A nice crips 5 degrees out this morning. Beautiful day to have a cup of coffee by the fireplace and take it easy. Didn't think of that when I decided to get into farming, alas, I'll be outside most of the day. Enjoy that coffee for me, will you please?

"Do you have complaint over cleaning service?"

Irina's matter-of-fact question was accompanied by a sterile tone Steve knew had nothing to do with being rude. It was the to-the point approach she used for everything from business requests to demands for him to father her children.

And while Steve had gotten used to it after a while, he could still sense just a hint of resentment in her voice, undoubtedly resulting from his previous denial of her passionate offers.

"No. Not at all.", Steve began, hands behind his back as he entered the small basement office that was built for one desk but housed three, each workspace as meticulously organized and straightened out as the Czechoslovakian's ponytail.

A skinny file cabinet in the back corner served as a lamp holder and was home to a tiny plant he couldn't identify.

"Then you need cleaning done?", Irina continued impatiently, visibly ready to begin her nightly routine up and down the entire building.

"I do not. As a matter of fact, I am here because of a case we're investigating."

A distinct softness returned to Irina's eyes when she realized the gravity of his words, followed by a frown as she reached up to put a hand in front of her mouth in undisguised shock.

"A murder investigation?"

"I'm afraid so, yes."

Lowering his gaze for a moment, Steve scrambled to find the right words considering the awkward situation, and then resorted to an insecure shrug.

"We're trying to identify a stranger who has been walking the halls here for the past few months. We are fairly sure he made regular visits to the Missing Persons Department on the third level.", he explained evenly, meeting the blue eyes staring back at him in terror, "And I think you might be the key in helping us identifying who he is before he can hurt somebody else."