Free Five O’Clock Shadow by Susan Slater Page B

the office door.
    â€œMr. Dougal, I was—” Noralee had jumped up.
    â€œNoralee, sit down. I don’t think we’ve finished here.” Pauly’s voice was firm and she waited until the flustered woman sank back into the chair, nervously and hopelessly pulling her skirt towards her knees.
    â€œActually, Tom, maybe you can help. I seem to be missing the files on the Rio Grande project. I’d like to keep at least a copy in my office. Recent decisions by legislators, reports by special action groups, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concerns, that sort of thing. All the data that Randy had collected.”
    â€œSure. That can be arranged. We’ve set up an archive down the hall but if you’d rather work here, that’s fine. The decision to move everything out was mine. Thought I’d let you tell us what you wanted to keep close by. Have Noralee help you get set up.” He smiled broadly at the nervous secretary. “Is it any secret that Randy wasn’t exactly the neatest person? I’ve left everything from the files in boxes, pretty much in the order they came out of the drawers or off the tables. I can have the stuff brought back. But you should have seen this place. Had to get rid of the clutter just to decorate.”
    Pauly had to laugh. Randy was a slob when it came to surrounding himself with a project. Literally. Stacks of papers, manuals, everything within reach in case it might be needed. She had helped to refile after more than one project. “I won’t promise to be any neater. Noralee, get a couple guys from the mail room to help cart the stuff up here. Just leave the boxes beside the cabinets. I’d like to pick through and decide what I need, at my leisure.” Noralee nodded and left the room. A little too hurriedly, Pauly decided. She was going to have trouble with that woman. Loyalty problems. It was going to be “Mr. McIntyre this, Mr. McIntyre that.” Would she be able to handle it?
    â€œI’m looking forward to Friday.”
    She’d almost forgotten Tom. “Me, too.” And that wasn’t exactly a lie. It would be good to go out.
    He moved to stand beside her and take her hand. “I hope any misunderstandings are forgiven. I want you to be comfortable here. I want you to be successful. Can you believe that?”
    â€œI want to believe it.” Almost desperately, Pauly thought. She needed to trust both Tom and Archer. Needed to be able to go to them with problems. But what had Tony said? The firm had hired a private detective? This might be as good a time as any to let him know that she knew.
    â€œTom, why are you having me investigated?”
    â€œI’m not sure I’m following you.” He looked perplexed but let her hand drop.
    â€œI believe the firm has hired a PI, and I seem to be his target.” Her voice was low, matter-of-fact.
    â€œThat’s simply not true.” Tom’s hands were on her shoulders, turning her to face him, and his eye contact was steady. “We wouldn’t do such a thing. But more importantly, there would be no reason to do something like that. Do you know the supposed reasoning behind it?”
    â€œI hoped you could tell me.” Pauly wanted to squirm away but she didn’t. She was as direct as he was and as deliberate; her eyes never wavered.
    â€œI can’t help. It just isn’t something we’d do.” She thought he looked a little apprehensive. “Who told you this?”
    His hands tightened on her shoulders, and he didn’t wait for her answer before going on. “Is someone trying to scare you?”
    â€œNo. But I believe my source, who shall remain nameless for now.” She gently pushed Tom’s hands away. “I want this partnership to be successful. I’ll do everything I can to make it so.”
    â€œNo one thinks otherwise.” Tom had stepped back but was watching her. Like he was seeing her for the