Family Man

past him and went into the office. “Any messages, Liz?”
    Liz glanced speculatively at Luke, and then she smiled at Katy. “I was just telling the boss that Justine wants to see both of you in her quarters at ten for an update.”
    “All right.” Katy tossed a smile over her shoulder as she headed for the inner office. “See you at ten downstairs, Luke.”
    Luke scowled at her door as she closed it for all intents and purposes in his face. He realized he had just been dismissed.
    “Don't worry about it,” Liz advised confidentially. “She ran things around here for so long on her own that she kind of got in the habit of acting like the boss.”
    “I'll try to keep that in mind.” Luke stalked out of Katy's office and into his own.
    He sat down behind his desk, switched on the computer, and leaned back in his chair. The mystery of who had been skimming money from the restaurants had been solved, but that still left the problems at Gilchrist Gourmet. He gazed moodily at the screenful of data. Roger Danvers, the computer investigator, was closing in on the troubles that had been plaguing the operation, but Luke was not interested in reviewing the latest information.
    All he really felt like doing was brooding over the love affair Katy was having with Pesto Presto.
    At ten o'clock Luke reluctantly got to his feet again and went out into the hall to join Katy. She was waiting for him, brows drawn together in a quelling little frown. Luke's spirits brightened somewhat. He knew he was about to get another lecture. At least that meant Katy was concentrating on him rather than on her future for a while.
    “You will be tactful this time, won't you?” Katy trotted down the stairs beside him.
    “You know me, Katy. I'm the very soul of tact.”
    She glowered anxiously. “I'm serious, Luke. You won't say anything that might give her a hint about Eden's little problem, will you?”
    “It wasn't exactly a little problem, Katy.” Luke reached the bottom of the stairs and crossed the hall toward Justine's suite. Katy hurried to catch up with him. “Eden skimmed thousands of dollars out of the two restaurants.”
    “Yes, I know, but we mustn't let Justine know about it. I mean, that was the whole point, if you will recall.”
    Luke summoned up a suitably thoughtful expression. “Are you by any chance asking me to participate in another cover-up?”
    “No, of course not. Just be diplomatic, that's all. The problem is under control, so there's no need to bother her with the details.”
    “Is this my honest little angel talking?” Luke knocked on the door of Justine's suite.
    “Luke, stop teasing me. I want you to promise me you won't say or do anything to make Justine think Eden might have been involved in the problems the two restaurants were having.”
    “No sweat. Honey, unlike you, I can lie through my teeth without even blinking. It's in the blood.”
    Mrs. Igorson opened the door just as Katy opened her mouth. The housekeeper glared accusingly at Luke as Katy hastily closed her mouth. “Oh, it's you.”
    “Who were you expecting?” Luke took Katy's arm and propelled her gently through the entrance. “A door-to-door salesman? Excuse us, Mrs. Igorson. I'm sure Justine is waiting.”
    “She's waiting, all right,” Mrs. Igorson muttered. She switched her accusatory glance to Katy. “She wants a few explanations, and I reckon she's entitled.”
    Katy flushed but managed to maintain her serene smile. “Yes, of course. Excuse us, Mrs. Igorson.”
    Luke watched Katy hurry on ahead. Then he turned to the housekeeper. He deliberately allowed a hint of menace to creep into his voice. “Was there something you wanted to say to me, Mrs. Igorson?”
    “Not hardly.”
    “Are you quite certain? Because if you're going to say something—anything at all—about what you witnessed the other evening in the conservatory, it had better be to me and not to Katy. Or anyone else. Understood?”
    Mrs. Igorson's look of scathing condemnation faded slightly. It was replaced with an expression that reminded Luke of a trapped rat. “I know my duty, and it ain't to you, Luke Gilchrist. I work for Mrs. Gilchrist, in case you've forgotten.”
    Luke smiled without any warmth. “You might want to bear in mind that as long as I'm saving Gilchrist, Inc. I can do just about anything I want around here. It shouldn't be too hard to make life hell for one nosy housekeeper. Mind your manners, Mrs. Igorson.”
    Without waiting for a