Eddie looked at his watch as they headed out the front door.
He was shaking his head. Of course it was taking longer to get going than he had planned!
Joan was 3 steps behind him, carrying almost all of the bags. Eddie carried only her laptop case which held the digital camera and the camcorder along with spare batteries and memory chips for both.
He led her through the slow drizzle of icy water to his compact cargo van. It was a newer model in red. A sign on the passenger side cargo door matched the driver side door with the words 'Mobile Security System'. Eddie wondered sometimes if anyone noticed the lack of phone number or web site on the sign.
He wasn't going to be able to transport Joan in the back, not if he wanted to get to Richards' office only a little late. He didn't want to allow her to see the inside of the back of the van. Not yet.
"Put the bags down and get into the drivers seat," he ordered.
"Yes Sir," she said, quickly complying. She knew it was her actions that was making them late and she was wondering if Eddie was planning on punishing her in some way for that.
Eddie passed her the satchel with the camera and recorder. As he shut the passenger door he noticed that she was admiring the cab of the van. Eddie was proud of the vehicle. With the signs on the outside he was virtually invisible on the highway. The van looked like either the sales vehicle or the repair truck for a successful technology company.
He opened the sliding door behind Joan. A wall with a small sliding door near the top center was fronted up against the cab. Putting the bags into the cargo area he looked over the interior. Nicely carpeted, completely soundproofed and currently boasting a set of stocks in highly varnished oak.
Shutting the door he hurried to the driver side, climbed in and started the van. He only had to let it run for 30 seconds before turning on the heater and getting a steady stream of warm air.
"Whew," Eddie exclaimed and turned to see Joan quickly warming her hands in the heat.
Eddie smiled in her direction. She wasn't going to find traveling in the back of the van later nearly as comfortable.
Without another word Eddie backed out of the parking space and drove directly out of the hotel parking lot through a series of side streets that led to the intersection of two nearby freeways.
"How ready are you for this?" Eddie asked, breaking the silence as they climbed up the entrance ramp that led to a cloverleaf series of entrances, exits, and merging lanes.
"I'm absolutely ready, Sir." Her voice was confidant as she watched to see where they were going.
Eddie turned on the radio and saw a quick glance of surprise on her face. She obviously didn't expect Eddie to be a fan of smooth jazz.
The music relaxed Eddie, who had been cursing himself for keeping the blindfold in the back of the vehicle. He had planned on transporting her from place to place in the back, blind and bound so she couldn't see where they were going.
As the music played he thought it through to the arrival. She was going to end up seeing where she was once they got out of the van anyway. It's not like he was going to be able to stop her from seeing the outsides of buildings they were going into.
Leaving the area of the hotel behind Eddie approached the next highway interchange only minutes later and changed freeways to go west.
Joan seemed to recognize the area, pushing her head back into the seat as they drove past exits leading to recently built upscale suburban neighborhoods.
She relaxed a bit as Eddie took an exit that led to two large retail blocks that sat almost side by side. Continuing past the mini malls he turned left into an office park. Five 15 story buildings with surrounding parking lots existed with narrow strips of carefully cultivated grass and trees.
Eddie took them towards the second building of the group.
The surfaces of the highways, the streets, and even the long entrance way to the business park had been clear. But as Eddie parked as close to the building as he could he realized the parking lots had begun to ice over.
He told Joan to wait as he exited, then came around to her side to help her out. She took his arm naturally with her free hand, her laptop case hanging in her outside hand. Walking slowly across the lot they finally got to the salted sidewalk and entrance way.
Leading her inside they went to the bank of elevators, quickly found one going up, and were alone inside as Eddie punched in the fourth floor. Glancing at Joan in the elevator he was pleased to see that she looked exactly like a professional saleswoman making a business call.
The fourth floor held the office entrances for only three companies. Eddie led Joan to the closest door and held it open for her, allowing her into the reception area first.
The lady behind the reception desk was new to Eddie. "How may I help you," she asked?
"We're here to see Richard. If you could please tell him that Eddie is here," he replied, matching her professional tone. The clock over her desk read 12:11.
"He's expecting you," she said. "If you will go ahead to his office I'll let him know you are coming."
Eddie took off his long coat and hung it on a rack in the reception area. Then he helped Joan with her coat.
Eddie smiled his thanks to the receptionist and turned down the hallway to the right. Joan followed appropriately behind, the sound of the receptionist talking into her phone trailing them down the hall.
"Eddie!" he heard Richard greet him from behind his desk, happy to see him.
"Richard, how are you," he replied, closing the door behind the two of them. "Allow me to introduce you to Joan. Joan, this is Richard."
Richard stood as the introductions were made and waited as they crossed the lounge area in the oversized office. He offered his businessman's handshake to the lady first.
"Very nice to meet you Joan," He gave her his professional smile.
"Nice to meet you as well, Richard," she smiled back.
Two chairs sat across from Richard's desk and he gestured for them to sit as he relaxed into his chair.
"So Eddie, what can I do for the two of you?
"Actually Richard, it's Joan that would like to talk to you. I'm just here to let her get her foot in the door, so to speak."
Richard looked confused and leaned back in his chair to look at Joan.
"You know, if you weren't with Eddie I'd probably throw you out for not making a proper appointment." He frowned a bit, crossed his arms and added. "But go ahead and make your sales pitch."
"I'd like to ask a question first." Joan began. "How soundproof are your walls?"
"What do you mean?" asked a startled Richard, glancing from Joan to Eddie and back. "If I started screaming for help the receptionist would be able to hear me."
"Relax," smiled Joan. "I'm talking about me, not you Richard. I tend to be a screamer. You may have to gag me if I make too much noise."
