第9部分(第3/7 页)

college。

They　want　to　know　when　the　printed　material　will　be　ready　to　be　copied。

Jay　called　from　Pittsburgh　to　say　that　he　should　be　back　on　Sunday；　and

Debbie　will　have　the　statistics　on　the　sinkhole　study　for　you　to　see

tomorrow。〃

〃Whoa。　She　sure　got　that　together　fast。〃　She　told　Ross；　〃Debbie　is　the

newest　member　of　the　firm。　She　just　got　her　degree。　Her　working

knowledge　of　puters　is　much　better　than　Lee's　or　mine。〃　She　frowned。

〃Boy；　would　I　like　to　take　more　courses。〃

〃Why　don't　you？〃　Ross　asked。

〃No　time。　Lee　and　I　have　worked　our　butts　off　trying　to　make　ESE　a

functioning　enterprise。〃　She　shot　a　look　at　her　partner。　〃I　think　we're

finally　seeing　the　light　at　the　end　of　the　tunnel。〃

His　grimace　took　her　by　surprise。　Instead　of　agreement；　she　saw　sudden

doubt。　〃That's　another　point　of　discussion　for　the　weekend；〃　Lee

informed　her　softly；　squeezing　her　arm　a　final　time　before　releasing

her。　〃But；　hey；　it's　getting　dark。　Let's　carry　on　inside。　Want　to　stay

for　dinner；　Ross？〃

Chloe　bent　to　retie　a　shoelace　that　needed　no　retying。　She　didn't　want

Ross　staying　for　dinner。　She　wanted　to　return　to　her　life；　and　that

meant　having　him　leave　and　stay　gone。　Naturally；　he　had　other　ideas。

〃That　would　be　fine；〃　he　said　with　gratitude。

But　Chloe　sensed　something　in　him。　As　the　three　of　them　walked　back　down

the　beach　to　her　house；　she　saw　the　tension　on　Ross's　face。　His　eyes　met

hers；　and　she　was　again　grateful　for　Lee's　presence。

Then　Lee　turned　traitorous。　With　a　grin；　he　said；　〃There's　some　great

wine　in　the　cellar；　Chloe。　The　steaks　are　already　on　the　counter。　Why

don't　you　take　another　o