Gwendy's Magic Feather

9

“ARE YOU OKAY, CONGRESSWOMAN? I was knocking for a long time.”

Gwendy steps back from the door and lets her receptionist into the office. Bea’s carrying a small tray with the turkey club lunch on it. She places it on the desk and turns back to her boss. If Bea notices the silver coin sitting next to the keyboard, she doesn’t mention it.

“I’m fine,” Gwendy says. “Just a little embarrassed. I was doing some reading and I guess I dozed off.”

“Must’ve been some dream you were having. It sounded like you were whimpering.”

You don’t know the half of it, Gwendy thinks.

“You sure you’re okay?” Bea asks. “If you don’t mind my saying, you look a little rattled and a lot pale. Almost like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Bingo again, Gwendy thinks, and almost bursts out giggling. “I went for a longer than usual run this morning and haven’t had much to drink. I’m probably just dehydrated.”

The receptionist gives her a long look, clearly unconvinced. “I’ll go grab a couple more waters then. I’ll be right back.” She turns and heads out of the office.

“Bea?”

She stops in the doorway and turns back.

“Did anyone stop by the office when I was at my meeting this morning?”

Bea shakes her head. “No, ma’am.”

“You’re certain?”

“Yes, ma’am.” She looks around the room. “Is something wrong? Do you need me to call security?”

“No, no,” Gwendy says, escorting the older lady the rest of the way out of the room. “But maybe you should call a doctor, since I can’t seem to stay awake past lunchtime these days.”

Bea once again offers a faint smile, not very convincingly, and hurries off.

Gwendy closes the door and walks a direct line back to the filing cabinet. She knows she doesn’t have much time. Bending to a knee again, she slides open the bottom drawer. The button box is still there, practically sparkling in the overhead lights, waiting for her.

Gwendy reaches out with both hands and hesitates, her fingers hovering an inch or two above its highly polished surface. She feels the hairs on her arms begin to tingle, hears the faint whisper of something in the far corner of her brain. Steeling herself, she carefully lifts the box out of the drawer. And as she does, it all rushes back to her…