Page 100 of A Stop in Time
Our gazes hold for a beat before I shove my hands in my back pockets. “See you tomorrow, then.”
“Yeah.” He appears as if he’s going to say something else but decides against it. Turning, he strides toward his vehicle, and I mash my lips together at the impulse to call him back.
Stop it, Mac. You’re getting attached, and there’s nothing good that’ll come from it.
Turning my attention to the car on the lift, I force myself not to watch the Chevelle drive away. It isn’t until I’m unable to detect even the faintest rumble of his engine that I release the breath I’d been holding.
Because deep down, a part of me had hoped he’d come back. That he’d insist on staying. But that’s just delusional.
If I’ve learned anything throughout my life, it’s that I’m alone in this world.
And it’s for the best.
47
MAC
Wednesday
HelixCorp Human Resources, 2 Government Court, Jacksonville, Florida
“This place gives me the creeps.” I mutter this as we stride down the paved road through the complex of nondescript buildings. It’s quiet—eerily so. In fact, it reminds me of when I stop time, how still everything is.
We took the bus to the closest stop, but now, the sensation of being watched makes me wish we’d taken his Chevelle. At least it’s armored.
“Make a right turn here.” Daniel’s subdued voice holds both anticipation and a trace of dread.
“Okay, so, hold on.” We hover at the cul-de-sac, his gaze heavy on me, and I release a breath. “I’ll stop time before we get up there, because I see their surveillance. This way, we can avoid it all together.”
He dips his chin in a curt nod. “Okay.”
I reach out and rest my fingers on his forearm, but before I can press my thumb and finger together, his husky words stop me. “Mackenzie.” He waits for me to meet his eyes. “Thanks.”
The finality in his tone has an invisible hand reaching in to clench my stomach in its tight fist. Somehow, I manage to muster up a weak smile for him before I stop time.
Our surroundings instantly go silent, and I glance over at Daniel to find him watching me. God, that’s still so fucking weird. I drop my hand from him and curl my fingers into my palm at the sense of loss.
We stride up to the building that’s labeled only with a two. Daniel pulls open the door, and we wordlessly step inside.
A security guard stands off to one side, eyes trained on a series of blank monitors. A large circular reception desk is directly ahead of us. Graying at her temples with her hair pulled back in a severe bun, a brunette sits behind the desk.
Daniel strides over to take a look behind the counter and gestures for me to follow.
When I circle the desk, I stop short. “The hell?”
Daniel cuts me a look. “Yeah. Not what I was expectin’.”
Instead of a computer, the woman’s desk is filled with binders upon binders. Each are five inches thick and labeled, clearly alphabetized.
I find the one labeled with Mab—Mar and thumb through the pages in search of his sister’s name. He peers over my shoulder but remains silent.
I page through the alphabetical entries until I find hers.
Emilia Madrano
Age at time of hire: 18
Marital Status: Single