Buck Wilmington watched as the attractive young woman walked away from the office, still dabbing lightly at her eyes. "You can't keep turning clients away Chris. You do get this is supposed to be a business?"

"I have no intention of following some sap to prove he's cheating on his wife. That isn't what we got into this deal for."

"Well, I got into it to earn a living. And I've done a hell of a lot worse than prove some shmuck is an idiot. Why else would he be cheating on someone with gams like hers?"

Vin watched the two men battle it out, again. They'd had this discussion four times already in the past week. Their involvement in taking down a crooked cop had made them celebrities in town, and they hadn't been lacking for potential clients. The problem was, Larabee had an annoying set of standards, and that was costing them work.

"Hate to agree with him on this Chris, but Buck has a point. We do need some kind of work if we expect to take home a paycheque."

"I've got income from renting out the ranch, so we don't need to become peeping toms to earn a living."

Buck didn't see it that way. "You've got income, but that doesn't exactly help me and Vin out too much."

"Sure it does. I'll pay you."

"Not interested in charity. I don't take money when I don't work."

"Just because I'm turning down jobs doesn't mean you guys don't get paid."

Buck was getting angrier with each sentence. "Like some kind of hired help? Thought we were supposed to be partners in this little project. Least that's what you said when you dragged me in."

"No dragging involved. You seemed more than willing, and if you don't like things, you know where the door is."

The two men stared at each other, neither blinking. Vin lazily stood from his seat. "Just how long did you folks say you had been friends for?"

"Too long." Both answered. They looked at each other, and a moment later the snarls disappeared. "Way too long." Chris repeated.

"Look Chris, I get you want to be doing the right thing. But we might have to settle for something a little less interesting from time to time."

"I know. But not divorce crap Buck. That doesn't sit right."

Vin was about to comment when a look from Buck silenced him.

"OK, we can hold out for now Hoss, but we can't keep turning everything down."

Chris nodded his approval and stood up. "I'm going out for air. Back soon."

When the door had closed and allowing a several seconds to be sure Chris wasn't about to return, Vin looked over to Buck. "So, I imagine there is an explanation in there somewhere."

"Lost his wife and son when that damned flu epidemic went through. Thought he was doing better with it, but I guess the notion of someone ending a marriage on purpose still busts him up some."

"Wondered why he didn't talk about Adam and Sarah. Figured it was something like that. He was still in combat?"

"Yeah. Didn't find out about it till close to 3 weeks after. He was messed up for a while."

Vin shook his head. "Can't even imagine. Damn lucky you were around for him."

"I didn't do much."

"Doubt that." He paused a moment to give Buck a chance to regroup before moving on. "So, no divorce cases. And since we haven't heard from Travis, what other options are there?"

Buck puzzled it over for a couple of minutes. "We need to get our name out there."

"We've had enough publicity from that Henderson mess to let people know who we are."

"Yeah, but not what we do. We should be letting them know the kind of jobs we do."

"Which are?"

Buck hesitated. He hadn't thought this all the way through yet. "Well, I found you, so missing persons for one thing."

"And you've done bodyguard work. That's another."

Buck was starting to enjoy this. "Surveillance – for business maybe? And – what's the word. Consulting."

"OK – now we've got something to work with. Call JD and tell him we need to talk to someone at his paper about advertising." Vin was grinning widely. "This should get things going in the right direction."

7-7-7-7-7-7-7

Ezra awoke suddenly, at a loss to determine his surroundings for a moment. It was too comfortable to be the hospital, but it definitely was not his own bed. As the fog lifted he dimly recalled be assisted, make that almost carried, to the bed in the guest room. Tiny had obviously settled him for the night. Between caring for him, and dealing with Maude, the man was due a healthy bonus on this month's pay.

Mother. He hoped she was gone. He didn't have the strength, physically or emotionally to deal with her this - was it morning? He switched on the small lamp on the bed table. 1:13. Now was that AM or PM? He looked to the drawn blackout curtains and slowly stood to walk over. The slightest movement sent light flooding into the room. He has slept for over 12 hours. Even for him, that was a long nap. Opening the drapes enough to brighten the room without blinding him, he took stock of his environment. Fresh clothes had been laid out for him. Yes, definitely due a bonus. There was note resting on top, which he headed for before his body reminded him of his priorities. A few minutes later he re-entered the room, tossing a hand towel on the dresser and picking up the note.

Good Day Mr. Standish. Your mother has been settled at her new location. She said she would be by in a few days to discuss matters with you. I have taken the liberty of arranging for new locks to be installed on all doors. The keys are in your office. There is a meeting this evening of the business association at the Black Cat. Ezra cringed. No gambler worthy of the title liked going there. I will have your car brought around at 6:45. Your lunch will sent up when you ring.

He did not feel up to any of this. By all rights, he should stay home. Of course, he imagined that was part of the reason the meeting was scheduled for this evening. His fellow speakeasy owners undoubtedly believed he was still incapacitated in the hospital. It was sure to ruffle a few feathers when he showed up. He had a fair idea of what the meeting was about. They had to be wondering about the evidence they all believed was with Judge Travis now. None would have had the first clue it was securely locked away in the deepest safe in The Ace of Spades. At least, he assumed Tiny had taken care of that for him when Chris dropped off the envelope. This meeting would be the ideal time to set the record straight and take Judge Travis out of the line of fire, at least on this issue. The man was simply to noble for his own good.

Ezra dressed as quickly as his injuries would allow. He could still feel the occasional tug of the stitches, but it was the lack of energy that frustrated him the most. He debated briefly about calling down for lunch and taking it easy for the afternoon, but there were far too many issues to attend to. The first would require a trip up the flight of stairs to his suite, to ensure his safe within a safe still contained the valuable documents. After that, it was time to see just how much damage Maude had done to his bottom line during her brief time here.

7-7-7-7-7-7-7

Vin and Buck wandered casually down the quiet side street. Their mission to the paper had been a success, as JD introduced them to Virginia, the young woman who took the information for advertisements. It had taken the two of them digging into their pockets to come up with enough cash to hand over, but the ad would run for three days. It was a start. And, Buck got a date out the meeting as well, so everyone was happy.

They were in no rush to get back to the office. With nothing to do, it seemed far more reasonable to spend the day outdoors, enjoying the warming weather and some friendly, relaxing conversation. Until they started talking baseball.

"You cannot be serious Vin. You honestly think the Cubs are going to win the series this year. You picked the wrong team. Hell, the wrong league."

"Don't tell me you are buying into all the hype about the Yankees. Man, they can't play worth shit."

"I believe I taught you better than to use language like that in public young man."

Vin froze in place at the sound of the woman's voice. It couldn't possibly… he turned, and a wide grin broke out on his face.

"You also taught me to speak my mind, especially when dealing with a fool, and that's what I was doing Miss Nettie." He ran toward the small older woman, scooping her into a hug as he lifted her off her feet.

"Put me down, you silly young pup. Honestly, what will people think?" She huffed as she smiled at him.

"I'd say they would think my friend here found himself an extremely attractive companion. How'd you do ma'am? Name is Buck Wilmington."

"Don't waste that charm on me young man. I eat smooth talkers like you for lunch and have been doing so since long before you were born." She turned back to Vin. "So how long have you been here in town Vincent?"

"Nobody calls me that anymore. Just Vin. Please. This time around, a few months. Wandered in and out over the last couple of years. Next to Texas, this area always felt most like home."

"Given the fact you never really had a home, that's not surprising."

Buck looked at him in surprise. "You grew up around here?"

"Not exactly. Spent some time nearby though. Miss Nettie and her husband had some ranch land about, what, 50 miles from here. I was one of the Orphan Train kids put to work on it."

"What the hell – 'scuse me ma'am – heck is an Orphan Train?"

Nettie answered, as she took Vin by the arm and began walking. "Some dang fool do-gooders idea of how to take care of orphaned kids. Put them all on a train and shipped them out to farms and the like where help was needed. Most of those kids were nothing more than free labour."

Vin looked lost in the memory. "Lot of the folk were less than caring alright. I'd run away from near on a dozen, maybe more, before I ended up with Miss Nettie. I was about 13 by then and was more trouble that a sack of snakes."

"Bad habit I broke him of in a hurry." She smiled. "Apple pie is far more effective than a switch, in my experience."

"Those were three good years." Vin smiled as he directed Nettie into the coffee shop they were passing and sat at the first booth.

"Why just three?"

"System kicked you out at 16. I knew there were others coming along that needed a place like that more than I did by then, so I took off for fame and adventure. Still looking."

"Well Miss Nettie, if you care about my opinion, I think you got it right with him."

"Mr. Wilmington, I think you are correct. Now boy, what are you doing with yourself these days."

Over coffee and pie Vin filled her in on some of how he'd spent the years since he'd moved on. When they finished up, they invited her check out the detective agency. Chris was back at his desk, and after introductions were made, she took a seat and listened agog while Vin offered a somewhat truncated version of their first case. He was surprised by her reaction.

"You were involved with that mess? You were there when that fancy crook got himself shot?"

"Wait. You know Ezra Standish?"

"Not directly. My niece works for the man, and I can't say I'm happy about it."

"Casey works for Ezra? That can't be right. She's just a little girl with pigtails."

"Been better than 10 years since you saw her Vin. She's a young lady now and shouldn't be in that place with him."

Chris thought back to the episode he'd watched when Ezra had unceremoniously ousted the deputy mayor for harassing a young waitress. He was pretty sure he'd heard the name Casey.

"Mrs. Wells –"

"My friends call me Nettie."

"Nettie, hope you'll still see as a friend after this, but I have to tell you, I've seen the way Standish takes care of his staff. I gotta say, I don't think there are too many places in town you niece would be in better hands."

She scrutinized him closely, then glance to Vin. "You trust him?"

"Chris, or Ezra?"

She smiled "Either."

"Then both of them. If I didn't, I'd already be on my way outta here to get Casey."

"Well, I have to say that's some comfort. We need the money, and it isn't easy to find a decent paying job for a young woman, let alone an old one like me."

"Miss Nettie, if you need – "

"Don't you dare start offering me charity young man. We get along fine."

"Wouldn't dream of it ma'am." he assured her, already working on ideas to help her find work.

M7-M7-M7-M7-M7-M7-M7

tbc