Chapter 2

Freshly showered and dressed, Beth strolled into the living room of her apartment thumbing through her mail. "Junk, junk, bill, bill. Meaning the postal service didn't missed me," she muttered to herself as she threw the advertisements in the kitchen trash can.

Seconds after setting up her coffee maker, she checked her phone for messages and saw that Mick had sent her a text. She replied to it and placed her cell back on the counter just as she heard a soft knock at her door. She looked at her watch and frowned as she crossed the room to open the door.

An attractive woman, her brown hair tied in a ponytail stood in the hallway. Dressed in a t-shirt, jeans and a leather jacket, she smiled and gave a small wave. "Hi, Beth."

Recognition instantly dawned on her. "Allison!" Beth exclaimed, stepping out to embrace the slightly taller woman. "Oh my God, when did you get into town?"

"Yesterday afternoon." Allison returned the hug for a few seconds before stepping back. "I stopped by but you weren't in so I thought I would give it another shot this morning."

Beth gestured for her to come into the apartment. "I was out of town and didn't get back in until last night. Coffee?"

"Sure."

Allison took a seat while Beth poured another mug. "Straight?" she asked.

"You remembered."

Beth gave her the mug and sat down on the couch, staring at her coffee mug for a few seconds as she gathered her thoughts. "I meant to call you ... after the funeral. I guess I was still in a bit of shock after everything. I ... I had a lot to talk to you about. I still do."

"I understand. Believe me, it was fine. Between Mom, Dad and the rest of my relatives calling me every hour to check on me after I found out what had happened, one less call was fine with me." Allison smiled. "It's okay."

Beth smiled back. "How are your folks?"

The smile on Allison's face receded slightly. "They're doing as well as could be expected," she said. "They finally took my advice and jump on a cruise to Hawaii a few days ago out of San Francisco. I had to force them to go and not worry about me when I came home from overseas. Mom is such a worrywart."

"I don't blame her. Losing a child can throw anyone for a loop. And their youngest daughter did just complete a deployment in Afghanistan."

"Yeah." Allison nodded. "But they don't have to worry about me anymore. I put in for an early out last month. Started my terminal leave Monday."

"Wow!" Beth was surprised. "That's a big step. Josh told me you wanted to make the Air Force a career. Sure you won't miss it?"

"Well yeah, but it's time to settle down and get my life together for my parents' sakes." Allison took a sip of her coffee. "Dad is acting all hard as usual but Mom told me he's happy that I'm going to be close. And I have a job already lined up."

Beth set her mug down on the coffee table. "That was quick. Where?"

"Sanders Securities. Right here in town. They're branching out to intelligence gurus like myself with military experience. I had an interview over teleconference and was hired on the spot."

Beth forced herself to smile at the mention of the same company spying on Mick and Josef. "I've heard of them. Sounds like it will be ... fun."

Allison nodded. "But enough about me. What is going on with you these days? Have you met anyone new?"

Beth hesitated as she struggled to find the words. "Uh ... well, you see -"

"Oh stop it, Beth!" Allison laughed as she placed her mug down on the table. "No one in my family, especially me, is going to judge you for wanting to go on with your life. It's not like you two were married or anything like that."

Beth exhaled audibly. "Uh, about that," she said as she walked over to the kitchen counter. She returned with a felt-covered ring box which she held out to Allison.

She did not reach for it, instead staring first at the box before regarding Beth with a shocked expression. "Is that what I think it is?"

Beth nodded. "Josh had a family stone set by a friend of his. He had an appointment in his planner for him to pick up the ring. It was scheduled a few days before his funeral."

She laughed bitterly at the memory. "His friend's name was Celeste. I had the audacity to think they had something going on because ... things were not good between us at the time. But she set me straight and told me what he was planning. I was so embarrassed."

Allison slowly took the box and opened it. "I remember when Mom first showed us the stones," she said, smiling at the recollection as she admired the ring. "Josh was graduating from high school that year. I picked this one out first but Josh was like 'I want it, I want it." Finally I said fine. Take it."

She closed the box and reached over to hand it back to Beth. "Anything to shut him the hell up."

Beth looked down at the box for several seconds before she came to a decision. She held it back out. "Allison, I think you deserve this more than me. This is more yours and your family's than mine."

Allison shook her head, instead covering Beth's hand with both of hers. "You are family, Beth. You don't have to wear this ring or have Lindsey as your last name to prove that."

She gently pushed Beth's hand away. "And I think Josh would still want you to have it because if it's one thing I know about my brother, he loved you with all of his heart so ... you keep that ring."

Beth smiled as she wiped a tear from her left eye. "I'll keep it safe."

Allison laughed. "Now, don't think you're getting out of answering the question, miss! Who's the guy?"

"Okay, okay!" Beth placed the ring box on the table. "His name is Mick St. John. He's a private investigator here in L.A."

"Whooo, a P.I.! Awesome!" Clearly excited, Allison rubbed her hands together. "He has to be easy on the eyes! How long have you known him?"

"Uh, about a year now." Can't really say I knew him since I was four, can I? "We met while I was working on a story with BuzzWire, and we've been helping each other with cases or research."

Allison nodded. "Wait a minute. St. John. I spoke with one of the policemen who was there. He wasn't the one with you and Josh when he ..."

Beth let the question remain unfinished. "He tried. He really did try his damndest to save Josh's life."

Allison smiled. "Well, I really want to meet him now. To thank him."

As if on cue, both women heard a knock at the door. Beth got up to answer it. "You just might get your chance," she said.

Mick stood in the doorway. "Hey. I'm going to talk with the Hardwick Hotel's bellman. Wanna come with?"

Beth waved him inside. "I can't," she said, gesturing to Allison who rose to her feet. "But I'm glad you're here. I have someone I'd like for you to meet."

Mick noticed her guest for the first time as he stepped into the apartment. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you had company."

"It's okay. Allison, this is Mick St. John. The P.I. I was telling you about. Mick, this is Allison Lindsey."

Mick nodded in greeting. "It's nice to meet you." Realization dawned on him as the last name hit home. "Lindsey?"

Beth gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "Allison is Josh's younger sister."

Mick's tone immediately sombered as he walked over to shake Allison's hand. "I know this is months late, but you have my condolences. Josh was a good man. He was better than what I gave him credit for."

"Thank you, Mick. And thank you for trying to save my brother. I know you did what you could that day and I want you to know I appreciate it."

Mick looked over at Beth for a second before replying. "I just did what anybody else would have done."

Allison smiled at Beth. "And modest, too! He is a keeper, Beth," she said, giving her a wink.

Beth blushed as Mick suppressed a grin. "Look, you ladies are busy so I can do this trip solo."

"You sure? I would like to catch up with her. We hardly get to see each other."

"It's fine. Thinking about it now, it'll probably be safer for you anyway," he said. "Pick you up at seven for Josef's thing."

At the mention of the party, Allison grinned. "Nice. Can I tag along?"

Beth looked over at Mick who shrugged. "It's a fundraiser. Not really that kind of party, but I don't see a problem."

Allison clapped her hands. "Time for my favorite pastime event in my life, Beth. Shopping! You have to help me pick out a dress."

Beth laughed. "You still drive the Mustang?"

"It's downstairs. I'll meet you out front." Allison walked over to the apartment door and opened it. Before exiting she looked over at Mick and smiled again.

"Nice to meet you, Mick." She winked again at Beth before closing the door behind her.

Mick turned from the door back to Beth. "Wow! Josh's sister?"

"The one and only." Beth carried the coffee mugs into the kitchen. "She enlisted in the Air Force right out of high school. Most of her career was spent overseas. She was on assignment when Josh died and couldn't make the funeral. She stopped by afterwards."

"That had to been rough for her." Mick leaned on the counter and watched as Beth rinsed out the mugs and placed them in the dishwasher.

"She handled it like a trooper. I've only met her three times in the year that Josh and I were dating, but we always wrote or called each other." Beth reached over for Mick's hand. "We will have to watch what we say around her whenever she's around, though."

"Why?"

"Because she starts work for Sanders Securities soon."

Mick turned to look at the door Allison had just exited.

"Really?"

What else can happen?

- Chapter 2 -