My mouth opened to say something, but I thought it best to not say anything at all.
Well, I was shyer than anything and embarrassed since he was the one who witnessed my embarrassing account minutes before.

"Seems like you've met almost everyone here."
Agent Harper looked toward me and tore away her deep gaze at the files in front of her.

"What are you saying? I'm not that hard to spot, am I?" Mr. Davis commented with a smile, but Agent Harper only rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Sorry, everyone." Denise finally arrived inside the conference room with her files. Thankfully, I didn't want to witness another pointless argument.

"All right, now that you're all here." Mr. Woods, eyed everyone, including Mr. Davis and Miss Harper carefully. "We have something important to discuss. Since I have called for you all rather abruptly, you can probably assume this to be about a new case."

My heart sped up.

A case?