Fair Game Inc (2010) by Stephanie Bedwell-Grime Read Free Book Online

Inside was a handful of spreadsheet pages. Last years books, if she could trust the date at the top. Amber dug deeper in the filing cabinet, replacing the files from the outer office and flipping through the ones with more recent dates.
    The most recent figures were from June. Four months ago. She tilted the file into the light, squinting to make out the tiny figures at the top of the page and stopped. Assuming the figures were correct, Grayson's law firm was already seriously in the red.
    Amber's fingers hovered above the next file. She cast a glance over her shoulder, checking for signs of her discovery, but the hallway remained silent. Her heart pounding, she opened the file.
    Inside were papers offering the sale of Barlow & Charles to another firm.

    Chapter FOUR
    It turned out that the elusive occupant of apartment four worked nights, which explained why heAEd been so difficult to locate during the day. It also explained how heAEd been able to dupe his girlfriend into believing he was working.
    Shift work, business trips, overtime. After five years, Amber knew just about every cheating scheme in existence. She shifted against the plastic upholstery of her Honda, peeling the skirt that had become stuck to it in the heat of the Indian summer day. That beautiful day was rapidly becoming evening, while all the work she should have done accumulated with yesterdayAEs. What else could she do? Grayson Charles had manipulated the court into granting him her services in the evenings.
    Behind the white Venetian blinds in apartment four, something moved. Amber let go her frustration in a deep sigh. A lamp went on in the bedroom, barely discernible in the late afternoon light. She swung the camera into position.
    oCome on, come on,o she whispered as if her words could hypnotize the mysterious occupant in number four. oYou have a date tonight. I can just feel it.o
    She was already half an hour late for GraysonAEs office, but sheAEd been following Mr. Apartment 4 for three days now. Since her evenings were slated for Barlow & Charles, this might be her last chance. Whatever happened, she couldnAEt let her business slide in any way during the month sheAEd been ordered to help Grayson.
    The sun dipped lower on the horizon. Afternoon faded into evening. Mr. Apartment 4 stayed stubbornly behind the closed blinds.
    oYouAEre late,o Amber chanted softly. oNo time for a shower. She wonAEt mind a little sweat.o
    In apartment four, the light went off.
    oCome outside and play,o she whispered, then frowned and added, oso I can get this over with and go to work for the rest of the evening.o
    Movement. In the lobby. Amber eased the window down and put her eye to the viewfinder. SheAEd loaded the camera with high speed film, but if she was forced to wait any longer, even that wouldnAEt be good enough. Her only alternative would be to use flash and that could prove to be ... difficult.
    The front door swung open. A thin blond man jaunted down the steps. oLooks like a surfer,o Amber muttered. Using the telephoto lens, she snapped off a couple of shots just to be safe. According to her clientAEs profile, he was an information services technician.
    oBet the services youAEre currently selling have little to do with computers.o Amber laughed at her own dark humor. oWeAEll just see about that, Apartment 4. Information is my specialty, too.o
    She ducked as he passed her car, heading for his own. Waiting until there were a couple of cars safely between them, Amber eased the Honda into traffic. A glance at her watch sent her heart sinking. Almost an hour late. Grayson Charles would just have to wait. SheAEd make it up to him later. If she had to.
    oThereAEd better be a woman at the end of this goose chase,o she told the red mustang two cars ahead. oIf youAEre going grocery shopping, IAEm going to be really mad.o
    And so would Grayson Charles.
    No wonder heAEd been so upset at the loss of his time. If the firm was in fact riding a fine edge between solvency and