Im sure you do. But youd throw the poor boy to the sharks in two seconds if he were any threat to your position at Llewellyn Enterprises, Griff teased.
There is no threat to meI actually work, Eileen snapped back, eyes narrowed.
Touché, Griff told her.
Theo let out an impatient sound. I hope to God were not being overheard. We sound exactly like a pack of squabbling children, and were supposed to be running a major company. We all work here, and we work hard. His eyes fell on his brother, and he shrugged. All right, most of us work hard. But to suggest that there was an underlying reason for bringing in Marston, to even think that anything should go on is
Is what? Griff demanded
Sick, Theo announced. And the old boy is in perfect health. To begin to imagine that anything is going on is
Theo, Griff interrupted, your lack of curiosity is positively boring. Dont you think its just a little bit strange? I mean, weve been dividing the executive duties here since we got out of college.
Youve had executive duties, Griff? Eileen asked.
Youre not being very nice, Griff said.
I am nice, she snapped back, a trace of hurt in her tone. Griff heard it, she knew. He always saw the smallest sign of weakness in those around him. I am nice. Im simply efficient. When people are artistic, they dont have to be quite so efficient.
Theo came around behind her, speaking softy. Artistic? Like cousin Jillian?
Theo, I love Jillian dearly. We have a bond. Just like you boys have the bond of brotherhood.
Were all Llewellyns, Theo said flatly.
And youre just as nice as can be, Griff told Eileen, grinning.
God himself is going to come down and slap you right across your silly face one day, Eileen told him.
Did I just say shes nice? Griff asked Theo.
Griff, some of us do have work to do.
I know. Thats the point. Im getting scared. I may have to actually start working around here, now that Marston has suddenly been called in. The old man has been watching Jillian grieve all this time. Shes been widowed a year now, Griff said. He looked at the other two. Almost a year. The traditional mourning time is coming to an end.
The old man has figured out that theres more work than all of us can handle, and hes brought in a crack management and numbers man who happens to be an old school friend of mine. Thats all there is to it. And Ive got things to do, Theo said impatiently. Eileen, this image here is the one I want to go with. When I meet with our major accounts, Ill be letting them know that a Llewellyn will actually be displaying our jewelry in our next ad campaign. Get busy with it. See what kind of guest shots we can get on the talk circuit. You can use the family name when youre trying to land guest spots on radio or television. It may be a bit crass to try to cash in on our good works, but God knows, we give enough to charity at Christmas.
We like to get our tax breaks in before New Years, Griff muttered.
If we didnt make a fortune, we wouldnt be able to give away big bucks, Theo snapped. Get on with it, both of you.
He walked out of the room.
Griff grinned at Eileen. Get on with it, huh?
Get out of here, Griff.
He left, and Eileen sat down, drumming her beautifully manicured nails on her desk. How dare they accuse her of jealousy? She loved Jillian, who was the closest thing to a sister she had. She made a face and mimicked Theos tone. Get on with it. Im not a servant, Theo. Get on with it?
She was silent for a minute, then she said softly, Oh, Ill be getting on with it, all right.
She picked up a cookie with pumpkin-orange icing and little black chocolate-drop eyes. She took a bitea savage biteglad she made the cute little cookie snap.
Then she set the cookie down, stared at the tea service.
Oh, yeah. Ill get on with it, all right.
Jillian swept past Daniels secretary with a quick smile and knocked on his door.
Yes? he said sharply from behind the wood.
Its Jillian.
Get in here.
She froze for a moment, disturbed by his tone. Then she gritted her teeth and walked in, closing the door behind her. He was behind his desk, writing, and he didnt look up. She stood before his desk, feeling like an errant school child. Then she grew angry and impatient.
Daniel, you asked to see me, she reminded him.
He looked up at last, staring at her as he recapped his pen. Yes, quite some time ago, he told her.
Like his brothers, Daniel was an attractive man. He liked clothing and appearances, and dressed well. His eyes were a deep brown, a true deep brown that could appear black. His gaze was always fathomless. Many times, when shed been young, Daniel had been her protector. Ten years her senior, he had often taken her to and from school. In those days, he had been like a big wolf between her and any dangerbe it real or imagined. She had loved him deeply; he had been her favorite relative.
But that had been a long time ago.
In the past several years, with her grandfather handing out more and more responsibility, things had changed.
Daniel had held the reins of power for a long time.
The fact that she was a direct descendant seemed to be raising a barrier between themthough he didnt seem to show the same reserve to Eileen. Maybe it was all in Jillians mind. And maybe she had been so involved with the details of her workand the death of her husbandthat she had built her own walls between them.
Sorry, she said briefly. She decided not to mention the fact that Griff had forgotten to tell her that she was supposed to come here. Really.
I thought you were trying to get out of here today?
I am. But I gave Connie the day off She broke off at his frown. Daniel, she never misses work. She had some things to finish for the kids.
And the two of you are off together this afternoon. Im not so sure its a good thing to have your best friend as your assistant, he told her.
Daniel, we dont miss a beat as far as work is concerned. You know that. Joe works for you, and hes a great employee.
Sit down, he told her, indicating one of the chairs in front of his desk.
She sighed and did so. He heard her sigh, and looked at her sharply. Daniel, no one puts more time into this company than I do, she reminded him.
Oh, I agree, he murmured. Its as if youre married to it.
There was a note of bitterness in his tone. Did he think she was trying to make herself the indispensable one?
Daniel
Never mind, he said curtly. He thrust his copy of her design for the new cross toward her. What is this?
She inhaled, staring at him. A cross.
Yes. Its supposed to be a contemporary design, Jillian. Sharp, hot, contemporary. A look to the future.
Yes, she said, and faltered. I know.
So?
I dont know what happened. But
Its a great design. Beautiful. But not contemporary.
He was right. Definitely right. Theyd all been in the meeting, and it had been Douglas Llewellyn himself who had stressed the need to look to the new millennium.
She seldom failed, but she had failed this time. Her voice wavered as she told him, Well, we can use this in the general line, and Ill just start over.
No.
No?
We dont have time, and thisits not what we planned, but we can go in another direction. You know. Something like, As we enter the first decade of a new millennium, we welcome the newand cherish the beauty of our past. Im not sure if thats quite right, but something like it. I havent talked with the old boy yet, but Im sure hell go with it. He was quiet for a minute. Especially since its you who designed the cross.
Daniel
I just wanted to let you know that we would go with it, he said, interrupting her. Im sure you were aware yourself that it doesnt fit the original concept.
Of course.
He lifted his hands in dismissal. She met his eyes, feeling that she needed to apologize for something. She hadnt done anything, she reminded herself. The design was different from what they had planned, but
It was also very good.
Daniel She broke off.
His secretary had tapped on the door and now hesitantly stuck her head in. She was a capable young woman, but to Jillian, Gracie Janner had always given the impression of being a doe caught in the headlights of an eighteen-wheeler. She had frizzy dirty-blond hair that seemed like a puffy halo around her head, and huge hazel eyes. Jillian was as nice and soft-spoken as she could be to the woman, but Gracie always seemed to be on edge. Nervous.
Afraid.
Cookies and tea, Mr. Llewellyn, Gracie said. Jillian, I believe your tray has been sent to your office, but I can run down and get itoh, my God, I called you Jillian. I should have called you Miss Llewellyn. Or are you still going by your married name? Oh, Im so sorry.
Jillian is just fine, Gracie. Ive told you, please, my first name is just fine.
Cookies and tea? Daniel said impatiently. You brought me cookies and tea?
From the Great Pumpkin above, Gracie said, trying to joke. She was as slim as a saluki, and appeared frazzled. Joking wasnt her forte. Maybe she was perfect for Daniel. He didnt seem to know how to joke anymore, either.
Thanks, Gracie, but were finished here. Ill just run back to my own office, Jillian said. Happy Halloween to you both, she murmured as she got up and moved toward the door.
Um, happy Halloween, Daniel said. Then, to her surprise, he called her back.
She paused in his doorway.
His voice was slightly gruff when he spoke again. Go out and have a great night. And remember, its only Halloween. You and Connie leave some Christmas stuff out there for the rest of humanity, hmm?
Will do, she promised. Her voice was light. But tight, as well.
She was sorry about whatever it was that lay so strongly wedged between the two of them, but for the moment, there was nothing she could do about it.
She had been dismissed.
She hurried back into her own office.
Her tray of cookies and tea had been left on her desk. With a few things to clear up, she poured herself tea. She usually liked milk in her tea, but it had gotten cold, so she just shrugged and sipped it black as she started clearing her desk. She picked up one of the cookies, then put it back down, drawn again to her design for this years Christmas cross.
What had possessed her?
The design was beautiful. Intricate, delicate. One of the best things she had ever done. But contemporary? Definitely not.
She picked up the cookie again, studying the cross. She leaned low, looking at her own work. It really was so Celtic.
She set the cookie down again. Am I unintentionallystealing? she murmured aloud. Did I take that off a gravestone in Ireland or a picture somewhere or?
She heard the tinkling of a small bell. Jeeves, a big black alley cat who had one day made his way inside and become a company pet, suddenly leapt up on her desk.
She absently stroked his back. Am I a cheater, Jeeves? she murmured. Cant be. She shook her head and threw the design into her upper right-hand drawer. Once again she stroked the cat, then poured him a saucer of the milk intended for her tea.
Drink up, buddy. Have some cookies, too.
The cat let out a mournful cry, looking at her with huge golden eyes.
She smiled. Excuse me, youre a cat, not a dog. Lap up that milk.
The cat did so, needing no more invitation. Jillian stroked the animal one last time, making a mental note to leave her office door open.
The litter box was down the hall in Griffs office. Her cousin did, after all, have his responsibilities. Cat food, waterand the litter box.
It had been his idea to keep the cat and feed it. Studies had shown that pets were good for people, lowering blood pressure, making them calmer, more friendly. Eileen had pointed out that cat hair also made many people sneeze.
The cat had stayed. Luckily, no one in the office had been allergic.
Its all yours, Jeeves, she said cheerfully.
She was leaving. She glanced at her watch one more time. Taxi or subway? She was due to meet Connie in fifteen minutes.
Feet. She wasnt that far from the coffee shop where they had planned to get together. She would just walk fast. That would be her best bet.
Night, Jeeves, she told the cat. Happy Halloween. Trick or treat.
She grabbed her coat and her handbag, and exited her office.
The cat, heedless of the comings and goings of mortals, gave no note. It greedily drank up the milk.
Suddenly the animals body went rigid, then convulsed.
It collapsed by the tea tray.
The body twitched once. Twice.
And then it was still.
Dead still.
CHAPTER 2
I didnt think I was ever going to get away this afternoon, Jillian told Connie when she met her at the little coffee bar off Fifth. Shed been in such a hurry to leave. She had actually gotten here first. But now, out of the office at last, she was beginning to relax. Not even the caffeine in her café mocha could start her blood rushing again.
You shouldnt have given me the day off, Connie said sadly, stirring her tea.
Jillian looked at her friend. Connie Adair Murphy was petite, dark haired and blue eyed. Her face was round and always pleasant; she had a dimpled smile, and could be a powerhouse despite her small and cheerful appearance.
You always take Halloween off. And I dont think anyone could have helped. It was just one of those family kind of days, she said, rolling her eyes, then grinning.
They were feisty today, huh?
Moody, I think.
Over the cross?
Only Daniel.
What did your grandfather have to say?
He didnt come in today. He likes to take Halloween off, too.
Are you going to start over? It would be a shame. Its such an outstanding design.
No, Daniel says were going with it. Well just put a different spin on it. She looked at her watch. My God, its getting late.
No, its not so bad, only three-thirty.
It gets dark so early.
Doesnt matter, Connie assured her cheerfully. I told the girls wed head out at five-thirty or six. Weve got a little time. It wont take long to get home on the subway. Well just shove anyone in front of us away from the platform. Were fine.