Fair Game Inc (2010) (7 page)

Grayson had the decency to look chastised.

Amber shut the filing cabinet with more force than she intended. oMark my words, counselor, from now on you wonAEt get one second more of my time than IAEm legally obligated to provide.o

He eyed her sheepishly. oI canAEt find a thing.o

Amber grabbed him by the sleeve of his white shirt. The glare she offered leveled the height difference between them. oCome on, then Einstein, let me show you. ItAEs all very simple, alphabetical order, you know, like we all learned in kindergarten.o

He stood uncharacteristically quiet while she went over the files, now neatly arranged in the main filing cabinet. After that, she outlined the system in his own file drawer, the one heAEd presumably invented. But when she went to show him where sheAEd put the files that belonged in BarlowAEs office, the door was locked.

oThereAEs a key in my top desk drawer,o Grayson said, turning back down the hall to his own office. A moment later he returned, hands stuffed boyishly into his pockets. oIAEm sure there was a key in my top drawer at one time.o

oI can just imagine what your apartment looks like,o she growled, taking a seat once again behind NicoleAEs desk.

She expected him to storm back down the hall to his own office, but instead he leaned against the filing cabinet.

oOh yeah? So tell me, Amber, private investigator extraordinaire, what does my apartment look like? Did you go out there and peer in my windows?o

oOf course not. I have a life. I have a business thatAEs suffering because of your little scheme here.o

He waited.

oOkay,o she said, taking the bait. oYou own a condo in a luxury building.o

oWrong.o

oTownhouse, then. Downtown, close to the office.o

oClose enough,o he said obliquely, but there was a hint of mischief in his expression.

oTwo bedrooms, den.o

oWrong.o

oThree.o

oWrong again.o He smiled triumphantly.

Four perhaps? Now why would a single man want a house that big, she wondered. Unless in fact he wasnAEt single. SheAEd just assumed. Perhaps he lived with someone. AmberAEs eyes narrowed. Still, he just didnAEt have that look of married man. He was too untidy.

Now thatAEs a sexist thought. Her friend Nancy was one of the most untidy people she knew. And sheAEd been married for six years.

Amber shut her eyes like a fortune teller deep in thought. oLet me see, itAEs professionally decorated.o

oWrong.o

oAll right, you decorated it yourself, in one shopping trip to one of those catalog outlet stores.o

oI did not!o

Amber smiled. oSo it was two trips.o

Grayson crossed his arms. oYouAEre not exactly batting a thousand here, Ms. Shaw, Private Investigator.o

oOkay, itAEs ... tastefully, but unremarkably decorated.o

oGive me some credit.o

Amber continued undaunted. oMost of the rooms arenAEt lived in. A cleaning lady comes in once a week to keep it dusted and to do your laundry. You order your groceries from one of the few stores that delivers every Saturday. Except for the den and the master bedroom, you wouldnAEt know anyone actually lived there. The only appliance in the kitchen that gets regular use is the coffee maker.o

oWrong,o he snapped. oIAEm a gourmet cook.o

That stopped her. oReally?o Now she was going to have to rethink her profile of Grayson Charles, yet again. oBut you havenAEt cooked in a long time. Not since the trouble at the firm.o

oThereAEs no trouble at my firm.o He pushed himself away from the filing cabinet and stormed down the hall. oWeAEre just a little short of help right now.o

Amber waited until the door closed behind him. After counting to ten, she followed him.

oWhat is it?o he demanded when she knocked softly on his door.

oSpeaking of help.o Amber poked her head into his office. oNow that the secretarial work is under control, is there anything else I can do to be of assistance?o Seeing as I am a trained professional...o She let the sentence trail off.

For a moment he seemed at a loss, then he shoved a file folder across the desk. oThere are a few facts in here that need checking.o Amber took the file. She glanced at the clock on GraysonAEs desk. oFine, the reference library is open until eight. ThatAEs where IAEll be.o He didnAEt say anything as she left. ****

Grayson scowled at the work piled high on his desk. Why did everyone, from Roger, to Barlow and now the self-assured Ms. Shaw, think they had him figured out? He sat back in his chair, BarlowAEs words still digging at his subconscious. Was he truly like his father whoAEd never been cut out to be a lawyer?

No, Roger favored Dad far more than he. Roger had been his favorite. His father had had a competent but hardly stellar career. Was Barlow right in his criticism? Jumpy John was merely paranoid, he decided. That kind of control freak would find fault in anything he did.

So why did he feel like such a heel? Why did Amber ShawAEs assessment of his lifestyle, down to the well-used coffee maker unsettle him? He should have thanked her for her hard work. It was generous of her, considering. He probably would have if Barlow hadnAEt made him so angry.

The phone startled him from his musing.

oKnew IAEd find you there,o Roger said, before heAEd even had a chance to say hello. oDonAEt you know that all work and no play makes Grayson a dull boy?o

oRoger--o Even to his own ears, his voice sounded tired and much older than his thirty-one years. oI really am busy. A little sympathy might be nice.o

oSympathy? Gray, I think you ought to get off your butt here. If Jumpy John isnAEt pulling his own weight, you should get yourself another partner.o

oSome help you are, Roger.o

oAnd speaking of nice butts--o

oRoger!o

oHow is the lovely Ms. Shaw?o

oSheAEs a great person to have on your side rather than in opposition.o

There was a long meaningful pause on the other end of the phone line. Finally Roger said, a little enviously, oAnd here I underestimated you, brother.o

oDonAEt be ridiculous, sheAEs just helping out at the firm.o

oNow that is a waste of a great opportunity.o

oWhat opportunity would that be?o

oGray, you are truly hopeless. But one manAEs castoffs are another manAEs treasures. So they say.o

oShe wouldnAEt even look at you.o

oWhat makes you so sure?o

Grayson sighed. oWhat did you want, Roger?o

oWanted to know if you could squeeze half an hour from that busy schedule of yours for a drink.o

oSorry, not tonight.o

oYouAEre getting awfully boring in your old age.o

oBye, Roger.o

oBye, Gray. Oh, and say hello to Ms. Shaw for me will you?o

oIAEm sure sheAEd much rather strangle you, instead.o

Laughing, Roger hung up the phone.

Grayson glowered at his empty office. Even having her company for one night was a vast improvement. She was a lively office-mate. And he did enjoy a good argument. He smiled grimly. It was the most attention heAEd had from a woman in months.

****

Two fact finding tools most people overlooked were the telephone book and the public library. If you asked the right questions, if you knew where to look, if you kept your eyes open, information retrieval was easy. AmberAEs fact finding mission took less than half an hour. Not much got by her. The ability to read people was a skill sheAEd had since childhood.

So why was it so hard to place Grayson Charles? Why did he stubbornly refuse to be the villain she so desperately wanted him to be?

SheAEd heard him tell Barlow what a great help sheAEd been, yet he spared not even a word of thanks for her hard work. And every time she was ready to slap him for his arrogance, he looked at her with those lost dark eyes, and she found herself working overtime as his secretary while her own work suffered.

Amber let herself back into the offices of Barlow & Charles. Dumping the files on NicoleAEs desk, she turned to go down the hall toward his private office.

And found Grayson leaning against the filing cabinet, waiting for her.

She jumped, in spite of herself and bit back a very unladylike word.

oI was waiting for you,o he said softly.

oSo I see.o She waited patiently to hear what heAEd say next.

oIAEm sorry I took off after you earlier.o

Amber opened her mouth to offer a othatAEs okayo, but he held up his hand so sheAEd let him continue.

oPlease forgive my bad behavior. IAEve been under a lot of pressure lately, not that thatAEs any excuse,o he said quickly. oBut I wanted to thank you for your hard work. It was generous of you, in view of the circumstances.o

Amber found herself smiling. A nice euphemism. Especially since the court had ordered her. But it was nice to know her help was appreciated. oI couldnAEt resist, you were in such a pathetic mess.o

oGee, thanks.o

oYouAEre welcome.o

They looked at each other, suddenly uncomfortable.

oHereAEs the material you wanted from the library,o she said, picking up the file folder.

Grayson took it from her hands and put it back down on the desk. oI was wondering if youAEd like to have a drink with me. My brother, Roger,o he winced at the sound of RogerAEs name and the significance it had to Amber, but she smiled back and he continued. oMy brother says that too much work makes me boring.o

oHeAEs probably right about that,o Amber said. oBut I have to admit IAEm guilty of the same crime. When you love your work so much, sometimes itAEs hard to stop.o

oHave you had dinner?o

As if on cue, AmberAEs stomach growled. oNo, I came straight from,o she paused, self consciously, owell, the surveillance I was working on.o

oDid you get him?o

Amber grinned wickedly. oI got him.o

oWhy donAEt we call it a night then? I know this place that makes great burgers, assuming that you eat meat--o

oRight now I could devour a steak!o

oThey make great steaks, too.o

He looked so open, so vulnerable, she couldnAEt help but agree. oSounds great, Counselor. LetAEs go.o

The unseasonably warm air packed the sidewalks with people enjoying one of the last pleasant nights of the season. They walked the couple of blocks to the tiny restaurant Grayson suggested and sat outside on the patio.

oSo,o Amber said as they finished the last of their coffee. oTell me about John Barlow. That was him who stormed past me earlier, wasnAEt it?o

oIn the flesh,o Grayson admitted.

oHeAEs a lot older than I expected somehow.o

oLike I said, he was my fatherAEs partner.o

oAnd you felt obligated to join the firm.o

oWe arenAEt in court, Amber. I donAEt have to answer your questions.o

She laughed and dug into the scoop of ice cream sitting in the silver bowl. oSorry, force of habit.o

He picked up his own spoon and stole a scoop of her ice cream. oBut IAEll answer your question anyway. Barlow & Charles was my motherAEs only source of support. I couldnAEt let her down. My father died young, before heAEd had a chance to save for a comfortable retirement.o

oAnd Roger wasnAEt going to follow in your dadAEs footsteps?o

oRoger helps when he can,o Grayson said defensively. oYou shouldnAEt judge him by what Sandy said. HeAEs really not so bad.o

oHe dumped her, Grayson. After heAEd led her to believe they were going to get married.o

oRoger has a problem with commitment.o

oIAEm not surprised.o

oThereAEs no law against it.o

oThere ought to be.o

He swiped the last mouthful of ice cream. oLetAEs stop talking about Roger.o

oDeal.o

oNow that IAEve answered your questions, youAEre obligated to answer mine.o

oLike you said, Counselor, weAEre not in court.o

oYouAEre free to take the fifth.o

She laughed. oWhat is it that you so badly want to know?o

oWhat attracts a nice woman like you to a career getting even with straying men?o

Dangerous ground, that, Amber thought. oI take the fifth. And I never said I was nice.o

oHave you never had a male client?o

That softly spoken question stopped her cold. oNo,o she said laying down her spoon. oI-I guess I havenAEt. Not that I wouldnAEt, you know represent one, itAEs just that no manAEs ever shown up in my office.o

oBut they must exist, men whoAEve been dumped.o

oThe statistics donAEt speak well for your gender, Mr. Charles.o

He frowned. oThere are always anomalies in the statistics.o

oIAEm sure there are. But IAEve never met one, in all the cases IAEve handled.o