for me to have. You never know when a suit will come in handy,’ he gave what Lou considered a very curious answer. ‘Anyway, I’m here to give you these. I think they’re plans. I believe Lou wanted to see them.’
‘Where did you get these from?’
‘I collected them from the architect.’
‘But he was working from home today,’ Alison said, looking inside the manila envelope with confusion.
‘Yes, I collected them from his home.’
‘But Lou just asked Mr Patterson for these five minutes ago. How did you get them so quickly?’
‘Oh, I don’t know, I just, you know …’ Lou could see Gabe’s shoulders shrugging.
‘No, I don’t know,’ Alison laughed. ‘But I wish I did. Keep working like this and I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr Patterson gives you Lou’s job.’
They laughed and Lou bristled, making a note to make Alison’s life hell right after this conversation.
‘Is Lou in right now?’
‘Yes, he is. Why?’
‘Is he going to meet with Bruce Archer today?’
‘Yes. At least, I think so. Why?’
‘Oh, no reason. Just wondering. Is Alfred free this evening?’
‘Lou asked me the very same thing earlier, that’s funny. Yes, Alfred’s free, I checked with his secretary. That’s Louise, you’d like her.’ She giggled flirtatiously.
‘So let me get this straight. Lou knows that Alfred is available to meet with Bruce, if Lou decides to back out.’
‘Yes, I already told him. Why, what’s going on?’ She lowered her voice. ‘What’s the big deal about this evening? Lou’s been acting funny about it.’
‘He has? Hmm.’
That was it. Lou couldn’t take it any more. He closed his office door, no doubt startling them both. He sat down at his desk and picked up the phone.
‘Yes?’ Alison answered.
‘Get me Harry from the mailroom on the phone, and after that call Ronan Pearson and check with him if Gabe collected the plans from him personally. Do this without Gabe knowing.’
‘Yes, of course, just one moment please,’ she said professionally in her best telephone voice.
The phone rang and Lou adjusted his tie once again, cleared his throat and spun around in his oversized leather chair to face the window. The day was cold but crisp, there wasn’t a breeze as shoppers rushed to and fro worshipping the new religion this season, their arms laden down with bags amid flashing primary colours of the numerous neon signs.
‘Yello,’ Harry barked down the phone.
‘Harry, it’s Lou.’
‘What?’ Harry asked loudly, the sounds of machines and voices loud behind him, and Lou had no choice but to speak up. He looked behind him to make sure he had the all-clear before speaking. ‘It’s Lou, Harry.’
‘Lou who?’
‘Suffern.’
‘Oh, Lou, hi, how can I can help you? Your post end up on twelve again?’
‘No, no, I got it, thanks.’
‘Good. That new boy you sent my way is genius, isn’t he?’
‘He is?’
‘Gabe? Absolutely. Everyone’s calling me with nothing but good reviews. It’s like he fell from the stars. I’m telling you that he couldn’t have come at a better time, that’s no word of a lie. We were struggling, you know that. In all of my years in this job, this Christmas season is the wildest. Everything’s getting faster and faster it seems. Well it must be because it’s not me that’s getting slower, that’s for sure. You picked a good one, Lou, I owe you. How can I help you today?’
‘Well, about Gabe,’ he said slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. ‘You know he’s taken on some other commitments in the building. Other work outside of the mailroom.’
‘I heard that all right. He was as excited as anything this morning. Got a new suit, and all, on his break. I don’t know where he found the time to get it, some of them in here can’t even light their cigarette in the time given. He’s quick, that boy. I’d say it won’t be long before he’s out of here and up there with you. Mr Patterson seems to have taken a shine to him. I’m happy for him, he’s a good kid.’
‘Yeah … anyway, I was just calling to let you know. I didn’t want it to conflict with his work with you.’ Lou tried one more time. ‘You wouldn’t want him to be distracted, with his mind on other things that he’s doing on these floors. You know? It gets so manic up here and distraction can so easily happen.’
‘I appreciate that, Lou, but what he does after one p.m. is his own business. To be honest with you, I’m glad he’s found something else. He gets the job done so quickly it’s a struggle to keep him busy till the first break.’
‘Right. Okay. So, if he acts up in any way you just go ahead and do what you have to do, Harry. I don’t want you to feel in any way obligated to keep him on for me. You know?’
‘I know that, Lou, I do. He’s a good lad, you’ve nothing to worry about.’
‘Okay. Thanks. Take care, Harry.’
The phone went dead. Lou sighed and slowly spun around in his chair to replace the receiver. As he turned he came face-to-face with Gabe, who was standing behind his desk, watching him intently.
Lou jumped, dropping the receiver, and let out a yelp.
‘Jesus Christ.’ He held his hand over his pounding heart.
‘No. It’s just me,’ Gabe said, blue eyes searing into Lou’s.
‘Have you ever heard of knocking? Where’s Alison?’ Lou leaned sideways to check her station and saw that it was empty. ‘How long have you been there?’
‘Long enough.’ Gabe’s voice was soft, and it was that which unnerved Lou most. ‘Trying to get me in trouble, Lou?’
‘What?’ Lou’s heart pounded wildly, still unrecovered from the surprise, and also alarmingly discomfited by Alison’s absence and Gabe’s proximity. The man’s very presence disconcerted him.
‘No,’ he swallowed, and he hated himself for his sudden weakness. ‘I just called Harry to see if he was happy with you. That’s all.’ He was aware of the fact he sounded like a schoolboy defending himself.
‘And is he?’
‘As it turns out, yes. But you must understand how I feel a responsibility to him for finding you.’
‘Finding me,’ Gabe smiled, and said the words as though he’d never heard them or pronounced them before.
‘What’s so funny about that?’
‘Nothing,’ Gabe continued the smile, and began looking around Lou’s office, hands in his pockets, with that same patronising look that was neither jealousy nor admiration.
‘It’s five twenty-two p.m. and thirty-three seconds now,’ Gabe said, not even looking at his watch. ‘Thirty-four, thirty-five, thirty-six …’ He turned and smiled at Lou. ‘You get the idea.’
‘So?’ Lou put his suit jacket on and secretly tried to get a glimpse at his watch to make sure. It was spot-on five twenty-two.
‘You have to leave now, don’t you?’
‘What does it look like I’m doing?’
Gabe