Page 9 of Theirs to Hunt (Girls Like Us #1)

Chapter nine

M onday morning, I sat on my couch practicing my sick voice. It’s a damn skill set. Throat rasp. Wet cough. Pathetic croak. NyQuil central casting would be proud.

I dialed HR.

“Calhoun Industries, how may I direct your call?” came the nasal voice on the other end.

I cleared my throat a few times, committing to the bit. “HR, please.”

“HR, this is Mandy. How may I help you?”

Mandy? I blinked, phone still pressed to my ear. Genevieve’s last post was Saturday morning, some vague crap about heading back to California and missing her besties. I’d seen it, but didn’t trust it. Something about the timing felt too neat.

Now she’s actually gone? No notice. No office gossip. Nothing.

“I thought this would be Genevieve?” My tone turned cautious. Who the hell was Mandy ?

“Genevieve is no longer with the company. To whom am I speaking?”

“Uh… cough… this is, uh… Reagan Marks. I’m in customer service. I needed to let someone know I’m taking a sick day.”

“Oh, Miss Marks,” she said, louder now, weirdly chipper. “You are calling to say you will not be at work today?”

I paused. That tone was wrong. Over-enunciated. Stiff. Like she was reading to someone.

Still, I mumbled a yes and answered her FMLA questions like this was just your average Monday and not the beginning of something deeply unsettling.

Mental note: let creepy Jeff in marketing corner me in the elevator soon. He always knows what’s going on, even if I have to carry a manila folder as boob armor to survive the leering. If anyone knows what happened to Genevieve, it’ll be him. And if not… maybe they’ll tell me.

Even as I hung up, the hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up.

I text Bobbie right away:

Okay, step one complete.

Also? Genevieve’s actually gone. HR said she’s no longer with the company.

Wait, what? Like gone gone?

Yeah. That “heading back to Cali” post might not be BS.

But still feels off.

I don’ t like that.

Me either.

Okay… I get off work in about three hours. I’ll be there then.

DON’T ANSWER THE DOOR FOR ANYONE.