This was the first inkling Vesta got about corruption in the highest circles of Happy Home, and it added to her good mood. Not only did they now have evidence of Brian’s adultery, but if they dug a little deeper, they might be able to prove the man’s corruption on top of everything else!
Not a bad morning’s work for this elderly spy!
[Êàðòèíêà: img_3]
Harriet wasn’t happy. In fact it wasn’t too much to say she was very unhappy!
“Why didn’t you tell us you already planted those cameras!” she cried.
“I forgot,” said Gran. “With everything going on, it must have slipped my mind.”
“Do you realize we just had to watch Brian do… that—again! The trauma might never heal!”
“I know, I know. But you did good, Harriet. You and Brutus both.”
Harriet would have slammed the door on her way out, but unfortunately cats aren’t in a position to express their anger in this way. So instead she vowed to rip up Gran’s favorite blanket once she had the chance. Or maybe even her favorite dress!
Brutus, who’d come tripping after her, was also appalled. “James Bond probably never has to go through this,” he grumbled. “James Bond gets his instructions straight from the top, with never a breakdown in communication like the one we just saw.”
Apparently Gran and Scarlett had passed by Brian’s office, had seen Dee leave the door open when she went for her coffee break, and had decided then and there to plant those cameras. And then instead of warning their team, they had forgotten!
“That’s what you get when you work with amateurs,” Harriet raged. “But I’m not going to let this go. I’m going to complain to Odelia, and demand a better handler. More professional, you know. More on top of things! Spies like us deserve the best!”
“I’m not sure Odelia has much of a choice,” said Brutus. “Gran and Scarlett are probably the best she has.”
And even though Brutus was right, Harriet couldn’t help vent some more. But when all was said and done, she realized that this is what you got when you worked for a pair of granny spies: sometimes things simply got lost in translation!
[Êàðòèíêà: img_3]
Dee was feeling heartbroken. Not only had Brian cheated on her, but he had also made a total fool of her. Though it hadn’t helped, of course, that she had attacked Gladys in front of half the residents who occupied Happy Home. Or at least that’s what it had looked like once she had been plucked from Gladys and placed in one corner, with Gladys being placed in another by that wannabe he-man Desmond.
God, she would have to resign now, wouldn’t she? Or be fired. She had actually attacked a client—the daughter of one of their residents. And all because of Brian.
She was checking out a scratch on her arm, while Brian was comforting Gladys in his office. The woman strode out now, looking thoroughly incensed. She took one long look at Dee, then clicked her tongue in dismay and walked out.
Next came Brian, and he looked a regular sight. His shirt was buttoned up the wrong way, his tie was crooked, and his fly was undone.
“I’m sorry, Dee,” he said.
“You promised me, Brian,” she said. “You said I was the only one for you and I believed you!”
“I know what I said, and I meant it. I still mean it. But what could I do? My hands were tied.”
She couldn’t believe her ears. “What are you talking about?”
“She jumped me, Dee! I know I should have fought her off, and I promise you I tried, but she’s a client, so I suddenly found myself in a very difficult position. You can see that, can’t you?”
“What I can see is that you and Gladys Judder were making out on your desk,” she said, sniffling a little. “And you weren’t putting up a fight, Brian. Quite the contrary.”
“Okay, look, she came into my office to talk about her mother, all right? And next thing I know, she suddenly jumped on top of me! I tried to tell her I wasn’t interested in her like that, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. So I finally decided just to give in, and then tell her that this was not the way I saw our relationship. And that from here on out things would have to be conducted in a strictly professional manner. I mean, I can’t go around having relations with my clients. That would open me up to all kinds of allegations of favoritism, corruption, not to mention stepping across very obvious boundaries of propriety…” He dragged a hand through his mussed-up hair. “I’m telling you, Dee, I felt trapped in there. Actually trapped. I didn’t know what to do. If I told her no, and pushed her away, she might end up ending Jane’s stay with us. Or worse, spreading all kinds of vicious lies about Happy Home—ruining us!”
“So what are you saying? She actually forced herself on you?”
“Yes! I’m telling you that’s exactly what she did!”
Dee was quiet for a moment. She wondered whether Brian was making things up. Trying to fob her off with some weird lie about being the victim, not the instigator.