It all began on a Wednesday evening while having dinner in the office with Jax. Jax is Jacqueline Winchester, the young psychiatrist who works in an office across the hall from mine. Jax is an elegant lady who likes to wear a pair of narrow eyeglasses that give her a studious, almost nerdish look. Most people do not realize that they are for show; she believes the look gives her patients more confidence to open up when in session. She typically has an amused expression as she travels through life. It gives you the idea that she has a big secret you would be shocked to learn. After the day's work is done, Jax will take off her glasses, giving a better view of her green eyes and let down her rich auburn hair. Nerdish would no longer be a term any red-blooded man would use to describe her.

Jax, like many of the women who work late in the building, will often stop by my one man PI/ bounty hunter/ bodyguard operation to see if I am around. They like it when I can escort them to their vehicles. The Vegas strip may be safe all hours of the day but our location several blocks off does not have the same reputation. Having once been a wrestler with Olympic dreams and standing six-four, tipping the scales into the 120 kilo range, I am a comfortable presence on those late walks to the car. Sometimes, if I do not need to go on a job right away, Jax will stay and share a meal. We have a mutual love of spicy Asian foods.

I was in the middle of devouring a plate of Hunan Beef while Jax ate her favorite, Sesame Chicken, when a client knocked and let herself in. The woman was tall, near six foot with jet black hair, a pale complexion and electric blue eyes. She could have passed herself off for any age between seventeen and thirty-five, but would definitely be carded in a bar. Her power business clothes, real leather briefcase and attitude all screamed money. She took the seat in front of my desk and got straight to business.

"Mr. Addison?" Her voice was soothing and musical, though not as deep as I expected.

"Yes, I shore am." Jax liked her glasses; I liked to put on a good ole boy show. Make people think I'm dumber than I actually am.

"I am here in the interests of Angela Rockford."

"The actress?"

"The same, Ms Rockford has had the misfortune to have lost a credit card. A person or persons have been taking advantage of the situation at Ms Rockford's expense."

"Have you gone to the police?" I interrupted.

"Yes," she continued, "Ms Rockford thinks the local police are buffoons who are not taking this seriously. Ms Rockford has instructed me to hire someone who will work for her alone to track down the perpetrator and recover as much of the merchandise as possible. Will you and your assistant take this job?"

From the corner of my eye, I saw Jax begin to say something when this woman referred to her as my assistant but stopped before actually speaking. Now she glanced my way and gave a near imperceptible nod. Mentally shrugging, I answered, "Sure, we'll take it. Jest let me just get one of mah contract forms out."

"No, if you don't mind. We would like this done very quietly. Cash paid for a handshake deal and definitely no press."

"It's mighty irregular, but I suppose I could do it that way."

"Excellent, here is a retainer" she handed me five hundred dollar bills, snapped her satchel shut and rose to leave. "I have every confidence in you and will be in touch again shortly. Please enjoy the rest of your meal, which I apologize for interrupting."

As the door closed behind her, Jax summed it up in one word, "Odd".

"Ain't that the truth"

"You can drop that good ol' boy act Gabe. I know you way too well to fall for it."

"I guess, being my assistant and all. What's up with that Jax?

"I don't know; it just sounded like fun. Would you mind if I tagged along?"

"What about your practice?

"I don't have anything critical in the next week. I can get the others to cover for me. Besides, I'm intrigued."

"Why's that?"

"Three reasons. First, I've never known you to take a job, just on a client's word."

"It happens. Rarely," I admitted, "but it happens."

"OK, second, five hundred up front seems high for you to do this. No offense."

"It does seem high but I think I'm worth it," I grinned back to show I took none.

"Okay, I'll accept that but the last and biggest reason," she pointed her chopsticks at the door, holding a piece of chicken. "Tell me that woman's name."

I sat there realizing that she never said, and I never thought to ask. Jax just smiled and popped the chicken into her mouth.