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“Oh, you know. The usual set of daily upheavals.” She gave a strained laugh.
“I totally get it.” Izzie scribbled a note in her book. “What time will you get in?”
“Noon? Does that work for you?” Zoe asked.
“Absolutely.” Izzie circled the word noon on the calendar. “I’ll pick you up at Union Station.”
“I can take a cab,” Zoe replied.
“You shall do no such thing,” Izzie said with authority. “I’ll be waiting outside the station. Silver Lexus SUV.”
“Great. Thanks, Izzie.”
“I should be thanking you!” Izzie said with a laugh. “See you Friday.” She hung up and looked at Yoko. “Something is up with her.”
“Marriage problems?” Yoko guessed, not knowing Zoe’s situation.
“No. Not married. No kids. No boyfriend that I know of. She travels a lot. Hard to keep something going when you’re on the move.”
“Family?” Yoko asked casually.
“Kinda normal, as far as I can remember. Parents are in Arizona. She has one brother. Pharmacist. Lives in Boston with his partner.” Izzie squinted and cocked her head. “She didn’t sound like her usual self.”
“Could it be a health issue?” Yoko mused.
“Geez, I hope not.” Izzie shook her head. “It’s something else.” She tapped her pencil against her chin.
“Well, don’t go hacking into her email, please.” Yoko gave her a wry smile. “I know you when you want information.”
“Hey, wait a gosh darn second. I have never spied on anyone. Well, not anyone who deserved not to be spied on.” She raised her eyebrows. Yoko knew exactly what Izzie meant. Only a mission was cause enough to dive into someone’s personal data. Once an individual broke the law or inflicted serious harm to a person or animal, all bets were off. There might as well be a big sign with an arrow pointing at their head: DUMBASS. DO WHAT YOU MUST.
“Fair enough.” Yoko nodded. “I’m glad she will be coming in person. People can accomplish much more when there is a dialogue and eye contact in three-dimensional form.” She was being philosophical. “I cannot imagine a virtual floral arrangement. I realize they exist, but it’s such a flat experience. This NFT thing everyone is raving about. Non-fungible token. What is that?”
“It’s all smoke and mirrors if you ask me.” Izzie was busying herself rearranging things on her desk. “How can something that is only digital be worth anything, unless it’s information?” She twisted her mouth. “I don’t get it. We live in a three-dimensional world. And yes, we must rely on technology to get a lot of our work done. But the result is something you can touch, smell, see. Too many people depend on illusions for their reality.”
Yoko folded her arms. “I completely agree with you, but I think you are on the verge of waxing a bit more philosophical than usual.”
Izzie looked up from the pile of papers she had put back in order. “Huh. You are right. I guess it’s because we are constantly faced with challenges and I believe if we are calm and thoughtful we can find a solution.”
“Again, you are sounding more Zen than usual.” Yoko smiled.
“It’s your influence on me.” Izzie smiled back.
“I think we need to take a few deep breaths and then get something to eat,” Yoko suggested.
“But it’s only three o’clock.” Izzie double-checked the time.
“Ice cream does not work by the clock.” Yoko grinned.
“Now that is what I call a splendid idea.” Izzie felt much more relaxed knowing there might be a light at the end of the tunnel and it wasn’t an oncoming train. She grabbed her cell phone, and they walked the half block to Lickety Split. Izzie ordered salted caramel in a sugar cone and gave it a taste. “We should do this more often.”
Yoko nodded as she wiped the dribbling chocolate swirl from her chin.
The two sat on one of the benches under a small grove of trees. Izzie squinted again, a sign she was thinking hard, as if she was trying to see what was in her brain. “They should make it a law that everyone must have at least one ice cream cone a week. I think that would really help in our angst-ridden society.” Izzie swirled her tongue around the creamy mixture. “Think about it. When you are eating an ice cream cone, you’re really focused on the task at hand. Otherwise, it would be all over you or on the ground. Multitasking is not an option.”
Yoko giggled. “You have a good point, great wise one. Now if you would shut up and eat your cone, you would be practicing what you are preaching.”
Izzie gave Yoko an elbow tap that knocked her hand into her face, smearing chocolate up her nose.
