Dawn in Eclipse Bay by Jayne Ann Krentz Page B

me more than somewhat.”
    She waited a beat. “Professional guidance?”
    â€œLet’s be honest here, Lillian. You don’t have a background in psychology. You have no training or experience in clinical therapy or counseling techniques. It says a great deal for your program that you’ve been as successful as you have thus far. But I agree that in using it for real-life matchmaking, you assumed an enormous responsibility and a degree of risk. Obviously such a sophisticated program should be used only by a professional.”
    â€œI see. A professional. Like you.”
    â€œActually, yes. If you’re serious about getting out of the business, I would like to make you an offer for the program and the related files that you’ve developed in the course of your work.”
    That stopped her momentarily. She hadn’t bargained on this. The last thing she wanted to do was sell the program to Anderson. If he used it, he would soon discover that it didn’t work very well on its own. No telling how many mistakes he might make before he realized that it was not magic.
    â€œNo,” she said. “I told you, it’s flawed.”
    â€œYou mean there are bugs in the program?”
    â€œNot technical bugs,” she said, trying to keep things vague. “It just doesn’t work very well.”
    He chuckled. “I’m sure that I have the professional background necessary to fix any small problems that might come up. I’ll make you a fair offer. We can work out mutually satisfactory terms. Perhaps a licensing agreement?”
    â€œThe Private Arrangements program is not for sale.”
    â€œLillian, be reasonable.”
    â€œI’m sorry, but I’ve made my decision.”
    He frowned. “Obviously that confrontation with Witley was traumatic. Your state of generalized anxiety is extremely high. But I think that when you have a chance to calm down you’ll see that you’re overreacting.”
    She straightened away from the desk, walked to the door and yanked it open. “If you don’t mind, I have a lot of things to do here today, Anderson. I want to leave town the day after tomorrow. That means I don’t have time for this conversation.”
    He hesitated and then apparently decided that further argument would get him nowhere. “Very well. We’ll discuss this later.”
    Don’t hold your breath, she thought. But she managed what she hoped was a civil smile.
    He hesitated and then took the hint and walked out into the hall. He paused.
    â€œLillian, perhaps—”
    â€œGoodbye, Anderson.” She shut the door very firmly in his face.
    It felt good.
    Probably overreacting, but what the heck. She had a right to overreact. Between Gabe, Witley, and Anderson, she’d had a very difficult week.
    She went back to the desk, picked up the phone and called a familiar number.
    Nella Townsend answered on the second ring.
    â€œTownsend Investigations.”
    â€œNella, its me.”
    â€œHi, Lil. What can I do for you? Got a new client you want me to check out?”
    â€œNot exactly. I want you to get some background on a man named Campbell Witley.”
    â€œNot a client?”
    â€œNo. Ex-boyfriend of one.”
    There was a short, distinct pause on the other end of the line.
    â€œA problem?” Nella asked.
    â€œI don’t know. That’s what I want you to find out for me.”
    â€œOkay, what have you got?”
    â€œNot much. All I know is that until sometime last fall he was seeing Heather Summers, a client, on a regular basis. You did a check on her when she signed up with Private Arrangements.”
    â€œGot it. This shouldn’t take long. He’ll probably pop up in her file. I should have a preliminary report ready for you by the end of the day.”
    â€œGreat. I’ll pick it up on my way home. Thanks, Nella. I really appreciate this.”
    â€œNo problem. Got any plans for