@avictimofthejazz | continued from (x)
The building was an absolute mess. In between ransacked desks, overturned filing cabinets, and papers strewn every which way, Ben found it to be an absolute miracle that Elaine was only minorly harmed.
“Hey,” he soothed, “easy now.” Holding up his hands, he slowly knelt alongside her as she tremblingly touched her hairline. Her eyes widened in horrified recognition, and then as she jerked her head left and right, attempting to make sense of her surroundings, Ben shrugged out of his suit jacket and curled it around her shoulders.
“Try not to panic,” he encouraged. “You were in a bit of a bind, but the important thing now is that you’re all right.”
“How….how? There’s a guard…at…at the front desk….you must have….have seen him….”
Ben shook his head. “I don’t recall a guard, no.” Brow creasing, he added, “Do you think he’s potentially in on this attack? Is it possible that he let someone inside? Someone he knew so well that they didn’t require a pass?”
There were many a number of options here, unfortunately. The guard could be part of the attack; the guard could be the attacker; or, the most likely of all, the guard recognized the perp and let them in without a single cause for concern. The only problem with that theory was the man was presently nowhere to be found. Had he left with the assailant, or was he taken by force?
Elaine shifted on the floor, clearly still in pain. “What’re you….doing here so late anyways?”
Unable to help it, Ben snorted. “What, am I the one on trial here?” he wryly asked. “Don’t worry about it. I have a poor sleep schedule, so I was up and in town, and decided to stop by and see if there were any updates.” He looked around them with a huff. “Evidently, my intuition was right to take me here. I’ve already called for help, so we can get someone to examine you very soon. In the meantime...” Here, he unearthed a flask from his hip with a rueful smile. “I’m not technically on the clock right now, so I wanted a nightcap. But given your situation, I think you deserve it a little more.”
Having a seat alongside her, Ben loosened his tie a bit and sighed. “Do you remember anything that happened, Miss Grazzo? Anything at all?”
