Free Mother's Milk by Charles Atkins Page B

he’s had people do his dirty work enough times before.’
    â€˜I’m not ruling it out, but step back and tell me what else is gone or disturbed in any way.’
    â€˜They’ve been on my computer. My files are password-protected, but …’
    â€˜I’m on my way. Try not to touch anything else.’ And then he added, ‘This could have to do with the kid?’
    She first thought of Max, but then realized, ‘Jerod? It’s possible, I don’t know.’
    â€˜It could be, but if it’s an inside job, it’s someone who didn’t know you had him moved to Croton last night.’
    â€˜Right,’ and holding the phone she looked up as her door banged open. She expected Marla, but it was Hugh Osborn in a dark suit. ‘I got to go, Ed.’
    â€˜Dr. Conyors,’ Hugh said, not acknowledging the wreck of her office. He held a Manila folder in one hand and a document that Barrett immediately recognized as his year-end evaluation in the other. ‘This is unacceptable.’ He waved the disputed report in the air. His fingers crumpled the pages. ‘I will not let you put this in my file.’
    â€˜Hugh,’ Barrett said, not about to get sucked in, ‘I gave you ample warning about what was going in there. I told you the areas you needed to improve …’
    â€˜Unacceptable! I’ve worked for the State of New York for over fifteen years, and I have always received the highest marks on my evaluations. If you think you can slander my reputation this way, you’ve got another thing coming; this is libel! I am not going to stand by and let you do this.’
    â€˜That’s fine, Hugh,’ Barrett said, picturing what it would feel like to land a roundhouse kick on his perfectly combed head; if only he put half the time in his work that he did in being so immaculately groomed. ‘You’re a member of the union; bring it up with your delegate. There’s a process for that. Other than that, what I put in there is accurate and stands. Now, I’ve got more important matters to deal with,’ she said, opening her arms.
    He blinked and finally took in the wreckage of her office. ‘What happened?’
    â€˜Don’t know yet,’ she said, realizing that high up on her list of insiders who might have a grudge against her would be Hugh. ‘Intend to find out … what time did you leave yesterday?’
    â€˜You think I had something to do with this?’ his tone incredulous.
    â€˜Of course not, but maybe you saw something.’
    His dark eyes scanned her office. ‘I left the regular time, didn’t see a thing.’
    Barrett detected a rapid shift in his expression, it was hard to pin down, but he was worried. Stepping toward him and the open door. ‘Looks like someone came after something, someone who knew where my office was, someone who had access to the building.’
    As she advanced he stepped back. ‘You certain you didn’t see anyone,’ she asked, ‘or know anything?’
    â€˜Of course not.’ He broke from her gaze. ‘I have reports I need to finish.’
    You lying, sneaky bastard,
she thought,
you know something.
But then again,
He seems genuinely surprised by the break-in …
‘Yes,’ she said, ‘you sure do, and that’s why you got the evaluation you did. You have a lot of overdue reports. And if you decide to push the grievance with the union – which is entirely your right – I have all the data I need to back up your evaluation. I could have made it much worse.’
    â€˜I’m not surprised someone did this,’ he said maliciously, ‘you can’t treat people this way, and I know my rights; I am not going to let this go into my file. I refuse to sign it.’
    â€˜Fine.’ She noted the flare of his nostrils and the clenching of his jaw. ‘I’ll make a notation that you refused to acknowledge receiving