Free Trifecta by Pam Richter Page A

female.  Bruno would never attack a woman."
    Wonderfully comforting, Julia thought.  It wouldn't be
easy  sneaking around with that enormous dog on the premises.  Julia felt certain
that the mystery of what had happened to her brother would be revealed here.  There
were secrets that were hiding.  She planned to explore every crevice of the place. 
If she got the job.
    Aaron Quijada introduced himself and led her into his home. 
The entrance hallway had a fountain with the statue of a nude boy and girl in the
center, holding hands.  They walked around it and down a few steps into the sunken
living room, which seemed spacious as a football field.  Aaron indicated a white
brocade couch for her, and he sat down in a leather chair.
    He had obviously been expecting her and a silver service
with coffee was on the table in front of her, with several plates offering cakes
and cookies.  Aaron poured her a cup of coffee and took one himself.
    "You have a strong resemblance to your brother,"
Quijada said, as he settled back comfortably.  "I was surprised and saddened
by his death.  We had become good friends."
    Julia nodded and waited.
    "We had been working together for a couple of months,
as you know.  I'll take you back to the cottage where Brian was staying.  You can
look over his notes.  I have to admit, I didn't know if this was a good idea, your
finishing up his work, until you told me that no one else could decipher his writing. 
I went back there and tried to understand what he had written down, and could not
make out one word."
    Julia sighed deeply, unaware that she did so.  "We
made up a kind of shorthand, when we were just little kids.  Each figure represents
a thought rather than a word.  It's almost as fast as typing.  But no one else can
read it.  He would have transposed those notes to his computer, though."
    "Yes.  Well, I know computers, and that was a mystery,
too.  He didn't seem to have much written down, although when we were together he
took copious notes."
    Julia wasn't surprised.  Brian always used codes when he
was writing a first draft.  Until you knew the code and put it in the computer,
the work would not show up at all, even in the computer's directory.  Brian had
not liked anyone seeing his writing until it was complete.  She just hoped she could
figure out what the codes were so she could gain access to his files.  Then she
would have all of the information.  Maybe there would be cryptic messages buried
within that would disclose more about his death.
    "I understand that you are under some pressure, because
the publisher is expecting a first draft at the end of the month," Julia said.
    Quijada nodded.  "Another reason why I wanted to find
someone who could work quickly.  Brian said he was almost ready to send the first
few chapters to the publisher for editing, but now I can't find them.  If we agree
that you will take over, you could stay here, if that would be acceptable.  There
are guest bedrooms, or the cottage that Brian was using."
    "I would be totally at your disposal," Julia
answered, "but I would rather stay in a hotel.  I have reserved a room at the
Beverly Hills Hotel.  It's just a short drive from here, and I have my own car,
so I can accommodate any schedule you like."
    She could tell he was still undecided and was surprised
by the thought that it was because she was a woman.  Why, the man is a chauvinist,
she decided, startled that he could have lived so long in the United States and
still have antiquated ideas about the ability of the female sex.  Of course, Aaron
had been brought up in a very male dominated culture, being of Mexican descent. 
    Julia had dressed in a business-like fashion, as she always
did when going out for a job.  She had on a grey tailored suit and had tucked her
hair into a severe bun at the back of her neck.  But that was not enough to impress
him with her professionalism.  She had to prove she could do the work.
    Julia opened