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Narrative

Some Questions

It hadn’t been ten minutes after the conversation with Juss Forsythe when the boss showed up at the hardware help desk. Not the tech support supervisor, but the head of IT herself.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Corlin.” Although she was smiling, the formal address suggested trouble was in the offing. “I see you and Mr. Forsythe were having a conversation earlier.”

Although she didn’t specifically accuse him of having been caught visiting while he was supposed to be working, why else would she remark on his conversation with Juss? Which meant he would have to watch what he said, make sure he didn’t sound defensive.

Better to make it sound routine and unremarkable. “We were just discussing some problems both our departments are dealing with.” No, better not elaborate. More information might make it sound interesting enough to pursue further.

Steffi just nodded, a curt up-and-down movement. “Is there anything I need to know about these problems?”

Lou’s heart sped up, and he hoped his face hadn’t betrayed that moment of alarm. “We have things taken care of.”

No, she did not look convinced. “If it has to do with a Shep, please don’t think you can’t talk to me about it, just because I’m married into the Shepard lineage.”

Make that definite she probably suspected they were talking about Sprue. However, she was leaving him a face-saving out, rather than making an Issue about it. Which meant he’d better take that opportunity, thank her, and reassure her that he’d let her know if things reached the point she needed to be involved.

Still, once she was gone and definitely out of earshot, Lou breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief.