Big Leagues by Jen Estes

You can call me
Cat.”
    “Fun! You can call me Key.”
    “Key? I like that.”
    Kiara pulled a chair out from a nearby vacant
desk and plopped down. “It must be so awesome being the team
writer. I swear, media relations intern is, like, code for
corporate slave.”
    “I’ve been there.”
    A short blonde girl came through the door and
Kiara’s hand shot up, fluttering through the air.
    “That’s Lydie. Poor thing. She’s an intern on
the third floor with the nerd patrol.” Kiara stood and turned back
to Cat. “Hey, we’re going out tonight, wanna come?”
    Cat hesitated and Kiara quickly added, “Unless
you already have big plans.”
    Cat rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah, big plans. Let’s
see … Dustin and I are heading to the Strip to get married by Elvis
and then we’re going to consummate our wedding vows on the
Stratosphere.” Kiara’s eyes widened, and Cat shook her head.
“Teasing. I’ve got to go to the drugstore.”
    Kiara giggled. “The drugstore? On a Tuesday
night? You know every Tuesday is Ladies’ Night at half the bars in
town, right? Free Jell-O shots and half-price margaritas. You can’t
miss out.”
    “Tempting. I’ve got to get travel supplies for
the road trip. Those little hotel bottles of shampoo don’t quite
cut it.”
    Kiara tilted her head. “Are you sure? It’ll be
fun. I swear.”
    Cat shook her head and smiled at the two girls,
who were inching their way toward the door.
    “I’m sure. Go on, get out of here. Next time,
okay?”
    “I’ll remember that. Later!”
    Cat scanned the office for anything she might
have forgotten. Her laptop was in her bag, her office door was
locked, the copier was on standby, the coffeepot was off and, with
the flip of one switch, the lights would be, too. She trotted to
the elevators and examined her chipped nails while waiting for the
doors to open. Stepping onto the elevator, she bumped into a
figure, gasping as she looked up the tall body.
    “Oh uh, Mr. Snow, you scared me. I wasn’t
expecting anyone else to be on here.”
    “Expect the unexpected, ain’t that what they
say?”
    “I guess. I thought I was the last person in
the building.”
    “Not tonight.”
    Cat sank into the corner. Otis’ frame took up
nearly half the elevator and the stench of stale cigarette smoke
filled the rest.
    She broke the awkward silence. “I think you
were here when I came in this morning. That’s a long
day.”
    “Ain’t kidding. You’re one to talk. Weren’t ya
here last night until nine?”
    “Yeah, I just want to make sure everything’s
perfect. I don’t like to leave until I’ve got everything lined up
for the next day.”
    “A real perfectionist, huh?”
    Cat nodded and watched the lights change from
floor to floor. She looked back up at the tall guard. “What keeps
you here so late?”
    “The boss. He runs me like a thoroughbred one
race away from the glue factory.”
    “Oh.”
    “Not that I mind or nothing. Just glad to have
work. Say, what was that all about with Deidre Derhoff
yesterday?”
    “Oh, uh, I don’t really know. I turned around
and there she was, standing in the press box.”
    “I’m sure you figured this out, but she’s
cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.”
    “Well, she just lost her husband. That’d make
anyone a little crazy.”
    “Maybe.” He bent his head down like he was
preparing to tell her a secret. “Between you, me and the elevator,
she never really had a full bowl.”
    The elevator opened on the bottom floor. He
stood up straight, once again towering over her.
    “Well, Red, that’s our stop. Ladies
first.”
    She tossed a smile at the looming guard as she
exited right for the parking lot’s tunnel.
     
    “Oh, the weather outside is frightful
…”
    Cat belted out the Christmas carol in her
off-key voice and hiked up the concrete stairs with her tote bag.
“… And since we’ve no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let
it—”
    She halted upon seeing the door across the
hallway wide open. With a