Elizabeth Basque - Medium Mysteries 02 - Silver Lake by Elizabeth Basque

have any ideas once we get inside.”
    “ Not unless there are any more like him,” Mack answered.
    Once we found the floor where Garrett’s office was, Mack became somber.
    “It might be difficult to see your son again after so long,” I offered. “You can wait outside the office if you’d like.”
    “ No, I don’t want to wait outside. I won’t show myself to him. I wouldn’t want to scare Garrett, or make him sad.”
    We were approaching his suite. My shoes were pinching my toes and I could feel a blister already forming at one of my heels. Julie had her eye on the old ghost. “Why don’t we wait and see how things go?” she asked. “If he’s receptive…”
    “I know my son.” Mack cut her off. “I think, even if he believes you, he will need some time to get used to the idea of me being around.”
    We arrived at the office doors. “All right,” I said. “Let’s just see how he receives us.”
    I opened the door and we filed in. I had a feeling that, one way or the other, we were about to change Garrett’s life forever.
     
     
    Chapter Seventeen
     
    A receptionist sat at her desk behind a small window that could slide open and shut. It was closed, but she looked up at Julie and me and smiled. She wasn’t aware that Mack was right next to me.
    “Good morning,” she greeted me cheerfully enough. “How can I help you ladies?”
    “ We’re here to see Garrett Mackenzie,” I told her, returning the smile.
    “ May I have your name, please?” she asked. Her eyes darted for a half a second to the oily blob on my blouse, but she continued smiling.
    Oh, well.
    “I’m Pauline Ocean. This is my friend, Julie.”
    We had come unannounced, but the receptionist maintained her friendly mannerism. “One moment, please.”
    She picked up the phone next to her and pressed a button. She turned her head slightly and spoke softly so that I couldn’t hear the conversation.
    Then she hung up and faced us again. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Mackenzie is in a meeting. I’d be happy to tell him you came by.”
    I had no intention of leaving. “It’s important,” I told her. “Could you please tell him I have to see him?”
    “ I’m sorry, but he’ll be in meetings all day.” Her smile never faltered as she looked me square in the eye.
    “ Thunder,” Mack said. I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t talk to him in front of the receptionist and he knew it. But he persisted. “Write a message for Garrett.”
    I took a deep breath. “May I leave a message for him?”
    “Certainly,” the young woman answered, and handed me a small pad of paper and a pen through the window. She went back to her typing while she waited for me.
    I took the pen and wrote Thunder on it.
    “ Write that Garrett used to take Thunder to the old pepper tree on the weekends. Thunder would graze while Garrett read.”
    I glanced at Mack. “She’s going to think I’m crazy,” I whispered.
    “Who cares?” Mack said.
    “ Mack’s right,” Julie whispered, “If that will get us in to see Garrett, then do it.”
    The receptionist kept her hands on her keyboard but stole a glance at us, curious as to why Julie and I were looking to the side, whispering.
    I sighed. “Whatever it takes,” I said, and wrote down what Mack had told me.
    I folded the paper into quarters and handed it back to the receptionist, along with the pad and pen. “I understand Mr. Mackenzie is a busy man,” I told her, “but he will want to see this.”
    “I can give it to him later,” she told me, “but I can’t interrupt him right now. I’m sure you understand.”
    “ I understand that he will want to see this note,” I said, taking a slightly firmer stance. “And I know you won’t want to disappoint your boss.” I passed the note to her through the window. “I’ll wait while you give it to him.”
    She hesitantly took the paper. I could tell we were trying her patience, but she’d get over it. She got up and disappeared down a hallway.
    Julie