Almost a Lady Read Online Free PDF Page B

caught the bad guys, didn't I? And regained ten thousand dollars worth of stolen jewels, to boot."
    He harrumphed, knowing it was the truth but too blasted stubborn to admit she'd done a damn fine job.
    "I still want to know what the hell happened out in Missouri,” he said, “but for now I'll settle for finding out what happened on the train."
    "I don't know what happened,” Willow answered honestly. “When Charlie stopped to talk to me, he seemed nervous. He kept looking over his shoulder, watching everyone around him."
    "Did he tell you what was wrong?"
    She shook her head. “I asked, but he said it was just a case.” She met Robert's shadowed brown eyes. “What was he working on?"
    "I can't tell you, you know that, Willow. A client's privacy—"
    "I know, I know,” she said, waving off the much-used line. “'No operative may be privy to the information of a case in which he is not directly involved.’ Well, Bobby, me boy,” she said, switching to the brogue of his Scottish heritage, “I'd say I've been caught right in the thick of things.” She stood to pace, eating up the length of the office with long, agitated strides.
    Robert watched her for several long minutes, letting her burn off a good amount of energy and anger. Then he cut to the quick of the matter. “Did you see anything?"
    "No.” She stopped in front of his desk, resorting to the impatient tapping of one leather-clad foot. “He didn't seem to want to take the time to talk, and I didn't want to disturb his cover. Then some woman started screaming. The only thing I saw was Charlie lying in a pool of blood."
    "Did you check the crowd?"
    "For what? A man standing there with a bloody knife? My bet is , the murderer was gone before Charlie hit the floor. But, yes, I checked me crowd. As best I could without knowing what in blue blazes I was supposed to be looking for.” She fixed Robert with a glare that conveyed her feelings in no uncertain terms. If he would only tell her what Charlie had been working on, she could answer his questions with more detail.
    Willow noticed a strange light in Robert's eyes, a light that told her his mind was racing miles ahead of hers. “What?” she asked skeptically.
    "How do you know the murderer used a knife?"
    She rolled her eyes. “Because I didn't hear a shot, and the hole in Charlie's gut was leaking blood faster than Niagara Falls leaks water. When are you going to stop testing me with these paltry schoolgirl questions?” she asked.
    "When you no longer mess up on simple assignments like the one in
Missouri
."
    Her mouth fell open. “Oh, now that's cruel, Robert Allan Pinkerton. You know dam good and well this is the first and only time I have lost a suspect. Ever."
    "Then let's hope this isn't the start of a new propensity for you."
    "It isn't,” she told him.
    "Good. Care to explain how you lost Samuel E. Triton?” he asked, flipping open a file on his desk.
    "Let's just say that Sammy the Snake slithered out of my grasp.” She didn't bother explaining about Brandt Donovan's interference. Robert would only see it as an excuse. And she knew that if there was one thing Robert Pinkerton hated more than fouled cases, it was excuses for fouling up to begin with.
    "Let's not,” Robert ordered sternly. “Details, Willow. I want them now, and then I want to see them in your written report."
    "I had Sammy cornered in an alley. Someone saw us, and Sammy got away."
    "That's all?"
    "That's all. I looked for him the next day, and every day after that until I heard from you, but he was long gone. I'll be happy to go back and finish the case,” she offered hopefully.
    "No."
    "But—"
    "No.” Robert's voice softened. “You know what's going on around here, Willow. Because you're a woman, and because my father is no longer alive to fight for you, your position with the Agency is in jeopardy. I'm doing my best to keep them from inventing an excuse to let you go,” he said, referring to his higher-ups, “but it