Let's Play Dead Read Online Free PDF Page A

recently, and I was reluctant to give away anything I didn’t have to.
    “I can read between the lines. You’ve had some problems in-house, but the, uh, judicious relocation of certain individuals has solved a lot of them.”
    She could be discreet, too—another plus. “And you gleaned all this from reading the paper?”
    Shelby shrugged. “I talk to people, who know other people. Don’t worry—there are a lot of rumors floating around, but nobody really knows anything. And in a funny way, they want to see you succeed.”
    Small comfort. But Shelby needed to know some things that would have a major impact on her job. “Thank you for telling me. Cards on the table?” I looked around quickly: well past the peak lunch hour, there were few people in the restaurant to overhear us. “We’ve had some serious theft issues recently. We believe we’ve stopped them, but it may be a while before we sort everything out. I tell you this because if the details get out, it would make your job—helping us raise money—a lot harder. But you have a right to know. And if it’s any consolation, the FBI is working with us.”
    Shelby sipped some iced tea before responding. “That’s about what I’d figured.”
    “And all that doesn’t bother you?”
    “Nope,” she said cheerfully. “I’m pretty sure this goes on all the time, only people don’t talk about it much. But I figured whatever news had leaked out might scare off other candidates, so I took a chance.”
    “You must really want this job,” I said. “Is there something you haven’t told me? You’re supporting your aged parents in a nursing home? You have eighteen cats with obscure and expensive medical problems?”
    Shelby laughed. “No to both. One, I got bored sitting around after I’d done all the sightseeing I could stomach. Two, my daughter, Melissa, is getting married next year, and unlikely as it sounds, she wants the whole show—train and doves and white horses—and that ain’t cheap. Plus, we’re helping her pay off her college loans.”
    Somewhere inside me, I relaxed. Maybe this was going to work out just fine. “So she’s already out of college?”
    “Graduated last year. She’s got a job, but she and Press—that’s her fiancé, Preston—really want to get married now and get on with their lives together.”
    “Well, I’m glad you’re on board. Now, let me give you thumbnails on all the board members . . .” We switched seamlessly to shop talk, and lunch flew by.
    As we were walking back to the Society, Shelby said, “Do you want me to nose around, see if I can find you an assistant? I don’t want to tread on Melanie’s toes, since that’s her job, but I might know of a few potential candidates.”
    “I would be eternally grateful. I do believe Melanie when she says she’s had plenty of applicants but none of them right for the position. There are plenty of people looking for work, but that doesn’t mean they can do what I need done. Melanie’d probably thank you, too. I’d rather she concentrated on filling the registrar position, and she’s got plenty else to keep her busy. But why would you know any likely candidates?”
    “The ‘old gals’ network. Besides, as I said before, I like to talk to people, and I’ve talked to plenty since I moved to Philadelphia. Give me a day or two and I’ll see who I can come up with.”
    We’d reached our building, and held off on conversation until we’d passed through the lobby and gone up to the third floor. At Shelby’s office door, she stopped. “Thanks for the lunch, Nell—and for filling me in. I’m glad that you trust me.”
    Our lunch, which had stretched well past two, left me with little time to start anything new before I was supposed to leave for Let’s Play. No doubt if I had that magical assistant, she—or he—would have a tidy stack of messages waiting for me, arranged in order of importance; would have updated my calendar; and would have left several