Light in Shadow by Jayne Ann Krentz

amuck.
    â€œIt probably wouldn’t be possible for you to sneak in, anyway,” she said coolly. “Desert View is a very secure, gated community. I doubt if you would have been able to get past the guards.”
    Ethan said nothing, just sat there doing enigmatic. For some reason, she was suddenly uneasy.
    She wondered if she’d offended him or, worse yet, made him feel awkward or embarrassed. Truax Investigations was a one-person agency, she reminded herself. He did not have the resources of a large security firm such as Radnor. She could not expect miracles. And you got what you paid for, she reminded herself for the ninth or tenth time.
    She cleared her throat. “I assume you’ve used up the two-hour minimum advance I gave you.”
    â€œYou assume right,” he assured her a little too easily. “Blew right through it last night.”
    â€œI was afraid of that.” She drew herself up and fixed him with what she hoped was a steely glare. “How much more is this investigation going to cost me?”
    â€œCan’t say for sure, yet. Could be another day or two before I figure out what’s going on here.”
    â€œAnother day or two ?” She was appalled. “I can’t afford to pay you for that much time. Not at your rates.”
    â€œRelax. I think we can work something out. After all, I’m trying to get my business up and running here in Whispering Springs and you’re my first client. I want to make a good impression. Got to think of future referrals.”
    â€œWhat terms are you offering?” she asked warily.
    â€œMy sister-in-law came up with an idea. I didn’t pay any attention at the time, but last night when I realized this case was going to take longer than expected, it occurred to me that her plan had some possibilities.”
    â€œDescribe these possibilities.”
    â€œI need a little interior decorating work,” he said.
    That made her pause. “I rather like the look of your office. It has a certain shabby charm.”
    â€œShabby charm?”
    â€œIf you just replaced that oversized client chair and moved your desk into a better position and got rid of that mirror, I think you’ll find that the energy flow works very well.”
    â€œThe energy flow works fine the way it is. The oversized chair is useful because it makes clients aware that they aren’t the ones in control in that room. Makes ’em want to turn all their problems over to me. And if the desk interrupts the energy flow that’s okay, too. I like it right where it is. Ditto with the mirror. It’s not my office that needs redecorating.”
    â€œWhat, then?”
    â€œMy new house.” He smiled. “I mean, my new residence.”
    â€œYour residence ?” She flattened her hands on the desk and shot to her feet. “Are you serious? You expect me to redesign your entire living space in exchange for a little more detective work?”
    â€œSounded fair to me.”
    â€œWell, it certainly doesn’t sound that way to me. Itsounds like you’re trying to—” she broke off abruptly, aware that the phrase, screw me did not seem appropriate.
    Ethan watched her, politely expectant. Something in his expression told her he knew exactly what she had been about to say. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks.
    She straightened her shoulders and folded her arms. “It sounds as if you intend for me to get the raw end of this deal. My fees for redesigning an entire residence are quite high, Mr. Truax. There is no way that I would spend that much on your detecting services.”
    â€œOkay, like I told you, I’m flexible. How about one room?”
    She hesitated and then shrugged. “Okay, one room.”
    â€œDeal. But I get to pick the room.”
    â€œFine. Deal. Now tell me: how you plan to get into the Mason residence?”
    â€œThat’s the easy part.” Ethan replied. “You’re