Unintended Consequence

Unintended Consequence... ...Amanda looked over the balustrade from the top floor. She could see all the way down to the entrance of the historic building of Washington DC where a checkered parterre could easily host two Medieval court jesters. Grand marble steps appointed with red runner carpeting coiled exquisitely up Regency brass railing to surround a cut-crystal chandelier. From above, a hand on the rail was often visible as staffers on her research team ascended steps to the upper offices of the four story Beaux Arts Building. A lovely place to work, they all told her. But as she was about to ask the receptionist if Barbara had arrived yet, her eyes suddenly narrowed. "Janice..." she asked into her cell phone earpiece "What is that package at the bottom of the steps...?"