meet her new client. “You must be Biz. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“I doubt most of it is true.”
“Are you kidding? I looked you up on the Internet. You’re amazing.” She took the chair next to Ari and kissed her on the cheek. “Ari, darling, you do know we are in the presence of greatness. Biz is the premier PI in the women’s community. She’s only twenty-six, but she’s helped so many sisters by working for free with the domestic violence shelters. She helps build cases against the SOBs who beat their wives, and the partners who steal from each other.” Jane pointed at Biz. “You’re a legend. Don’t deny it, and I can’t believe you’re going to help me.”
Biz only nodded and sat down again, clearly uncomfortable with Jane’s glowing version of her biography. Jane’s gushing ended when Ari’s favorite waiter came by and took their order. Ari watched Biz absently rake her hand through her hair while she studied the menu and made her selection. A noise from another table caught her attention, and her eyes quickly flickered over her shoulder. She was aware of her surroundings, never allowing a single picture to dominate her full attention. As a private detective, she no doubt couldn’t afford to miss anything. Suddenly Biz’s gaze shot toward her, and she blinked in surprise. She’d been caught, and judging from the slow smile that spread across Biz’s face, she was sure that Biz had noticed her staring the whole time.
When the waiter left, Jane recounted the details of the orchids and the floral shop odyssey from the day before. “I still think it’s a man, but Ari thinks it’s a woman,” Jane said. “What’s your opinion?”
Biz looked away toward the bar. “Either of you could be right about the sex, but I don’t think this is a random person who’s targeting you. That would be highly unlikely.”
Jane grabbed a breadstick and began breaking it into fourths on her plate. “So you think my stalker is someone I know.”
“Don’t you think
stalker
is a bit over the top?” Ari interjected. “You’ve gotten flowers. It could be someone who really likes you, not someone who wants to harm you.”
“You’re probably right, Ari,” Biz agreed. “But stalkers are dangerous in their own way because they can become angry if they don’t believe their feelings are being returned.”
“Exactly,” Jane said. “That’s why I’m hoping you can sift through my acquaintances and narrow down the suspects.”
Ari snorted loudly. “And how long are you hiring her for? The rest of your life?” Jane scowled and smacked Ari’s shoulder. “Sorry, Jane.” Ari turned to Biz to explain. “It’s just that Jane knows so many people.”
“In the carnal way,” Jane said. “You can just say it, honey. Biz knows all about my history with women, and she knows her job won’t be easy. Personally I still think it’s a guy, but if it’s a woman, then I think Isabel is the one sending them.”
Ari nodded at the possibility and looked at Biz, who had removed a notepad and pen from her leather messenger bag. Her hands were nicely sculpted, and Ari quickly noticed she wore no ring.
That doesn’t mean anything
, she thought.
And why do you care?
Jane’s cell phone chirped, and Ari and Biz listened as she attempted to answer questions for a mortgage banker over the din of the noisy restaurant. Realizing that she was screaming into the phone, she stood up and headed for the exit.
Ari wiped her palms on her pants and turned to face Biz, who continued to stare. “So, Jane says you’re a real estate agent, too.”
“Yes, but we don’t work for the same company. I work for Southwest.”
“Oh, you work for Lorraine.”
Ari could tell by the way Biz said Lorraine’s name that she approved of her. “She’s a great lady.”
“The best,” Biz agreed. “I did some work for her a few years ago. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone with that much energy. That woman is totally
“I doubt most of it is true.”
“Are you kidding? I looked you up on the Internet. You’re amazing.” She took the chair next to Ari and kissed her on the cheek. “Ari, darling, you do know we are in the presence of greatness. Biz is the premier PI in the women’s community. She’s only twenty-six, but she’s helped so many sisters by working for free with the domestic violence shelters. She helps build cases against the SOBs who beat their wives, and the partners who steal from each other.” Jane pointed at Biz. “You’re a legend. Don’t deny it, and I can’t believe you’re going to help me.”
Biz only nodded and sat down again, clearly uncomfortable with Jane’s glowing version of her biography. Jane’s gushing ended when Ari’s favorite waiter came by and took their order. Ari watched Biz absently rake her hand through her hair while she studied the menu and made her selection. A noise from another table caught her attention, and her eyes quickly flickered over her shoulder. She was aware of her surroundings, never allowing a single picture to dominate her full attention. As a private detective, she no doubt couldn’t afford to miss anything. Suddenly Biz’s gaze shot toward her, and she blinked in surprise. She’d been caught, and judging from the slow smile that spread across Biz’s face, she was sure that Biz had noticed her staring the whole time.
When the waiter left, Jane recounted the details of the orchids and the floral shop odyssey from the day before. “I still think it’s a man, but Ari thinks it’s a woman,” Jane said. “What’s your opinion?”
Biz looked away toward the bar. “Either of you could be right about the sex, but I don’t think this is a random person who’s targeting you. That would be highly unlikely.”
Jane grabbed a breadstick and began breaking it into fourths on her plate. “So you think my stalker is someone I know.”
“Don’t you think
stalker
is a bit over the top?” Ari interjected. “You’ve gotten flowers. It could be someone who really likes you, not someone who wants to harm you.”
“You’re probably right, Ari,” Biz agreed. “But stalkers are dangerous in their own way because they can become angry if they don’t believe their feelings are being returned.”
“Exactly,” Jane said. “That’s why I’m hoping you can sift through my acquaintances and narrow down the suspects.”
Ari snorted loudly. “And how long are you hiring her for? The rest of your life?” Jane scowled and smacked Ari’s shoulder. “Sorry, Jane.” Ari turned to Biz to explain. “It’s just that Jane knows so many people.”
“In the carnal way,” Jane said. “You can just say it, honey. Biz knows all about my history with women, and she knows her job won’t be easy. Personally I still think it’s a guy, but if it’s a woman, then I think Isabel is the one sending them.”
Ari nodded at the possibility and looked at Biz, who had removed a notepad and pen from her leather messenger bag. Her hands were nicely sculpted, and Ari quickly noticed she wore no ring.
That doesn’t mean anything
, she thought.
And why do you care?
Jane’s cell phone chirped, and Ari and Biz listened as she attempted to answer questions for a mortgage banker over the din of the noisy restaurant. Realizing that she was screaming into the phone, she stood up and headed for the exit.
Ari wiped her palms on her pants and turned to face Biz, who continued to stare. “So, Jane says you’re a real estate agent, too.”
“Yes, but we don’t work for the same company. I work for Southwest.”
“Oh, you work for Lorraine.”
Ari could tell by the way Biz said Lorraine’s name that she approved of her. “She’s a great lady.”
“The best,” Biz agreed. “I did some work for her a few years ago. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone with that much energy. That woman is totally
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