Family Man

working hours and on weekends when that person has been known to put in some extra time. It's not happening at midnight.”
    “So no one is sneaking in after hours to use the computer,” Luke concluded. “All right, Danvers. You've done your job. I don't like the answers, but that's not your fault. Thanks.”
    “Sure. You want me to keep working on the Gilchrist Gourmet situation?” Danvers tugged at his earlobe as he got to his feet.
    “Yes.”
    “You got it.”
    Luke waited until the door had closed behind Danvers. Then he looked down at the report that had been left behind.
    “Damn.”
    Katy was not going to like this. Luke knew before he even dropped the bombshell on her that she was going to try to talk him out of doing what had to be done. The guardian angel was too soft when it came to this kind of thing. He had better have his ammunition ready. He was going to have to justify the actions he intended to take. He knew Katy was going to put up a fight.
    “Damn.”
    Katy was definitely complicating his life. Luke scowled at the telephone. Where the hell was she today, anyway? he wondered.

    Katy, wearing the slender, long-sleeved, mint-green dress she'd put on for work that morning, sat perched on a high stool behind the counter at the espresso bar. She idly stirred a latte as she waited for Eden.
    The watermelon and black coffeehouse was crowded with downtown shoppers and business people taking their morning break in true Seattle style. The espresso machine was shrieking in agony. It hissed and roared as it produced an endless stream of lattes and espressos and a host of other interesting coffee concoctions that formed the lifeblood of Seattle's lively coffee culture. In Seattle even hardware stores and gas stations featured espresso machines for their customers.
    Katy took her first sip just as Eden walked through the front door. One did not have to be a trained Gilchrist observer to know that something was very wrong.
    Eden appeared every inch a Gilchrist this morning, from the toes of her gleaming black high heels to the wide lapels of her black suit. Her ebony hair was sleek and glossy, and her mouth and nails were crimson. She walked with the familiar Gilchrist stride, arrogant and regal, but there was a haunted look in her green eyes. Katy knew that whatever stress Eden had been under since the divorce had gotten much worse.
    Eden saw her at the counter and walked straight toward her. She sat down on the neighboring stool, ignoring the interested gazes that followed her. “This had better be important, Katy. I'm extremely busy today.”
    “Are you seeing Nate Atwood again?” Katy asked bluntly.
    Eden flinched. “Who told you that?”
    “I believe Fraser Stanfield mentioned it first,” Katy said. “Apparently he saw you getting into a cab with Nate. But the real clincher was one of your mother's clients who mentioned seeing you and Nate together. Maureen came unglued, as I'm sure you can imagine.”
    Eden sat frozen on the stool. “Mother knows?”
    Katy took another swallow of her latte. “Uh-huh. That's why I'm here.”
    “Stay out of this, Katy. It has nothing to do with you.” Eden's fingers trembled on the strap of her black leather shoulder bag.
    “Eden, we both know Nate Atwood is poison. Why are you getting involved with him again? You just got free of the rat.”
    Eden's jaw tightened. “It's none of your business, Katy. Just stay out of it.”
    “I can't believe you'd take him back,” Katy said slowly.
    “I'm not taking him back.”
    “Then why are you seeing him?”
    “I'm not seeing him,” Eden bit out. “Not the way you mean. I am not in a relationship with him. There. Does that satisfy you?”
    “No. If you're not involved in a relationship with him, then something else is going on. Is he forcing you to see him?”
    “Damn it, Katy, will you please stay out of this?”
    “What is he doing to you?” Katy searched Eden's face. “Is he putting some kind of pressure on you? We all know he was dissatisfied with what he got out of the divorce. Does he want more money?”
    Eden's stricken expression was all the answer Katy needed.
    “Good Lord,” Katy muttered. “I should have guessed. Maureen wants me to try to buy him off. How much does he want?”
    “You don't understand,” Eden said desperately. “It's not that simple. Every time I give him money he tells me it will be the last time. But he keeps coming back for more.”
    “But why are you giving it to