第18部分(第6/7 頁)

　Macdaniel　has　a　spirit　that　can　convince　the　men　of

the　Hansen　Corporation　that　they'd　be　dumb　not　to　follow　her　advice。'　I

wrote　it　right　down；　Chloe。　Thought　you'd　be　pleased。〃

〃Oh；　yeah；〃　she　murmured　under　her　breath。　The　snake。　He'd　stolen　her

own　words。

〃What　was　that？〃　Howard　asked。

〃Ah；　nothing；　Howard。　Just　a　thought。〃　She　cleared　her　throat。　〃Are　you

sure　he　won't　settle　for　another　member　of　the　firm？〃

〃I　doubt　it。　You'll　work　with　him；　won't　you；　Chloe。　I　told　him　you

would。〃

〃Howard；　how　can　you　do　this　to　me？　Why　can't　you　convince　him　that

another　member　of　the　firm…even　Lee；　my　partner…will　do　just　as　well？〃

〃I　suppose　I　could　try　if　I　wanted　to。〃

〃But　you　don't。〃

〃No。〃

〃You　just　lost　my　vote。〃

Howard　laughed　roundly。　〃Thank　goodness　you　don't　live　up　here。　You'd

have　the　whole　district　against　me。　Seriously；　though；　we　have　to　get

moving　on　this。　The　referendum　is　scheduled　for　early　November。　Ross

wants　to　meet　with　you　A…S…A…P　so　that　his　team　can　get　to　work　on　some

changes。〃

〃A…S…A…R　When　is　that？〃

〃Yesterday。〃

I　met　with　him　yesterday；　she　thought。　〃I　can't　make　it　before

Wednesday；　Howard。〃　It　was　just　another　job；　she　told　herself。　Just

another　oh。

〃Wednesday　will　be　fine。〃

〃Should　I　meet　them　up　at　the　site？〃　One　place　would　be　as　bad　as　the

next。　But　if　there　were　others　around；　the　temptation　would　be　less。

Howard　dashed　her　hopes。　〃He　wants　you　in　New　York。　That's　where　the

drawing　boards　are。　He'll　make　arrangements　for　your　transportation　and

housing。　I　have　to　get　back　to　him　later　to　tell　him　when。　Wednesday；

you　say？