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wanted to play games, she would humor him.
    "How were you able to acquire so many?" he questioned her.
    Since he still spoke in French, she explained, continuing in the same language. "My father is in the army. I have traveled widely with my parents because the majority of his postings were abroad. A child absorbs languages easily when her playmates speak nothing but their own tongue. I speak French and German most fluently because I spent more of my formative years in countries where those languages were primary."
    "And your parents? Where are they now?" he asked in fluent German.
    "They are abroad on another assignment," she responded likewise.
    He dropped back into English, evidently satisfied with her claims to knowledge of those two languages. "You came to us on personal recommendation from Charles Lawson and there seems to be no record of your educational or employment history. May I have a capsule version now?" The sentence was a question. The voice made it an order.
    Keri sighed soundlessly. It could do no harm now, she supposed. Schyler knew where she was, so there was no longer any reason to hide her connection with Van Metre and Company. "Very well, sir." She gave in with no good grace. "I graduated from Georgetown University with a major in Political Science and minors in languages. I did six months' additional graduate work before deciding that I preferred to settle in the States for a while, rather than entering the State Department and being posted abroad. I was tired of traveling. I obtained a position as interim private secretary to Mr. Steven Hargood of Sunsur Oil Company for six months. I was then secretary to John DeLautre of Ardeen Manufacturing for a period of one year. I left that position and became secretary and assistant to Mr. Terrence Piatt of Ectron Associates for a period of one year. I then became executive secretary to Mr. Carleton Van Metre of Van Metre and Company for a period of six months. I left that position six months ago for personal reasons. I have been employed by RanCo for the past three months in the position of secretary to Mr. Simonds." She finished her recitation in a level, emotionless voice and sat, hands still primly folded in her lap, awaiting further cross-examination.
    "A rather brief and varied history for one so capable, Miss Dalton," he said musingly.
    Keri waited apprehensively for more probing questions. Simple arithmetic would tell him that her age was at sharp variance with her appearance, but he seemed to lose interest in the game. He rose and said dismissively, "Miss Barth will show you to your office. She will brief you on your current duties."
    Keri rose with the alacrity of relief. She wondered how Charles would feel about getting her another job? Not whoopingly enthusiastic, she imagined. Mr. Simondses didn't grow on trees. She'd just have to trust to her skill at makeup and a frosty manner.
    She learned several things during her first two days working for Dain Randolph. One, that he did indeed do enough work to keep his three secretaries comfortably busy, and two, that he made her very nervous.
    She was not called to his office at any time during those first days, but several times she looked up from her work to find him staring at her from the doorway of the office she shared with Mrs. Covey. She had the fleeting impression of a cat poised before the mousehole, ready to sweep up the unwary morsel with his sharp claws at his leisure. He never spoke, but he wouldn't move away immediately either. It was almost as though he conducted a war of nerves, which was a ridiculous notion, she told herself crossly.
    Miss Barth had noted Dain's inexplicable interest in the new secretary and gnashed her pearly teeth. She was subtly snide to Keri and received chilling politeness for her pains. Keri had no desire whatsoever to supplant Miss Barth in whatever claim to affection she had on Mr. Randolph, and the sooner Miss Barth realized that fact, the happier they'd all