Redesigning Fate (Revive #1) - A. M. Wilson Page 0,78

my own, and I pray he can’t feel the dampness collecting on my skin.

“Yes. Marlena Aldrich. What can I do for you, Sir?” I ask politely. Although, I’m shaking in my heels. Why is he looking at me that way?

“I hadn’t realized on Saturday that you worked with Miss Martin as well. I had presumed you knew who Miss Martin was because of your boyfriend. However, the fact you are a coworker of hers, as well as dating her ex-boyfriend is…interesting.” He reaches into his breast pocket, pulling out the familiar notepad and makes a note of something.

“Katie and I are hardly acquaintances. At most, we would bump into each other in the break room. We rarely dealt with one another at work. And up until Saturday, I was entirely unaware that Katie had had any relationship with my boyfriend.” He’s scribbling furiously the entire time I’m speaking. The rough scratch of his pen grates on my already frazzled nerves. What is he writing down that is so important? He can’t possibly think Elias or I had anything to do with this, can he?

“Do you have an alibi for Saturday, April 27th, between six and nine P.M.?” His writing pauses as he gazes at me intently.

“Is this a joke? You can’t possibly be serious,” I defend before I remember whom I’m talking to. My cheeks flame hot with embarrassment and remorse.

His brows pinch together questioningly. “I’d suggest you answer the questions without the attitude,” he reprimands.

“I’m sorry.” My hands tremble. I tuck them behind my back as the familiar ache opens up in my chest.

“I’m awaiting your answer, Miss Aldrich. Saturday a week ago, you were…?” He lets the question trail off, and the words linger in the space between us.

“I was at Elias’s apartment at that time. Last Saturday was his birthday, and I had been making a surprise dinner for him,” I mutter.

“And was there anyone else there? Someone who can confirm your whereabouts?”

Shit!

“No, nobody was there with me, Sir. I did call my friend Carly twice that evening, though. As you are aware, Elias was with Sin, so I had been on the phone with my friend complaining that he was late.” I really do not have a solid alibi. I talked to Carly for maybe 15 minutes total between two phone calls. The rest of the time, I was entirely by myself.

I try to hold myself tall and confident as I speak. However, I’m not feeling it. My insides are a weak, quivering puddle of what used to be my organs. How did I find myself in this mess?

“Well, Miss Aldrich, I will need to have the information to contact your friend, but as I’m sure you are aware, being an employee here and all,” he says, waving his hand around to gesture where we are, “that is not much for a solid alibi.”

“It’s the truth,” I whisper, at a loss for what else I can say.

I scribble down Carly’s information with the times I talked to her and hand him the sticky note. He sticks it in his notepad before placing it back in his breast pocket.

Giving me a hard glare, he leaves me with a hollow pit in my stomach. As he turns to leave, he says, “We will be in touch.”

The elevator doors shut with such finality I feel like all the air is sucked from the room. I pick up my headset and dial Elias’s number, needing some comfort immensely. After a brief explanation, he agrees to pick me up for lunch at noon. Having only forty-five minutes to wait, I throw myself back into editing my brief, hoping to keep my brain focused on one task.

Twelve o’clock on the dot he calls me to let me know he’s in the parking lot. I hop in the elevator, tapping my hands impatiently along my thighs as it makes its slow descent. I quickly make my way outside into the May sunshine, trying not to run across the lawn when I spot Elias’s truck.

I wrench the door open, slamming it shut behind me.

“Hi,” I whisper, looking deeply into his eyes. Immediately, I feel the tension seeping away, my muscles relaxing into the soft seat of his car.

“Hi,” he murmurs, placing his hands on either side of my face. He leans in and brushes the sweetest of kisses against my slightly parted lips. His skin on mine is instantly calming, as if we’re swapping energies. His peacefulness absorbs the lingering panic through touch alone,