The Naughty List Read Online Free PDF Page B

atmosphere change so quickly? Penrose’s is beginning to feel like people with Stephanie’s attitude belong here, but the rest of us don’t.
    ****
    The next day David made a quick circuit of all four floors of the store. He hoped to get a tighter bead on The Book, but to no avail. The sensation was there, prickling at his consciousness like a maddening out-of-reach itch he couldn’t scratch. Why, he fumed, wasn’t the location apparent? He chafed to do a thorough search, but avoided the most crowded areas like Christmas Land, so as not to attract any attention. After all, an Integral’s first rule when dealing with humans was to blend in. He would bide his time until the store emptied.
    Although David didn’t find The Book, he did locate the security office. He tailed a girl name Rosalie who manned the first floor customer service counter. She made several trips to a nondescript locked door in the far corner of the first floor. From his position, an older heavy-set man answered. He was the only employee not wearing a nametag. Retail security personnel usually traveled around incognito.
    Sadhri would be amused to see what the store considered security. David watched the door all afternoon. The security guard left at two o’clock, but no one took his place. Good news for me, David thought. Now I only have to only worry about cameras.
    At closing time, David waited patiently outside until the last car pulled away. He crossed his fingers the security office was still empty and dashed-away. When his sight cleared, he breathed a sigh of relief. He was the only person inside a room filled with camera monitors.
    David’s eyes lit upon a clipboard with Duty Roster printed on the top. Security was worse than he imagined. The store functioned with a skeleton crew. Most of the time the department was unmanned. He found a procedure checklist. They didn’t even review the cameras each morning unless an alarm tripped—and he wasn’t about to do that. He had free run of the store until the first employees arrived tomorrow morning.
    With renewed optimism, David planned the search. He’d start with the top floor and work his way down. With any luck, The Book would be back in his hands tonight.
    ****
    Despite comforting words to Ross, Rosalie discovered on her next day off the worst had only started. The weather was dark and gloomy. She curled up on the sofa, listening to the rain patter against the window. She had a long list of things to do, but a comfortable lethargy settled around her.
    Run errands? Requires movement.
    Do laundry? Only if I teleport the dirty clothes to the machines in the basement.
    Eat junk food and lie here like a beached whale? Now you’re talking.
    A knock at the door roused her from the sofa. It better not be a salesman, she grumbled to herself. I’m in a door slamming mood. To her surprise, Marissa stood on the threshold, mumbling ond, mumbapologies. “I’m sorry to drop in…I just…I couldn’t…” She sniffed as a large tear spilled down her cheek.
    Rosalie pulled her inside and shut the door. “Tell me.”
    “The holiday bonuses…they’re gone.” She choked back a sob. “I counted on the money to pay off the bills and give Alex a small Christmas, at least. Now there won’t be any at all.”
    Rosalie’s stomach knotted. She’d counted on the money, too. “Are you sure? We always get one. I-I didn’t realize sales were so bad.”
    Marissa pulled out a tissue from her purse and blew her nose. “That’s just it, they’re not. I saw the numbers. They’re down, but the budget had a little money set aside for bonuses.” Her eyes flashed in anger. “Stephanie ordered me to divert funds to a contract with Sneaky Shoppers.”
    Rosalie swallowed back a very descriptive expletive long enough to ask, “What the hell is a Sneaky Shopper?”
    “Their employees pose as customers. They wander around and spy on the staff. Stephanie receives a report each time they uncover the slightest