Three Fates

and gagging. “I’m on my way back to Morningside right now,” he began.
    “Pants on fire,” Rebecca whispered and got a light bop on the head.
    “I’m going over the system personally. I’ve already called in my best tech to do an analysis. We’ll both be there within the hour. Whatever vulnerabilities allowed the system to be breached as far as it was will be corrected. You have my word.”
    “I know I can count on you. I’ll meet you there, if you don’t mind. I’d feel better knowing more of what’s involved.”
    “I’ll take you through it.”
    “I’m so grateful. Jack, I wonder if you’ve had any time to work on that other matter we discussed.”
    “Cleo Toliver, right?” He gave Rebecca the thumbs-up sign. “As a matter of fact, I got some data just last night. I intended to write up a report for you today. Slipped my mind with the trouble this morning.”
    “Oh, I don’t need anything as formal as a written report. Anything you can tell me—”
    “I’ll fill you in when I see you. How’s that? I’m glad you’re sounding more yourself, Anita. I’ll see you at Morningside.” He clicked off before she could answer.
    “Butter wouldn’t melt,” he commented, and pulled Rebecca into his lap. “What do you want to bet she’s figured out a way to scam the insurance claim?”
    “I don’t take sucker bets.” She touched her lips to his, then just sank in.
    “We gotta go,” he murmured.
    “Mmm. I think we’ve gotten caught in terrible traffic.” His hands slid under her shirt. “It’s a jungle out there,” he agreed. “What’s five more minutes?”
    It was fifteen, but he wasn’t counting.
    By the time Anita arrived, he had Rebecca suited up in coveralls and a gimme cap, running a system check, with a few finesses. He’d measured and ordered the replacement glass for the window and was outside on the sidewalk studying the delivery entrance.
    “My assistant said you’d be out here.” She looked delicately pale. “I thought the staff would be nervous,” she began. “But they seem to be more excited.”
    “A lot of people react that way, especially when it’s not their property that’s been violated. How you holding up?”
    “I’m fine now. Really. I’ve got so much paperwork to do over this, it’ll keep my mind busy. Why are you out here?”
    “Wanted to take a look. I have to figure they did a study of the building, the neighborhood. Traffic patterns, patrols, angle of vision from residential buildings nearby. And they picked the best spot. Upper window. Calculated risk that would be most vulnerable. Replacement glass will be installed by five. Guaranteed.”
    “Thank you, Jack.” She laid a hand on his arm. “Morningside was Paul’s life.” She let out a shaky breath. “And he entrusted it to me. I couldn’t bear letting him down.”
    Spare me, Jack thought, but laid a hand over hers. “We’ll take care of it for him. That’s a promise.”
    “I feel better knowing that. Let’s walk around to the front. I could use the time to clear my head a bit more.”
    “Fine. I’ll go over the system with you. My tech’s in there now. If there’s a hole, we’ll plug it.”
    “I know. Paul considered you the best. So do I. I trust you, Jack. That’s why I asked for your help regarding this Toliver woman. You said you found out something?”
    “It was tricky.” He gave her hand a quick squeeze. “But I don’t like to disappoint a client. Or a friend.” He ran through basic information he was sure she already knew, listened to her feign surprise as he mentioned Cleo’s parents’ names.
    “For heaven’s sake, I know Andrew Toliver. Slightly, strictly socially, but . . . This woman who threatened me is his daughter? What a world.”
    “Classic black sheep. Troublemaker,” he added, knowing Cleo would grin wickedly at the rundown. “Problems in school, minor brushes with juvie. Hasn’t had much luck landing permanent jobs as a dancer. Looks like she’s just back in New York from Eastern Europe. I’m still digging into that. It’s not a simple matter to get information from that area.”
    “I appreciate your trying. Did you find an address for her?”
    “Address on record’s the apartment she had before she took off for Europe. Moved out about eight months ago. She’s not living there now. In fact, she’s not in New York at all.”
    Anita stopped dead. “What do you mean she’s not in New York? She has to be. She contacted me. I met