Escape Read Free

team stood in scattered clusters, most looking now at Walter and me.
    “Computers are down,” called one. “Forms are frozen.”
    Walter eyed me. “Did you report this?”
    I pushed my mouthpiece away. “I hadn’t realized there was a problem. I’m working with a claimant.” Adjusting the mouthpiece, I returned to Layla. “There’s a technical glitch here. Can I call you back in a few?”
    “You won’t,” she said defeatedly. “And anyway, I don’t know if I should do this.”
    “You should,” I advised, confident that Walter wouldn’t know what I was saying.
    She gave me her number. I wrote it on a Post-it and ended the call.
    “He should what?” Walter asked.
    “Wait half an hour before going out, so that I can call her back.” I buzzed our technology department.
    “Are you
encouraging
people to file claims?” Walter asked.
    “No. I’m listening. She’s in pain. She needs someone to hear what she’s saying.”
    “Your job is to document everyone who calls and tell them what medical forms we’ll need if they want a piece of the pie. That’s it, Emily. You’re not being paid to be a shrink.”
    “I’m trying to sort through claims so that we know which are legit and which aren’t. This is one way to do it.” When I heard a familiar voice in my headset, I said, “Hey, Todd, it’s Emily. We’re having trouble up here.”
    “Already on it.” He clicked off.
    I relayed the message to Walter, who wasn’t mollified. “How long ’til we’re running again?”
    It was 9:40. I figured we’d lost twenty minutes, thirty max. “Todd is fast.”
    Walter leaned closer. A natty dresser, he never looked ruffled. The only things that ever gave him away were his gray eyes and his voice. Those eyes were rocky now, the voice low and taut. “I’m under pressure, Emily. We were named to manage this settlement only after I personally assured the judge that we could do it quickly and economically. I can’t afford to have my lawyers wasting time holding hands. I’m counting on you to set an example; this is important for your career. Get the facts. That’s it.” With a warning look, he left.
    I should have felt chastised, but all I could think was that if anyone was wasting time, it was the people who called us hoping for help. They wouldn’t get what they deserved; the system was designed to minimize reward. Besides, how did you price out a damaged baby, a ruined life?
    I was telling myself not to be discouraged—to keep avoiding wine and caffeine and always wash my prenatal vitamins down with
good
water—when a crescendoing hum came, spreading from cubicle to cubicle as the computers returned to life. I should have been relieved, but to my horror, my eyes filled with tears. Needing a distraction, even something as frivolous as Vegas talk from Colly’sfriends, I turned when my BlackBerry dinged. It was James. Maybe coming tonight? I wondered with a quick burst of hope.
    Just got a brilliant idea
, he wrote, and for a final minute, still, I believed.
The dinner Sunday night?
That was
his
firm’s dinner.
I want you to do it up big—new dress
,
hair
,
nails
,
the works. I have to work tomorrow anyway
. That would be Saturday, the one day we usually managed a few hours together.
A couple of favors? Pick up my navy suit and my shirts. And my prescription. And get cash for the week. Thanks
,
babe. You’re the best
.
    I scrolled on, thinking there had to be more, because if that was all, I would be livid.
    But that was it.
Thanks
,
babe. You’re the best
.
    Keyboards clicked, voices hummed, electronics dinged, jangled, and chimed, and still, as I stared at the words, I heard James’s voice.
I want you to do it up big—new dress
,
hair
,
nails
,
the works
. Like I needed his permission for this?
    Suddenly it all backed up in my throat like too much bad food—bad marriage, bad work, bad family, friends, feelings—and I couldn’t swallow. Needing air, I grabbed my purse and, as an afterthought,