Free Light in Shadow by Unknown Page A

realize," he said eventually, "that we haven't got enough yet to take to the cops?"
    "Of course I do. That's why I hired you to look into it."
    "Correction, you came to me because Radnor was a lot more expensive, but we'll let that pass
    for now." He closed the notepad and dropped it into his shirt pocket. "We've got other things
    to do."
    "Such as?"
    "I want to get a look inside the Mason house. I beg your pardon, the Mason residence."
    She stared at him, intrigued in spite of her misgivings. "You're going to break in?"
    "Hell, no. Private investigators only get to do stuff like that on television. You think I want to
    risk my license?"
    "No, I suppose not."
    His reaction to her question was entirely logical, but for some reason she felt a flicker of
    disappointment. Maybe she had allowed her fantasies about private investigators to run
    amuck.
    "It probably wouldn't be possible for you to sneak in, anyway," she said coolly. "Desert View is
    a very secure, gated community. I doubt if you would have been able to get past the guards."
    Ethan said nothing, just sat there doing enigmatic. For some reason, she was suddenly
    uneasy.
    She wondered if she'd offended him or, worse yet, made him feel awkward or embarrassed.
    Truax Investigations was a one-person agency, she reminded herself. He did not have the
    resources of a large security firm such as Radnor. She could not expect miracles. And you got
    what you paid for, she reminded herself for the ninth or tenth time.
    She cleared her throat. "I assume you've used up the two-hour minimum advance I gave you."
    "You assume right," he assured her a little too easily. "Blew right through it last night."
    "I was afraid of that." She drew herself up and fixed him with what she hoped was a steely
    glare. "How much more is this investigation going to cost me?"
    "Can't say for sure, yet. Could be another day or two before I figure out what's going on
    here."
    "Another day or two?" She was appalled. "I can't afford to pay you for that much time. Not at
    your rates."
    "Relax. I think we can work something out. After all, I'm trying to get my business up and
    running here in Whispering Springs and you're my first client. I want to make a good
    impression. Got to think of future referrals."
    "What terms are you offering?" she asked warily.
    "My sister-in-law came up with an idea. I didn't pay any attention at the time, but last night
    when I realized this case was going to take longer than expected, it occurred to me that her
    plan had some possibilities."
    "Describe these possibilities."
    "I need a little interior decorating work," he said.
    That made her pause. "I rather like the look of your office. It has a certain shabby charm."
    "Shabby charm?"
    "If you just replaced that oversized client chair and moved your desk into a better position
    and got rid of that mirror, I think you'll find that the energy flow works very well."
    "The energy flow works fine the way it is. The oversized chair is useful because it makes
    clients aware that they aren't the ones in control in that room. Makes 'em want to turn all
    their problems over to me. And if the desk interrupts the energy flow that's okay, too. I like it
    right where it is. Ditto with the mirror. It's not my office that needs redecorating."
    "What, then?"
    "My new house." He smiled. "I mean, my new residence."
    "Your residence?" She flattened her hands on the desk and shot to her feet. "Are you serious?
    You expect me to redesign your entire living space in exchange for a little more detective
    work?"
    "Sounded fair to me."
    "Well, it certainly doesn't sound that way to me. It sounds like you're trying to – " she broke
    off abruptly, aware that the phrase, screw me did not seem appropriate.
    Ethan watched her, politely expectant. Something in his expression told her he knew exactly
    what she had been about to say. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks.
    She straightened her shoulders and folded her arms. "It sounds as if you intend for me