Last Man's Head Read Free Page A

coffee.’
    He froze, with a hurt look on his face, then not saying another word, turn ed and shambled away.
    ‘Well done, you,’ said Stella, Monica’s colleague. They both laughed, Gabrielle joining in.
    For the next half an hour, the three of them chatted. Chatted and laughed about the firm, about their jobs, their families, until Gabrielle noticed a few people the other side of the room preparing to leave.
    ‘I think it’s my turn to say goodbye,’ she said, standing up. ‘Sorry.’
    ‘Don’t apologise, honey,’ said Monica. ‘I’m leaving soon. I’ve always hated these office receptions.’
    ‘Me too,’ added Stella. ‘If the big boys want to celebrate closing a big contract, why don’t they go celebrate? No need to keep us here longer than we need to be. See you in the morning, Gabrielle.’
    Gabrielle said her goodbyes, visited the restroom, and then picked up her coat and bag. Much to her dismay, as she made her way to the door, she was caught by Lance Smart again.
    ‘Why are you leaving so soon?’ he asked, leaning against the door frame.
    ‘I’m tired, and need to go home,’ she said walking off to the elevator. He stood up and followed her.
    ‘Bu t the night’s so young,’ he smirked as she punched the elevator call button. ‘I was hoping we could have another drink here, then head back to my penthouse for a nightcap.’
    ‘Er – I don’t think so, Lance.’
    To her relief, the elevator doors opened. She quickly stepped in and hit the P2 button, praying that he would not follow her.
    ‘Well, that’s your loss,’ he said, chasing the remaining gap in the doors as they slid shut.
    ‘I’ll try to get by,’ she called out as the doors closed and the elevator took her from her office on the 15th floor to the second basement level parking garage.
    There were no stops on the journey past sixteen floors and after a minute the doors slid open. Gabrielle stepped out.
    The garage was around a quarter full, the remaining cars presumably belonging to the people still at the LaVerne & Marshall reception. Gabrielle felt a little uneasy: the place felt deserted, creepy. Her vehicle was parked at the far end, three spaces away from one of the whitewashed wall. She started to walk over, a little faster than usual.
    As she approached a concrete column, she thought she could hear voices from around the column. Speaking quietly. She stopped walking. The voices stopped. Nervously, she fumbled in her bag and got out her keys. Held the key out and pressed the unlock button. There was a click from the end of that row of cars and the lights on her Mini Hardtop flashed as the doors unlocked. Relieved, she broke into a run.
    ‘Good night, Gabrielle,’ a woman’s voice called out. Gabrielle skidded to a halt and turned round. The voice came from the other side of the column. She breathed a sigh of relief as she saw, sitting on the hood of the black sedan, her skirt hitched up to her waist, Melody from Accounts. Standing facing her was a young guy who Gabrielle thought worked as an assistant to one of the partners. She laughed, partly out of relief, and partly as now she knew why they wanted to leave the party early.
    ‘Night,’ she smiled, and turned to walk to her car. Melody and the guy remained frozen: obviously they were going to let Gabrielle drive away before they continued.
    Gabrielle had only taken two steps when she heard a cry – a man’s cry – and a dull thumping noise. It was coming over from the other side of the place.
    ‘What the hell -?’ Melody’s partner muttered. He stepped back and pulled up his pants. Melody adjusted her clothing and got off the sedan.
    ‘Is anybody there?’ Melody cried out, as she, the guy and Gabrielle slowly and cautiously stepped over to where they thought the sound had come from.
    ‘You there,’ the guy called out. ‘You some kind of freaking perv-’
    He was stopped mid-sentence as Melody screamed. Gabrielle gasped and put her hand over her