Dawn in Eclipse Bay

in the whole damn state.”
    “But what would you do with it?”
    “Why don’t you ask your boyfriend, here. I’m sure he understands what that kind of information is worth these days.”
    “A fortune.” Gabe released Anderson and got to his feet. “Good client data is one of the most valuable commodities on the market today. Businesses, investors, politicians, charitable organizations, you name it, they all want it. They’ll all pay big bucks for solid background on people who have a lot of money to spend.”
    Lillian looked at Anderson. “You never were interested in collaborating on a book, were you? You were after my client roster all along. Who did you plan to sell my files to?”
    He sat up slowly, wincing. “I hadn’t finalized my list of prospects. I was still working on it when you announced that you intended to close down Private Arrangements. When I realized you were serious, my first thought was to salvage the data. I offered to buy your program, thinking I’d get the client list with it. But you refused to sell.”
    “So you tried to steal it.”
    “I didn’t intend to steal the damned files.” Anderson actually looked offended. “I just wanted to take a copy for myself.”
    “You don’t call that theft?” Lillian asked.
    His jaw clenched. “It wasn’t like you had any use for that data.”
    “When you didn’t find her files in Portland, you followed her here to Eclipse Bay,” Gabe said. “That night in the restaurant you encountered the perfect prospect for the client info. Marilyn Thornley. A politician badly in need of a rich donor list.”
    Some of the fierceness returned briefly to Anderson’s expression. “She needs those names and the background on those people.”
    Lillian opened her mouth. Gabe didn’t know what she planned to say but quite suddenly he had had enough. He shook his head once. She got the message and remained silent.
    “Let’s get out of here,” he said.
    She glanced once more at Anderson and then walked to the door.
    “Just a minute.” Anderson gripped the edge of the television set to steady himself. “What are you going to do? You can’t involve Marilyn in this. She had nothing to do with it.”
    “Don’t worry, Flint.” Gabe opened the door. “We’re not going to do a damn thing. I told you, all we wanted was the truth. It stops here, provided you leave Lillian alone. But if you make another move to get her computer, I’ll take the story straight to the cops and to the press.”
    Anderson looked horrified. “Marilyn’s campaign couldn’t survive that kind of scandal at this stage. Things are too delicate.”
    “I know,” Gabe said. “You have my word that if you leave Lillian alone, this won’t go any further.”
    “I swear I won’t bother her again.” Anderson sounded frantic. “I promise.”
    “It’s a deal,” Gabe said.
    He ushered Lillian through the door and out onto the sidewalk. A chill, damp wind was blowing bits of litter around the parking lot.
    “Lillian, wait.” Anderson came to stand in the doorway. “If you change your mind, my offer to buy those client files is still good.”
    “Forget it, Anderson. The files are gone.”
    “I don’t believe you destroyed them. They’re too valuable. Think about my offer. You’ve got in-depth information on guys like Tom Lydd of Lydd-Zone Software and Madison, here. That data is worth a lot of money.”
    “I don’t know about the Lydd information,” Lillian said quietly. “But the data on Gabe certainly wouldn’t do anyone any good.”
    Anderson scowled. “What the hell do you mean?”
    “Most of it is false,” Lillian explained. “He lied through his teeth on the questionnaire that he filled out for Private Arrangements.”

chapter 23
    Gabe needed a place to think. And a cup of coffee. So he drove to the nearest restaurant, Snow’s Café. They found a booth at the back. Lillian ordered tea. He went for the hard stuff, a double espresso.
    There was a sprinkling of Arizona’s customary clientele around them, primarily students and faculty from Chamberlain College, but no one bothered them. Arizona was not behind the counter today. Gabe figured she was probably at home in her war room, devising strategy to uncover the secret, underground labs at the institute.
    “Do you really think he’ll leave me alone now?” Lillian asked after a while.
    “Yes.”
    “He didn’t believe me when I told him that I had destroyed the client files.”
    Gabe sipped the