Something Different

Chapter 2

Chapter 2Friday evening it had taken me almost two hours to get home because I had several stops to make along the way. Finally getting home, I climbed out of my car looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Pulling my dry cleaning out of the car, it suddenly struck me; my briefcase was missing. My mind raced, trying to remember the last place I had seen it. I couldn’t remember seeing it when I had put the dry cleaning into the back seat. That was the first stop I’d made on my way home. And I couldn’t remember seeing it when I had sat the pot of lilies back there I had picked up for my mother for Valentine’s Day. I know, stick your finger down your throat and gag, but I like to give my mom something for Valentine’s Day. Hell, I didn’t have anyone else to share such a wonderful holiday with.

“Damn! I hope I left it at the office!” I yelled at myself, slamming the car door.

I came through the front door just in time to hear someone leaving a message on my answering machine. I grabbed for the phone, hoping to answer it before they hung up.

“Hello, hello, April!” I yelled into the phone.

“Oh, good, you’re home. I was…” April started to say.

“Please tell me my briefcase is at my desk,” I cut her off.

“That’s why I was calling you. I knew you needed it this weekend. I heard you saying you had to get the final figures together for the Andrew account over the weekend,” April said.

“Oh, thank God,” I breathed a sigh of relief. “I was afraid I’d left my car unlocked and someone might have stolen it.”

“Nope, it’s laying right here,” she said. Even over the phone, I could almost hear the big, cheerful smile I knew was on her pretty little face right now. It was almost always there, especially when she was being helpful to someone.

“Fantastic! Are you gonna be there for another thirty or forty minutes, or is there anyone else there to let me in when I get there?” I asked.

“I’m the last one here. I would’ve been gone already, but I was trying to get a hold of you,” she replied.

“Let me think for a minute, I really need that briefcase this weekend,” I said. “I’m trying to think of a safe place for you to hide it, so I could come and get it.”

“Wait a second; don’t you live off Highway 2, just south of town?” April asked.

“Yes, I live in the Forest Glen subdivision,” I replied.

“That’s cool. I go right passed it on my way to my friend’s house. That’s where I’m headed now. I’ll drop it off on my way,” she offered.

“April, you’re a lifesaver. I don’t know how to thank you,” I said.

“How about a cold beer when I get there?” she replied. “That’s what I’m going out to my friends for, we’re gonna drink a few beers and just hang out at her place for the evening. I might as well get a head start on her,” April replied.

“What kind do you drink?” I asked.

“Cold,” she replied.

“Okay, cold cans or cold bottles?” I asked.

“Cold beer, don’t matter what it’s in,” she laughed.

“Okay then, you got it,” I said.

“See you in about thirty minutes,” she said after I had given her my address.

“April, I really appreciate this.”

“Don’t sweat the small stuff, it ain’t any problem. See ya in a few. Bye,” she hung up.