Lost Contact (The Bridge Sequence Book One), Nathan Hystad [primary phonics books .TXT] 📗

My phone buzzed, and she glanced at my pocket. “Go ahead.”

I gave an apologetic smile and grabbed it, tapping on a reply from Marcus.

Marcus: Still trying. Gonna be an all-nighter.

I frowned and sent a quick message. I’ll be a while. Dinner with Jessica.

Marcus: You dirty old dog… I hope you…

I exited the program, not finishing his response. “Dinner would be great.”

She started away, and despite my anxiety to go home and begin planning our next move, I had to admit, she was going to be a nice distraction.

____________

Jessica had picked a quiet spot, not what I expected from someone of her stature. I guessed Jessica came from money, with a large colonial to match, so her choice of a quaint Lebanese place didn’t quite fit with my image of her.

We were still in our formal work attire, her in a smart black pencil skirt and white blouse. I had a navy blazer with a salmon shirt underneath, and jeans. Since it was just exam babysitting, I’d opted out of the tie today, and I was glad as I glanced around the half-empty restaurant.

“Are you good with this?” she asked as the waitress led us to our table. The middle-aged woman had a smile only an owner could muster at work as she passed our menus out.

“It’s perfect. I’ve been meaning to try it after work one day, but haven’t yet.”

The waitress asked if we wanted any drinks.

“Turkish coffee for me,” Jessica said, and I was relieved she hadn’t suggested wine.

I didn’t know if this was a real date or something Jessica liked to do with the newer staff members, even after her earlier comment. “I’ll have the same.”

The woman wandered off, stopping at the table two down to remove empty plates.

Jessica looked relaxed, more so than I’d ever seen her. “Do you live near the college?” I asked.

“No. I drive in, but I like the commute. As much as I feel married to my work, I prefer to be able to turn it off when I need to. Being too close to the office reminds me of how much I could be doing. My first year, I decided to rent an apartment within walking distance, and I couldn’t pull myself out of there most nights. After a run-in with burnout, I thought it best to give up the second home and make the drive.” Jessica lowered her hand from the table as the coffees came, and I was greeted with the rich aroma of the unfiltered grounds. It was a good thing Marcus had said we’d be up for hours, because I’d be bouncing off the walls by the time I got to the townhouse.

“What about you?” she asked. “Where are you at?”

“Had the same townhouse for years. Can’t seem to part with it.”

“Does it ever get lonely?” she asked, her focus shifting to her cup as she sipped from it.

“Living alone?” It was a little bit of a probing question, but I didn’t mind. “Sure. Who doesn’t? And you?”

“I was married for a time,” Jessica admitted.

“Has it been a while?”

“Donovan and I were too young. Fresh out of college, and full of dreams and aspirations. He was in law school, and… things fell apart.” Jessica ran a finger over the menu, and I browsed as well. When the waitress arrived, I nodded at Jessica.

“I’m going to let the lady choose the meal tonight.”

Jessica was used to taking charge, so I didn’t think she’d mind. She ordered what seemed like far too much food, but I kept that to myself.

“And you?” she asked. “Why is Rexford Walker single?”

“Me? Not much to tell. I’ve had some relationships—some close calls, if you will—but nothing quite so drastic as love.”

“I heard rumors about you before I hired you, Rex,” she told me with a smirk.

“Is that so?” I took a drink, the caffeine seeming to hit me straight away.

“That you were bullheaded and opinionated. Challenging to work with, and not much for following the rules.” She said it quietly, and I watched her, trying to understand where she was going with this. “But what I see is a smart man with passion for his craft. It’s been so long since we had a real archaeologist on staff, with dirt under his nails and sweat on his brow. This school is my passion, Rex, so I can understand why you’re always looking to the next thing.”

“Why do I sense a ‘but’ coming?”

She didn’t smile, just leaned in slightly. “You are perceptive. Are the rumors true?”

“The ones about Professor Hughes and that student?” I joked, trying to change the topic.

“See, there it is. The disregard for authority I mentioned.”

This was taking a hard turn in the wrong direction. “I thought we were two contemporaries having a nice dinner together.” I went to stand up, but her grip wrapped around my wrist, urging me into my seat.

“We are, Rex. Stay put. I didn’t mean anything by it.” She said it so casually that I let it go.

Jessica’s smile returned, and she ripped a piece of the pita. “You have to try this hummus.”

“I will when you tell me what you were talking about,” I said.

“Whatever happened with Fiji?”

“It fell through,” I replied.

“That’s funny, because I had my secretary do some investigating, and there don’t seem to be any active petitions in their system.” Jessica dipped more of the pita into the creamy hummus.

I relaxed a little. It didn’t sound like she knew anything about my real purpose, just that I’d been lying about Fiji in the first place.

“I’m sorry about that. I made it up. I’ve been dealing with a family issue, and didn’t want to air my dirty laundry. I was there for the exams regardless,” I reminded her, and she nodded. “You don’t have to worry about me, Jessica. I won’t let it happen again.”

“Anything I should be worried about?”

“Huh?

“The family issue,” she said.

“No. It’s settled.”

“Good. That’s a relief. Despite how this appears, I have been