The naked edge

16

In the office, William pressed buttons on his cell phone, waited, but didn't get a response. Impatient, he stood, left the office, and crossed the communal room to enter the kitchen.

Mrs. Patterson was removing the pie from the oven. Angelo watched her.

"Smells like Thanksgiving," Angelo said.

The phone rang.

William, who disliked pumpkin pie, glanced around at the stainless steel appliances in the otherwise rustic kitchen.

"Get your business done?" Mrs. Patterson asked.

"They're discussing it." William turned his attention to the security monitors on the counter next to him.

The phone rang a second time.

Mrs. Patterson went to the wall next to the refrigerator and lifted the phone off its mount. "Hello?… Hi, Tina. How's little Brian's cold? I've been worried it'll turn into… Hello?… Tina?"

"Problem?" Angelo asked.

"The line went dead."

"Are these men supposed to be on the property?" William inquired.

"What men?" Angelo turned.

"The ones on this television monitor."