Shea took off her jacket, hung it over the back of her chair and seated herself on the tall stool at her drafting table. Usually no matter what was crowding her mind she could lose herself in creating a design. Today it just didn't seem to work. After an hour of trying to concentrate she gave up and put everything away.

"I'm sneaking out early," she told Marta. "If anyone calls tell them I had an appointment out of the office."

"Going home to start getting ready for the ...