The Gardener's Son – Chapter 1

Vicki hung up the phone at her desk and took off her glasses to rub the bridge of her nose. The last client had been less than thrilled to learn of her husband's infidelity, suspected though it was. She was especially unhappy to learn that he was being unfaithful with their son's kindergarten teacher, Miss Julie. Looking at the clock she realized her growling stomach was correct; it was, in fact, time to order dinner. Closing the case folder, Vicki turned to put it in the file cabinet when she heard the receptionist phone ring in the outer office.

"Nelson Investigations, how can we help you?" Coreen answered, "Yes, we do… Uh, sure…" After an elongated pause, Vicki stood from her desk and walked into the reception room to see what was up. Upon finding Coreen flipping lazily through their office's ever growing collection of take-out menus and gently bobbing her head side-to-side, Vicki realized that she was listening to muzak.

"A client put you on hold?" the PI asked, incredulously.

The young gothette looked at her and shrugged, just as baffled as her boss, "I think it was his secretary."

"At this time of night? Who the hell is still at the office?" Vicki complained.

"Well, besides us?... This guy and his secretary, I guess." Coreen shrugged again, earning her a narrow-eyed glance.

Sighing and sitting on the couch arm, Vicki asked, "Chinese or pizza tonight?" getting down to the real issue.

Coreen stopped bobbing her head and waved the question away, obviously listening to the now-present voice on the other end. "Yes, Sir… No, Sir, I'm her assistant. How can we help you?... Of course you can. Would you like to make an appointme…?" Coreen furrowed her brow, listening. "We usually meet a potential client here for the first interview, Sir."

Vicki moved closer, propping her hip on Coreen's desk. She caught Coreen's eye and mouthed He doesn't want to come in? Coreen shook her head. Impatient and hungry, Vicki held out her hand for the receiver, making a 'gimme' motion. "Hold on, Sir, here she is." Coreen said, relinquishing the phone.

"Vicki Nelson." She answered. And if her tone was a tad on the short side, well it had been a long day. "Yes, we are, but we conduct the initial interview in the office. We don't make house calls until we decide to take a case." She smirked to her assistant.

After a short pause, Vicki asked the man, "Did you file a report with the police?"

Whatever was said next on the other end, it made Vicki stand up and, after a moment, widen her eyes. Coreen mouthed What? and got no response. Another long pause and Vicki replied, "That is a very generous offer. I'll have to speak to my associates about that, Mr. MacWoolton. Give a number where you can be reached to my secretary and I'll call you back tomorrow with our decision."

Coreen was practically vibrating with questions during the seconds it took for Mr. MacWoolton to answer her boss. Vicki said goodbye and handed the ear piece back. While Coreen took down the phone number and address of the potential client, her boss walked over to the window, digesting the conversation.

Hanging up, Coreen couldn't hold it in anymore, "What, Vicki? What generous offer? And exactly how generous are we talking here?"

Without turning around, Vicki said, "Mr. MacWoolton was robbed three weeks ago and he never reported it. He was away on business, but his butler called him right after it happened and he flew home. He says he'll pay us four thousand dollars just to meet with him at his house. Then we can decide if we're taking the case."

Bolting out of her chair and nearly bouncing over to her boss, Coreen cried, "Four thousand dollars!? And we don't even have to take the case? Helloo!"

Vicki looked over her shoulder at the excited young woman, "It seems odd to me. Why would he offer that much just for a robbery when the PD could investigate for free? There has to be more to it… Of course, he does have a butler; he's obviously not your every-day-variety of rich. Maybe he's just used to throwing his money around to get his way."

"Like it matters! Vicki, this will set us up for the rest of the month, even if we don't end up doing the leg work." Coreen reasoned as she walked back over to her paper-strewn desk and, sitting, reached for the phone.

Vicki shook her head, "I have to think about it. We just closed another case. That money will hold us for a bit. I'm not sure we're quite desperate enough yet to walk into some stranger's house, sight unseen." When the blonde noticed the lack of take-out menu in front of Coreen, she inquired, "Who are you calling?"

"You said you needed to talk to your associ…Henry! Hi! Listen, we got an odd request from a client and we need you to come over."

Vicki broke in, "He's not a client, yet, Coreen."

Rolling her eyes, Coreen amended to the phone, "Ok, a potential client offered us a butt load of money just to meet with him, but Vicki feels weird about it. Come over and tell her she's crazy." Deflecting Vicki's death glare with a sunny smile, Coreen chirped, "Thanks, Henry! See ya in a few!"

After the receiver was placed back in its cradle, the PI concentrated on her breathing for a few moments. When she felt she could speak without growling, Vicki looked her grinning assistant in the eye and declared with absolute finality, "No Chinese for you."