Sabrina looked nervously over her shoulders as she pretended to innocently stroll through the narrow aisle. Frequent trips to the liquor store seemed to be a part of her job that she just couldn't shake. Ignoring the stares she was sure she was getting, she let her brown eyes roam around before finally spotting what she'd been looking for and crouching down beside it.

Ballantine's Scotch Whiskey.

Having only heard of but never tasted this particular brand, Sabrina picked up the front bottle and lifted the twisted hanging tag that concealed its price. She turned it, immediately set the big heavy bottle down on the floor and snatched up the one behind it. Frowning, she tilted it toward her and mouthed a curse to herself when she saw that the previous tag had not been a misprint. Was that per bottle? No wonder she stuck to the cheaper stuff.

Oh well. This was a special occasion.

She grabbed up four bottles, then paused for a moment and added a fifth to her armload before making her way to the cash register.

There were a few men loitering about the store and all of them stared curiously at her as she passed by.

"I'm free tonight. Need someone to party with, honey?" One of them chuckled at her back.

Growing uncomfortable with their stares, Sabrina only ignored him. Jerks, she thought to herself irritably. Hanging out in a liquor store on a Saturday morning and having the audacity to judge her? She would have turned around and told off all of them if she wasn't absolutely sure one of the more polite shoppers was an old friend of her father's. No need to give him anything to write home about.

"Will this be all, miss?" The obviously high young man behind the counter asked.

"Yeah." Sabrina said quickly, digging into her pocket for cash.

"Can I see some I.D.?"

Sabrina heaved a sigh of irritation. She was a block away from her apartment and this guy had seen her, Jill, Kelly, and even Bosely on a number of occasions. Yet every time he demanded to waste her precious time with identification. She rooted around in her purse, pulled out her wallet and mutely thrust it at him.

The young man squinted hard for a moment and then smiled. "Just made it, huh?"

This time she couldn't help but roll her eyes. He'd said that to her before almost as many times as she'd been here. She tapped her fingers impatiently as the clerk tallied up and bagged her purchases as slowly as possible.

"That'll be $49.53." He said finally.

Sabrina handed him two twenties and a ten and then was suddenly struck by something she'd forgotten. "Oh yeah, and this." She said, grabbing up a chocolate bar from the display box and sliding it to him.

The clerk fixed her with a look.

"What?" Sabrina cried defensively. "It's not for me!"

The clerk raised his hands in mock surrender. "Whatever you say, miss." He added the candy to her purchase, dropped it in one of the brown paper bags and handed Sabrina her change.

"Have a nice evening!" He called slyly to her as she exited the store.

Grumbling to herself, Sabrina pushed her way out the door and, with some effort carried her heavy bundle to her car where Jill and Kelly were waiting inside.

"Just a little something? That looks like more than a little something." Jill questioned as she watched her friend struggle into her seat and thrust the heavy paper sacks into Kelly's lap.

"Yeah." Sabrina mumbled. She reached into one of the bags, felt around for the candy bar and then tossed it into the backseat. "There. You're welcome."

Beside her, Kelly gingerly pawed open one and then the other sack and peeked inside. "Sabrina, we were gonna wait until we had a few days off, but I think it's time for an intervention." She said somberly.

Sabrina cast a glare her way before starting the car and pulling out of the lot. "Oh, shut up. It's for that old man." She sighed tolerantly. "He's one of maybe five people in the world that's more useful drunk."

Jill leaned forward into the front seat to see what was inside the bags. "Fanks fo the chocolate." She said, her mouth full. "Oh, are you sure that's enough?"

Finally, this comment was enough to make Sabrina laugh. Jill did have a point.

They'd been hired last week onto what had at first seemed like an easy case. Octogenarian Robert Carlson found himself in the unfortunate position of nearing the end of his days with no heir to whom he could leave his extensive fortune to. Their job had been to locate somebody, anybody, who could fit this position before Carlson's death resulted in his family fortune being left to auction. But as the week dragged on, their seemingly easy case had taken a number of unexpected twists and turns.

First and foremost, Robert was extremely difficult. The old man drank like a fish and was about as useful as one without some kind of liquor in his hands to jog his memory. Half senile and easily distracted by a pretty face or a full bra, it seemed a full time job in itself just to keep him on topic and get him to keep his hands to himself.

As if that wasn't enough, it wasn't just the old man's senility that kept him from locating an heir. He truly hadn't been kidding when he'd told them it would be tough. There seemed to be a black hole where his family tree should have been. Endless hours pouring through county documents, following pointless leads on the phone and on foot had resulted in just endless hours wasted.

But the most shocking of all had been Tuesday night, when the girls received a frantic call after midnight from Bosely and had been rushed into the office to find that there'd been an attempt on the old man's life. Apparently, there was someone who wasn't willing to wait until natural causes claimed Robert Carlson.

Sabrina maneuvered her Pinto through the light, mid-morning traffic and headed down the all too familiar road towards the office. Robert had apparently mentioned a brother during a phone meeting with Charlie last night and they were now on their way to find out more about him. Why it had taken a whole week to mention such a close relative was beyond her comprehension, but if this was a step closer to putting an end to this case, then it was a step they were more than happy to take.

"Charlie said this stuff was his favorite. Hopefully, he'll be a little more forthcoming about his baby brother once he's had a few."

"He'll have a hangover coming if he drinks all of this." Jill joked.

Sabrina and Kelly giggled.

"Well, if it works I'll buy him the next round." Kelly laughed. "If it takes another five bottles of Scotch to keep from hearing his Joan Crawford story again then it's money well spent."

"Four bottles." Sabrina corrected.

Kelly gave her a smile that was both amused and puzzled. "Four?" she asked.

Sabrina grinned. "One of them is for us."

"You mean for you and the chocolate fiend back there." Kelly said, casting a teasing glance back at her blonde friend, who opened her full mouth and stuck out her tongue in retaliation. "I'm retired from your little reindeer games."

Sabrina's grin widened. "I know, I was counting on that. It'll be a treat not to have to deal with you. Besides, who do you think is going to be driving me and Jill home?"

Kelly had to laugh. "Keep it up and it'll be your dad's couch you wake up on."

Sabrina laughed and gave Kelly a playful shove. In reality, she was very much looking forward to cracking open that bottle with Jill and Kelly. Not because of the alcohol itself but because that would mean this godforsaken case was over. There was a moment she couldn't wait for.

If all went as well as she was hoping for today, their meeting with Robert Carlson would bring them that much closer to it.

An hour later, it seemed to Sabrina that the moment she'd been hoping for was getting farther and farther out of her grasp.

They'd been talking to Robert for forty five minutes and the old geezer seemed to want to talk about everything but his brother, despite several attempts by all of them to get him on topic.

"Mr. Carlson said you might have better luck with his brother," With a tired sigh, Charlie's voice echoed through the speaker box with the same questions he'd already asked at least ten times. "Walt is his name, correct?"

Carlson's answer gave them all a delightful surprise.

"Yes," The older man tentatively smiled, enjoying being in the company of the three lovely ladies around him. At his age it was rare – or rather nonexistent – to get so much fuss from women. It didn't matter that business was involved. It also didn't matter that the girls had been slumped in their seats in bored defeat while he talked before his previous response had them bolting upright in excitement.

"He has kept records of our family tree, you see. If you've missed anyone, they would certainly be on there."

A family tree? Kelly and Sabrina shared an unspoken look of disbelief. The look would have also extended to Jill, but after such a mind numbing morning, her mind was wandering just as much as their client's. A small, shocked smile curled on Jill's lips. "Really? My mother did the same thing! She -"

With a wave of her hand, Sabrina stopped Jill from going into a story that would only sidetrack the old man again and prolong their case. "Mr. Carlson, where does your brother live?"

Mr. Carlson answered her question with a soft laugh that was almost a sigh. "Where does Walt live?" He echoed, amusement in his tone. "Where doesn't Walt live I think is the better question."

Sabrina didn't seem to agree. "Well.. I suppose that would narrow it down." She answered slowly, trying to keep her growing frustration out of her voice. "But if you want us to talk to him then we'll need-"

"An address." Mr. Carlson said quickly. "Yes, young lady. Yes, you would. But what I'm trying to tell you is that he doesn't have an address. The old boy lives in one of those big giant shoe box looking contraptions that the outdoors type use for camping or…." He arched one bushy eyebrow and then shrugged. "..or what have you. I'm not the outdoorsy type."

"Like an R.V.?" Jill offered helpfully.

Carlson turned to her and nodded graciously. "Ah, exactly. Thank you, Blondie. This must be why I hired you."

Jill giggled but Kelly and Sabrina were much less amused.

"You seem awfully relaxed for a man with a target nailed to his head." Kelly had been trying to hold in her distaste over the last week, watching him laugh and continuously have fun with her blonde friend. But this was getting serious. The more time they wasted, the more time they lost to find his missing heir and the more time they gave some whack job to off him. "You said before all of this that you didn't want to see any of your belongings go up for auction, but if you don't help us then that's what will happen!"

"Kelly..." Charlie stammered.

"Quite all right, Mr. Townsend. She has a point. I don't mind having the target on my head," He moved in his chair, so he could see Kelly a little bit more. "I'm already dying, child. How I die is irrelevant to me. However, I do not want my property in the hands of some scum, and knowing my brother he won't take it. But Walt is your only chance... my only chance. The last I heard of him was that he was headed north, toward the Bridge Grove area."

The three girls shared a surprised look at Carlson's revelation.

"Bridge Grove?" Sabrina said finally. "There's nothing out there!"

Carlson only smiled helplessly. "That's Walt for you. I suppose that should make him stand out, wouldn't you say?"

Kelly sighed and gingerly rubbed the bridge of her nose to ward off the impending headache she knew was coming. This man and his flippant responses were fast getting to her.

"So one of us hops in a car and heads out for Bridge Grove, then drives around until either Walt is found or they run out of gas?" She asked disbelievingly. "Charlie, is there any way you can give us more to go on? I mean, that's going to take all day assuming he's even out there."

Before Charlie could respond, Jill reached over and patted the old man's hand.

"I'll do it." She said casually. "I like a challenge."

Carlson let out a croaky laugh. "And so does my brother. He likes blondes too. Wouldn't you know it, I think you'd be the best one for the job."

Kelly narrowed her eyes. Challenge or not, she knew that it was all too easy to get lost in the vast expanse that was Bridge Grove. "Even though my hair color is wrong, I think I better do this anyway."

Jill's head shook, looking rather offended. "I can find my way up there."

Sabrina rested on the leg of the couch, reading Jill's easy expression. Liar. "I'm sure you would end up in Nevada before ever reaching Bridge Grove. That's why we have Kelly."

With a smug grin at Jill, Kelly wiggled her keys. "Charlie, am I officially assigned to this matter?"

Her boss chuckled. "You are, angel. But to make sure no feelings are hurt, Jill will accompany you on your trip. Sabrina will stay here with Mr. Carlson and work from the office."

"Too bad Bos had to catch a cold." Jill put her arm over Kelly's shoulder and hung on her. Wary of Jill, Kelly pressed the keys close to her body so they couldn't be snatched away. "Then we wouldn't need to drive."

"We wouldn't need to drive if this guy had a phone number either." Kelly muttered under her breath. She caught the chastising look Sabrina shot her way a moment later and realized she'd voiced another frustration out loud again. Rude of her, perhaps, but the old man looked far too interested in staring at Jill's chest and expectantly clinking the ice in his glass to summon up the offer of another drink to notice. She sighed evenly and turned back to the speaker box.

"So, when does this goose chase start, Charlie?" Kelly asked.

"Whenever you're ready, angel." Charlie answered quickly. "If you leave now you can be in Bridge Grove by noon. With your keen navigation senses, Kelly, I take it six hours of sunlight is plenty to find Walt Carlson."

"Six hours, huh?" Kelly sighed, shrugging Jill off her shoulders. "Sounds like a party. We won't even notice-"

Once her head was wrapped around the hideously long, and uncomfortable trip they would have to make for one client, Jill saw the bright side of things. That meant her and Kelly could sing along to the radio, play those road trip games everybody liked, and bond a little more. But most importantly, it would get her out of the office and away from the old man and the endlessly boring paper trail chases that he came with. Mood now lifted, she decided to interrupt. "Oh, it won't be that bad! I'll drive the way back!"

Kelly stiffened her neck and raised a curious brow. Then proceeded to shoot her down. Jill had been the driver during their last mission and neither her or Sabrina had yet to forgive her for it. "It's alot of driving, but I'd feel better if I did it."

"Kelly-"

"Jill!" Kelly cut her off. "You don't know the way. I do."

Feeling irritated and mildly embarrassed, Jill forced a pout onto her face. "I'll memorize all the roads once you get us there." Her voice was small, nearly child like as she attempted to manipulate Kelly's softer side. If not Kelly's then at least the two men who were present and semi-present in the room. Anyone who could speak for her.

Kelly wasn't having it. "Jill, there's hardly anything to memorize." She argued. "Besides, you remember our three hour trip to Burbank, don't you?"

Jill smiled triumphantly. Of course she did. But that wasn't going to win Kelly any points. Not with her backup plan. "Kelly," She started slowly, making sure to elbow Sabrina to get her attention. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to be driving so much. It's safer if I help you. Tell her, Bri."

Sabrina finished pouring a delighted Carlson another drink and topped off her own. "She's driving on the way back, Kell." She said firmly, without bothering to give eye contact.

Kelly frowned. There was no arguing with that tone and certainly not here. "Fine," She relented. "But I get to pick the radio stations."

"Then it's settled." Charlie cut in quickly before anymore bickering could continue. "Jill and Kelly, I'll check in with you around noon. Assuming of course that you can hear me over whatever radio station Kelly decides that the two of you are listening to."

"I'll make sure the goose chase isn't too wild." Jill answered brightly, giving Kelly a clap on the shoulder and causing her to dribble water out of her glass. Kelly ignored it. If she was going to dwell on every little thing, this would be a longer trip than it already was.

"Then bon voyage, Angels!" Charlie said cheerfully. "Sabrina, I want you and Robert to stay here and exhaust the rest of his leads. I trust you have enough to keep you busy?"

Sabrina swiveled her eyes away from the speaker and towards the old man, who only winked and made a show of swirling around the cubes of ice in his now empty glass.

"More than enough, Charlie." She sighed.

Not knowing if she felt more sorry for Sabrina or herself, Kelly grabbed her jacket and gave her friend an easy smile. "Don't fall for him too fast." She whispered and backed away quickly before Sabrina could begin swatting at her. Kelly and Jill both said goodbye with Kelly leading out the door,disdain over her current objective, and Jill following with a toothy smile and optimism that made her want to puke.

Finding Walt Carlson in Bridge Grove was going to be as simple as that old saying – finding a needle in a haystack.

"I suppose I'll go back to doing my research, angel. Please do keep our dear friend in good company." Charlie spoke up after he'd heard the door close after Kelly and Jill.

Sabrina nodded. "I'll do my best."

"Goodbye for now, Sabrina."

There was a distinct click, and now she was alone with the eighty-five year old. Before her fidgeting became noticeable, Sabrina raced around so she was behind the bar. "So, Mr Carlson..."

"Please, do call me Robert."

Right. Robert. The fact that he licked his lips as he said it didn't bother her at all.

"Robert... who would you like to investigate further other than your brother?"

But with his glazed eyes, and obvious glances, it was clear that discussing the case was far from his mind. "Did I mention that you remind me of a young Joan Crawford? We had a wild night in 1931."

She could only look on and wonder how long she would listen to this story before he fell asleep on their couch, where she would wait for Jill and Kelly to return. Or, at least for Charlie to call back.

"Pour me another, Slim!"

In times like these, she wished for something a little more exciting to happen.