It was chilly for quite a while in Alice's suite but gradually she gave in to some of my pleas and began talking about her mother and eventually the incident with Roe came out. I didn't push it but I suggested they get together and do some reconnecting, which surprisingly she agreed to and as I was taking my leave the rosy image collapsed.

"I still expect you to find Roe, Mr. Hart. Now that I have agreed to all your wishes."

"And if I do?"

"Just point him out."

"Alice I--"

"Thank you, Mr. Hart . . . and I do mean that." She stood, urging me to the door.

Talking done.

********

"That took guts, Hart." Verna placed a set of utensils and a serviette in front of me and poured me a coffee.

"It was your idea."

"Still . . ." She rested a hand on my shoulder. "Now what?"

"Lunch."

The resting hand slapped. "Roe, smart ass."

"I haven't figured that out yet. Any more ideas?"

"Just be careful, Hart." She went back to the counter and fetched my Thai Bites.

"Nice to know you care, Verna. Thank you." I waited for another dig but she just gave me a wan smile and went back to work. She does care!

After finishing lunch I stayed in the booth writing up more notes and possible scenarios for 'pointing Roe out' as Alice had demanded, with little success. I didn't see a good outcome no matter what. I noticed sauce on my shirt and figured I'd hit the office, change and start again.

Verna just shook her head when I plucked out the front of my shirt and smiled like a goof. She cared, I know she cared.

********

The truck in the mirror looked uncomfortably familiar and I automatically accelerated, turning to see if it followed. It did. I was sure it was Harland's pickup and gave him full marks for finding me faster than I found him. I made another turn to get back onto the busy main street.

In the movies this always turns into smoking rubber chases that end in a humungous crash but this wasn't the movies and I had a plan. I drove quickly along until I spotted an open space by a hydrant and braked into a skidding stop in the space. The pickup slowed but had to keep going because of the traffic.

"You gotta get up early fella," I yelled to the departing vehicle. I sat for a while with the motor running and the window down to help cool my perspiration. I was pretty sure this wasn't over.

I parked in the public lot down from my office and went up the fire escape and in the window. Not scared, cautious . . . mostly cautious. The door was still locked and nothing disturbed so I assumed here might be next since it was my home as well. While I considered my options the phone rang.

"Richard Hart Investigations."

"Fool me once, Gumshoe."

I sat and wet my lips. "Harland. Whatever do you mean?"

"You and I are gonna meet or I'll have to take my complaint up with your diner friend or maybe your other friend at the Kings Arms."

I was about to object at diner but the fact he knew about Alice clamped my vocal chords.

"Seven o'clock in the bar of the Tokyo Grill."

"Is this a date?"

"Yeah, and you better not be late."

I stared at the dead receiver. The Tokyo Grill? It was an executive watering hole . . . what the hell was he up to?

********

A clean shirt, my sports jacket and my gun - I wasn't going to forget it this time. The Tokyo Grill was as expected, throbbing with young movers and shakers while their older versions awed them with heavily modified war stories from those good old days.

I stood, scanning the room for Harland and jerked slightly at the grip on my elbow. I turned and looked into the grey eyes of a young, pleasant face, clean shaven, a nice suit and a faint smell of peppermint.

"We have a booth near the back."

"We?" He answered with an increase in pressure on my elbow.

Harland was seated on the inside next to an older version of my escort and my first thought was feds. Surprisingly he sat first leaving me on the outside across from his partner.

"Harland, why didn't you tell me it was a double date?"

"I'll give ya a double date you--"

"Enough, Roe, and you keep your smart remarks to yourself." The older version stared me down. "My name is Reagan, I'm with the Federal Arms Trafficking Task Force and Jones is with the Crown Attorney's office. Harland Roe is working for us as an informant in the Street Riders."

I leaned back and looked at Harland. "You have to be kidding! Those guys need help getting across traffic and as for running--"

"I told you about the smart remarks, now stow it. This operation is over a year old and we are very close to getting what we need. Your showing up at the Blue Garter nearly queered the whole piece."

"You do know what this guy is, right? A child molesting rapist!"

"Watch your mouth, Gumshoe"

"Oh yes, did he tell you he called and threatened me and my friends for investigating his sorry ass?"

"I don't know what he's--"

"Did you contact, Hart?" The older man turned on Harland.

"He's lying!."

"Really? Tell that to my phone recorder you slug." I crossed my fingers and prayed the bluff would work.

"You recorded the call?" The two lawmen traded glances.

I nodded and tried for my best smug look.

"We're going to need that"

"Who's lying now, Harland."

"I called him because I thought he would screw up my cover."

I snorted. "By threatening me?"

Cheap shots flew back and forth for a minute until Arms Task Force man slapped the table and hissed, 'shut up.' Another ten minutes while only he spoke, outlined the rules we would follow if we didn't want to end up in the same cells as the Street Riders.

"I have every right as a licensed investigator to investigate that- him for my client."

"Your right is what I say it is, Hart and for your information, your client has already been informed and will comply"

I couldn't have been more stunned if had been inflated and pricked with a pin

********

Verna screwed up the paper sleeve and lobbed it with uncanny accuracy into the waste basket by her kitchen door.

"Thanks, Hart that hit the spot."

I was sitting propped up against my pillow casting a quick glance at a flash of pale beige skin as the wrapper sailed past my nose, fumbling with the words I had been speaking.

"So you stepped into a government sting and got slapped down."

"Nobody slapped anybody, although I'd have given a lot to whack Harland about the head and ears. If he hadn't had his Mr. Arms Task Force to protect him. And they spoke to Alice! I've been watched the whole time!"

"What about Jones, didn't he do anything?"

I turned onto my elbow and stared down at her. "What do you know about Jones?"

"He's nice, polite, likes his coffee black and he's . . . cute."

"Verna."

"He came to the diner and explained that I was to call his number - he gave me a card - if I had any trouble from anyone and that they would also be speaking to you. It was all very hush, hush."

"So hush, hush you weren't even going to tell me! You knew before I did! You let me buy another turkey wrap to come here tonight and you already knew all this!"

"Calm down, I was told not to say anything."

"Oh, Mr. Crown Attorney had spoken. Geez, Verna . . ."

Her hand pulled my elbow out from under me and I tipped forward, my cheek on her chest . . . gee but it's great after sitting up straight . . . the tune ran through my head briefly and then . . . oblivion.