Free Trifecta by Pam Richter Page B

her briefcase and took out a portfolio.  She
put it on the coffee table between them, moving the silver tray out of the way. 
She presented several articles that she had written for newspapers and magazines,
and then showed him a collection of photographs that had been published.  She had
been working as a photographer, but often wrote the text as well.  The pictures
exhibited exotic animals in Africa, mosques and minarets in Istanbul, and ruined
castles in Northern Europe.  Her specialty, though, was portraits of everyday working
people and she had pictures, some very poignant, from all over the world.
    "Brian mentioned he had an older sister who was a
photographer.  I didn't know you could really write."  He actually seemed impressed,
and she didn't know whether to be insulted or amused.
    Julia held back a smile when Quijada got all animated,
looking over her photographs, and pulled out his own heavy albums from a shelf across
the room, going over them in minute detail with her.  He had a large family, most
of whom lived in Mexico.  Then there were many pictures of himself on movie sets
in romantic locations around the world, producing motion pictures.
    He was a very charismatic person and she was uncomfortably
aware that he found her attractive.  She wondered why there were no pictures of
an immediate family, with a wife and children, but she was sure she would find out
if she was hired.
    "I'd like to change the slant on the book my brother
was writing," Julia said.  "Make it more pictorial.  In all of the photographs
from your albums, you stand out dramatically.  Your coloring, and a certain masculine
charm.  We could make this a book that would really be different, one that would
be easier for people to pick up and look at, rather than a dry dissertation of your
rise in the movie industry.  Your ideals could be shown much more graphically." 
    Aaron Quijada immediately saw the wisdom in the proposal,
as Julia though he would.  He wanted publicity and many more people would buy the
book in the format she suggested. 
    It would also give Julia much more freedom, prying into
his life, if she could roam around and take pictures.
    "You know I'm running for governor in the next election?"
Aaron asked.
    "My brother hinted at it," Julia said.  That
was not true, but she wanted him to think she knew more than she did.
    They discussed the book she would do at some length, with
the problems of using more photographs and the likelihood that the publishing company
would go for the changed format.
    While they talked, the big dog seemed to be asleep at Quijada's
feet, until Julia made any movements.  Then he would look up with little yellow,
bloodshot eyes.  She felt she did not trust either the man or the dog, but decided
she better make friends with the dog if she was going to be roaming around the grounds
of the estate.
    When Julia got up to leave she stopped and dropped to her
knees, waiting for the monster to come to her.  He finally slunk over.  She petted
him, while he slobbered on her hands.  The big dog seemed composed entirely of muscle
and gristle.  He finally lay down beside her and rolled over for a tummy rub, making
happy little grunts, which sounded more like growls, when she whispered baby talk
and patted the enormous hairy chest.
    "I told you he was just a puppy, a pushover for a
beautiful woman," Quijada said.
    When she got up the dog gazed at her with slavish devotion
and also with sadness that had she stopped her ministrations, which was supposed
to inspire guilt.  The big dog was so funny that she laughed and started stroking
him again.
    "You have the job," Aaron said, as he watched
her with his puppy, admiringly.  Julia was very beautiful when she relaxed and laughed. 
"If you would be good enough to come here tomorrow morning, I will take you
to the cottage where Brian was working and you can get started."
    Julia smiled with satisfaction when she left.  Her first
goal had been