Chapter 7

The following day, the long-awaited arrival of Kate’s friend in the City of A distracted her from thoughts of punishing the brazen, obnoxious security guard. Joanna had come simply because she missed her and wanted to relax in the southern city. They met at a café for lunch, after which Kate took Joanna to the Silver Lining Center to show her the office.

But Gordon stopped them by the elevator.

“No outsiders allowed past this point,” the old man said.

“What about otherworlders?” Kate’s cheerful friend asked. The perpetually serious old man was caught off guard and suddenly looked ridiculous. Kate realized that this was how you fought beetles like Gordon — with laughter!

“Joanna, meet Gordon Briggs,” she said. “Our security guard. He gave me an ultimatum recently. Said, ‘Pay me more or I quit.’”

“How did that turn out?” Joanna asked with interest.

“We reached a compromise. I never raised his salary, and he decided not to quit.”

The friends burst out laughing, leaving the old man even more bewildered.

Gordon’s mouth fell slightly open.

“That never happened!”

“Neither did your fantasies about the roof. Come on,” Kate said with a smile, taking her friend by the hand and leading her past the guard. But then Gordon gave the universal cry of security guards everywhere:

“Hey, you!”

“Watch how you address me. Show some respect,” Kate said coldly without turning around or allowing her friend to stop.

“Stop!” Gordon recovered and, thrusting his arms through the air, wrapped them around Joanna’s waist just as he had wrapped them around Kate’s at the gym, preventing her from passing. “Because of the recent problems at Silver Lining, even visitors admitted under a manager’s supervision are required to be screened.”

“I’m healthy, thank you. There’s no need for a coronavirus test,” Joanna said lightly.

“Enough joking!”

The old man suddenly seized her wrists, pressed her palms against the wall, and bent her forward!

“Feet shoulder-width apart!” he ordered, spreading Joanna’s legs himself.