Scarlet Angel

Chapter 3: Road Trip

Chapter 3: Road TripMost people regret their pasts. They want to go back to fix bad decisions, take different roads and speak when they chose to stay silent. I don't regret my past. I can't regret what I don't have.

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Scarlett's gaze drifted up the copper and glass sides of the building until it disappeared into the clouds. Her eyes traced the structure's stark lines back down to the sparkling black and silver luxury sedans drifting by on the hot asphalt. She winced at a flash of sunlight reflecting off another skyscraper's sun-tracking panels.

The giant Universal Dynamic Industries logo dominated the cement courtyard of the copper building. The ten-foot-tall, metallic-orange letters, UDI, surrounded an even more massive glass globe.

The cars came to a stop and Scarlett decided it was time to go in. She wove her way through the vehicles. Dozens of people milled about, some standing outside for a smoke, others coming and going from the building. None of the passers-by paid her any attention. She was just another bystander.

Scarlett's stomach twisted as she approached. Logic told her to be calm, that no one inside would remember or know her. Even so, she felt vulnerable. Each breath came only with effort as the scale of the skyscraper threatened to crush her.

Ahead, the gigantic logo warned of the limitless corporate power contained within the building. Bright sunlight reflected off the building's surface and glared down on her. The intense light sent a stab of pain into the back of her skull. The pain vanished as soon as she passed into the shadows.

Inside, the lobby was a model of corporate minimalism. At Scarlett's right sat the main information desk. The rest of the space opened up above for at least three stories. The floor was covered in a black tile flecked with bits of copper. Sparse pieces of metal and leather furniture dotted the waiting area.

An unfamiliar voice drew Scarlett's attention back to the desk. “Can I help you Miss?”

“I'm sorry?” Scarlett's voice was meeker than she intended.

The young, twenty-something man stared at a holodisplay. He sat on a chair perched on a raised platform, putting him at eye-level with her. “I said, 'Can I help you Miss'.”

“I'm, um… I'm looking for someone. I think.”

The clerk rolled his eyes for a second and turned to her. He made no effort to hide his disdain. “Well, are you or aren't you?”

Scarlett c****d her head to the side. “Aren't I what?”

“Are you or aren't you looking for someone? I can't help you if you don't decide.”

She was taken aback and could not find the words to express her confused annoyance.

“What's the person's name?”

Scarlett placed her arms on the chest-high counter. “I'm not sure. I…”

The man's impatience won out and he interrupted her. “I'm sorry Miss, but if you don't know who you are looking for, I cannot help you. If you need help, you can use one of those data terminals over against the far wall.” He raised his arm and pointed.

Scarlett followed the man's direction to a nearby wall with alcoves built into it. Inside each alcove sat a holodisplay console.

“Oh… thank you.”

When she looked back at him, the clerk was already staring back at the floating shapes and letters made of light from his holodisplay.

Scarlett walked across the glossy floor to one of the terminals. Her knuckles became white as she clutched her purse. She reached the small cubicle and set her handbag down on the counter.

Something whirred overhead. She looked up to see a security camera angling down to see her. A shiver ran down Scarlett's back at the thought of someone on the other end of that video feed staring at her. It was clear she had someone's attention.

She swiped at the holographic display, bringing it to life. Something touched her shoulder and she jumped. She spun around and came face to face with a blonde woman a few years older than herself.

The woman stared at Scarlett with wide brown eyes and an open mouth of surprise. “Jill?”

“I'm sorry?”

“Jill McAdams? Where've you been?”

Scarlett stared at the woman, her eyes squinted in confusion. “Um, do you know me?”

“I worked in Data Processing when the accident happened. My God, you look exactly the same, just…” Her eyes squinted and she looked Scarlett up and down. “Much sexier.”

Scarlett was about to ask the woman about Jill McAdams when an image of the overhead camera flashed in her mind. Her heart began to race, but she had no idea why. She had the sudden urge to get out of the building.

“I think you have me mistaken with someone else.”

The woman's surprised expression vanished. Her brow wrinkled in confusion. “Oh. I'm, sorry.”

As if on cue, the security camera whirred again. The more Scarlett thought about it, the more her pulse raced. She knew something was off.

She forced her face to relax and smiled. “Oh, that's okay. I guess I just have one of those faces.”

Scarlett picked up her purse as the woman backed away.

“I guess so.”

Scarlett made her voice as cheery as she could to hide her anxiety. She bid the woman a good day and strolled out of the building. Only when she was outside could she breathe easily again. Something about that definitely felt wrong.

After a deep breath, she fought the crowds on her way back to her car. Ahead, she saw the sign for the garage where she had parked her vehicle.

When she reached the garage, she turned to head up the stairs. Her left foot stepped into the shadow of the building when she felt someone's gaze on her. She scanned the area for anything unusual. From the direction she'd just come, her eyes stopped on a man in a dark suit. He fought his own way through the lunchtime crowds until he looked up at her and stopped.

Everything but the man's face faded away as their eyes locked like hunter and prey. Panic flooded her mind. She snapped back to reality and bounded up the stairwell.

Scarlett's intense workout earlier had left her more drained than she expected. By the time she reached the fifth floor, she could barely breathe. She burst through the metal door and stumbled down the parking ramp. Behind her, she heard feet pounding up the metal stairs.

Her chest heaved and she fell against the side of her small, blue sedan. In her pocket, her fingers found the right button on the vehicle's key. A single chirp echoed through the garage. She flung the door open, plopped down into the seat and slammed the door shut.

The car turned over on the first try. She threw it into reverse and pulled out of the narrow space. Shifting again, her tires squealed and her car lurched forward. She didn't even care about the dent her door left on the car that had been next to her.

In the rear-view mirror, Scarlett saw the dark suited man, bent over trying to breathe. He reached for the side of his head and spoke into an earpiece. She had no idea what the man wanted.

She also had no intention of finding out.

When her heart finally calmed down and she could breathe normally, she parked at the back of the nearest Mackey Burger parking lot. Outside of her car, she paced around with her commpad in hand. She knew she needed to call someone, but had no idea who. She couldn't very well call the police, as technically there was no crime. Cash? No, he'd just tell me to come home. I've got to deal with this myself.

She leaned against the vehicle and looked at her device. Her mind flashed back to the blonde woman. What did she call me? Jill. Jill McAdams.

Scarlett opened the browser on her commpad and did a people-search for 'Jill McAdams.' The listing for Center City came up with no Jills. But it did find one Jillian.

So, I seem to have a name…

She tapped a few more keys and a map to Jillian's address popped up.

And now I have an address.