The Desperate Game Read Online Free PDF Page A

frowned upon in some circles."
    Twenty minutes later she had managed by dint of careful ordering to drive the price of her personal sense of integrity well over twenty-five dollars. The Frog watched in stoic horror as she munched her way through a spinach salad, tortellini in basil sauce, hot rolls, espresso, and a spectacular walnut tart. The sight seemed to affect Zac's appetite, Guinevere noticed toward the end of the meal. He had barely touched the small pate sandwich he'd ordered.
    "Aren't you hungry?" she asked, trying to pretend concern.
    "Not nearly as hungry as you are apparently."
    She grinned. "Be grateful. The only reason I didn't order wine is that I think it makes a bad impression to come back from lunch with alcohol on one's breath. The image, you know."
    "I'm well aware of the importance of maintaining the image." Zac regarded the remains of her meal with a brooding expression. "I'm going to expect a fairly extensive report after all this."
    "Don't hold your breath. I've been there only one morning. Spent most of the time finding out what's happened to the others during the months since I last worked for StarrTech. Catching up on office gossip. Have to lay the groundwork, you know. Can't rush this snitching business."
    "Is that how you see yourself? A snitch?"
    "Snitch, informant, stool pigeon, spy, whistleblower, tattletale, squealer-"
    "All right, all right." He held up a hand in disgust. "I get the picture. You don't see yourself as a female James Bond."
    "Nothing that glamorous. I can tell you right off that my heart isn't in this, in case you haven't noticed. I've been drafted, remember? My personal feeling is that anyone who's found a way to rip off StarrTech should be quietly applauded, not exposed."
    He looked at her with sudden thoughtfulness. "Why do you hate that company so much? Working there a few months ago was just another short-term contract for Camelot Services, wasn't it? Why did you risk so much to try to take them for a measly couple of thousand dollars? Cash flow problem?"
    Guinevere didn't look at him. She polished off the last of her walnut tart and then waved the fork significantly in the air. "Our deal last night did not require me to make a confession or provide any details of my relationship with StarrTech. You learned enough to blackmail me. Don't expect me to add any more information voluntarily. God knows what you'd do with further gory details."
    "Are the further details that gory?"
    "Forget it. I think I'll have another cup of espresso."
    "There aren't any free refills on the espresso." He narrowed his eyes. "Only on the regular coffee. A second cup of the fancy stuff will cost a buck fifty."
    "Why do you think I ordered espresso?" She beckoned the waitress by raising the small coffee cup while Zac continued to eye the situation with brooding impatience. "Don't worry," Guinevere said blithely as the waitress took the cup and left the table, "I'll get the tip."
    "Very generous of you." He took another bite out of his sandwich. "Speaking of generosity, I understand you brought in a sack of doughnuts this morning?"
    "Programmers and operators go crazy over doughnuts and junk food. I think their systems are evolutionarily designed for the stuff. Twinkles, cola, and chips are the staples of the diet, with doughnuts and assorted candy bars and ice cream providing other essential nutrients. Just think of it, Zac, the entire computer revolution is being fueled by junk food. The interesting question, of course, is which came first. The revolution or the junk food? Hard to imagine one without the other. One of the great questions of human development."
    "Too bad you aren't willing to dine on food from a machine. It would have cost a lot less than this place." Morosely he shoved aside his plate and folded his arms on the table. "Okay, you've had your feast. Let me have my first report."
    "I've told you. There's really nothing to report yet. Zac, I've been back only a few hours. I'm still