The name on the frosted glass of the office door read, Trey Gunn Investigations; that was me. I pushed through the door and tossed my hat on the hall tree in the corner. Daisy Cannon, my indispensible secretary, was pouring a mug of coffee and she gave her watch a pointed look.

"That for me," I asked, holding out my hand.

"I can make more. You have a visitor." She tipped her head toward my office.

Obviously, I wasn't getting coffee.

"Who?"

Daisy handed me her edition of the Weekly Golden Pillars and I glanced at the picture on the front page. That was the first time I ever saw Caroline Grace. The second time was when I walked through my inner office door. She was sitting comfortably in my client's chair, drinking what was probably my coffee, and when she saw me she re-crossed her legs with a silky swish.

I walked around and sat facing her, dropping the paper in front of her with a purpose. After a quick glance, she sniffed, opened her purse and fitted a cigarette into an ivory holder, leaning forward expectantly.

I thumbed a matchstick and held it up for her.

"So what can I do for you, Miss Grace?"

A stream of silver smoke headed for the ceiling and she painted me with a pair of sleepy grey eyes.

"I want to hire you to look into the killing of Shamus McGinty."

"We have a police force for that kind of work." I got up and dug a bottle out of my filing cabinet. "Drink?"

"No thank you." I sat back down and watched her eject the butt from her holder then return it to her purse. "The police are useless."

"Well I've held that opinion occasionally."

"That's why I want to hire you. I'll pay whatever your fee is." She opened the purse again and pulled out a roll that nearly made me spill my drink.

"I'd have to ask around a bit first, Miss Grace. I can't just go barging into an active cop investigation."

"I thought that's what private investigators did. You disappoint me, Mr. Gunn." The money disappeared and she stood abruptly.

"Whoa, hold your horses. I didn't say no, I said I'd have to check a bit first. Like why are you so interested in the death of some mobster?"

"My reasons are mine. All you have to do is find out what really happened."

"Can't your reporters do that for you?"

"I can see this was a big mistake." With a distasteful glance she headed for the door.

"Sorry you feel that way, sweetheart, but I have a license to protect. You don't want to do this my way there's a phone book full of gumshoes willing to take your money."

"None of which you will be seeing if what I've heard so far is your best advice." She turned and stalked from the office, leaving the door partially open.

I followed, watching her huff into the elevator and I slowly closed the door. What are the odds of seeing Caroline Grace a third time, I wondered.

Daisy just shook her head and held up a wad of unpaid bills. I smiled.

***************

I grabbed the blower and gave my old pal Doc Well, the city medical examiner, a shout and asked about this Shamus mug Caroline Grace was interested in.

"Came in a few days ago. His wife came in and made an ID, not that we needed it. Found him face down in an alley in the Muffin district. I haven't got to him yet but the initial scoop is he might have been poisoned."

"How so?"

"Coppers found a half eaten muffin next to him. I haven't had a chance to test it yet."

"You that busy?"

"Yeah, thanks to a peeper named Gunn. Those torpedos you gave lead poisoning to are today's priority. You're gonna be a star witness Gunn."

"Yeah, I know."

"The D.A. wants that case closed pronto because McGinty has moved to the top of the list."

"Listen, Doc, you get anything interesting on this Shamus let me know, okay?"

"Sure, sure. So long."

***************

JinLi was in his bouncer mode when I arrived at The Ritzy Muffin. Without much trouble he was helping a chippy and her drunken sap out to the curb.

"I didn't think business was good enough right now to throw customers out, AJ."

"Well you're here and that means muffins, so business is good again." He grinned and slapped me on the back. We went inside and AJ led me right back to the kitchen.

"Well, well my favourite peeper. Here for a fix, Gunn?"

I laughed and sat a haunch on the edge of the work counter. "Myna, you're the only broad I know with more money than God that still puts on an apron and actually works."

"Like you know a lot of wealthy women." She handed a tray to Gyn to stick in the oven.

"I met another one today as a matter of fact. Caroline Grace." Gyn passed by me and gave a shy smile. Any smile from Gyn was a surprise bonus.

"She wanted me to look into the killing of this Shamus McGinty."

"You! The D.A.'s star witness from that little dust up last month? She wanted you?"

Myna took her apron off and went to her cupboard coming back with two fresh blueberry muffins on a plate.

"Oaah, what would your fiancé say if he knew you were feeding me bootleg muffins?"

"I don't think I have to worry about Federal Agent Lorne Order saying anything." She patted her hair and gave me a sly look. "But tell me, why would Caroline Grace want to hire you?"

"If I wasn't seduced by these muffins I might be offended, Myna. People hire me 'cause I get the job done."

"Or knock off everybody involved so it doesn't matter anymore."

"Mmm, that too."

"Did you take the job?"

"Not yet . . ."

"Take my advice, Gunn and stay out of this one. McGinty was very bad people."

I licked my fingers, dusted the crumbs off my jacket and gave her a peck on the cheek.