Game Changers, Add One Then Two and Everything Changes

By B.L Wilson

Deanna Jones, a transportation director for the city, stamps an indelible impression on her new boss when she makes a pass at her before Deanna is introduced. From there, it is all downhill for Deanna, who cannot stop bumping heads with Deputy Commissioner Amanda Taylor.

The two women continue take potshots at each other every time they come within range, sniping about lost furniture, bad manners, and dressing and acting professional. Matters come to a head when a brawl ensues in the basement over expansion into a much-needed storage space and Deanna wades in to mediate.

Can a nearly forty-year-old, womanizing director of transportation swear off women long enough to raise her thirteen-year-old niece? Can a deputy commissioner fresh from a bad divorce tame the director of transportation? Will these two women be able to work together without losing their jobs or their minds? Find out in Game Changers, one then add two and everything changes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.L Wilson
• Release date: Dec 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463598771

B.L Wilson

B.L. has always been in love with books and the words in them. She never thought she could create something with the words she knew. When she read ‘To Kill A Mocking Bird,’ she realized everyday experiences could be written about in a powerful, memorable way. She wasn’t quite sure what to do with that knowledge so she kept on reading.Walter Mosley’s short stories about Easy Rawlins and his friends encouraged BL to start writing in earnest. She felt she had a story to tell...maybe several of them. She’d always kept a diary of some sort, scraps of paper, pocketsize, notepads, blank backs of agency forms, or in the margins of books. It was her habit to make these little notes to herself. She thought someday she’d make them into a book.She wrote a workplace memoir based on the people she met during her 20 years as a property manager of city-owned buildings. Writing the memoir, led her to consider writing books that were not job-related. Once again, she did...producing romance novels with African American lesbians as main characters. She wrote the novels because she couldn’t find stories that matched who she wanted to read about ...over forty, African American and female.

Book preview

LULU IS IN JAIL

Deanna pressed the elevator button while in deep thought. Elaine was right. She should disappear before the witch caught her here and finished her long-winded lecture. She nodded to several other employees as she stepped onto the elevator, wondering who arranged for Lulu’s disappearance. It sounded like an inside job, but who would do that? It had been a long time since she’d had a disagreement with anybody in the agency. It couldn’t be revenge for something she did, could it? She usually had people complimenting her and her staff on the good jobs they’d done, not reporting her to the police impound unit.

As for traffic agents, she knew most of them in the neighborhood. She’d wisely befriended them, allowing them to use her private office to change into their street clothes. She let them store their equipment and personal items there too. She did it because she liked them. She understood what a tough job they had to do. If she had to listen to motorists complaining, cussing, and threatening bodily harm, she’d probably have wound up in jail because she was certain she’d assault one of the complainers.

Her generosity had a side benefit. The traffic agents and their coworkers had never ticketed or towed Lulu in the five years she’d been parking in the agency’s sidewalk slots. She didn’t think Lulu’s tow had anything to do with her friends in traffic control. She decided to ask around the neighborhood just in case.

She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples as in pain. Damn it! She hoped the tow operator knew how to tow a bike. The last time tow operators towed Lulu from a city street, she had to take her back to the shop to work on the wheel alignment and the brakes. The idiot tow operator damaged both with his hookup and tow.

Of course, the city wasn’t willing to pay for any of the damages their tow had caused. Instead, they sent a politely worded letter reminding her that, as a scofflaw, they weren’t responsible for any damages incurred while removing an illegally parked vehicle. In their closing remarks, they added that, as a city worker, she should know better than to park illegally. Then the letter hinted if a similar incident happened a second time, she could incur disciplinary action from her own agency. She learned later how the city kept of lists of city employees with licensed vehicles in each agency. They cross-referenced existing unpaid traffic tickets with the list. It was easy to pull out her name and review her scofflaw record.

What would her baby look like now after the tow?

If I ever find out who called it in, I’m killing them right after I make them pay the fees and fines, Deanna decided as she stepped off the elevator and strode through basement, making a left, going around two corners heading to her office, when a loud baritone voice stopped her journey.

Hey, Dee, they got Lulu, huh? How’re you getting home tonight?

Deanna stopped walking to glance into the center of her world, a double-sized, large mailroom. One side of the room contained six cubicles for her staff. The cubicles were one-piece workstations with desks and chairs attached. Each station also had a computer assigned to it. There was a master computer off to the side in the front corner of the room that anyone with the proper passwords could use to track packages from UPS, Fed-Ex, and the post office. Next to the master computer was a large standalone all-in-one printer that could easily spit out thousands of copies in minutes. Several shopping carts full of bulky packages sat next to the master computer.

Along two back walls of the mailroom were a variety of bins containing packages, letters, small and large interoffice envelopes, incoming and outgoing mail. Stacks of unsorted or undelivered mail and packages overflowed the two large canvas bins on wheels and another outsized shopping cart as the mail always did at the beginning of the workweek. Next to the bins on a third wall sat mail-sorting stations. The sorting stations consisted of dozens of cubbyhole slots that corresponded to the different divisions, units, and sections within the agency.

Deanna pushed on the waist-high, double-wide half doors and stepped inside the mailroom. A half-grin lit her face. Yeah, Herman, Lulu got towed, she remarked. She walked over to a small man in a wheelchair sitting in front of a blinking computer screen inside one of the workstations.

Herman pointed to a picture of a 1970 Harley Davidson motorcycle posted on the wall of his cubicle and then grinned at Deanna. Damn it! I was gonna ask you for a ride on her tonight. Guess I’ll have to take Access-a-ride again.

Deanna gave him a slight shove with her elbow and chuckled. Yeah, well, when I get her out of jail, the ride is yours to take any time, Herm. Just say the word.

Who ratted on you, Dee? Herman asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. It had to be somebody who doesn’t like you much. He frowned as he studied her. I can’t think of any candidates. Can you? He watched her shake her head. He motioned her closer then whispered in her ear as she leaned closer. You aren’t dating anybody here at the office, are you? You know how shitty women get when they find out you’re dating more than one of ‘em at the same time.

Deanna groaned. Christ, Herman, are you ever gonna let me forget that shit? She sighed, thinking about the two Gordon sisters. They were secretaries working for two different divisions of the agency. She thought she was safe with her mack daddy shit. One sister, the younger chubby one named Patty, worked in a field office and rarely came into headquarters. The older sister, GG, worked for one of the assistant commissioners here at headquarters. She was a size or two smaller than her sister was but just as cute and just as sexy. Everything was going well with them. For six months, the sisters didn’t know they were both dating her.

They didn’t discover her duplicity until they both decided to have lunch with her on the same day. Each sister wanted the other sister to meet her sexy new friend at lunchtime. Deanna couldn’t think of a decent way to avoid them finding out about each other that day. She was growing tired of lying to them too. It didn’t help matters that Elaine refused to lie to the sisters on her behalf. She claimed it was about time her big ass learned to be straight with the women she screwed. Then Elaine told her to let the chips fall where they may.

The chips fell all right and damned near cost her job. The two women got into a catfight in the mailroom of all places. They grabbed boxes, letters, packages … anything not nailed down… and started throwing them at each other and her. They snatched up whatever paperwork they could get their hands on, tore them into pieces, and threw the shit in her face. They cussed at her in front of Herman, who rarely went out for lunch, and several staff members from another division who happened to be dropping off mail.

The Inspector General’s unit had a field day with that one incident. Both sisters had pay fines. They had to go for anger management counseling and suffer probation for a year. Patty quit before the year was up and GG left several years later. Meanwhile, because she was a supervisor and should have known better, she almost lost her job. Jerry Henderson stuck up for her and saved her job. She received a large fine and lost vacation days. The agency demoted her too. Jerry and her union rep worked out a deal with the investigators. The agency put her demotion on hold for the next eighteen months. No more incidents meant she could keep her job, her rank, and her pension. She remembered living like a monk. For eighteen months, she didn’t look at another woman. She didn’t screw another woman. She didn’t think about screwing another woman. It was the second hardest time in her life. But she kept the job she liked a great deal.

A laughing baritone interrupted her train of thought.

Herman chuckled. I was kind of hoping for an encore. Most excitement I’ve seen round the mailroom in many a year. He patted his chest with a broad hand. Got my old ticker pumping something fierce that day!

Grinning too, Deanna stood up from Herman’s desk then reached out to squeeze his shoulder. Sorry to disappoint you, Dude, but I’m behaving myself in that area of my life. She thought about the two sleepy women she had to wake up and send home in a cab several minutes after Elaine’s call this morning. She exhaled when she caught Herman studying her with a disbelieving expression. Well, almost behaving. At least they weren’t sisters. They knew about each other too. They also loved what the three of us did together, Herm.

Herman hooted so hard that tears formed in the corners of his eyes and threatened to fall. That’s TMI, but it’s more like the Dee I know. He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his eyes. I heard through the grapevine security might know more about who done Lulu wrong and where she can be found. New guard had to direct traffic around the dirty deed this morning while you were meeting with that new deputy commissioner. He watched Deanna’s eyes narrow.

Don’t remind me.

I take it your first one-on-one meeting with her didn’t go so well, huh?

Why did Jerry retire? Just when I need him, he goes and retires.

Seems to me he ran interference and helped you keep your job when the Gordon sisters damned near did you in, Dee! What more can you ask?

Deanna sighed as she looked around the nearly empty room, rubbing her chin. Yeah, yeah, I know, but I miss the hell out of him. I bet Lulu would be where I parked her if he was here. Is Jose in yet? How about Franklin, Leonard, and Willie; are they coming in today?

Jose went to deliver something to the commissioner. So far, nobody called in sick or otherwise.

Let me know in the next thirty, Herm. I’ll come help sort and deliver. It looks like we got a lot left over from last week.

Yeah, we do, but we can handle it if they show up this morning. I heard some other changes are in the works too. Your other half is supposed to be making some moves this week.

Deanna groaned. God, why did the powers that be saddle me with that moving crew?

Herman grinned and held out a hand, spreading his fingers far apart. Well, let’s see. Can we count the reasons? No other division wanted them. They’re never around when you need them. They take time off when they feel like it. They don’t complete their assignments without hassles. They get into fights with staff members. Nobody wants them because they’re screwups. We’re screwups too. It makes sense they’d appoint you Queen of the Screwups. After each statement, he turned down a finger until his hand formed a fist.

My division, this unit…we’re not screwups. We may be a bit slow. We may be a little hard of hearing. Maybe we can’t see as well as we’d like and we’re not as fast on our feet. We do manage to get the job done. That’s not a definition of a screwup.

Raising his hands in surrender, he said Okay, okay, I take it all back, Dee.

Deanna sighed. Speaking of movers, got any idea where Wainwright, the Bobs, and Gomez are?

Oh, probably off taking a smoke break or sharing some of that golden nectar of the gods.

Deanna groaned then pressed her palms to her temples as if she had a headache. Jesus Christ! It’s way too early in the morning for that! They’d better not be doing that shit on my watch.

Hey, hey, Dee, calm down. Go check out the loading dock then go see security about Lulu. I should know something about Fab Five by the time you get back here.

Deanna shrugged. Thanks, Herm, she remarked over a shoulder as she pushed the half door open and stepped outside into the hallway.

Dee?

Yeah?

Walk slow, real slow to security, huh?

Deanna grinned. I gotcha, Herm. I might stop for a coffee. Want anything from the concession stand across the street?

Yeah, a date with the sexy lady who pours the coffee.

Deanna laughed. I’ll see what I can do, Herm.

I knew you would, Dee.

IT’S ONLY MONDAY BUT IT FEELS LIKE FRIDAY ALREADY

After her executive assistant pulled the door to her office closed, Amanda rose to pace around her new office. She was annoyed the surly Jones woman had escaped her clutches once again. She sighed. She promised herself that she wouldn’t prejudge anyone in this new job. She needed to do something, anything to take her mind away from the morning’s incident in front of the elevator and then meeting her nemesis again in the office. Hands on broad hips, she stopped in front of the large picture windows in her office to watch the late morning traffic moving slowly across the bridge heading to Brooklyn. She stared at the pedestrians jogging, walking, and riding bikes as they crossed the bridge in the opposite direction. She wondered who they were meeting on the Manhattan side of the bridge.

She glanced at her watch, thinking if any of the bridge people worked here at her agency, they’d be officially late since it was almost noon. Walking across this bridge was a wonderful way to exercise in the early morning hours, she mused, then broke out laughing at the ridiculous sight of a man in a tuxedo. She looked again. Nope, there were three men wearing black and gray tuxedos and top hats scrambling across the bridge. Two minutes later, one veiled bride in a long white formal gown hitched up her gown to her knees, letting bright red sneakers show as she raced to catch up with the three men who were now at the end of the bridge. Two women in pale pink long formal gowns and white sneakers followed closely behind the bride. They pulled up their gowns to run as they struggled to catch up with her.

Good luck with that, she murmured, arms crossed as she turned away from the windows but not before another movement caught her eye. She looked down below her window underneath the bridge, noting the bright golden-yellow and blue vendor cart. Still watching, she saw a solid-looking woman casually strolling toward it. She leaned closer to the tinted glass, squinting at first and then frowning as she thought she recognized a denim-covered backside and beige work boots.

I don’t believe it! She’s going to buy something from the food cart. That’s what was so urgent, huh? A hand naturally went to rest on one of her hips while the other hand stroked her chin as her foot tapped a machine-gun beat against the carpeted floor. She waited at the window until the tall, solid-looking woman at the vendor cart paid for two cups of something then turned around to cross the street again. This time, she saw the woman’s face full on. Okay, Jonesy, you want to play hard ball? I’m down with that too! I can hardly wait to hear you explain the nature of your personal emergency at tomorrow’s one-on-one.

She strode over to her desk and made a note to ask Elaine about the area the Jones woman ran. She’d do a little research on her own as well before her conference with the woman in the morning. Oh yes, two can play this game, Jonesy. You’ll see just how well I can play, she muttered as she sat down in the uncomfortably low leather chair. She turned it around several times to adjust its seat to accommodate her long legs and then tugged at the gear handle underneath the seat. She sighed when the handle twisted off in her hand.

Doesn’t anything work around here? she muttered, giving the chair a hard shove then watching as it hit the corner of her desk with a satisfying thud. She strode to the door, yanking it open in time to see that her executive assistant’s chair and desk were empty. It wasn’t the most comforting sight in the world when she needed somebody to fix her chair or replace the darned thing.

Ms. Lopez? Ah, Elaine, where are you? she called out to the empty reception area. Okay, so unless she’s invisible, she’s obviously not here.

Maybe she was hiding in the bathroom after giving the Jones woman that so-called urgent message. She remembered the body language between the two women when Elaine interrupted the conference. She’d bet dollars to donuts they were friends. The thought crossed her mind that this was a ploy arranged between the two women get the Jones woman out of her office. If there was such a plot, what could she do but keep an eye on the situation? She spotted the open door to the hallway and wondered if she should track down her assistant. How would it make her look? Second week on the job, she was tracking down her executive assistant. It would look like she was micromanaging her staff, that’s how!

She turned around and walked back to her office. She glared at her broken chair, wanting to kick it hard, but the pumps she wore would allow her toes to feel it. Instead of battling the chair, she knelt, bracing one hand against the desk and the other on the chair’s arm to examine the broken gear shaft. She grabbed the gear handle from the blotter on her desk and tried to screw it back onto the chair’s shaft. Every time she thought she’d screwed the handle in place, the darned thing fell off, making a pinging noise as it hit the chair leg then bounced off to the ground.

Ms. Taylor, I mean Deputy Commissioner Taylor? Why don’t you let me fix that for you? Elaine remarked, standing by the desk.

Startled, Amanda raised up quickly to look and nearly hit her head on the desk’s edge. She patted the thundering heart in her chest. Jesus! You nearly gave me a heart attack. Wear a bell or something. I didn’t hear you coming.

Jerry used to say the same thing, Deputy Commissioner Taylor.

Amanda studied the gentle, wistful expression on the beige face above her. She wondered what brought it on, but she wasn’t interested enough to inquire. Please call me Amanda, Ms. Lopez. I’m sure I’ll have more than enough people calling me by my title than I can shake a stick at.

Yes, Ma’am. I’ll try to remember that.

Amanda sighed as she studied Elaine’s friendly, open face framed by dark shoulder-length curly hair. Once again, she thought how attractive her executive assistant was, then quickly reminded herself she didn’t date subordinates in her old job. She wasn’t about to start anything here. That goes for the ma’am part too. Calling me ‘Ma’am’ makes me feel old as the hills, Ms. Lopez. I order you to stop doing it, okay?

Yes, Ma’am, I mean, yes, Amanda.

Amanda turned back to the job at hand of trying to force the handle back onto the shaft. She shoved the handle onto the shaft, missing the mark and stabbing the fleshy part of her palm in the process. Ouch! Damn it, that hurt! she yelped, yanking her hand away to suck on the jagged wound in her palm.

Elaine hurried around the desk. Let’s see it. She tugged Amanda’s hand away from her mouth to examine the pink ragged edges of the wound quickly flooding with blood. Hmm, it looks a little deep. I hope you won’t need stitches. She pulled a hanky from her suit pocket and pressed it into the wound, making Amanda flinch. Sorry about that. Just keep applying pressure on it. We should go wash it off in the restroom down the hallway.

Amanda frowned as she pulled away to look at her wounded hand. I’m okay. You stay and cover the phones. I’m sure it’s just a cut. It won’t need stitches. She watched as a look of concern swept across Elaine’s features. Don’t worry so much. I’m sure it’s just a superficial cut. While I’m gone, why don’t you check on the status of my furniture? Maybe it’s finally here in the building somewhere. She watched Elaine’s face brighten as she walked to the door between her office and the reception area.

Yes, Ma’am, I mean, Amanda. I’ll do that right away. I know just who to call too.

Elaine reached for the phone just as it rang. Deputy Commissioner Taylor’s office. Elaine speaking. How may I help you today?

Is she within broom range, El?

Elaine giggled softly, knowing her boss was well out of hearing range. Are you a mind reader or something, Dee? I was just about to call you.

Want to have lunch outside today? I’m buying. Deanne took another sip of the fresh coffee and licked her lips, wanting more as she walked back into the lobby. She stopped to juggle her coffee and Herman’s cup in one hand and her ID card in the other as she passed through security swiping her card into the reader. She watched as several visitors dumped their bags, keys, money, and other metal objects on the conveyer belt as they prepared to go through one of two metal detectors. Then they had to sign the visitors’ log and wait for one of her coworkers. She hated all the added security steps her agency had taken since 9-11. She didn’t feel the least bit more secure as she walked to the elevator that would take her to the basement.

Nope, I’m too busy with paperwork. I need a favor.

Christ! How much paperwork can the broom-riding gremlin create? She just got here.

Oh, she seems to love charts, stats, spreadsheets, calendars … stuff like that. Elaine sat down and hunched over the phone to whisper as her eyes darted around the room. Her gaze focused on the door as she wondered how much time she had before her boss returned. She’s not such a witch, Dee. She seems nice. She even asked me to call her Amanda.

That’s not a big deal. You called Jerry by his first name all the time.

Yes, well, Jerry is special. I mean, he was special.

Christ, he’s not dead, El. He just retired at the wrong time.

Elaine sighed. When is the right time, in your expert opinion?

I don’t know, but not now, when I need him to run interference with her.

I think maybe I can help with that.

Great! Tell her I can’t make that meeting tomorrow or any other time, for that matter. I’ve got better things to do than wear suits and act like management. As she muttered, she heard Elaine giggle. Hey? What’s so funny?

I can’t do that and you know it, Deanna Jones! Every assistant commissioner and their directors need to meet with her about their unit’s responsibilities and staffing. You just happen to be one of the first. That’s all. Unless something else happened I don’t know about, Dee. She listened to the silence on the other end of the line. Dee? The low buzzing of the background noise grew louder. I know you’re there, Dee, cuz I can hear you breathing. What did you do?

Deanna cleared her throat. Why does it always have to be me who did something? Maybe she did something to me. She listened to Elaine’s sudden, loud intake of breath. She could imagine Elaine’s dark eyes growing serious as her mouth turned down into a frown.

Oh God. You didn’t hit on her, did you? I mean you didn’t try to mack the deputy commissioner her second week here, did you?

Deanna decided not to answer Elaine’s question immediately. Thinking back to the elevator incident this morning, she sighed.

Deanna remembered glancing at a very attractive woman in a business suit. The woman was pacing in front of the elevator panel in the nearly empty lobby. When she strode over to press the button rapidly three times, Deanna noticed how well-tailored the light gray linen and silk suit was. The suit fit the woman like a quality pair of leather gloves. It was smooth and snug in certain places while being comfortably flexible and keeping its shape. She knew the suit was mixture of linen and silk because she knew fabrics. She used to make all her own clothes eons ago. That kind of fabric knowledge stayed with a person forever.

She studied the woman’s long, shapely legs as she pranced impatiently back and forth in front of the stainless-steel panel like a nervous filly or maybe a thoroughbred racehorse. The woman kept pressing the button like a maniac... three times, then another three, and so on. Deanna bet she thought her vicious actions on the button would make the elevator arrive quicker. Even so, Deanna liked what she saw. Nice, she remembered thinking. Very nice legs I wouldn’t mind getting better acquainted with. What she could see of the woman’s upper torso looked impressive too. More than a sweet handful, she mused. She wondered how to let the anxious woman know how truly great she looked in the gray pinstripe suit with the matching gray heels and briefcase. The woman looked like she might appreciate subtle hints as opposed to loud wolf whistles and harsh catcalls. Do you really think that helps?

What’s that? the woman’s quiet voice asked without turning around to face her. She had an accent. Was it southern?

That button you keep pressing as if your life depended on it. You must have pressed it a dozen times. One good punch is usually enough, Deanna remarked, reaching around the woman’s shoulder to demonstrate and encircling her. See? Do it like this. She pressed the button once as she moved close enough to catch a citrus and berry scent emanating from the woman’s hair, or maybe it was her skin. She inhaled deeply, thinking how the subtle mixture of fruits smelled delicious and nearly confessed her thoughts aloud.

The woman in the business suit that fit just right stepped quickly away from the almost-embrace to turn completely around. Annoyed mink-brown eyes examined Deanna from her dreadlocked hair down to her baggy blue denim shirt covering a stark white T-shirt, then moved on to her favorite pair of well-worn, faded blue jeans, and stopped at scuffed honey-colored work boots. Do you work here? a voice pitched low asked as dark eyes continued to appraise her clothes. Because if you do, unless you mop floors or repair cars, what you’re wearing is not appropriate attire for a city worker in my shop. I expect folks around here to dress and act professionally. Understand?

Surprised, Deanna’s eyes widened as she studied the woman’s face, noting the anger in her dark eyes. Then she wondered why the woman looked vaguely familiar. She knew that face from somewhere. She couldn’t place it. Ah, so you must be somebody important, she decided quickly. Okay, you’re very impatient, but you’re also very rude. The woman’s last words stuck in her mind. My shop, a city worker in my shop should dress appropriately. She studied the woman’s face as a sharp sliver of recognition stabbed her hard in the gut, which she tried not to show. Oh shit, there’s a new deputy commissioner, the new … she’s her? She cleared her throat. I, um …You looked like you needed help. I thought that I could … help.

The elevator door opened. The new deputy commissioner turned around abruptly and stepped aboard the elevator in the middle of her weak-ass explanation. She held the door open then examined Deanna again for what felt like an eternity with dark probing eyes. If I were you, she snapped, I’d try hard not to see me again until I, meaning you, went home and changed into something more appropriate for the business world. The door closed before Deanna could respond with, Well, you ain’t me, so get to stepping! or something even more profane such as a mid-finger wiggle.

Earth to Dee, earth to Dee. Tell me what you did.

Deanna groaned at the chattering Blackberry in her hands as she sat down at her desk. She leaned back in her chair, resting her head against a back wall. I’m right here. I didn’t go anywhere, El, and no, I didn’t try to make nice with that woman! You heard how she treated me in her office. It’s not the way a potential lover wins me over. I’m trying to stay as far away from her as I can. Anyway, since you turned down my lunch invitation, what do you want?

Elaine sighed, wondering how to ask for what she needed now. You probably aren’t going to like this, she warned.

I trust you, so how bad could it be? Ask me anything.

Okay, as the director of shipping and related stuff, could you call over to the warehouse and see if deputy commissioner’s boxes arrived yet? She’s getting really antsy about her things.

Humph! The broom-riding witch deserves all the hurt she gets in this life.

Aw, come on, Dee, just one call. Make those magic fingers walk over the phone buttons and punch in the digits to the warehouse and then use that sexy deep-throated voice to find her stuff. Elaine’s voice dropped to a whisper when she heard footsteps, the click of heels growing louder. Do it for me. I’ll find out where Lulu is for you. Dee, she’s coming back. I gotta go.

Doing that would help me exactly how? Anyway, I can find the impound unit myself. El? Not hearing a response, Deanna sat up in her chair, frowning at the phone in her hand. Elaine? Oh no, you didn’t hang up on me! A thumb hovered over the Blackberry’s tiny keyboard, debating whether to hit redial at the same time she heard squeaking wheels, then tapping on her doorframe. She sighed and looked up at Herman, pushing the coffee across the desk toward him. I think it’s still hot.

Mind if I roll in and sit down, Dee?

Deanna studied Herman as he sat in his wheelchair waiting outside her office. Ha, ha, very funny, Herm. You’re already sitting down. Maybe I’d better ask you to stand when you enter a lady’s office.

You show me the lady and I’ll be sure and stand up for her, Herman added with a trace of humor as he pushed his wheelchair through the open door then stopped in front of her desk,. He studied her wide grin. Bet ya that was Elaine asking you to call the warehouse again, huh?

God, you are as nosy as an old alley cat searching the trash for her next meal.

No, I’m not! It’s the thin walls between you and me. I can hear darned near anything I want. Herman grabbed the still hot coffee cup and held it up in salute. Thanks for this, Dee. It’s just what I needed.

Yeah, yeah, what’s up, Herm? Did the Fab Five come to work yet?

Well, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Dee. After a moment of silence, Herman pointed to the flat-screen monitor on her desk. Pull up today’s schedule. I want to see how much damage gets done if none of ‘em show up today. He watched her type in a password; pull up MS Outlook then email and click on the calendar." When she clicked on today’s date, a list of appointments showed up and a fifteen-minute appointment reminder blinked at the bottom of the screen.

She and Herman squinted at the monitor. Ah shit, Herm. We have fifteen minutes to find a way to move a desk, a bookcase, a conference table, and two chairs from the third floor up to six. He pointed to several other appointments on the calendar. Also looks like we got a shipment of supplies coming in here in about ninety minutes. I see another two moves this afternoon. You’re gonna be too busy for that lunch you tried to invite Elaine to share with you.

Deanna rubbed her chin as she studied the screen thoughtfully. Okay, I can probably handle the first move myself. It’ll just take longer. You get Jose to help you with the shipment if I’m not back. Make sure you take a count before you sign the order. The last time we got screwed, the delivery guy shorted us out of a couple of cases of paper and a box of toner cartridges that we signed for without noting the shortages.

It’s not too late to reschedule the other moves for tomorrow and the day after.

Yeah, Herm, I know it’s not. I just hate hearing complaints like, ‘I’m all packed up and the movers never showed. Or I’ve been waiting for three days. I disconnected everything and now my boss needs this or that and I can’t give it to him because you people were a day late and a dollar short with my stuff.’ Besides which, there’s a new deputy commissioner who doesn’t like my ass.

Herman grinned. It’d be easier to hear the complaints if they said ‘em that nice, Dee. You know like I do, most days we hear some cussing mixed in with them words. He looked at his watch then at Deanna. You better get a move on. I’ll see about sending Leonard or Jose to help you.

Lately, most of the cussing comes from our side of the street. Deanna grabbed her gloves, a handcart, and a trolley. Don’t send Jose. She stacked the trolley onto the handcart to make it easier to transport.

Come on, Dee. Jose likes you. He’d be happy to help you lift and carry an elephant if you needed it moved somewhere.

Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of, Herm. He’s too eager to show off in front of me. He’ll hurt his back again, then I’ll be minus a good supply clerk for a week, maybe two. Tell him I said I really need him to handle the supplies with you. She took the paperwork Herman handed her and stuffed it into a back pocket. If any one of our infamous Fab Five shows up, send them to three or six but call me first. I don’t want them hanging out in some corner cubicle chatting up the secretarial staff.

Herman chuckled at her last statement. Yeah, I leave that to you to do. Gotcha covered, Dee. I’ll see about rescheduling the last move for tomorrow at the same time, just a different day. Don’t you worry about the mailroom. We’re doing great so far. Everybody showed up ready to work.

Frankie and Willie aren’t pissed anymore? Deanna watched Herman shrug wide shoulders as he sat in the chair. I heard they talked over their troubles with a couple beers and a Mets game. Guess they made up or maybe they found more women to do the do.

He shook his head sadly. Young bloods today are strange. I’m an old man. What the hell do I know anymore? He heard her laughing all the way down the hall to the elevator. It wasn’t that funny, Dee, he called out then grinned as he turned his chair around in Deanna’s office and headed out.

BIG SEXY HAS BALLS DOESN’T SHE?

Amanda walked down the hallway to the restroom supporting her bleeding right hand with her left hand. She felt incredibly stupid. Why didn’t she call maintenance to fix that darned chair? I pray nobody sees what I’ve done to myself today, she muttered, increasing her stride. Her eyes darted up and down the long hallway. Relieved to find the hall empty, she released the breath she was holding. Which bathroom should I use? There’s one near my office or the one with the dialup code, farther away but more private. Was it going to be dialup locked or free and open?

She opened the door with a shove of her hip. Then she strode past a full-length mirror and two chairs in the lounge area. She spotted the lineup of four porcelain basins and hurried over. She removed Elaine’s hanky to rinse off the blood. Holding it under water, she noticed how stiff it felt. The skin around the wound was growing warm too.

Voices drifted outside from the locked stalls.

Have you met her yet?

No, have you?

I heard she’s from the south. Alabama, Kentucky, or something.

She has an accent. A southern twang, no doubt?

I don’t think so.

Forget that shit. Guess who was all over her in the lobby this morning.

Who?

Big Sexy.

No!

Oh yes!

Damn! Big Sexy has balls, doesn’t she?

Giggling and several chuckles escaped from the stalls.

Did she hit that yet?

How would I know? I wasn’t there.

Let’s all pray the deputy commissioner is arrow straight.

Yeah. Maybe then Big Sexy will find another victim.

Humph, like that’s gonna happen.

The dull gray door to the far corner stall opened, and a chubby, milk chocolate complexioned Black woman in a bright floral dress and navy heels stepped outside. She rushed over to the next stall and rapped on the door. At least I didn’t stalk the woman for a week begging for another … Oh god!

Amanda looked up from ministering to her wounded hand to study the woman’s reflection in the mirror. She could feel the woman’s shame as easily as she could see the embarrassment in the wide surprised brown eyes.

What’s going on out there?

A voice Amanda recognized as the second woman in the conversation asked the question, flinging the stall door open and striding out. The second woman was taller than the first woman was and more attractive. She dressed as if she knew it too, Amanda decided. Her eyes were drawn to the expensive cut of the woman’s light-blue and gray seersucker suit that she combined with a scooped neck, cream-colored shell. The shell fabric looked like it could be silk. Dark eyes set in an attractive cocoa face studied her as intently as she was studying the second woman’s reflection in the mirror.

Hmm, it looks like somebody invaded our privacy this morning.

The first woman swallowed the lump in her throat. She recognized the deputy commissioner’s face from the agency’s newsletter. She cleared her throat. I am sorry you heard us, Ma’am. We usually don’t talk this way. We were just trading … Her voice faded.

Rumors you overheard and didn’t bother to verify. Those same rumors could start more rumors and gossip, Amanda scolded before turning off the faucet. Noting the bleeding had stopped, she rinsed out Elaine’s wet hanky and used it to wrap around her injured hand. She turned around to face her accusers. Ladies, your time would be better spent working on whatever projects you to have in your inboxes.

The first woman wisely nodded in agreement. Yes, Commissioner Taylor, you’re absolutely right.

The second woman studied Amanda, examining her from her heels to her face and all body parts in between before speaking. That’s a lovely suit, Deputy Commissioner Taylor. It fits you like a glove. Did you buy it here or in Atlanta?

Amanda’s eyes narrowed when she realized the woman was toying with her to see how she’d react. She also realized the woman would never apologize for the nasty remarks she made when she and her friend thought they were alone. Amanda knew if she wanted to be bitchy, she could find out the woman’s name, rank, and work unit then manufacture an excuse to have her transferred to the other side of hell. She sighed. Between disciplining Big Sexy and stabbing her own palm today, she decided she’d done enough damage for one day. Atlanta. There’s a small tailor shop on Peach Street. She customizes women’s suits.

The second woman nodded, not taking her roaming eyes from Amanda’s body. Nice work, she does very nice work.

The first woman grabbed the second woman’s arm and yanked. We have plenty of work to do. Deputy Commissioner Taylor, it was very nice meeting you. Come on, Girlfriend.

Amanda nodded in acknowledgement, leaning a hip against the basin as she watched the women’s rapid departure. She exhaled then frowned. The rumor mill had already taken off in leaps and bounds about her encounter with Big Sexy this morning. She had to admit the nickname was an apt one for the Jones woman if you liked the arrogant, rough-around-the-edges type. The woman wasn’t her cup of tea. She liked her women in business suits. She might add a tie when the occasion called for it. She’d better be sharp in mind and spirit too…a little mother wit and a nice sense of humor wouldn’t hurt either. Her ideal woman was a professional, just as she was. She could see dating a doctor, an accountant, a lawyer, a broker, a real estate mogul, an educator, or a woman in a prominent governmental position.

She’d had all that in Atlanta. What was she doing here? Now wasn’t the time for recriminations, not when she had so much work to do. She glanced at her watch. She’d better get back to her office before another rumor said she’d just finished a threesome in the restroom with the two women who just left or she’d been in a fight and that accounted for the injury to her hand. Do people ever work around here? she muttered, adjusting her suit jacket over her blouse in the full-length mirror.

A MATTER OF TRUST

Elaine looked up from her computer screen to nod at Amanda when she returned. Concerned eyes followed her journey to the door of her office. I was beginning to worry that something happened to you. How’s your hand?

Amanda shrugged. I managed to stop the bleeding. It hurts like the dickens, but I’m sure it will be fine. She pointed to her homemade bandage. I’ll replace your hanky tomorrow if that’s okay with you.

Elaine smiled. Don’t bother. I have plenty of them. Her hands fingered the keyboard while her eyes darted from the monitor to the plastic typing stand with Amanda’s notes attached to it.

Pausing at the door to her office, Amanda watched Elaine’s fingers flying over the keyboard. She wondered if Elaine knew the women she encountered in the bathroom. Was it worth it to find out? No, it wasn’t worth it, she decided. What’s on my agenda for the rest of the day, Elaine? Wanting to finish what she was doing, Elaine frowned at the interruption. Damn it! She’d have to stop typing and bring up the calendar. She hid her annoyance and clicked on an icon at the bottom of the screen to bring up Outlook’s calendar. It looks like you might be free for the next thirty minutes. Wait, hold it. I remember something else. She sorted through a stack of neatly arranged messages and pulled one from the pile. Ah yes, here we go. Assistant Commissioner Harrington asked if you could reschedule his directors’ meetings for next week.

Amanda took the note with his number on it. Why? What’s his excuse this time?

He says they’re working on a project for the mayor’s office. If they don’t get it done, we lose millions in federal aid for the next fiscal year.

Groaning at what was probably an outrageous but clever lie, Amanda nodded. All right, call him and reschedule for next week.

He’s on the to-do list. Elaine made a note. Do you have a preference? You have a sixty-minute window Monday morning or Friday afternoon.

Amanda sighed. I start the week with his crew or I end it with them, huh? she remarked aloud without expecting an answer from Elaine. Okay, let’s end it with them. Friday afternoon is fine. Who does that leave for today?

Elaine scrolled down to the bottom of today’s calendar and groaned. Amanda scheduled a thirty-minute tour of the building’s lower areas this afternoon with the building’s engineers, a city engineer, the director of maintenance, and a city architect. The print shop wanted to expand into a storage space around the corner from their current location. The education unit wanted the same space, which happened to be behind their existing classroom. They claimed to need additional space for more hands-on workstations. Amanda wanted to see how the areas laid out and which option made sense to do. She’d nearly forgotten the last-minute add-on tour. She needed to warn Dee to leave early or stay put in her office.

Is there a problem with my schedule?

No, Ma’am. Elaine wanted to say, Boss, you bet there’s a huge problem. After this morning’s fiasco with Dee, some things were best left unsaid. This was one of them. I was checking if I missed anything.

Did you?

There is one more item.

Yes?

You added it last night after I left.

As she tried to remember, Amanda’s brow wrinkled. Now she remembered. Ah, yes, the basement tour at three thirty. She stood at the door, studying Elaine for a moment longer. I need you to bring your notepad and come into my office.

Elaine’s eyes bounced from the computer screen to the notes on her typing stand to Amanda’s face. But I haven’t finished inputting your notes. I still have a report to review before I give it to you for a signature. I have several letters to finish. There’s a ton of email I need to sort through before I send it to you to preview. Then there’s the phone to answer and I… She quickly closed her mouth when Amanda gave her a deadeye glare.

I know what’s due and when, Elaine! I was the one who assigned them to you. Just grab your notebook and come in, Amanda snapped as she strode into her office then plunked down in one of the guest chairs. She noticed Elaine had pushed the damaged chair into a far corner and piled a box of folders on top of it. She nodded. That was thoughtful of her assistant to do that. It almost made up for the last two seconds of insubordination. She noted the blinking yellow light on her line. Who was calling now? She lifted the phone without thinking and caught a whispered conversation. Just do it, Elaine urged. If she sees you again today looking grungy, she’ll have a fit.

How do you know what I look like, El? I haven’t seen you since the witch swooped down off her broom and tried to jack me up at this morning’s one-on-one seminar.

Nadine said you were moving stuff with Lenny after you left here. She said you did another move about an hour ago. Did I mention Mabel stopped by to ask me to have lunch with her? She claimed you were doing a move around then too. If you did all that today, that means your transport crew didn’t show up for work. You don’t like using Jose to help, so you did the moves with just Lenny helping. That means you look like shit by now. She’s coming down there at three thirty. Stay in your office until I give you the all clear signal, Dee.

Deanna removed a pair of denim and suede work gloves to swipe at the salty sweat from her forehead before it reached her eyes. She wiped the dampness on the thigh of her jeans, then she pulled at the sticky T-shirt stuck to her front and back. She was tired, hot, and annoyed. Yeah, well, the air conditioner isn’t working in my office. I might have to visit Herm to get cool.

No! Elaine hissed. Turn on your fan and keep your ass where I can find you, Dee! She slammed the phone into its cradle then grabbed a pen and a notepad and hurried to the door of Amanda’s office. She tapped on the doorframe. Okay to come inside?

Amanda nodded. Yes. She watched Elaine take a seat in front of her desk and decided not to comment on the conversation she’d just overheard. Thank you for switching the chairs for me. She held up her bandaged right hand. I wouldn’t want a repeat of this today. Elaine offered a weak smile and made no further comment. I asked you to come in because I wanted to talk with you about something. She watched Elaine’s eyes widen. She wasn’t sure if she read surprise, but she could see the fear in Elaine’s eyes. Take it easy, Elaine. It’s nothing big. She sighed. I hope you won’t view it as something bad either. You’ve known Jerry for what I assume is a long time, yes?"

I knew him eleven almost twelve years, Elaine mumbled. She felt a sense of dread wash over her despite Amanda’s promise of nothing bad. People in charge always said it wasn’t bad just before they rammed something down your throat that they knew you wouldn’t like. Before you had time to close your mouth, you were gone…dumped into a river of shit without a boat or a ladder to climb up out of the muck.

Amanda smiled at Elaine. Good. You know most of the people here at headquarters fairly well, yes? She took note as the fearful look on Elaine’s face changed into a puzzled one.

I guess it depends on your definition of who most people are and what you mean by fairly well.

Amanda chuckled then leaned forward in her chair and picked up a paperclip to play with it. While she enjoyed the humor of Elaine’s statement, she wondered if Elaine would be honest when she answered. Awkwardly, she straightened out the bend with the fingers of her left hand. We could go around and round on that for the rest of the afternoon. Instead of wasting time, why don’t I tell you what I need to know? You tell me if you feel comfortable providing it.

She looked up in time to catch Elaine’s resigned nod. I want you to tell me whatever you think is important. She stopped and shook her head. No, that’s not what I meant to say. Tell me about the different divisions here at HQ.

But you can go on the city’s website for that, Ms. Taylor. I mean, Amanda. Confused by her boss’s words, Elaine looked at Amanda’s face again, reading the curiosity in her sparkling eyes. She nodded with sudden understanding. Oh, you want what’s not in the website or anywhere else. You want what’s here. She tapped her forehead.

Amanda pointed to the upper left side of her suit jacket over her heart. Here too. Elaine, I need to know who I can trust around here and how far I can trust them.

Which division do you want to know about first?

Amanda played with the paperclip whose bends and curves she’d straightened moments ago. Since I’m taking a tour of the place in an hour or so, how about telling me who all is located in our basement.

Okay, but it would easier if I had an org chart to look at while we talked.

Amanda grinned and then turned the monitor on her desk to face Elaine. Will this do? She pointed to the screen with the agency’s official organizational chart enlarged.

Elaine returned her smile then nodded. That’s perfect. She decided she was going to like working for this new deputy commissioner. All right, in the basement, we have… Pausing, she glanced at the org chart. She decided to save Deanna’s shop