Infinite Loop - Chapter 31

Chance Encounter

Chapter 31

She placed the picture back on the mantel before turning to see her father standing in the doorway. Middle-aged with a slight belly and gray hair around his temples, his face looked dour as normal. Amber always considered his expression to result from his position. He walked to his large partner’s desk, taking a seat in the leather chair. Amber glimpsed Norris closing the doors.

“What can you tell me about mom?” She suddenly asked.

“My dear, why would you ask such a question,” he replied with a shocked expression crossing his face.

“I’m just trying to remember her,” she admitted. “I only remember this one picture; it’s the same one I have in my apartment.”

Her father squinted as he looked over at the image. “Yes, she was quite lovely,” he agreed. “It’s the best picture we have, I assure you.”

“Do you miss her?” Amber asked while she watched him.

“How could you ask such a thing? Of course, I miss her,” he told her. “What is the meaning of these questions?” His eyes narrowed suspiciously at her.

“Well, we never seem to talk about her,” she pointed out. “In fact, I don’t recall us ever having any conversations like this.”

“Of course we did,” he declared. “Nevertheless, I’ll admit, it’s been a while. You’ve been quite busy since you graduated and moved out of the house. With all of your friends and such, I guess we just haven’t stayed very close.” He paused for a moment.

“You made it clear when you graduated from Covent Academy you wanted to be an independent woman,” her father pointed out. “It appears this has happened. Now, tell me what was so urgent about this? I have plenty of work to do.” He pulled some papers from his desk and began thumbing through them.

“All my friends,” Amber repeated his words softly, suddenly realizing no names came to mind. She had no friends. But one name did.

“You heard of the murder of Tony Krupin on the Andes the other day? You know I was on the ship, but you didn’t come when we docked,” she inquired abruptly.

His focus on the papers, the man mumbled an answer to her.

“Unfortunately, I was very busy that day. I have a man from the office working on this case.” She recognized he was avoiding any discussion. He looked over at her as she moved closer to his desk.

“In your single letter to me, you never asked me to meet you on the ship.” He told her.

“What if I told you I met Warren Baker?” She asked.

He paid little attention to her question.