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Mark opened the door and saw Todd and Marcy standing at the far end of the hall. They looked at him then headed back to their offices with their heads down. Mark walked along the hall leading to Sarah’s office and noticed that his shirt had blood stains on it. Whose blood was this? His, Jen’s or that agent? Nothing he could do about it now. He needed to find Sarah.
When Mark got to Sarah’s office it was empty. Then he heard voices coming through the wall, she was in his office, talking to a man he didn’t recognize at first. He casually left Sarah’s office and headed to his. When he arrived in the doorway he realized who the man was. His boss, the owner of the company, Roger. Roger was sitting in Mark’s chair talking to Sarah until he saw Mark.
“You shouldn’t be here right now Mark,” Roger said sternly.
“Mr. Sandleton, I can explain. I had nothing to do with this, I was a victim. This was all just a misunderstanding,” Mark pleaded.
“Well, which is it? A misunderstanding or are you a victim?” Roger asked condescendingly.
“Both. It was a misunderstanding with the police. They think I had something to do with Jen’s death but I was a victim as well. I’m not sure why the killers let me live,” Mark explained.
“Mhmm,” Roger said unconvinced as he played with his beard. “Either way you need not worry about coming in to work until your legal matters are dealt with. In the meantime Sarah will take over your duties and when it’s all over we’ll have this conversation again.” Roger waved his hand and expected Mark to just leave. Roger was a rich business man who had many companies all over the country. He was used to people doing whatever he said the second he gave them an order, especially employees.
“But...”, Mark started but Sarah hurried over to him and boosted him out the door.
“Let it go, Mark, it’s not worth your time. After this is all sorted out you will find another job, probably a better job. Heck, when it’s all over I’ll probably join you if you can find me a spot under you.” Sarah winked, apparently trying to cheer him up with flirtation but now was not the time. “Sorry, bad timing. I really can’t control it sometimes.”
Mark understood and didn’t think badly of Sarah, this was how she always dealt with stress or feeling uncomfortable.
“You know I didn’t kill Jen, right?” Mark hoped that at least Sarah believed him.
“Bah, if I ever thought you had it in you, I would have snapped your neck. You would never hurt Jen. Thought never crossed my mind.” Sarah looked almost serious. Maybe Sarah would have snapped his neck before, but now Mark doubted she would even give him a bruise.
“What do I do?! Jen’s gone! Everyone thinks I did it!” Mark almost started crying again then a thought hit him. “Where’s Katie?!”
“Don’t worry, I took her over to my place and she can use my bed til your situation is resolved. She needs a woman right now to help her with her mom’s death. There will be a lot of crying and going through scrap books, you don’t wanna be there dude.” Sarah smiled and patted him on the back.
“As long as she’s ok. Tell her I love her and I will see her as soon as I can get this figured out,” Mark said, relieved that he could at least count on one person.
“Don’t worry, she knows you didn’t do it. And now I can tell her you got beat up too. I’m sure this will get figured out quickly. Now go home, get a bottle of something and mourn your wife. If you need ANYTHING, just call me.” The look on Sarah’s face was pity. She didn’t know what else she could do except help with Katie, but if Mark asked she would do whatever she could.
“Thank you,” Mark said then turned and gave Sarah a hug, careful not to hurt her with his new strength. Afterward he turned and started down the steps. As soon as he was half way down Sarah shut the door.
While walking down the steps Mark realized how wonderful Sarah smelled. He had never realized it before but she even smelled beautiful.
Chapter 5
When Mark got home he was amused at his new stamina yet again. He had walked all five miles and still wasn’t tired. He was in a daze thinking about Jen, about the scene that was at the new house and trying to figure out who could possibly have done this. He barely remembered deciding that a walk was what he needed, but as he threw his jacket on the couch he remembered that there was no one here. He had decided to walk because he was in no hurry to come home to an empty house with reminders of his dead wife everywhere. Slowly Mark sank to the floor with his hands over his face. How could this be real? How could Jen just be gone?!
A knock on the door startled Mark and he quickly got up and wiped the tears from his face. He had only made it a few feet in the door so he could see the outline of a tall, slender man on the other side.
“Who is it?” Mark struggled to ask.
“Alex Gregor,” the figure on the other side of the door replied.
Mark cautiously opened the door and saw Alex standing there with papers in one hand and a briefcase in the other. A horrible smell wafted into his house, the same smell from the police station. It was Alex! He smelled like rotting meat, sour milk and decay. Mark didn’t react as badly this time but he still thought he might throw up.
