Page 61 of Unlocked

I'll bet you will.

Carol was one of their most loyal foot soldiers, much like Joshua, and there was something about her cheerful eagerness to report back that had always gotten under Tatum's skin. The gleam in her eye when she thought she had something worth passing along. Tatum avoided her when possible and kept it brief when she couldn't.

"Great. You do that," Tatum said without breaking stride.

She was going to her office first and drinking a cup of coffee before she did anything else. She strolled in, sat down at her desk, and briefly reviewed what her assistant Sam had put in her inbox.

Sam appeared in the doorway a moment later. "I didn't know you were going to be here today."

"Neither did I."

"Oh. It's like that, is it?" Sam gave a short laugh.

"Apparently so." Tatum sighed. "Can you do me a favor and bring me some coffee?"

"Happy to. Oh, and someone brought in doughnuts. Would you like one?"

There was a certain appeal to getting a sugar buzz going to deal with whatever her parents had up their sleeves. "That would be wonderful."

"I'll be back in a few." Sam breezed out again.

Tatum thanked her lucky stars for the day she'd hired Sam. Sam knew what she was doing, got things done without fuss, and had never once reported back to Bunny, or hovered, or made loaded comments about Tatum's life choices. Right now, that was worth more than gold.

Sam also had contacts everywhere and could dig up things that made Tatum profoundly grateful on a regular basis. In return, Tatum made sure to give her raises whenever possible and bonuses that were larger than most.

Tatum ran quickly through what was on her desk. Nothing urgent. She sent a few emails and was just jotting a note to herself about one of her outstanding cases when Sam walked back in.

"Coffee. Doughnut." Sam held up each hand as she said the words.

"Awesome. I was just about to write the letter for the Maguire case. Give me a sec."

"You can dictate it while you eat. Sound good?"

Tatum nodded. "Sounds perfect."

Sam put the coffee and doughnut on the desk and disappeared, returning a moment later with her notepad and pen.

"It still amazes me that you prefer to take dictation like this," Tatum commented, taking a bite of the honey-glazed doughnut. Her favorite.

Sam laughed. "I spent years learning it. I'm not wasting that skill."

"Fair enough." Tatum took a hit of caffeine and got her thoughts in order. She dictated the letter in no time, then leaned back in her chair and took a second bite of the doughnut.

Sam closed her notebook. "Your parents are waiting."

"They can wait," Tatum responded. Although, just the thought of them waiting ratcheted up her anxiety. The doughnut sat a little funny in her belly. She was determined to enjoy it anyway. She was done hopping to it.

"Do anything fun this weekend?" she asked Sam. "Anything new?"

"I went out to dinner with some friends," Sam said. "Brooklyn. The food was divine, but the service left a lot to be desired. The waitress seemed to be having an off day."

"That happens." Tatum popped the last of the doughnut into her mouth.

"Yeah," Sam agreed. "You know who I saw though? Josh."

"In Brooklyn?" Tatum asked.

"Yeah. Not in person, mind you. His picture was on the wall at the restaurant. It's a new trendy place that has pictures of locals spread across this one wall."