Turn of the Pipes (A Redpoint One Romance) (18 page)

Ignacio paused. Checking on Irvine might be a
very good idea, to make sure he hadn't disappeared. Plus, the
babies and their parents.

"I'll see you later today," Ignacio said. He
better check on Irvine right away and contact Rachel if he found
him missing. The little excuse to call her during work hours put a
spring in his step as he headed towards the door.

"Take the day off," Paul said from under the
table as Ignacio left.

Not likely. Ignacio couldn't remember the last
time he'd taken a day off. Didn't know what he would do with one.
Going on a vacation alone would only bring back all the good
vacations with his wife. He'd avoided them ever since her
death.

The implications of the thought hit him as he
arrived home. No. Surely he'd taken a vacation somewhere in the
five years since. A holiday weekend?

He couldn't think of even one. No little break
or time away, not even to go and visit family.

Even to him, it sounded sad. Why wasn't he
doing more out and about? The automated systems he used in the newt
enclosures meant he didn't have to be there every minute. He took
in grad students and apprentices all the time for work experience,
so it wasn't as if he were a solo project and overworked. Not
unless he wanted to be.

Ignacio made a pass through the warehouse. All
was well in newt and salamander world. All Silky babies accounted
for. Irvine sunned himself in the artificial light, spread out on
top of a rock at the top of the waterfall. A pair of Pointed Spear
Newts appeared to be starting their mating ritual, meaning he might
have another litter on his hands in a few months.

He wanted to call Rachel. She would find the
odd dances of the newt mating rituals amusing. With it came the
realization he wanted to share so many things.

Such as the next date. He could honestly say
he looked forward to it. No way would he try to avoid it this time.
For once he resented Redpoint One. He only wanted a date, a few
hours of her time. Was it really too much to ask?

When he heard the front door chime, he ran for
it, the irrational thought that somehow Redpoint One had heard his
mental wish and granted it. Instead, he found himself facing one of
the strange women from a few days ago, the ones who asked what kind
of meal he liked.

"Hello, Ignacio. Ready to go?" the dark-brown
haired woman asked.

He blinked at her. "Who are you?"

It was her turn to blink. "I didn't mention
that before? I'm Eddie Gilmore. I volunteer at the refuge along
with Rachel."

"Oh, of course. What can I do for you?" he
asked.

"Come with me," she said.

He had the feeling of getting flattened again.
"Why?"

"Rachel," Eddie said, looking at him as if he
were mad.

"Rachel needs me?" Ignacio asked, his heart
speeding up. Maybe she needed help at another pipe.

"Of course she needs you, although I don't
think she fully realizes how much. Come on. Don't dally." Eddie
turned away, gesturing him to follow as she walked away.

Ignacio wasn't sure if he should be worried or
content himself to be happy Rachel needed his help. Either way, he
would be there. Perhaps they could have a few minutes to talk while
they worked. It would be a poor excuse for a date, but it would
have to do.

He grabbed a jacket and rushed to catch up
with the woman. "Ms. Gilmore, should I bring any tools?"

"It's Eddie, and why would you bring tools?"
She glanced up at him out of the corner of her eyes. "What a silly
thing to ask. What good would tools do?"

When he thought about it, he realized the
woman was right. Rachel carried plenty of tools in that cart of
hers. She probably only needed him to hold something in place.
Although, maybe he should have grabbed an apron instead of a
jacket. Who knew what sorts of things Rachel got into while in the
midst of repairing.

Eddie turned into a space between two of the
warehouses and waited for him to catch up. "Don't get lost,
now."

The wall hinged forward and Eddie disappeared
into the corridor behind. He followed, but he didn't feel
comfortable about it. Not at all.

"Should we be down here?" Ignacio asked as the
door closed and latched behind him. He'd heard about the miles and
miles of hidden passageways and hidden rooms in Redpoint One. Like
many, he'd gone to see the horror film supposedly inspired by the
station. He'd discounted it, as he'd lived on it for years without
any odd thing occurring, but he wondered. Did anyone get lost and
never to come out?

"We'll be with Rachel in no time." Eddie kept
moving forward as if she knew exactly where she was going. Ignacio
could only hope she did, because after a few turns he knew it would
be hopeless for him to ever find his way back.

Ignacio always knew the infrastructure of the
station must be immense on an instinctive level. There were so many
people living in it, plus the habitable rings, the industries, but
he'd no idea how far it extended. How many walls were false fronts
leading into a maze of corridors?

A small part of him found it fascinating. He
was lucky he hadn't grown up on Redpoint One, or he might have
gotten himself into a lot of trouble trying to get into the hidden
underground world. Wow, what a great place for a kid, if they
didn't hurt themselves.

He hurried forward when he realized Eddie had
disappeared. Turning the corner, he found not only Eddie, but one
of her friends from the other day, the one with the silvery-gray
hair.

Along with a small round table covered with an
embroidered linen tablecloth in the middle of the larger corridor
with two lit candles in the middle of it. Two place settings, on on
each side, along with two chairs. The smell of lasagna filled the
air.

Ignacio froze to the spot, his brain refusing
to work. When it did, all he could ask was, "Does anyone know you
are down here?"

Eddie grinned, coming forward to guide him
towards the table. "Redpoint One does, dear. That's all that
matters. Now, sit down."

Ignacio found himself pushed down into one of
the two chairs. His dazed mind tried to figure out which of the
older women would be taking the chair opposite of him. Would it be
the bleach-blond one who wasn't with the group?

"Daisy, is it chilled?" Eddie
asked.

The silver-gray woman lifted a bottle out of
an ornate bucket filled with ice, testing the side. She nodded with
satisfaction. "All ready."

"Great. Now we wait." Both women turned to
watch the other end of the corridor, obviously waiting for someone
else to arrive.

Ignacio knew he was doomed. No matter how hard
he thought back, he couldn't remember meeting any of the women
before this. Had he somehow forgotten and the other woman
misconstrued friendliness as a come-on? He swallowed hard at the
thought. No women in his life, and now he had complications with
more than one?

He heard footsteps coming from the direction
all of them were facing. As they grew louder the more nervous he
became. To the point of growing clammy under the shirt collar. His
befuddled and confused mind then picked up more than one set of
footsteps. Either that or the person coming towards them had more
than one set of feet.

The bleach-blond woman appeared, dressed in a
purple dress with a form-fitting bodice and flaring sleeves,
looking far too pleased with herself. Ignacio stood up, making
ready an apology for leading her on in any way in a meeting he for
the life of him couldn't remember.

Then behind him appeared the one person he'd
been thinking of all day. Rachel wore the same confused expression
he knew must be on his face. Dressed in heavy dark gray pants with
heavy-duty black boots and a short-sleeved dark blue shirt, she
looked too lovely for words.

"Now we can begin," the blond woman announced
when they arrived at the table, giving both of them a broad
grin.

From the expression on Rachel's face, he
wondered if she were about to bolt. Because of him, or because of
the women around them?

"Really, I appreciate the thought, but you
shouldn't be down here," Rachel said to the women. "Plus, I have a
lot of work to do."

"It's only for a few minutes," Eddie said,
guiding her to the other chair. "They have to give you time for
lunch. It's the law."

"Just long enough for the date that should
have happened today really happens," Daisy added.

Ignacio had his answer. Apparently, they were
both the victims of interfering friends.

He relaxed. This he could handle. Besides, the
lasagna smelled delicious.

***

Ignacio. The last person Rachel expected to see
in the maintenance corridors in the middle of a shift. She blinked,
sure the illusion would disappear.

Only, Ignacio remained, sitting in the chair
on the other side of the table

When she'd first arrived Ignacio appeared as
dazed and confused as she felt. Now he only stared at her with a
soft smile, his gaze intense in a way that warmed her clear to the
core. The type of smile she'd wanted to see on his face all
along.

He didn't look like he wanted to run
now!

The air smelled great, reminding her of how
hungry she'd become. The table setting looked wonderful, right down
to Velda's good silverware. Fancy enough to be in an expensive
restaurant. The question rising in her mind: why was it all in the
middle of the maintenance corridors?

"How did you get all this down here?" Rachel
asked

"Don't worry your pretty little head about
it." Velda whipped out purple ribbons from a box against the wall.
Before Rachel could ask what she intended to do with them, Velda
tied them in her hair.

Daisy slipped something over her head and
tucked it down to her lap. Eddie started pouring red wine into two
fluted glasses. Ignacio only smiled in amusement. Rachel looked
down to find herself in a fancy apron covering most of her shirt
with a draping front that mimicked an evening dress.

"Where did you get this?" Rachel asked,
plucking at it, finding it feeling like a smooth light polished
cotton.

"Isn't it the cutest?" Daisy said. "One never
knows what they'll find at the right yard sales."

Two plates appeared with a complete lasagna
dinner arranged artistically on Velda's fine china. Velda placed a
covered basket of bread in the center of the table. Butter and
other condiments followed. Daisy placed a linen napkin on Rachel's
lap while Eddie did the same for Ignacio.

Then, all three women headed down the corridor
with Velda saying, "Have a nice evening."

The corridor went silent except for soft music
playing from the vicinity of one of the boxes. Rachel took turns
staring at the mouth-watering food and Ignacio. She didn't know
which one was more savory.

"Are they always like this?" Ignacio
asked.

"Only when they get something in their heads.
Usually they are quite boring. We're in a knitter's club," Rachel
said. "Now I know why Velda insisted I clean up before I 'helped'
her with something."

Well, not boring. When the ladies got
together, they usually got into some sort of trouble, but it was
usually benign. It was part of the fun of being with the group.
She'd just never had it turned towards her before.

"A knitter's club. That explains it. My mother
belonged to one years ago. I don't think they knitted a stitch."
Ignacio uncovered the bread and offered her two slices.

Rachel could almost believe they weren't in
the maintenance corridors of Redpoint One, but instead in one of
the finer restaurants. Warm bread. Great food. Sips of red wine.
Even gentle romantic music. The first bite of the lasagna clinched
it.

Ignacio swallowed his first bite, declaring,
"Best I've tasted in years."

"Be sure to tell Velda. She'll love you
forever," Rachel said with a grin. "So, Mr. Ignacio, how has your
day gone?"

Ignacio related the progress of the pet show.
Rachel didn't have much to report other than she'd been working
twelve-hour plus days, but had been getting a lot done. The time
and attention meant Ring Three was in the best repair since she'd
arrived.

"The whole maintenance department is dedicated
to making sure the show happens," Rachel added.
"Irvine?"

"I think I found his escape route. When I left
he was sunning himself," Ignacio said.

"Good place for him. I don't mind him,
personally. It's only when he's in my pipes that I have a problem."
A chirp from her feet had Ignacio leaning to the side to look
around the table. Rachel laughed. "Only my bot. It was
agreeing."

Ignacio straightened up, using some of the
bread to help load a fork of another bite of lasagna. "Have you
named it yet?"

"Still no success there."

"Sammie?" Ignacio asked. "Henrietta? Peter,
Trident, Wayne?"

"Temperance? Hope? Abner? Hoyt? Ash?" Rachel
watched the bot for any sign of reaction, but nothing came. She
shrugged. "It was worth a try."