Mr. And Miss Anonymous by Fern Michaels Page B

in the garment business. Her creds are five-star.”
    “I don’t care about that, and you had no business doing that check without my authorization. She’s a friend. I hate when you pull this shit, Zolly. Dammit, what if she finds out?”
    “I was discreet, boss. The rules say I check everyone you come in contact with.”
    Grinning from ear to ear, Lily jumped away from the door when she heard a rat-a-tat-tat knock. She moved farther into the room and shouted so her voice would carry through the door. “Be right there!”
    Lily stepped out into warm, golden sunshine. Winston sidled up next to her, hoping for a pat on the head. She did better than that. She dropped to her haunches so that she was eye level with the huge dog. She rubbed his belly, his rump—the only place he couldn’t scratch himself—and tickled his ears. Then she nuzzled him, nose to nose. When she was upright again, she knew she’d made a friend for life. A four-legged friend.
    Winston was in love.
    Pete smiled and smiled as he ushered her forward to a black Chevy Suburban that was waiting under the portico. “We have to do this, switch up vehicles, from time to time when the press gets obnoxious.”
    Lily didn’t know what to say, so she just nodded as she climbed into the huge vehicle.
    “Where are we going?”
    Pete threw his hands in the air. “To that place you and I spent hundreds of hours in a lifetime ago. The Berkeley Library. We’ll use their computers.”
    “Great idea. Any updates?”
    “No. We’re going to have to make our own updates. All I need is a computer, and if there’s something out there, I’ll find it. You aren’t having second thoughts, are you?”
    She rather thought she was having second thoughts, but her answer didn’t betray that indecision. “No, not at all. Maybe we should get a newspaper. Do you have the power to authorize a stop at some convenience store to get one?” Lily let loose with a giggle to show she was teasing. She tried to remember the last time she’d giggled over anything. In the end she gave up, then laughed outright when the Suburban pulled to the curb.
    Zolly hopped out and was back within minutes, his arms full of newspapers. Winston took that moment to unbuckle his seat belt to barrel to the back, where he sat at Lily’s feet to gaze up at her adoringly.
    Lily stroked the big dog’s head as Pete divvied up the papers. “We can read them in the library. I think my dog likes you. He hasn’t been around women much except for my housekeeper. Up till now I would have said the only people he likes are me and Zolly.”
    The GPS on the dashboard came to life as it told Zolly where to turn and where to park. Pete leaned toward the window. “It looks the same,” he said quietly.
    “Nothing is the same,” Lily said flatly. “Nothing,” she said adamantly.
    There was nothing for Pete to say, so he remained quiet. The moment the Suburban came to a stop, he hopped out to hold the door for Lily. He offered his hand. She took it and jumped to the ground.
    Suddenly she was surrounded by a group of men that Pete seemed to know. Security.
    “See you, big guy,” Pete said, tussling with the shepherd for a minute.
    Winston growled to show his displeasure until Lily turned to hug him. He settled down immediately, to Pete’s chagrin.
    They moved off, one of the security detail staying with Winston, Zolly in the lead. Once inside the library, he would discreetly move away, the other security scattering to keep their eyes on the boss and his companion.
    Lily looked around. Pete was right, she’d spent hundreds and hundreds of hours in the library. It looked the same, and yet it looked different. Possibly it was the shrubs and the trees on the outside. Maybe it was the ivy growing up the brick walls. She shivered when she entered the quiet building. How young the students looked, bent over tables, books open in front of them. A long time ago she had looked just like them. Once she had loved this