The Fatal Fortune Read Online Free Page B

going.” She turned away and moved hurriedly down the hall, aware of Rick Overstreet’s golden eyes following her into a large room at the end of the corridor. The moment she was out of his sight she realized she was breathing too quickly, as if she had been running. Guinevere forced herself to take a deep, calming breath, as a businesslike, auburn-haired woman in her thirties came forward with a smile.
    “You must be Miss Jones, from the agency. Very glad to see you. I understand your typing is excellent. We were worried when we learned that Sally was ill, but Camelot Services assured us someone would be along to replace her. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about word processors, too, would you?”
    Guinevere smiled at the familiar question. “I’m reasonably familiar with the standard office models.” She glanced around and saw what brand was in use at Gage and Watson. “I think I can manage.”
    “Thank goodness. We could have used you as a typist, but frankly, you’ll be far more useful on the word processor. Come over here and meet Francine Bates. She’ll show you the ropes.”
    Francine Bates was everyone’s idea of a mother figure. Warm, slightly plump, her gray hair worn in a soft halo around her smiling features, she might have just stepped out of the kitchen with a tray of cookies and milk. Guinevere remembered vaguely that Sally Evenson had mentioned her.
    “Sit down, and I’ll show you what we’re doing,” Francine invited cheerfully. “Don’t worry, Lisa,” she added to the typing pool supervisor. “I’ll have her up and running in no time. Do you want her to start on the Copperfield report?”
    “That would be great,” Lisa Malcolm said. “It’s due on Friday.” She smiled and went off to organize the early morning chaos at the other end of the room.
    “I appreciate the help,” Guinevere said, tucking her shoulder bag into her desk drawer as she sat down in front of the word processor.
    “No problem. You’re from the same agency little Sally Evenson was from, aren’t you? I recognize the jacket.”
    “That’s right. Sally had to take the rest of the week off. I’m filling in for her.”
    Francine nodded. “Sally’s a sweet thing, a sensitive young woman. I’ve enjoyed working with her for the past few weeks. I hope she’s all right?”
    “Oh, yes. Just a slight cold.”
    Francine clucked sympathetically as she arranged papers on Guinevere’s desk. “Such a frail little thing. Probably doesn’t take much to make her ill. I told her she wasn’t eating properly. Lord knows what she does eat. Probably just fast food. I’ve thought about taking her over to my sister’s place on the coast for a few days. My sister’s a great cook. She could put a little meat on Sally’s bones. Well, back to business, here’s what the big rush is all about,” she went on, pointing to the papers she had placed on the desk. “This report is due on Friday. Of course, management didn’t get it to us until the last minute, and there have been changes almost every day. I don’t know how they expect us to do a final version by Friday, when they’re probably still going to be making revisions on Thursday night. But I guess that’s management for you.”
    “Yes,” Guinevere agreed feelingly, “that’s management.”
    The work occupied Guinevere throughout the morning. During that time she met the other people who worked in the office, all of whom were women. She was invited to accompany Francine Bates and a few of the others on coffee break in the building cafeteria and accepted the invitation with alacrity. She wanted to become part of the group as quickly as possible, not only because it was company policy for a Camelot Services employee to be friendly, but because it would be the fastest way to make contact with Madame Zoltana.
    The conversation at coffee break covered everything from troublesome teenagers to the new fall styles showing up in the local department stores.