The Ties That Bind

chair. Shannon began to relax. At last she spoke tentatively.
    "I've made a decision, Garth."
    He waited, saying nothing.
    "I'm willing to try continuing the affair. For a while."
    He nodded, as if he'd guessed what she was going to say. "It's better than nothing. I'll take what I can get."
    She frowned in the darkness. "It will have to be an affair conducted on my terms, Garth. Do you understand?"
    "Yes."
    Her mind began to settle as she heard his quiet agreement. Some of the chaos she had been trying to deal with simmered down to a more manageable mixture of doubts and confusion. "I don't know if it's going to work, Garth."
    "I'll make it work." There was pure, unadulterated steel underlying the promise. Then there was more silence from him. "I've never deliberately gotten drunk with a woman. It's an interesting experience."
    Shannon tilted her head. "Better than drinking alone?"
    "Better than sleeping alone."
    "Oh." She shut up, thinking about it.
    "Is the decision to continue the affair the only thing you've been contemplating out here?" Garth asked after a moment, helping himself to more whiskey and pouring another shot into Shannon's glass.
    "Actually, now that you mention it, one other thing did cross my mind," she said carefully.
    "What's that?"
    "You said something about having a theory that someone used my tote bag that night at the party because it was so vivid and obvious. An easy reference point for a spy wishing to pass along a stolen document."
    "It's just a theory."
    Shannon nodded. "Not a bad one, though. I can see it now-the thief tells the would-be purchaser of the document where he's hidden the proposal and later, when no one's looking, the purchaser walks casually into the bedroom and removes it from the tote. Very simple."
    "And no one observes the thief or his client exchanging anything or looking suspicious," Garth concluded.
    "There's just one thing..."
    "What's that?"
    "There were two tote bags lying on that bed the night of the party. Mine and the one I gave Bonnie. What if someone made a mistake and slipped the document into the wrong tote?"
    "That," said Garth slowly, "would put a very interesting twist on the situation."

-8-
    IT WAS THE QUIET WAY Garth responded to her question that alarmed Shannon. Trying unsuccessfully to read his face in the shadows, she said quickly, "I didn't mean to imply Bonnie was involved."
    "Anything's possible."
    "But, Garth, how long has she been working for you?"
    "About five years."
    "You can't possibly suspect her, then. Surely she's proven herself by now. She's your personal secretary."
    Garth was contemplating the label on the bottle of whiskey. "Loyalty is an easily purchased commodity. It can be sold just as easily."
    "Maybe it is in your view of the world, but that doesn't mean everyone values it so cheaply," Shannon argued in a despairing tone. She was beginning to realize just how deeply cynical Garth really was. It was frightening. "Besides, I like Bonnie."
    Garth shrugged. "She's been a good secretary."
    "Don't speak of her as if she's got one foot out the door, damn it. You have no idea whether she's involved in the theft of that stupid bid proposal. I only pointed out the fact that there were two tote bags on the bed Saturday night because I just happened to remember that Bonnie brought one, too. If you're going to suspect anyone, it should still be me. I'm the one you caught with the evidence still in her possession."
    Garth slanted her a speculative glance. "You hardly know Bonnie. There's no need to jump to her defense. I haven't accused her of anything yet."
    "Well, take my advice and don't make any accusations. If you make her feel she's under suspicion she'll probably quit on the spot. I know I would."
    Garth's mouth curved faintly in wry amusement. "You did."
    "That's right, I did, didn't I?" Shannon closed her eyes briefly. "Why didn't you let me go, Garth? Why come chasing after me? I can't prove I had nothing to do with that proposal being in my tote. I've got less of an alibi than Bonnie probably has."
    "That's not exactly true," Garth said. "Until a few weeks ago you didn't even know me, let alone anything about my business. And last weekend was the first time you'd been to my office or met any of my staff or business associates. Unless everything you've done so far, including introducing yourself on the beach that first time, is part of a very complicated setup, it's highly unlikely you're involved in the theft."
    Shannon lifted