The P.I. Contest

“The investigation will officially start tomorrow morning.” Lindsay turned from Kate to Jay. “I’ll have Nadine prepare a report for each of you containing all the information we have to date. Where you decide to start is completely up to you. Fair enough?”

“Absolutely,” Jay said.

“Where will we work when we’re not in the field?” Kate asked.

“We only have one empty office,” Nathan said. “I guess you’ll have to share. We can bring in an extra desk and chair, but there’s just one computer.”

“No problem. I have a laptop.” Jay stood and offered Kate his hand. “Good luck.”

She hesitated, then stood as well and accepted his hand. “May the best investigator win.”

No doubt she thought she would be the one. But she was in for a few surprises where he was concerned.

WITH THE MEETING CONCLUDED, Lindsay suggested to Kate that they go for a drink.

“That sounds good.” Kate wasn’t in a hurry to return to her empty apartment. She was going to have to get a cat, she decided, since she was no longer interested in men.

Lindsay led the way to a tired tavern just down the block. The Stool Pigeon was a knockoff on the traditional English pub concept, with a vague nod to Tudor architecture and an array of flea market atrocities displayed on shelves just out of dusting range.

A boisterous group in their twenties was sitting at the tables near the windows, and a dark brooding man presided over the three older male customers at the large oak bar. Brown vinyl booths at the back were all empty and that was where Lindsay led her.

“Nice place,” Kate said, grimacing as she slid into the booth and her hand came in contact with something sticky.

“Cozy, isn’t it? I come here all the time. This is Wendy.”

Since she had her back to the kitchen, Kate hadn’t noticed the female server approaching. The woman, in her mid-forties, seemed to have weathered about as well as the place where she worked.

“Wendy and Mark own this place,” Lindsay explained.

“Lucky us,” Wendy said drily. “I assume you want your usual?” When Lindsay nodded, she turned to Kate. “And you?”

“I’ll have an orange juice with lots of ice.” Hopefully the vitamin C would help ward off the cold she felt coming on.

“And fries,” Lindsay added. “We’ll share.”

When the server returned a short time later, Kate was surprised to see that she’d brought Lindsay a paralyzer.

“You still drink those? How does your stomach tolerate them?” Once, when she and Lindsay had gone for a drink after a rough shift, she’d ordered one. A single swallow had been enough for her. She’d been shocked to find out what was in the drink. A motley mixture of liqueurs, cream and cola.

“My system runs on paralyzers,” Lindsay assured her.

“So how are things with Nathan? They seem good.”

“Better than good. I’ve never been happier.”

“You look happy.” Kate was sincerely glad for her friend.

“Thanks. I wish I could say the same to you. Tell me about Conner. What was his problem? Didn’t he know how lucky he was to have you?”

“Thanks, Lindsay.” Kate felt tears well up at her friend’s kindness. “In some ways I’ve decided that it’s a good thing that we broke up—though I would have wished for a more civilized finale.”

“Sometimes a good drama is the only way to go. I’m glad you gave him a piece of your mind.”

“I guess. But I’ve come to realize over the last few days I wasn’t as much in love with Conner as I thought I was.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I hate to admit this, but I think I just latched on to him because I was at the point where I wanted to get married.”

“Why so keen to get married?”

“Babies. Ever since I turned thirty that’s all I think about. Everywhere I go, I see them. Did you notice that woman with the stroller on our way here?”

“Yeah, but this is the Upper West Side. There are kids everywhere. I never knew you were so keen to have children.”

“I’ve always wanted a big family as well as a challenging career,” Kate confessed. “Not just one or two children. More like three or four.”

“Wow…I guess you’ll have to start dating, then.”

Kate made a face. “Forget it. I’ve had enough of men for a while.”

“So what are you thinking? You want to be a single mother?”

“Maybe. I’ve been considering it. What do you think? Am I crazy?” She picked up a fry and stared at it without any appetite.

“No, not crazy. But it’s a serious step. Don’t do anything rash.” Lindsay ate another fry. “Anyway, I’m so glad you’re here. I promise you’ll be happy at our agency. The work is varied and interesting and you’ll have so much more freedom than you did working for the NYPD.”

“That’s assuming I find Hannah’s father first and get the job,” Kate reminded her.

“Jay doesn’t stand a chance of solving this case faster than you.”

Kate had already told herself the same thing. But Jay Savage struck her as the sort of guy who wasn’t used to losing. She had to make sure that, this time, he did.

THE NEXT MORNING Kate arrived at the agency bright and early. She forced herself to get out of bed, even though she’d had a restless night, thanks to that tickle at the back of her throat. No matter how many vitamins she popped or how much orange juice she drank, it would not go away.

She bumped into Nadine, who was unlocking the main door. The young receptionist gave her a welcoming smile. “Lindsay and Nathan don’t usually come in until nine. You must be an early bird.”

“When I need to be.” Kate didn’t care when Lindsay and Nathan arrived for work, but she sure hoped that Jay wouldn’t be in for a while.

Nadine gave her a closer look. “Do you have a cold? There’s a mean one going around. I had it last week and it was terrible.”

“Just a tickle in my throat.” She had no time to get sick, and so she wouldn’t. Mind over matter. “Did Lindsay leave anything for me?”

“Yes. She asked me to prepare two files—one for you and one for Jay.” Nadine unlocked the bottom drawer of her desk and pulled out a folder which she handed to Kate. “I’m guessing you’d like to get straight to work. The office you’re sharing with Jay is opposite the conference room. Call me if you need anything. And if you’re a coffee drinker, I’ll have a fresh pot ready in ten minutes.”

“Thanks, Nadine.” This receptionist of Lindsay’s was so pleasant and helpful, especially when compared with some of the dispatchers Kate had worked with over the years.

With her leather bag slung on one shoulder, Kate’s hands were free to open the folder as she walked. Inside she found a summary of the information Hannah had given them yesterday and copies of forms she must have filled out with Nadine.