"Roses! How .... vintage."

I gingerly plucked the card as Norma placed them as far away from me as possible. It was even more lacking than the roses.

"Congrats... with no name". I threw the card on the desk, "Who brought them?"

"Mr. James has been chatting up the ladies ..."

"Oh! I forgot. Let him in will you." I smoothed my skirt and walked to the front of the desk. That way he needn't take a seat.

"Babe! You kept me waiting." I could never tell if it was his glued back hair or his swagger that made me itch. His yellow tie and blue coat screamed 'I am rolling in dough but have no style' had all the dames in fits of dizzy giggling. He gently touched my arms and leaned in.

"Grrrrr .... Grrrr"

The peck missed its mark and I concealed a smile.

"Will you call off the hound dog" yelped James jumping away.

"Darling don't scare James.... Now really James he only wants to play... don't you, Moose?"

"Grrrr.... Woof!" Moose replied understanding every word. Neither budged.

"Doll, you've gone big time. The Gold Pillars is out with a bang. So how about a celebratory dinner tonight?"

"Oh! That sounds heavenly but not tonight. I am completely joed out. How about lunch at The Ritzy Muffins tomorrow."

"You mean it?"

"Of course, I do" I took his arm and we inched towards the door.

"I'll pick you up at around 1?" he grinned showing off his pearly whites.

I nodded in agreement and gladly shut the door as he walked away.

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"Ron West! What are you doing up at this hour? And that too in my study?"

"Aunt Grace!" Ron shot up from my chair in which he had been lounging. The newsprint fell from his hand landing on the floor with a thud. Claire mumbled sleepily from the couch barely able to keep her eyes open.

"We were waiting for you, aunt ... the newsprint is out of this world!"

"Thank you." I grinned at him and gathered up Claire.

"Are you famous now .... like ...like the ... you have your picture in the newsprint?" whispered Claire.

"I do ...but I am not famous ... and you two muffins need to get to bed right now. Ron leave the paper alone. You can read it in the morning if you want."

"You mean it aunt! You're the best. Come on sis. We haven't got all night."

"Off to bed. Scoot!"

I watched them climb the stairs and then took off my shoes. The lemonade on the rocks was calling my name. As I poured the drink, I spotted the newsprint on the floor. My own face stared back at me next to an article about the dead mob boss. I winced at the thought of the body and how it might connect back to me ... how it might look.

"That's why I needed an off the bats flatfoot ... but that man ... he's bananas!" I swirled the drink and Moose looked up from his spot on the floor disturbed by the sound of clinking ice. "He wanted to ask around! I wanted to hire him and he wanted to investigate me!"

I put the newsprint on the desk and stretched.

"Come on Moose. Time to hit the hay!"