NRPG: Jeff's post came through just as I was about to send this. I thought about just rewriting, but decided against it. (I spent too long trying to figure out what to write in the first place!) It contradicts a lot, but I guess that just means that Amanda's a liar. Gee, what a shock! ;)
RPG:
>Jordan closed his cell phone and put it back in his coat. >Turning to Zenya, he told her about what Martin had just >said about Leo's apartment building and the explosion. >Before she could say anything in return, the guard returned >to tell them that they could go up to see Amanda Ericsson >now.
This meeting with Amanda didn't seem quite so urgent now. As they walked toward her office, it was just about the last thing on Zenya's mind. Of course, she knew that Leo was too good at what he did to get caught in one of Rebecca's traps. At least, she would assume he was unless she learned otherwise.
"Damn that little bitch," she muttered.
Jordan glanced at her harshly, but if the receptionist heard her, she didn't let on.
>They followed her down a corridor and up a flight of stairs. >Amanda's office was set at the back of the building over >looking a small pond. The sign by her door said "Amanda >Ericsson - Director of R&D." It was also unoccupied.
>"Any idea where Ms. Ericsson is?" Jordan asked.
>"She's in a meeting at the moment," the young woman >consulted her watch, "She should be out in a few minutes."
Zenya's first impression of the office was probably exactly what was intended. From plush carpeting to gleaming burgundy leather chairs down to a little desktop zen rock garden from the Sharper Image catalog, everything was designed to impress upon visitors that this was the office of a very successful person within a very successful company. But setting that image aside, it virtually screamed insecurity. Zenya guessed that Amanda Ericsson was using all the trappings of success to convince not just her visitors, but also herself, of her importance. But then, she had to admit that she was predisposed to have a low opinion of the woman.
"How does a girl who barely passed high school algebra wind up the director of research and development in a major corporation," Zenya observed as soon as the receptionist left the office.
"Nepotism," Jordan said. "But you would think they would want someone in the position who was capable of doing the job. Maybe she has hidden talents."
"Judging from what I've heard, she has one talent, and she doesn't keep it hidden." Zenya circled the desk to inspect a row of photographs on the credenza. "No pictures of the Crosses," she said. "I would have thought there would at least be one of Rebecca."
Jordan muttered an affirmative sound. Zenya glance back over her shoulder at him. He was leafing through a folder, the front of which was emblazoned with the Crosstech logo.
"Something interesting?"
"Take a look at this." Zenya stepped closer and looked. "It's the minutes of a shareholder's meeting," he said. "Notice anything?"
"Just about everyone at that meeting was either an Ericsson or a Cross. Is Crosstech a publicly held corporation?"
"Yes, it is. Can I help you with something?"
Jordan and Zenya looked up, startled. Amanda was standing in the doorway, arms folded, looking indignant.
"Ms. Ericsson," Jordan said. He closed the report and put it back on the desk. "I'm Agent Stern and this is�"
"I know who you are." She swept past them and sat down at her desk. "Now, what do you want?"
"Information about Rebecca Cross," Zenya said.
For some reason, that question seemed to have a calming effect on Amanda. Her posture relaxed noticeably and the defensive expression on her face softened. "That's all? I can tell you everything I know about her in one word. Nothing."
"You're related to her, aren't you," Jordan asked.
"Of course. You were looking at that report. Figure it out yourself. Just about everyone involved in this company is related." She laughed ruefully. "Hell, the Crosses and the Ericssons have been intermarrying for so long, its a wonder we don't all have tails. Keep the power in the family and all that."
"And yet you don't know anything about Rebecca."
"Just enough to know not to ask too many questions, Agent Gorky. But that's not what you really want to know, is it? Look, I didn't know what she was planning. She said get close to him, so I did. She said not to use my real name, so I didn't." Amanda smiled. There was something decidedly evil in that smile. "Of course, if you could hold on to your man, Becca's little plan would never have worked."
Zenya tightened her grip on the arm of her chair, but didn't allow her face to betray any hint of the anger she was feeling.
"So you admit to knowing what Rebecca had planned," Jordan asked.
"It wasn't too hard to put the pieces together after the fact."
"But you didn't come forward with your story."
"Right, I go to the police, and then I'm next on Becca's list. I don't think so."
"But you're telling us. Why?"
Amanda shrugged. "Call it a guilty conscience."
I doubt that, Zenya thought. "What's in it for you?"
"I have a secret desire to see Rebecca go away for a very long time," she whispered conspiratorially. "Then again, maybe I just don't care anymore."
"And maybe she told you exactly what she wanted you to tell us."
"Ooh, that's a good one. But sorry, I haven't talked to her for three or four days. No, the truth is, I can't tell you anything that you don't already know, so why keep my mouth shut? I can sit here and spill my guts all day, and you won't know anything more than when you came in."
-----
NRPG:
Oy! Writer's block! I've been trying to get this post past this point for twenty-four hours, and haven't been able to! Guess it's time to give up on it. Back over to you, Alton!
**Disclaimer** My mind is so fragmented by random excursions into a wilderness of abstractions and incipient ideas that practical purposes of the moment are often submerged in my consciousness and I don't know what I'm doing.