Read Online Knight Life by Peter David - Free Book Online Page B

swiveled her head back toward Gwen and focused on her, like an irritated snake studying an especially annoying bird. “We don’t have a personnel department,” she said deliberately, as if addressing an imbecile. “Mr. Penn himself will see you and decide either yes or no. All right?”
    Â Â Â Â  “Yes. All right,” said Gwen, feeling completely cowed.
    Â Â Â Â  “Any more questions?” she asked in the tone of someone who didn’t want to hear any.
    Â Â Â Â  “No, ma’am.”
    Â Â Â Â  The receptionist went back to watching. What appeared to be an unspeakably long time passed, and finally Gwen ventured in a small voice, “Nice weather we’re having, isn’t it?”
    Â Â Â Â  She’d barely gotten the words out when thunder rumbled from outside and rain smacked in huge droplets against the single office window. Gwen glanced heavenward.
    Â Â Â Â  “He will see you now,” said the receptionist abruptly. She was still looking away. What the hell was she watching for?
    Â Â Â Â  “Who will?” said Gwen, but quickly recovered. She stood and said, “Well, thank you. Thank you very much.” She smoothed her denim skirt. “You’ve been very kind.”
    Â Â Â Â  “No, I haven’t,” was the tart response. “I’ve treated you like garbage.”
    Â Â Â Â  “I beg your—”
    Â Â Â Â  Now the receptionist had once again focused her attentionon Gwen. She spoke briskly and incisively, dissecting Gwen as if her words were scalpels. “You let people walk over you, dear, you’ll never get anywhere.” She stabbed a finger at Gwen. “Your personal relationships have the success rate of buggy-whip manufacturers, right?”
    Â Â Â Â  Gwen drew herself up to her full height. “Now I don’t think that’s any of your—”
    Â Â Â Â  “You don’t think? Hmph. I bet.” The woman chucked a thumb at a closed office door, and it was only then that Gwen noticed what incredible green eyes she had. “Go in. He’s expecting you. And for pity’s sake, don’t let yourself be used as a doormat. You’ve got too pretty a face to let it be filled with shoe prints.” And with that she went back to watching the front entrance.
    Â Â Â Â  Silently Gwen walked past her, completely confused. She went right up to the door, then swung about on her heel to face the receptionist.
    Â Â Â Â  There was no one there.
    Â Â Â Â  Gwen’s eyebrows knit in confusion. She walked back to the desk, looked around. Nothing. Under the desk was nothing. But the receptionist hadn’t gone out the door—it had creaked horrendously when Gwen had entered; she would have heard an exit. Out of curiosity she rested a hand on the cushion of the seat behind the desk. It was cool, as if no one had been sitting there all day.
    Â Â Â Â  “Ooookaydokay,” she said finally, went quickly to the office door that the receptionist had indicated, and swung it open.
    Â Â Â Â  She was a little surprised to see a bearded man deep in discussion with a boy who looked to be about eight years old. They were speaking in low, intense tones, and it was quite clear to Gwen that there was none of the typical adult condescension in the man as he argued with the boy. Not the slightest. Apparently this Arthur Penn, if that was who this in fact happened to be, treated everyone as an equal.
    Â Â Â Â  Either that or he had a thing for little boys. This naturallyset off alarm bells in Gwen’s head, but she didn’t want to rush to judgment. Still, she promised herself that she’d keep a wary eye on him, and if there was even the slightest sign of any impropriety, not only would she be out of there but she’d make personally sure that the police were brought