Read Online The Thirteen Hallows by Michael Scott, Colette Freedman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michael Scott, Colette Freedman
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heroics as a selfless Samaritan.”
The words were coming more slowly now, the s’s stretching out to their maximum potential, and Sarah bit harder on the soft flesh of her inner cheek, keeping her face in an expressionless mask.
“Sir Simon is delighted with your fearless actions yesterday. He feels that it projects the correct image for the bank…” After drawing in a deep breath, he finished in a rush, “And asked that I personally convey to you his compliments and good wishes.”
“Thank you, sir.” Sarah stood up to leave.
Seth Hinkle glanced up sharply. “This woman you saved yesterday, had you ever met her before?”
“No, sir.”
“Did you by any chance know that she was associated with Sir Simon?”
“No, sir.”
Seth Hinkle straightened a row of unsharpened pencils on his immaculate desk. “So you mean to tell me that you came to the assistance of an old woman you had never met before, escorted her to her home two bloody hours away, and when you discovered it had been burgled, you generously brought her back to the privacy of your own house, where she spent the night.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you in the habit of picking up strangers, Ms. Miller?”
“No, sir.”
“Well, what made this woman so different?”
“I’m…I’m not quite sure, sir.”
Hinkle laced his fingers together and slowly moved his gaze from Sarah’s breasts to a space above her head. “Do you want to know what I think, Ms. Miller? I think this whole business stinks to high heaven. You are fully aware that your position here is tenuous at best and your work has been lackluster to say the least. You have ignored the recommendations of senior staff. I believe you know that in the upcoming restructuring of this department, there may be no position for you.” The older man took a deep breath and ran a hand across his flaking scalp. The once rich chestnut hair was now peppered with premature gray. Hinkle was a bully, and it was common knowledge in the department that he liked nothing better than dressing down a staff member, particularly a female staff member. “I think you somehow knew this woman was connected to Sir Simon and you set it up with her to ingratiate yourself with him.”
Sarah was about to protest but decided against it.
“You can go. But I’ll be keeping my eye on you.”
Sarah bobbed her head and turned away quickly before the older man could see the broad grin across her face. She kept her face impassive as she strolled through the outer office, under the imperious stare of Miss Morgan, Hinkle’s niece and secretary. She was smiling as she strolled down the long, echoing corridor. Hinkle looked as if he’d swallowed a lemon as he’d passed on Sir Simon’s commendation. The first thing she’d do would be to source Sir Simon’s address and write him a personal letter of thanks…No, the first thing she’d do would be to contact Judith Walker and thank her for bringing her to the notice of one of the senior partners. She had said something yesterday about contacting her boss, but Sarah had forgotten all about it; obviously Judith hadn’t.
The cubicle Sarah shared with another junior account manager was deserted, computers humming softly in the silence.
She Googled Judith Walker.
There were dozens of entries. However, all of them involved her children’s books: young adult fantasy adventure stories along the lines of The Enchanted Mountain and The Sorcerer’s Cloak, which had made her quite a popular author. Naturally, her address would not be public. There were too many psychos out there who wanted to own a piece of fame. Perhaps it was one of Judith’s fans who had done that to her home. Yet why would anyone be that destructive? She could understand if Judith Walker were a rock star or a famous actress, but she was just an elderly children’s book author. Why would someone want to hurt her?
If she really wanted to make the effort, Sarah was sure she could find the address again,
The words were coming more slowly now, the s’s stretching out to their maximum potential, and Sarah bit harder on the soft flesh of her inner cheek, keeping her face in an expressionless mask.
“Sir Simon is delighted with your fearless actions yesterday. He feels that it projects the correct image for the bank…” After drawing in a deep breath, he finished in a rush, “And asked that I personally convey to you his compliments and good wishes.”
“Thank you, sir.” Sarah stood up to leave.
Seth Hinkle glanced up sharply. “This woman you saved yesterday, had you ever met her before?”
“No, sir.”
“Did you by any chance know that she was associated with Sir Simon?”
“No, sir.”
Seth Hinkle straightened a row of unsharpened pencils on his immaculate desk. “So you mean to tell me that you came to the assistance of an old woman you had never met before, escorted her to her home two bloody hours away, and when you discovered it had been burgled, you generously brought her back to the privacy of your own house, where she spent the night.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you in the habit of picking up strangers, Ms. Miller?”
“No, sir.”
“Well, what made this woman so different?”
“I’m…I’m not quite sure, sir.”
Hinkle laced his fingers together and slowly moved his gaze from Sarah’s breasts to a space above her head. “Do you want to know what I think, Ms. Miller? I think this whole business stinks to high heaven. You are fully aware that your position here is tenuous at best and your work has been lackluster to say the least. You have ignored the recommendations of senior staff. I believe you know that in the upcoming restructuring of this department, there may be no position for you.” The older man took a deep breath and ran a hand across his flaking scalp. The once rich chestnut hair was now peppered with premature gray. Hinkle was a bully, and it was common knowledge in the department that he liked nothing better than dressing down a staff member, particularly a female staff member. “I think you somehow knew this woman was connected to Sir Simon and you set it up with her to ingratiate yourself with him.”
Sarah was about to protest but decided against it.
“You can go. But I’ll be keeping my eye on you.”
Sarah bobbed her head and turned away quickly before the older man could see the broad grin across her face. She kept her face impassive as she strolled through the outer office, under the imperious stare of Miss Morgan, Hinkle’s niece and secretary. She was smiling as she strolled down the long, echoing corridor. Hinkle looked as if he’d swallowed a lemon as he’d passed on Sir Simon’s commendation. The first thing she’d do would be to source Sir Simon’s address and write him a personal letter of thanks…No, the first thing she’d do would be to contact Judith Walker and thank her for bringing her to the notice of one of the senior partners. She had said something yesterday about contacting her boss, but Sarah had forgotten all about it; obviously Judith hadn’t.
The cubicle Sarah shared with another junior account manager was deserted, computers humming softly in the silence.
She Googled Judith Walker.
There were dozens of entries. However, all of them involved her children’s books: young adult fantasy adventure stories along the lines of The Enchanted Mountain and The Sorcerer’s Cloak, which had made her quite a popular author. Naturally, her address would not be public. There were too many psychos out there who wanted to own a piece of fame. Perhaps it was one of Judith’s fans who had done that to her home. Yet why would anyone be that destructive? She could understand if Judith Walker were a rock star or a famous actress, but she was just an elderly children’s book author. Why would someone want to hurt her?
If she really wanted to make the effort, Sarah was sure she could find the address again,
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