For a friend's sake

[SeaFalcon]

Days went by and the more hotels got crossed away on her list. Most likely it was lowering her motivation to move on to the next, each time she crossed one off. But the drive was there, wanting to find that person she considered a friend. Someone she had met with a simple race, someone who seemed to indulge her into wanting to get to know this person better.

***

Carrie locked the door of her apartment, seeing the sun wasn't hadn't yet reached the horizon even though it was already brightening up the sky, giving it a nice glow. With her bag over her shoulder she headed out for a walk, her work wasn't far away from where she lived, just a few minutes of walking. Maybe the job wasn't the most well paid, or anything like she had used to do, but she didn't mind. Colleagues were more important than the job itself.

While she walked the birds cheered her up more, listening to their whistles from the trees alongside the path she was walking. Not even the vehicles that passed once in a while disturbed her. Allowing her to reach work with a pleasant smile, greeting the ones that were already there early.

Preparing the coffee for everyone was the first thing she did every morning. Those that had to travel over a longer distance having a warm welcome with a fresh cup of coffee. Something that always amused her was when she saw the tired morning expressions of those coming to work.

But this time she noticed something different on the face of Patricia, when she came in. The normally always early colleague was late today and Carrie couldn't recall that ever having happened before. It soon lead to a few questions that Patricia only dodged. Using answers like 'just tired' and so on. Although Carrie didn't buy it fully, guessing something else was going on.

The rest of the day moved on quietly just like any other. Jokes made every now and then but some seemed to be cut off quicker by Patricia, giving Carrie more reasons to be paranoid about her. But she couldn't tell if it was just her caring too much or if there really was something wrong.

The evening confirmed it to Carrie that something was indeed not right. Patricia having held her mouth shut the whole day about it up until a few minutes before Carrie would be heading home. Patricia walked up to Carrie's desk just when she was picking up her jacket.

"Carrie, can we talk?" Patricia asked carefully, knowing she would most likely help the smile disappear from face.
"Sure" Carrie replied bright, but the smile she had indeed did disappear, as the tone of Patricia wasn't in anyway sounding like she had positive news.
"Could you walk with me to security? There is something I want you to see." Patricia asked.
"Okay?" Carrie asked, her mind getting flooded with questions but she knew better than to ask them straight away. Having a few guesses on what it could be about. Although she was hoping, and near praying she was wrong.


Once they arrived at security it all became move obvious. Carrie was shown a recording of the lobby, from the day before. Someone walking up to the counter to ask one of the staff members of the hotel about some girl, Carrie in this case. The picture matching that of her. As instructed the person who was asked the question about where to find Carrie has simply said she had never seen the girl (Carrie) before.

It didn't take Carrie long to recognize who was asking about her. Christina that racer, or at least that's what she seemed to be. Carrie however had all sorts of paranoid thoughts about Christina. The texts and way they had been written to her had given her enough reason not to trust Christina. And now that she had been at her own working place she got more upset, and scared. But Carrie wanted the uncertainty to end, and now that it all seemed to have gotten this close she wanted to make sure it was also done right. So she, together with security of the hotel made up a plan to have things cleared up, and hopefully cleaned up as well.

| To: Christina
| From: Carrie
| Subject: Can we meet?
|
| Hey Chris,
|
| Sorry that I ignored you messages of earlier.
| I got too caught up in work to actually remind myself to return a text.
|
| But what would you say about us meeting tomorrow morning somewhere?
| Have breakfast or something? I think I can be allowed to come a few hours later at work.
|
| Love to hear from you soon!
|
| - Carrie

With the text finished it was now just a matter of waiting. Wondering if Christina would even take the bait and if it wasn't too transparent.