A Fluffy Tale 2: Warm & Fuzzy by Ann Somerville Read Free Book Online Page A

leaned back. “Yeah, he’s
in. That kid of his is there too. The ginger ninja.”
    Spen smiled at the description, but what he
saw as he casually glanced at the monitor Bob indicated, was anything but
amusing. Noble and Daniel were at Daniel’s desk. Daniel was seated, Noble
leaning over Daniel in a way that would have got Spen slapped if he did it to a
female employee—or even a male one. That was too damn close, and no way
was it normal for an office interaction. Myko made a worried little noise when
he saw Daniel. Spen kept a gentle hand on him to make sure he didn’t jump down
for a closer look.
    “Thanks, Bob. I’ll just pop up and drop
these off.” He waved the folder of reports he’d brought up as cover. “Do you
keep those recordings? I can’t remember what they said when they installed
them.”
    “Yeah. Have to, in case we have to call the
police in. Didn’t used to, but now it’s all on some hard disk somewhere. I
think they copy it off and store it. Don’t know the details. That’s your area,
not mine.”
    “Only when they break, man. So don’t go
breaking it. Catch you around.”
    Bob waved him off in a friendly fashion,
hopefully unaware of Spen’s real purpose. He’d already picked up the newspaper
he’d been reading when Spen interrupted, so Spen hoped he wouldn’t pay any
attention to the monitors unless an alarm went off. Spen had no intention of doing
anything to warrant an alarm, but the more discreetly this was handled, the
better it would be for all concerned.
    There was no one about on the fifth floor
that he could see, and all was quiet. The door to Daniel’s office was shut, but
Spen didn’t knock. After all, he wasn’t supposed to know Daniel was there. He
threw the door open, making the two men at the desk straighten up in shock. The
reactions were tellingly different. Daniel was simply surprised, but Noble was
angry too...and a little afraid?
    Spen played it casual. “Oh, hi, Daniel.
Wasn’t expecting you to be here. Just had some reports for Tony, and thought
I’d drop them off before I went home.”
    Noble snatched the folder from him.
“Couldn’t this have waited, Spencer? Why on earth would you think I was around
at this time of night?” He backed further away from Daniel, and Spen didn’t
think he imagined the relaxation in Daniel’s features as he did so. Relaxation—and relief too.
    “Oh, I checked at Security.” Spen pointed
casually up at the corner of the office’s ceiling. “The new system. The in-office cameras. Don’t you remember? Head Office
authorised them after we had those laptop thefts.”
    “Ah, yes, of course.” Noble straightened up
and cleared his throat. “Right. Fine. Thank you. Daniel, I think we’re finished
here. You should get on home.”
    “Thanks, Tony. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Spen
had never seen anyone logoff that fast before, and Daniel had picked up his
coat and shot out of the office before Spen had a chance to offer to walk him
out.
    Noble made a show of collecting papers from
the desk, ignoring his departing PA and Spen. His lips thinned as he looked up
and realised Spen was still there. “Anything else, Spencer?”
    Spen pretended he couldn’t hear the chill
in Noble’s tone. “No. I should get home too. Don’t believe in overtime as a
rule. Leads to burnout.”
    “Good night then. Don’t let me hold you
up.”
    Spen grinned to himself as he made his way
to the elevator, while Myko trilled in approval. Message delivered and point
made, he hoped.
    ~~~~~~~~
    Relieved beyond words at his unexpected
early escape—and thanking Spen for prompting it, though it had been a
rather odd thing to do—Daniel sprang for a taxi in the hope of getting
back home even faster. Kani, allowed out once more, perched on his lap and gave
constant squeaks of frustration as the taxi encountered red lights or slow
drivers. Finally, they were at the house. Daniel ran up the path and flung the
door open, startling his brother and