"Ed Howdershelt - Field Decision" - читать интересную книгу автора (Howdershelt Ed)

_'Irritate you further?'_ thought Cade. He hadn't yet begun to irritate
her. It would be unavoidable if he was going to get around her so that he
could look into things.
"McAlister," said Cade, "I was hired because of my qualifications and
experiences, not my age. I was only speculating that your tight-assed nature
may have driven your daughter out of your house, and you're just an embassy
politician who called my boss for some unofficial help after the usual methods
hit a dead end. I don't give a rat's ass whether you like me or not, and if
you try to play power games with me you'll find that I don't play them at
all."
With utter astonishment, the woman responded, "Is that some kind of a
_threat?_"
Cade shook his head disgustedly.
"Hell, no, it isn't a threat, lady. I don't _have_ to take this case.
I'd just tell John to find someone else. We're short-handed, McAlister. It
could be three months before anyone else is available for your personal
problems, and they'd have to be _willing_ to become involved. This matter
isn't official business. It's more like a trade of favors."
Debra McAlister was staring at him. She seemed to be having trouble
forming words for a moment, then asked in a hushed tone, "_Three months?_"
Cade quietly said, "Yeah. Three months. We stay busy, you know. As I
said, I'm not here for you, McAlister. I'm here for your daughter and because
John asked me to look into things for you. I'm also here on my own time and
I'll walk if you give me too much more trouble, so let's skip all the
pecking-order crap and get down to business."
With a slight glower, she asked, "Your _own_ time? What does that mean?
You work for the agency, and since the agency assigned you to me, you're
working for _me_."
Cade shook his head. "_Wrong,_ lady. I told you, this _isn't_ official
business. It can't be, for our outfit. I'm on leave between assignments. I
have to use the leave time or cash it in. When John told me about your
problem, I decided to use the time this way. I can damned well change my mind
about using it this way, too."
The blonde said nothing for some moments. Cade prompted her.
"So, let's try this again. Is there anything you want to tell me that
isn't in this folder? Sandy seems like a bright, outgoing young woman. It may
be some kind of facade, but you seem exactly the opposite. You're a divorced
mother of one who is trying to maintain a career and ride herd on a teenaged
daughter while stationed in Europe, and you haven't seemed like a real
friendly sort to me so far. I'm sure someone's already asked you this, but is
it at all possible that Sandy's just run away from home for a while? Away from
Mom in particular?"
Debra McAlister drew herself stiffly upright and asked,
"How-_dare_-you..?"
"I just do," said Cade drily. "It's a gift, I guess. That's a question
you'll have to face more than once if this goes any farther, so save the
indignant outrage for someone who'll give a damn, McAlister. I'll want a good
look at your home and her room in particular, and then I'm going to mill this
stuff down for a few days to see if there's anything left to follow. I want
numbers where I can reach you day or night, without secretaries or flunkies