12: Harriet.

"Could you move the tree a little to the right?" I wait for the maintenance technician to shuffle the potted foliage a few centimeters, leaning back to inspect its symmetry with the rest of the room. "Perfect."

I reach up to adjust the string of orange and white lights hanging in the "haunted" tree, then turn to survey the rest of the room. The Firestarter Halloween party is just over a week away and we're already halfway through decorating the warehouse space I found. We currently have the overhead halogens off so I can get the full effect of the purple and orange lighting that will run throughout the room. Tables are being positioned strategically, the bar stocked, the crime scene arranged.

It's coming together beautifully.

Locke will be pleased with me.

Hope and yearning and obsession join forces inside of my chest, expanding, causing me to lose my train of thought along with my breath. Yes, more than anything in this world, I want that man to be happy with my efforts here. I want