Read Online Ghost Times Two by Carolyn Hart - Free Book Online Page B

So”—and now his cold smile was challenging—“shall I accept your resignation?”
    Megan spaced the words. “If I leave, you’ll fire Anita?”
    Anita leaned against the wall, still clinging to the knob. She struggled to breathe.
    I wished I could wrap my arms around her.
    â€œIt will be a shame.” Graham’s smooth voice was mocking. “Would you like to tell her?”
    One silent moment, another. Megan’s back was rigid. Abruptly,her voice expressionless, she spoke. “I withdraw my resignation.” Megan turned to walk toward the door.
    Anita drew a gulping breath, let go of the knob, stumbled away. She hurried blindly toward her alcove.
    The door to Graham’s office was pulled back. Megan stepped into the doorway.
    Graham called out, his voice lazy with an underlying taunt. “About the Adams case. On second thought, you make the change in the brief.”
    Megan stopped, almost turned, then, her face set and hard, she strode up the hallway. She was obviously angry, holding herself in check.
    At her desk in the opposite alcove, Sharon King looked up. She glanced from Megan’s set face to Graham’s partially open door. The secretary’s gaze was intense. Perhaps, as all employees do, she was wondering how to deal with a superior who was obviously not in a pleasant mood.
    Megan was a few feet short of her office when she saw Anita huddled in her desk chair. Megan swerved to the alcove, came around the desk, put a hand on a shaking shoulder.
    Anita looked up, her lips quivering. Tears streamed down her face. “I heard what he said.” Her anguished whisper was low enough that only Megan could hear. “Bridget . . . I don’t know what I’ll do.” She held a gold-framed photograph of a young girl, perhaps twelve or thirteen, with springy brown curls and a laughing face.
    Megan plucked tissues from a box on the corner, tucked them into Anita’s free hand. “It’s all right.”
    â€œAll right?” Anita’s voice was thin, scratchy. “The doctor—”
    Megan gripped her arm. “It will be all right.”
    Her eyes wild and desperate, she stared at Megan. She held the picture in one hand, scrubbed at her face with tissues in the other.
    â€œI’m sorry you overheard my talk with Mr. Graham, but you will not lose your job.” Megan also spoke softly, but her tone was decisive. “I’m not leaving. It was a possibility, that’s all. You are not to worry.”
    â€œBut you told him—”
    Megan’s face was composed, her voice firm. “I changed my mind. Everything will be as it has been. I promise you that.”
    The intercom buzzed. Sharon King’s voice was disinterested, matter-of-fact. “Mr. Graham no longer needs to see you, Anita.”
    Anita stared up at Megan, her face splotchy. “If he fires me—”
    â€œThat isn’t going to happen. I’m here. And I’m staying.” Megan glanced at her watch. “I’d better get to work. Print out the petition in the Branson case for me.”
    Megan stepped into her office, closed the door. She walked purposefully to her desk.
    â€œMegan, you got to—”
    She cut Jimmy off. “Not now.” She slipped into her chair, bent to her right to open the bottom drawer.
    â€œThat guy’s rotten.” Jimmy was angry. “You can’t stay here. You can’t let him treat you like that.”
    She picked up her purse, yanked out her cell. “Oh, right. I walk out. He fires Anita. He knows about Bridget. He knows she only has a slim chance to live.” Her voice trembled. “So yes, I want to go with Blaine. I want out of here more than I’ve ever wanted anything. Bridget’s eleven years old. Will she get another year? I don’t know, but I have to do anything I can to give her a chance. If thenew drug works, if she gets better, maybe Anita can