The next morning, after some arm twisting by his wife, Rick called David Cramer.
“Dave, this is Rick. How are you doing?”
“Busy, as usual. Our reputation keeps spreading, which brings in more clients, which requires more staff, and improves our reputation. We’re caught in an endless spiral. My dreams of running a small, inconspicuous private investigator business has crashed on the rocks of success. I should just sell it and start over.”
“You’re not serious?”
“No, just letting off steam. What’s up with you and Harriet? I miss all the action with Jack’s group. Life’s kind of dull now. I spend all my time managing the business and searching for new operatives, so I never get out in the field to have some fun.”
“Well, I may have a suggestion to help with the staff shortage. Lynn is struggling with Jack’s death. She spends a lot of time crying and imagining Jack is talking to her. She needs something to keep her busy. She wants to put the computer skills she learned from Jack to use. Could you use her in your business?”
“Hell, yes! She’s as quick as they come when it comes to learning new computer skills, and she’s pretty handy with a gun in case I need her in the field. I have no one who is really good at hacking. I tried to bring Jack into the business. He wasn’t interested, though. I would never admit it publicly, but I depend on hacking in much of our work. Send her up here and I’ll hire her on the spot.”
“There’s a problem with that. She made Harriet swear that she wouldn’t contact you about this. Technically she kept her word, but since I’m Harriet’s proxy we still have to stay in the shadows. Could you just sort of drop by? Pretend you didn’t know she is here? Then you could offer her the job and keep us out of the picture.”
“For Jack’s wife, I would do just about anything. When do you want me there?”
”We’re only a couple of hours from Philadelphia, so why don’t you come by for dinner tonight?”
“Done. I’ll just happen to drop by unannounced and get invited to stay for dinner.”
“Terrific, Dave. Thanks.”
Harriet told Lynn she would feel much better after a shower and some makeup. Lynn reluctantly agreed. “I know I’ve been a slob for the past couple of days. I’ll get cleaned up for dinner like a proper guest.”
Lynn, Harriet, and Rick were sitting in the living room watching the evening news when they heard a car drive up. “Who could that be, Rick?”
“I don’t have any idea, Harriet. We don’t get many visitors out here. There’s the doorbell. I’ll get it.”
Lynn knew there was something fishy going on, but she couldn’t figure out what it was. Then she heard Rick say, “Dave! Dave Cramer. It’s great to see you. What brings you out here?”
“Oh, I had some business in D.C. so I decided to take the long way back to Philly to check on you two.”
Lynn could see now what was going on. She gave Harriet a dirty look and mouthed the words “You promised.”
When Dave entered the room he looked surprised. “I didn’t know you had company. Is that Lynn? Of course it is.”
Lynn spoke up. “You three can stop the act. I know what’s going on. Harriet, I’ll get back at you for this another time. But it’s great to see you, Dave. How are the wife and family?”
“They’re doing great. Little David is really growing up fast. He’ll be fighting the girls off in no time.”
Harriet stood up. “I have dinner in the oven. Lynn would you set the table?”
After supper Harriet and Rick cleared the table and started on the dishes, leaving Dave and Lynn sitting across from each other.
“Since you know why I’m here, Lynn, I won’t beat around the bush. I’ve seen your computer skills and I’ve seen you in action in the field. I want you to come and work for me. You would be a great addition to our staff, especially with your hacking capabilities. I have no one with your experience in that area and the techniques Jack taught you are unique. In the field you think fast and act even faster when the pressure is on. That time you dressed as a maid to get into a condo and plant some hidden cameras proved that. Even when the resident came back early and surprised you, you bluffed your way out of there with the cameras in place. You know how to handle a firearm, both a pistol and a long gun. I don’t anticipate needing you in that kind of situation, but you never know what might come up. So what do you say, Lynn?”
“When can I start?”
“Give me until Monday to get an office set up for you. I’ll look for you anytime Monday morning. Do you have any idea where you might want to live?”
“An apartment close to your office would be nice. So I can walk to work when the weather is nice.”
“I know just the place. In fact, we keep an apartment for out-of-town clients. It’s fully furnished and it’s empty at the moment, so you can move in there for a week or two until you can get into an apartment of your own, maybe even in the same complex. I’ll check to see if they have anything opening up soon.”
“That sounds great, Dave. Thank you so much for offering me a job. I’ll plan to be there Sunday and get set up in the apartment.”
After Dave left, Lynn and Harriet stayed up to talk. Lynn didn’t want to go back to sleep just yet. She was afraid that Jack wouldn’t show up. Even if he just held her as she went to sleep, she would be happy. But if he had more to tell her, that would be even better.
“So what do you have that you can wear to work, Lynn?”
“I have nothing but jeans and sweatshirts. All my clothes were burned up in the house fire. When I drove to Jack’s cabin I picked up the bare necessities. What does the well-dressed private investigator wear to work?”
“I don’t have any idea, but knowing Dave it will be a very relaxed dress code. I’ll call him in the morning and talk to his assistant. She can give us some good ideas.”
They sat in silence for a bit. The Harriet looked up at Lynn and asked “Are you going to be okay by yourself in the apartment? I could come up and stay with you for a few days.”
“I . . . I think I’ll be all right. I plan to work 18 hours a day so I won’t have time for self pity. But it would be nice if you could come up for a few of days. Just ‘til I get my feet on the ground.”
“I’ll do that. And I would feel better if you started seeing a counselor. Let me call the psychologist I know at FRA and see who he knows in Philadelphia.”
“I don’t think I’m ready to open up to anyone just yet, Harriet. But see who you can find. Maybe I’ll go for just one visit.”
After Lynn and Harriet finished another bottle and a half of wine Lynn said with a slight slur to her words, “I better go to my room while I can still walk. Thanks for being there for me Harriet.”
“You’re welcome.”
Lynn flopped onto her bed without bothering to get undressed. Her sweatshirt and jeans made perfectly good pajamas. She rolled onto her right side and curled into a spoon shape, waiting for Jack to slide in behind her and align his spoon shape with hers. She briefly wondered whether Jack’s spirit wore pajamas or did he come to bed naked. She giggled at the thought. Thirty seconds later she was sound asleep, alone in the bed.