and disappeared from sight。
〃I'll be in touch； princess；〃 he had said when he kissed her good…bye。
〃You shouldn't； Ross；〃 she had said； though her throat was tight with
emotion。 〃It's better this way。〃
He hadn't said anything more； had simply turned on his heel and walked
off。
The sense of loss she had felt then should have eased as the day wore
on； but it didn't。 It grew sharper； forcing her to a deeper level of
soulsearching。 On this level she felt great guilt。 Twice； now； she had
been with Ross。 Had it not been for the first time； Crystal might still
be alive。
The pain of her memory of that time was so great that she rarely went
there。 Now she did。 She and Crystal had double…dated that rainy Saturday
night and had returned home on a sour note； largely from Chloe's
distraction。 When Crystal confronted her； Chloe told her about Ross。 She
hadn't meant to gloat； only to share the excitement。
But Crystal was furious。 Hurt； jealousy； anger…Chloe had never been able
to sort through her twin's rage。 Crystal had run from the house； taken
her small sports car； and sped away。 Within an hour the police were at
the door to report that the small car had skidded on the wet road and
slammed into a tree。 Crystal had died instantly。
Chloe twitched。 Her forehead was bathed in sweat。 Throwing an arm over
her eyes； she sank more deeply into the sofa。 For years she had lived
with the guilt of causing Crystal's death。
But there was new guilt now。 Ross had fallen in love with her and she
had allowed it to happen。 Since she couldn't marry him； he would be
hurt； which was the last thing she wanted。 He deserved the best； the
finest。 He deserved a wife and children and all those things she might
have wanted herself； had life been different。 Causing him pain increased
her own pain ten…fold。 Because； when all was said and done； she loved
him； too。
That was the deepest layer unearthed in her soul…search。 She did love
Ross； but it had no future。 There would always be yesterday and the
ghosts she lived with。 Ross had stolen her heart； but only a part。 The
rest had either died with Crystal； or died a little more each time she
saw the grief on her parents' faces。 Ross deserved a wholehearted woman。
She wanted that for him。
After developing a throbbing migraine； Chloe was in bed by eight； and
there was pain beyond her head。 Ross's scent clung to her sheets； the
remembered feel of his body scared her skin。 She burned inside； with no
outlet。
In time she fell asleep。 After two nights without； it was deep and
mercifully uninterrupted。 She woke up only when Lee hollered from the
foot of the stairs； 〃Chloe？ Rise and shine！〃
She yawned； stretched； remembered and felt pain； then relief。 Lee often
woke her with a yell。 This wouldn't be the last time。 Life would go on
without Ross。 Yes； it would。 Climbing from bed； she showered； dressed；
neatened the room and joined Lee for breakfast。 〃Good weekend； kid？〃 he
asked around a mouthful of toast。 〃Not bad。〃
〃So what happened？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃He didn't sleep at my place Saturday night； Chloe。〃
She helped herself to coffee。 〃How do you know he stayed over Saturday
night？ How do you know he didn't go back to New York？〃
〃His car was here Sunday morning。〃
She couldn't begrudge him the gentle teasing。 He was a dear friend。
〃You're getting snoopy in your old age。〃
〃I live right next door。 How could I miss it？〃
〃You could have looked the other way。〃
〃And pass up the pleasure of seeing you blush？ You don't do it very
often； you know。〃
With determined steadiness she sipped her coffee。 〃I'm not doing it now。
What you see is the freshness of morning…〃 ；；…made fresher by a
stimulating weekend。〃
〃Stimulating；〃 she said with a grunt。 〃That's one word for it。〃
〃He's a good man； Chloe。 I liked him。〃
〃He liked you； too。 The two of you aren't all that different。〃
〃Maybe because we care about you。〃
Chloe smiled。 〃You're sweet。〃 She changed the subject。 〃When do you
leave for Washington？〃
〃Hold on； pretty lady。 I'm still curious。 You and that guy had a thing
going once。 Is it on again？〃 Quietly； she said； 〃I never talked about 'a
thing' with Ross。 I said I knew him and that whatever might have been
between us was over。 Don't read something into it that isn't there。〃
〃You make a nice pair。〃
〃It's not your affair。〃
Lee backed off。 〃You're right。 It's not。 If I had any sense I'd marry
you myself。〃
Chloe was suddenly cross。 〃I wouldn't say yes to you； either！〃
〃So he did ask you。〃 Her partner smiled。 〃Fast worker； that one。〃
Unable to e up with a suitably indignant retort； she stood up with
her mug and made to flee to her office。
〃What about breakfast？〃 Lee's voice trailed after her。
〃I'm not hungry！〃
〃You shouldn't work on an empty stomach。〃 Ross had said the same thing
Saturday。
〃I'll live！〃 she shouted over her shoulder and closed the office door。
The telephone jangled； a merciful reminder of the workday ahead。 It was
Alabama。 Had she made a decision on handling the study for the citizens'
group in Mobile？ No。 She hadn't even thought about it once during the
weekend。 It would mean a week on location taking samples of Gulf water
and testing the ocean floor position。 It was a potentially
fascinating project； since the toxic waste burning plan was so new。
〃Yes； Ms。 Farwell。 I'll take the job。 What's the exact status of the
waste burning now？〃
A gentle voice responded with concern。 〃The tanker will be leaving
Mobile two weeks from tomorrow loaded with oil contaminated with PCBS。
Those PCBS are cancer…causing。 The pany that owns the freighter
claims that by the time the oil is pletely burned； any toxic acid
emitted in the smoke will have been neutralized by the seawater。 We
doubt that。〃
Chloe made notes as the woman talked。 〃Where do they plan to do the
burning？〃
The woman knew her facts and offered them up； along with a detailed list
of the equipment Chloe would need。 She also advised Chloe on making
arrangements with the local university for the use of their lab。
Hanging up the phone； Chloe was pleased。 With the use of a lab； she
would be able to spend evenings analyzing the samples she collected。
Four or five days out； and the job would be done。
The project was exciting。 More than that； the escape from Little pton
was just what she needed。 It would give her a head start at putting Ross
out of her mind。
Her pencil moved over the paper； making further notes on the Alabama
project。 She would fly down in three weeks； by which time the tanker
would have reached its proposed burn site and started to work。 Three
weeks would take her into the second week in November。 After a week in
Mobile； Thanksgiving would be at hand。
Thanksgiving。 She felt a soft； distant shudder。 Should she go home？
Alabama was in the vicinity of Louisiana。 Mobile was a hop； skip； and
jump from New Orleans。 She hadn't seen her parents in a long time。 She
missed them a lot。 Same with her brothers。 One of them might be there；
too。
But there would be memories of another Thanksgiving； not only in Chloe's
mind but in those of her parents and brothers。 Could she face those？ In
eleven years she had never made it home for Thanksgiving。 They must have
guessed why。 No doubt they were relieved。 Looking at Chloe was seeing
Crystal； too。 She hated to impose that on a family Thanksgiving。
The phone rang again。 〃Chloe？ Howard Wolschinski here。 I just got a call
from Stephenson。 He's ready to talk。〃 He paused。 Chloe didn't know what
to say。 〃Are you still there？〃 he asked。
〃I'm here； Howard。〃 She sighed； resigned。 She should have known。 〃That's
good news；〃 she said with forced enthusiasm。 〃Has he given on all of our
points？〃
〃He hasn't given on anything yet。 But he says that he hears what you're
saying and is willing to have you work with his people to revise the
plans。〃
〃That's fine。 My studies and findings are all clearly outlined in the
report I did for you。 I'll have one of my assistants give him a call。〃
〃He wants you。〃
〃Did he say that？〃
〃Loud and clear。 His exact words were； 〃If it were anyone else； I'd have
doubts。 But Chloe 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？〃
She gave a low but very audible drawn…out sigh。 〃It's as good a day as
any。〃
〃That's my girl！ I'll call you with the details。 Okay？〃
〃You're the boss。〃
She should have felt victorious； hanging up the phone。 If Ross caved in；
there would be no need for a referendum and the Rye Beach plex would
be built on an environmentally sound plan。 How much better could things
be？
Tossing her hair over her shoulder； she grabbed her now empty mug and
stomped through the living room into the kitchen； where she poured more
coffee and reached for the sticky bun Lee had left。 That was when she
spotted the open door to his office。
〃Lee！〃 She burst in； rousing her partner from the depths of a thick
folder。 〃Lee； you're just the person I need。〃 So much for gentlemen's
agreements。 Despite what she'd told Howard； if Lee would fill in for
her； she would send him to New York。 She could play just as dirty as
Ross。
〃Umm？〃
〃I need you to fill in for me in New York on Wednesday。 Can you make
it？〃
He was shaking his head before she'd even finished。 〃I'll be in
Washington。 Why？ A problem？〃
〃No。 Nothing much。〃 She mumbled the last and turned away。
〃Chloe。 Get back here。 You'd never rush in asking me to fill in for you
for nothing much。〃 A look came over his face。 〃Oh。〃 He cleared his
throat。 〃So he called you； too。〃
She frowned。 〃Howard called you？〃
〃Ross called me。 I think his offer is good。〃
〃Offer？ Ross？ What