Always by Nicola Griffith Read Free Book Online

with cream, no sugar.” He paled before he flushed.
    The door to Corning’s office was solid-framed oak. She looked up from her keyboard, and then past me. “Where’s Gary?”
    “At the front desk.” I shut the door and took a seat opposite. She frowned.
    “Is he all right?”
    “My name is Aud Torvingen. Of Total Enterprises.”
    Her frown flickered, then deliberately eased into a smile that was just a touch quizzical. It was nicely done. “Ms. Torvingen. I’m surprised, of course, but . . .”
    She waited for me to apologize for the inconvenience. “Diagonal Avenue South,” I said. “Revenue from my property there is sixty percent below that of comparable properties.”
    She smiled. “It does sound bad, doesn’t it? But Seattle has been hit harder than many cities by the recent slowdowns. The last two years have been hard on the import and export of goods in particular, which will of course have a great impact on cross-shipping facilities.” My silence seemed to encourage her. “In addition, I’m afraid your property has suffered by comparison with the recent upgrades undertaken by most of your competitors. You may recall that I recommended we follow suit some time ago. As it is, we had to let it on a short-term lease to a movie production company. ”
    She held her up her hand, as though I were about to interrupt her.
    “But, you’re probably thinking, there’s been no shortage of tenants. And that’s true. But while it was certainly the case ten years ago that a company that signed a lease would have been a sure thing, times change. Productivity is the key in this business, as in many others, of course, and companies will spend a great deal to abandon a seemingly profitable position if they can increase their long-term productivity by breaking a lease and moving to new premises. Particularly if there’s been trouble with regulatory agencies.” She smiled and picked up the phone. “Would you like some coffee?”
    “Does that usually work?”
    She stopped, finger an inch above the intercom button. “Excuse me?”
    “The smile and the patter, does it usually work?” There was a tap at the door and Gary came in. The spoon on the saucer rattled a little as he put the coffee on the desk. He left without saying a word and I realized I hadn’t thanked him.
    “I’m sorry?” Corning said, staring at the gently steaming cup.
    “I’m not particularly interested in an apology. You’re fired. I have already instructed my attorney to that effect.” I stirred and sipped. Just the right amount of cream. “However, I would like to know why you have let one of your valued clients lose money hand over fist for more than eighteen months. Or perhaps I’m not the only one?”
    Her eyelids swelled slightly. “It is not within my power to control calls to OSHA and the EPA.”
    “You’ve been in this business for a long time and know everyone in the relevant local bureaucracies—city, county, state, and federal. It is within your power to mediate with those agencies. It is within your power to apprise me of developments. It is within your power to negotiate with the leaseholders towards a satisfactory outcome.”
    “The regulations—”
    “Don’t matter much, as you know. If they did, the relevant agencies would have prevented you from leasing the facility anew each time and taking your percentage.”
    “If you’re suggesting—”
    “What I want from you is a full and frank explanation of the situation and I’d like it by Monday. Do you think that’s possible?”
    “The situation is extremely—”
    “Do you think that’s possible?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “I can of course find out for myself, though in trying to duplicate what you already know I might inadvertently dig up all kinds of information you would rather keep private, and which I would have no compunction in turning over to the authorities. Take a minute to think it over while I finish this excellent coffee.” I sipped while she