License to Thrill

locksmith was already an hour late.
    "It's Guy, Kat. I need to talk to you." He sounded anxious, and contrite. "Please."
    Anger barbed through her as she swung open the door. "What do you want, Guy?"
    His balding head was shiny with sweat, and he swallowed nervously, then held up an envelope. "I brought your paycheck."
    She snatched it out of his hand. "I was planning to pick it up when I came over this afternoon to empty my desk."
    He steepled his chubby hands together. "That's what I came to talk to you about. May I come in?"
    "No."
    He winced. "Katherine, I'm sorry I suspended you, but you have to admit the tape was pretty convincing." She started to shut the door, but he braced it with his arm and said hurriedly, "And I figured you had a legitimate reason to get back at me."
    Kat stared. "Just one reason, Guy?"
    His round cheeks turned bright pink "Well, okay, several reasons. The point is, I don't blame you for being miffed—"
    "Miffed?"
    "Okay, angry—furious, even. Detective Tenner called this morning to tell me the charges against you were dropped and said he'd be over later to question some of the other employees."
    "And what does this have to do with me?"
    He smiled his most charming smile. "I have a proposition I believe will help you and Jellico's part on good terms."
    "I don't give a rat's ass how anyone at Jellico's views my departure."
    "There's a windfall in it for you," he said, his jowls wobbling. "For just a few days' work. Please, Kat, the gallery is in chaos, and the afternoon will be shot if Tenner comes over—nothing's getting done. If you don't come back, I'm going to have to postpone the open house, which means some of the exhibits we leased will already be gone, which means the open house will flop, which means our attendance will be down—"
    "Which means, Guy," Kat cut in, "you are in deep doo-doo."
    "We need to have the open house now, while public interest is running high. With the canceled auction for the letter, I..." He sighed, then scratched his head. "You're right, Kat, I'm in the crapper. I just received notice that we're being audited by the IRS again, and since you didn't have time to start the painting inventory, we're in a spot. I asked Andy to step in, but no one can handle the details like you, Kat."
    Unmoved, she smirked. "How much?"
    He blinked. "So you would come back for a few days?"
    "How much?"
    Guy scratched his head. "Four thousand for two weeks?"
    "Five thousand for one week and the last few hundred of my dad's so-called debt is free and clear."
    "One week?"
    "Actually, Friday will be my last day. I'll work extra hours until the open house Thursday evening, and by then I'll have enough of the inventory completed to finish on Friday." She smiled. "I'll even throw in a report for the insurance claim on the King's letter."
    "Alleged King's letter," Guy said morosely.
    "Agreed?"
    He sighed. "Agreed. Can you come in this afternoon?"
    Kat nodded, her smile congenial. "Draw up a contract with the terms we discussed and I'll sign it when I get there. I'll gather my notes and come back here to make the necessary phone calls to coordinate the open house."
    He peered around her and frowned. "Are you moving?"
    "Yep."
    "To England?"
    Her heart lurched. "What?"
    "I figured things between you and that British fellow were heating up—and frankly, I'm glad to see it." He made a regretful noise and wrinkled his brow. "You're a good girl, Katherine, and I'm sorry I've made things hard for you." He shook his head. "Your dad wasn't much of a business man, and he might have made a few mistakes, but he was intelligent and I suppose I was a little intimidated. In hindsight, I should have worked with him. I’m sorry."
    He gave her a rueful smile, then turned and walked away. Kat closed the door and leaned against it, tears brimming in her eyes. Too little, too late.

    *****

    "This is a nice ride," Tenner said, looking around the Jaguar and nodding in approval. "That Lady Mercer broad must be paying you big for this little job."
    James inhaled deeply. Tenner was uncouth, but he was predictable. "Actually, this was a personal favor for an old friend."
    The detective grinned. "Is she a looker?"
    Tania's face came to him, and he nodded. "I suppose so."
    "Got 'em pantin' after you, don't you, son?"
    James probed his cheek with his tongue, wondering how the conversation had taken such a dive. "Panting? I don't think so, no."
    "Well, I don't know about this Mercer woman, but I think Ms.