Carpe Vitae
“I just don’t understand Stephanie,” Oliver snapped. “For God’s sake, it’s been a week! Where is animal control? Where is that goddamn power company’s apology? I’ve been listening to those horrible creatures all week, and nothing! It’s driving me insane. Up to my knees in rain and frogs…”
Stephanie nodded, pretending to listen to Oliver’s rant. Secretly, she hadn’t minded the frogs. The constant background noise had provided company in the time she spent alone, contemplating the mysterious package delivered over a week ago.
She’d discreetly asked Bea about the sender, trading anecdotes about the church infants for mailroom gossip. Someone else in the building, an Aydar Salimov, had received a package at the same time. It certainly didn’t seem like just a coincidence, judging by the lack of mail in Bea’s mailroom. She’d also mentioned holiday mail being lighter than usual.
“Wouldn’t you agree, darling?”
She nodded again before drifting back into her own mind. Should she reach out to Mr. Salimov? Was he the one who sent her the mysterious objects? Had anyone else received packages?
“Stephanie, if we’re going, you’re gonna have to put a coat on. It’s pouring.”
Where did he say they were going again? He’d probably told her as she was daydreaming. Nevertheless, she suited up in her boots and raincoat. Oliver had already claimed the only working umbrella.
The couple jogged down the flights of stairs, Stephanie close on Oliver’s heels. As Stephanie stepped out of the lobby, Oliver opened his umbrella and the rain ceased.
“What the hell?” Oliver yelled over the deafening sound of frogs croaking. Stephanie’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Weird,” she said. Oliver shook his head slowly, in both agreement and bewilderment. Stephanie took his hand and began leading him toward the old power plant.
“Ah, Steph, away from the frogs. That means away from the river. Ice cream parlor, remember?”
“No, we’re not going there anymore.”
“Where to, then?”
Stephanie nodded, pretending to listen to Oliver’s rant. Secretly, she hadn’t minded the frogs. The constant background noise had provided company in the time she spent alone, contemplating the mysterious package delivered over a week ago.
She’d discreetly asked Bea about the sender, trading anecdotes about the church infants for mailroom gossip. Someone else in the building, an Aydar Salimov, had received a package at the same time. It certainly didn’t seem like just a coincidence, judging by the lack of mail in Bea’s mailroom. She’d also mentioned holiday mail being lighter than usual.
“Wouldn’t you agree, darling?”
She nodded again before drifting back into her own mind. Should she reach out to Mr. Salimov? Was he the one who sent her the mysterious objects? Had anyone else received packages?
“Stephanie, if we’re going, you’re gonna have to put a coat on. It’s pouring.”
Where did he say they were going again? He’d probably told her as she was daydreaming. Nevertheless, she suited up in her boots and raincoat. Oliver had already claimed the only working umbrella.
The couple jogged down the flights of stairs, Stephanie close on Oliver’s heels. As Stephanie stepped out of the lobby, Oliver opened his umbrella and the rain ceased.
“What the hell?” Oliver yelled over the deafening sound of frogs croaking. Stephanie’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Weird,” she said. Oliver shook his head slowly, in both agreement and bewilderment. Stephanie took his hand and began leading him toward the old power plant.
“Ah, Steph, away from the frogs. That means away from the river. Ice cream parlor, remember?”
“No, we’re not going there anymore.”
“Where to, then?”
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