Chapter 32

Oliver breezed into his office, whistling a cheerful tune. A steaming cup of coffee warmed his hand as he tossed his briefcase onto the plush chair and hung his suit jacket on the back of his swivel chair.

Reaching for his daily schedule on the right side of his desk felt like muscle memory, but his hand hovered, then landed with a soft thud on an empty space. A frown creased his brow as he noticed his computer was still off.

Unease prickled his skin. Emily never left her desk bare. He called out, "Ms. Collins?"

Silence answered him, broken only by the gentle hum of the air conditioner. Realization dawned.

"Right, I told her to take a day off," he muttered, disappointment tingling in his voice as he slumped back into his chair.