The Ties That Bind

complete my deal. My client will nail me to the wall if I don't. Hell, I'm willing to pay you for the thing. It won't be anything close to what you'd get by selling it yourself, but at least it will be something. Be reasonable."
    "Reasonable!" Shannon managed to choke out the words. "Are you out of your head?"
    "Look, you had some bad luck. Your deal isn't going to go through. It's tough, I know. But I haven't got any extra sympathy to spare, understand? I've got my own problems. Now hand over the bid you lifted the night of the party. It had to be you. I knew as soon as he told me the stupid tote bag was empty that I'd put it in the wrong one. Where is it?"
    "I don't know what you're talking about," Shannon gasped.
    "The hell you don't. I want that bid package, lady, and you're going to hand it over to me."
    She couldn't feel any steel against her throat and as far as Shannon could tell, her attacker wasn't holding a gun. He probably assumed that since she was only a woman, he didn't need a weapon. Or perhaps Silicon Valley spies didn't routinely carry weapons. Desperately she tried to think.
    "All right," she hissed. "I'll give you what you want. Stop choking me to death."
    The arm around her throat loosened somewhat and she sucked in air. "The light..."
    "Forget the light. We don't need it. Now where's the bid package?"
    "Closet," she got out painfully. "Other side of the room."
    "Move." He dragged her across the room, feeling in the dark for the closet door handle. The door came open with a squeak. Even in the shadows it was possible to see how crowded the interior of the closet was. "Now where the hell is it?"
    "I'll get it. Just let me go, will you? Believe me, I'm not going to risk my life over a stupid bid proposal."
    Her assailant's hand reluctantly loosened a bit more. "No tricks."
    "I don't know any. I'm just a naive little artsy-craftsy type. Haven't you figured that out yet?" Shannon's hand swept out across her worktable as she stepped away from the man who had been holding her. Her fingers touched the small knife she used for cutting her stencils and closed around it.
    "Naive, my ass. You're one shrewd little cookie, baby. Ordinarily, I'd tell you just how good I think you are, but I haven't got time tonight. Get the bid!"
    Shannon didn't bother to answer. Her hand whipped around, slamming the short point of the knife into the intruder's shoulder. She put every ounce of strength into it, gritting her teeth with a savagery that would have astonished her if she'd been aware of it.
    The man screamed, probably as much out of surprise as pain. The blade was only about half an inch long and couldn't have gone very deep. But he was truly rattled by the unexpected assault and instinctively he leaped out of the way, slapping a hand across his wound. In the darkness he had no way of knowing if she were getting set for another stabbing blow.
    But Shannon wasn't trying for another blow. She was already lunging for the box of papers tacked inside the closet door, wrenching it free before the man had realized what was happening.
    "Damn you, come back here!" The rage in the intruder's voice was palpable as Shannon swept past him, clutching the box. She raced through the living room and an instant later was out the front door into the sheltering safety of the fog.

-9-
    THERE WAS NO TIME to grab the car keys, no time to start the Fiat even if she'd had the keys ready in her hand. Shannon dashed around the corner of the cottage, aware that the intruder was already lunging through the front door after her.
    The fog broke and swirled around her, offering concealment as well as danger. She knew her way around the surrounding terrain, but in the darkness there were countless small hazards waiting to trip the unwary.
    "Wait, damn you! We can make a deal."
    The shout was too close behind her. Shannon couldn't see her pursuer, but she knew he was very near. She went still as she heard the blundering approach of the man. He passed within a couple of yards, and Shannon held her breath, clutching the box of papers. A moment later he had veered off in another direction. She sensed his desperation and wondered for the first time just how important the bid proposal was. What kind of a world did Garth operate in where people attacked others for a business document?
    The questions as well as the answers would have to wait. Like it or not, the proposal had been left in her keeping and Shannon had every intention of guarding it. She