Read Online The Fatal Fortune by Jayne Castle - Free Book Online Page B

Now, if you’re finished, you can tell me how the hell I’m supposed to set up a pension plan for a single employee.”
    Guinevere grinned. “That kind of consulting will cost you lunch tomorrow.”
    “You’re a hard woman, Guinevere Jones.”
    “It’s the company I’ve been keeping lately,” she explained.
    ***
    Guinevere planted her false tidbit with great care right after lunch. She walked back into the office with her head bent over a letter she held in her hand, making sure her expression was troubled, and when she sat down beside Francine Bates, she didn’t give her the usual friendly greeting.
    Francine watched for a while as Guinevere made a show of concentrating intently on her work. Finally the older woman spoke.
    “Everything okay, Gwen? You look worried.”
    Guinevere sniffed slightly and reached for a tissue. “I’m fine,” she said through a bleak smile as she dabbed delicately at her nose. She’d never done any acting. Warning herself not to overplay the part, she added wearily, “Family problems. You know how it is.”
    “That’s for sure,” Francine said consolingly. “Sometimes it helps to talk about it, though.”
    “I wouldn’t want to burden you with my personal problems,” Guinevere said bravely, stuffing the tissue back into her purse.
    “I don’t mind, Gwen. What are friends for?”
    After that it was easy. During the afternoon coffee break, Guinevere allowed Francine to coax the whole sordid story out of her.
    “We all thought he was doing so well,” she concluded dismally. “My parents had such hopes, and now he goes and gets himself arrested again. Oh, he claims he’s innocent, of course, but who’s going to believe him with his record? If only he hadn’t gone to Los Angeles.”
    “Just another young kid drawn by the bright lights of Southern California,” Francine said sadly. “Happens all the time. How is the rest of the family coping?”
    “About as you’d expect. My mother is heartbroken. Dad is disgusted. I’m not sure he’s going to be willing to hire a lawyer this time.”
    “What an awful situation.”
    “If only I knew what to do and what was going to happen next.” Guinevere summoned a shaky smile. “I’m half thinking about going back to Madame Zoltana’s. I’m not sure I believe in her powers, but I honestly don’t know where else to turn.”
    “Why not?” Francine agreed gently. “She might be able to give you a little hope, and we all need that from time to time.”
    “I think I’ll give her a call before we go back to work,” Guinevere said with sudden conviction.
    But there was no answer when Guinevere dialed Madame Zoltana’s number. She waited impatiently another hour and then slipped out of the office to try calling again.
    “Any luck?” Francine asked when Guinevere returned from the second attempt.
    “No. I guess she’s out for the day.”
    “Maybe you’ll be able to reach her this evening.”
    “Maybe.”
    But Guinevere couldn’t get hold of Madame Zoltana that evening, either. It was very frustrating, and she told Zac as much when he showed up at her door after work.
    “My big plan is going down the tubes, Zac. Why isn’t she answering her phone? I was all set to see her again today after I left Gage and Watson.”
    “Who knows? Maybe she’s taken a temporary vacation on another astral plane.” Zac wandered into the kitchen to see what Guinevere had going for dinner.
    “I do wish you’d stop making jokes about this case, Zac,” she muttered as she followed him into the bright yellow kitchen.
    “You never want me to have any fun,” he observed as he reached for the tequila bottle in her cupboard.
    Guinevere mumbled something under her breath. “Did you mention earlier that you were inviting yourself for dinner this evening?” she asked meaningfully.
    “I don’t believe I did. When I left the office my feet just sort of naturally turned in this direction.” He poured the tequila and recapped the bottle.