Desperate Measures by Kate Wilhelm Page B

she’s on other committees, too, and I think they’re more active than ours.” She leaned in closer and said in a very low voice, “And I think she has a friend. You know? A boyfriend? I hope so, anyway.”
    Barbara laughed. “I think women can always tell. Don’t you? Maybe the aura changes, or something.”
    Looking pleased, Cloris nodded. “You can tell. I guess we’re trained all our lives to read signs that guys don’t even see. In April she was in and apologized for not making our meeting, she said a hospital committee had met that same night, and I thought then, Aha, maybe she’s snagged a doctor! She was giving off rays or something, I guess.” Then she said, “Let me see that list. I can tell you who would be good to talk to.”
    They chatted; Cloris marked a few names on the list, and then it was time for her to go back to work. After they parted on the sidewalk, Barbara decided that her money had been well spent.
    Driving back to the office, she planned the rest of her day. Look up the members of the hospital committee. She knew pretty well what to expect there: a lot of fat cats, big names, important people, respectable people. And just possibly one who was having an affair with a school principal. Then, a very long walk. Miles and miles. Sleeping on the couch had destroyed her back.
    When she entered her office, she could hear Shelley speaking. “I don’t think it goes there. Let’s try this one.”
    Maria raised her eyebrows and rolled her eyes, and Barbara went to Shelley’s open door to see what was happening. Shelley and Alan Macagno were surrounded by boxes and computer cables.
    â€œHi,” Shelley said. “Wait till you see it run! Like lightning! Alan, I said not that socket, or whatever it’s called. Look at the diagram!” She glanced at Barbara and said very innocently, “I told him he could come and see it for himself, but my printer doesn’t seem to want to cooperate.”
    Barbara nodded and withdrew, thinking, of course, her own desktop computer might be examined by someone like Alan, or more likely Bailey. He seldom told his minions to do anything really illegal; he did those chores himself. She would use her laptop from here on out and keep it with her.
    She was busy making notes when Shelley tapped on her door later, then entered carrying two coffee mugs. “I thought you might be ready for a break,” she said. “I know I am.”
    Alex and Dr. Minick liked the house, she said. The blue computer was there, set up. “It’s a beautiful house. Five bedrooms! Huge. And he likes abstract art; it’s everywhere. I don’t think he really wants to sell, though. Two seventy-five. Pretty steep. And I have a domestic case, grandson hit his grandmother, and she doesn’t want to call the police but wants him to keep out. I tried to talk her into pressing charges. By tomorrow she’ll be giving him money again. Why do they put up with that?”
    Barbara knew it wasn’t really a question and didn’t bother to answer. She told Shelley about her day. “So it looks like Hilde has a boyfriend, and he just might be too respectable to be caught having an affair. I’m not going to do any more with that for now. Time enough if Alex is charged. Then we’ll have to get a private detective of our own. That’s going to be stealth work. I don’t think I can breeze in and start asking questions with the men on the hospital committee.” She drank her coffee appreciatively. Maria had made it. “And that’s about all we can do for the time being. I’ll finish my notes and you can read them tomorrow, and then it’s a waiting game. I’ll be in court most of the day tomorrow.”
    When Shelley stood up to go home, she said, “Oh, I almost forgot. When Alan came in with me, he asked Maria, How’s it going? And she said it was a nice sunny