The Optogram Page 8

  As Dothan waited by the entrance, he thought more about Althea. What did she mean by staying out of things he did not understand? Agnes might believe that creepy old lady did not recognize the table, but he was sure there was something weird in her expression when she saw it.

  A gentle pressure on his shoulder caused him to turn. January smiled, her perfect white teeth shining against the outline of dark red lipstick.

  “Hi, there,” he said, taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

  My god, she’s gorgeous. Okay, she’s noticed I’m not wearing glasses. She’s giving me the once over. I’ve got this, no doubt of it.

  “I was afraid I would be late,” he said, lifting a well-groomed eyebrow.

  “You’re right on time,” said January. “Isn’t this place great? I’ve only eaten here once before and it was heaven.”

  “I have to admit, this is my first time, so be gentle with me.”

  January laughed as the hostess guided them to an intimate alcove at the back of the restaurant. As the young woman placed menus on the white tablecloth, Dothan pulled out a chair and extended his hand.

  “Thank you,” said January, seating herself. “It’s been quite a while since anyone has done that for me.”

  “I realize that it’s the twenty-first century,” he said, “and being a gentleman is suspect, but I see it as a sign of respect, not misogyny.”

  “I’ve never been one of those feminists who doesn’t appreciate attention.” January lifted the menu with such poise, Dothan shivered. “I’ve always believed empowerment is in the energy of its possessor.”

  “Interesting.” He tried to read over the elegant choices written in a flourished script, but could only stare at the goddess opposite him. “I guess you’re what’s called an old soul. Wiser than your years.”

  “Am I?” Her full lips curled upward, and she lifted the heavy black lashes. “I believe, then, we share that gift.”

  She’s flirting with me.

  The sommelier arrived to take the order for their drinks. Dothan’s hands trembled as he read the wine menu. “I’m thinking red. Maybe a Syrah?”

  “That sounds lovely,” said January.

  Score, thought Dothan. Thank God I read that wine site.

  After scanning the list, he turned to the sommelier. “A bottle of Montes Folly Syrah, please.”

  The young man removed the wine menus. “An excellent choice. Your server will be here in a few minutes. Can I get you anything else from the bar?”

  Dothan shook his head and turned to January. Her eyes were sparkling from the candles lining the exposed brick walls. It would be so easy to get lost in that mass of curls, or succumb to her soft fingers.

  “…I don’t know if that will help, though,” she said. “What do you think?”

  About what? Crap.

  “Well, let’s hash that out,” he said.

  She laughed. “I don’t think you were listening to me.”

  “Yes, I was. Kind of, sort of, okay I wasn’t.” He grinned. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

  “I said I went through the old box of keepsakes Sibella kept in her room. Did I tell you we were roommates? I have a small box containing all the little mementos. There were a few movie stubs, theater tickets, and that kind of thing.” January pulled the bits of paper out of a glittering billfold and handed them to Dothan.

  “No, I didn’t know you shared. Did she have any serious relationships?” he asked.

  “There was one guy she dated for a while. He was a lawyer who did a fair amount of business with our boss, Joseph Harrington. The weird thing is that he just seemed to vanish a few weeks before she died.”

  “Who was he? I don’t remember any news reports of lawyers disappearing over the last few years.”

  “His name was Lucas Gilmore. He had an office up in Bellevue.” There was a quizzical expression on her face. “You know, you’re right. I don’t remember hearing anything either. I only found out from Sib after she hadn’t heard from him in several days. She told me she tried to call him at home and at his office with no luck and gave up once his voicemail box was full.”

  “Okay, I’ll start digging around. I meant to ask, do you have Sibella’s computer?”

  “No, the police took it as evidence, along with her phone, which they found by the side of the road, just before the dirt path where…” January tightened her lips.

  “It’s okay,” Dothan placed his hand over hers.

  “You know, I never interfered with her relationships.” She withdrew her hand. “Now I wish I had.”

  Too fast, you dork. Think of something, quick.

  Clearing his throat, he said, “You know, you’ve surprised me.”

  She returned a half-smile. “How?”

  “I’m not sure if you noticed, but I have a very weird name. You’re the first person I’ve ever met who didn’t ask me about it within the first five minutes.”

  She laughed. God, her laugh. It was the sound of tiny crystal bells falling against each other. Dothan’s pulse raced.

  January placed her chin in her upturned palm. “Well, I will admit I was curious, but, to be honest, with a name like mine, it leaves me little room to question anyone else.”

  “Is that your birth month?” he asked. “January, I mean.”

  “No,” she said. “It’s not. It was the month of the birth of the Hindu Shakti goddess Saraswati. My mother was an artist from India, and, while her beliefs were not traditional, she had a thing for this goddess who represented creative energy. She wanted to name me Saraswati, but my father was a real southern Baptist and wouldn’t have it, so they compromised on the month of her feast day.” She tilted her head. “The only Dothan I’ve ever heard of was a small town in Alabama. Is that where you were born?”

  “Not quite,” he said, “but very close. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to hear the circumstances of my being burdened with this dumb name.”

  “Yes, I very much would.”

  “Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you. My mother was, for lack of a better phrase, a free spirit. She ran away from home when she was a teenager. Since I never met my grandparents, I couldn’t tell you why. Anyway, Gina, that’s my mother, became a proficient hitchhiker, and by that I mean no one had raped or killed her along the way. She was always careful who she got into a car with, but she wasn’t above trading favors for the trouble. Twenty-two years back, she was roaming through the south, and this guy, who she said was the love of her life, stopped to ask if she wanted a ride. They hit it off, and about a hundred miles into the trip, he pulled into a truck stop in Dothan so they could consummate their relationship. Nine months later I was born in Huntsville, where Romeo dumped her the first chance he got.”

  “How did you get to this side of the country?” January stopped and smiled. “I hope you don’t mind my questions.”

  “It’s cool. When Gina found out she was pregnant, she stuck around Huntsville working the night shift at a hamburger place until the week before I was due. Her senior manager got all maternal, letting Gina stay at her place. The woman even paid the medical bills after she was sure she had convinced my mother to give me up for adoption. My mother then did what she always did. She took what she could and ran. With me in tow, she hitchhiked across the country until we reached Oregon. Somehow we managed for nine years between abandoned buildings, missions and homeless shelters. Then she died.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be. It was her choice.”

  “You mean she…my god. How did you cope? You were still a child.”

  He shrugged. “We weren’t close. But it’s not such a sad story. Everything worked out okay for me. I discovered my talent for coding early and came up to Seattle to pursue a computer science degree. Now I’m on an internship at Dunlevy Ocular Research. Fun fact. I applied at Consc
entiam, but heard nothing back.”

  “There’s a reason for that. Conscentiam only invites certain applicants within a very elite group of schools for their internship program. If you’re in a state university, you weren’t a part of that collective.”

  “They missed out. I’m one of the best out there, and my personal code repository is loaded with some impressive stuff. In fact, not to brag, but I’ve just created software that I think will change the world.”

  January’s eyes widened. “Well, now you’re in my territory. Would you mind telling me about it?”

  At that moment, he wanted to lay it all at her feet for one night of passion. To admit to Agnes he traded the software for sex with January, though, was too terrifying to consider.

  “It’s still in the last phase of testing,” he said, “so I’m keeping it quiet. When everything is complete, I can give you a demonstration.”

  “You know, Conscentiam might be interested if it’s the right software. Can’t you give me just one hint as to its function?” She placed her hand on top of his. “It’s not like I need the source code, even with minimal information I could put together a presentation and pitch it to the division head. You’re doing so many wonderful things for Sibella, and I would love to think I might help you gain a nice little reward for your labors.”

  Who cared about the software when his entire body tingled from the touch of her hand? Taking a risk, he turned his palm upward, grasping her fingers. “I’ll make you a deal. You come back to my place tonight, and I’ll give you a peek…at the software.”

  She ran her oval fingernail back and forth across the edge of his thumb. “I wish I could, but I have to say no for now. Let’s say you bring a sample to my condo next week, and we can put it through its paces.”

  His body was on fire. Damn. I can’t last until next week.

  Dothan grinned, his head lowered to give her the best effect of his contacts. “Are you sure I can’t tempt you?”

  Her eyes met his, and their fingers intertwined. He jumped as a soft foot touched the edge of his calf and January smiled.

  “You already have,” she whispered.

  The sommelier brought their wine and waited for

  Dothan’s approval.

  Perfect timing, you goob, he thought.

  Their wine poured, January lifted her glass. “To you, and to me, and our future exploration.”

  He clinked his glass against hers. “Oh, yes, please.”

  ***

  In a whirlwind of wine, food and intense conversation, the hours flew away.

  January pointed a manicured nail toward the back of the room. “Don’t look now, but we’re getting the evil eye.”

  He turned to watch several white-coated young men removing cutlery and tablecloths from the various surfaces. A waiter coughed while passing their table.

  Dothan laughed and checked his watch. “Either that one has the plague, or, yeah, that’s a hint for us to get lost. To be fair, they should have closed almost half an hour ago.”

  With the bill paid, he escorted January through the door and into the soft warmth of the cloudless summer night. After arranging his car share, he said, “Let me take you home.”

  She touched his arm. “Thanks, but I have a car on the way.”

  “I’m willing to share.”

  January smiled as her phone dinged.

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  “Next time,” she snapped, reading the notification.

  Damn, from angel to bitch in point five seconds.

  He took a chance and moved closer to her. “I can wait. It’s just this afternoon has been amazing. I half-hoped it didn’t have to end so soon.”

  January frowned and continued to stare at her phone.

  “Any time next week is good for me,” he said.

  She lifted her head with a puzzled expression. “Next week?”

  “What we talked about earlier. So I can show you my stuff?”

  “Oh, yes. Sorry, I wasn’t thinking, but yes, I’ll let you know.” Her warm smile returned. “I’m looking forward to seeing your…stuff.”

  Okay, he thought. I’ll let it go tonight, but next time, we play by my rules.

  As his ride approached, he touched her cheek and stared into her eyes. “I don’t think you’d be disappointed with what I have to offer.”

  “How about I put a down payment on next week instead?”

  Her hands gripped the sides of his face as she pressed her lips against his. He embraced her, pulling the soft warmth of her body against his own. Electric pulses raced through him as her tongue flicked inside his mouth and her hand drifted along his spine.

  “I hope that will be enough,” she whispered, her breath scented with a gentle hint of wine.

  “Yeah. Wait, no. I mean, no, not at all. It’s nowhere near enough.” His arm reached around her waist, but January stepped aside, laughing as she placed the phone in her bag.

  Trembling with frustration, Dothan walked to a waiting yellow Nissan and fell into the back seat. “Goodnight!” he shouted.

  “Goodnight,” said January, smiling as she stepped from the curb.

  His car sped off, and he turned to watch her slide inside a waiting black stretch limousine.

  What the actual fuck? That’s no car share.

  He leaned back against the uncomfortable vinyl head rest. It was obvious January was heading back to work. A bigwig could have picked her up in that stretch, or maybe the corporation provided them for everyone in management. It would be no hardship on Conscentiam. They had enough money for fleets of limos if they wanted them.

  Her kiss still lingered. He ran his fingertip across his upper lip, removing the remnant of red lipstick it left. There was no doubt in his mind now that she wanted him. He could have her with little effort. Whether he would succumb to her demands or tease her until she could tolerate no more would be a last-minute decision.

  His body ached as a fierce physical hunger overtook him. He squirmed as he retrieved his phone from a jacket pocket, scrolled through his contacts and dialed.

  “Yo, it’s Dothan,” he said. “Yeah, I was just thinking about you, too. Want to meet up in a couple of hours? Great. My place? Cool. See you soon, Bekkii.”

  Chapter Seven

  A tinny ping startled Dothan. He stretched his arm toward the nightstand and squinted, bringing the phone to his uncorrected eyes. Surprised to find something from January, he sat upright and grabbed his glasses.

  Text from January Kinsie:

  Need you. Please come. 2585 Battery St, top floor, keypad 99378. Hurry.

  Dothan thew back the duvet and jumped out of bed.

  “Hey!” said Bekkii. She giggled, rolling naked onto her back and lifting herself on her elbows. “That’s heartless, leaving me to freeze. Now you’ll have to get back in bed to warm me up.” With a seductive slide of her hand, she dragged the sheet across her ample curves.

  Just get up and go home, he thought.

  Why had he let her talk him into hanging around?

  Dothan tried to muster a casual grin. “Man, I wish I could, but I got a text from Rhonda. If you can believe it, there’s a bunch of stuff I have to go take care of, like now. Can I have a raincheck?”

  Bekkii’s smile disappeared as she retrieved a t-shirt lying across the end of the bed. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, yeah, it’s all good. We’ve reached a crisis point on this stupid summer lab project, and now she’s frustrated by the code. You know how geeks are. If you don’t get stuff fixed within a second or two, they go into an ADHD tailspin.”

  Bekkii collected her scattered clothing before walking into the bathroom. “Okay, just give me a minute.”

  Damn, it worked.

  Dothan grabbed a shirt and jeans and smoothed back his hair. Bekkii emerged and wra
pped her arms around his waist.

  He ushered the clinging girl toward the front door. “I’ll catch you tomorrow.”

  “Not tonight?”

  “No, it’s Sunday. Work tomorrow, remember?”

  Her voice descended into a high-pitched childish whine. “But I could drive you into work. We could chill tonight, and I’d even make you breakfast in the morning.”

  Dothan tried to avoid a constant stream of kisses and groping fingers. “I don’t even know when I’ll be back tonight. Let’s add that breakfast to the raincheck, okay?”

  “Aw, meanie. Lunch, maybe?”

  Anything. Just leave.

  “Yep. Wouldn’t miss it,” he said.

  He closed the door. After turning the deadbolt, he pressed his ear against the fiberglass panel, listening until he was sure her car had left the parking lot.

  January’s text had been urgent. With buses on a limited weekend service, Dothan booked a ride-share. He could deal with the money shortfall later.

  After a quick rinse of mouthwash and a comb through his hair, Dothan grabbed his wallet and phone, stuffing them into his back pockets as the car rolled into the driveway.

  “You go to Battery Street, yeah?” said the ride-share driver.

  “Yeah. Just take the quickest way possible, I’m in a hurry.”

  The driver raced along the crowded interstate and into the dense traffic of downtown, dropping off Dothan at The Estrelada, an imposing brick and steel structure dwarfing the surrounding skyscrapers and creating a perpetual pseudo-twilight at the front of the building.

  With hurried steps into the vestibule, Dothan entered the code given to him by January and the glass doors unlocked with a dull thud. As the heavy panels shut, soft music and splashing fountains replaced the blaring street noise. He walked across the elegant lobby, trying to appear casual as he passed the smiling security guard. At the elevator bay, he exhaled in relief, grateful there had been no trouble from the dime-store cop.

  A single elevator serviced the penthouse suites, and the polished brass and walnut box arrived as soon as he summoned it. Dothan input the code once more and ascended to the twenty-fifth floor, wondering how January could afford to live at the top of such an exclusive building.