As she busied herself with catching up and making phone calls and setting up times to meet with potential clients, the day went by quickly. Although Sara would have been happy to go home for the day and enjoy a whisky in the coolness of her house, she had agreed to meet with a man that evening about a work theft case. He obviously had qualms about hiring a women, but his secretary had read about Sara and had set up the meeting for them at a pub on her way home.

As she pinned her hat on and straightened her wrinkled light green dress, she walked to the front area and saw Bitsy was also getting ready to leave for the day. It was well past supper time and Sara scolded her for staying late. "You've looked after everything while I was away. The least you might do is leave on time. And you know I would never say that under normal circumstances."

"Don't worry, I'm leaving. But I was hoping I might see you once everyone was gone." Bitsy seemed a little reluctant to speak which was not ever an issue. She always made her thoughts be known, even to Sara. It's one of the reasons Sara had hired her as her first employee.

"What about?" Sara stopped a moment, knowing if she didn't leave shortly, she'd be late for her meeting.

"About the file, I left for you."

"I caught up on all the cases you'd left for me." Sara said with confusion.

Bitsy paused. "The other folder. The one with the articles."

Sara tried to hold her temper. She was fond of Bitsy and even considered her a friend, but this felt too much. After a long day and after Boston, she was exhausted.

"There's nothing to talk about Bitsy." Sara said.

"Did you read them?"

Sara shook her head. "I have more important things that require my attention."

"You really should. There's something you need to know." Bitsy said quickly.

Sara held up a hand to stop her from talking. "This subject is dropped for good Bitsy. And I have a meeting to get to. Have a good evening," She said dismissively.

Thirty minutes later Sara listened to the man across from her droning on. She knew as soon as Mr. Keltz sat down that he was one of those that liked to hear himself talk. He had looked at her with a raised eyebrow and slight interest and then started to talk about his business.

The pub was loud and boisterous and Sara would have had to lean forward to catch every word from the man, which would probably encourage him to talk even more. Thankfully she could catch most of what was needed and still watch the room. It was always best to keep her eyes open for fights and flying glasses.

He mentioned his secretary and how she had read about the women detective and why he'd wanted to meet her. "I am progressive after all," he said almost proudly.

Sara took a sip of her whiskey and nearly rolled her eyes. People who had to tell people they were progressive like a badge of honour, were not very progressive in her experience. "Do tell me about the possible theft at the business."

On he went into a long-winded explanation about who worked at his business and why he was suspicious an employee was stealing from him.

With business being so good lately, Sara was reluctant to take on this sort of case, but it was good to build up her business with a variety of investigations. And when there were in between the serious cases - missing people and murders – she still needed to pay rent and her employees. She wondered if Mr. Keltz would be an issue if she gave the case to one of her younger, less experienced detectives. Perhaps even Elizabeth would be wanting something a little less exciting after Boston.

"Of course I wouldn't be the one dealing with you. I have too much responsibility with the business to run. You'd be dealing with my secretary Molly. " he said, making Sara's decision for her.

"How about I send one of my employees over tomorrow afternoon? She can meet with Molly under the pretense that she's seeking employment and get all the information this required?"

Mr. Keltz seemed to be in agreement and she shook his hand and thankfully he went to the bar to talk to some people at the bar. Her eyes looked around the room, getting ready to leave when she saw him.

Her heart raced at the sight of John Moore, sitting at a small table across the room. He was talking to a man, but John look agitated. The man seemed nervous, fidgety and a moment later he stood up abruptly nearly knocking over his chair. John took a sip of a drink and shook his head in frustration.

Sara watched him and considered standing up and walking away, hoping he wouldn't see her, but his expression stopped her. He didn't look his usual enthusiastic self, he seemed a little out of sorts. While she was in Boston, she could admit to herself that she missed John. Before everything had been complicated between them, she considered him a close friend. Between John and Laszlo, their unorthodox partnership had bonded them all. She missed that.

She had known that she would run into John sooner rather than later. New York was certainly small in instances such as this. And despite John being married, she realized she wanted his friendship to continue. His charm and lightness bought a levity and smile to the darkness. She thought it was why Laszlo and John still had a friendship after all these years. When Sara and Laszlo went down into the darkness of a mystery, John bought them out of it. Considering his upbringing, he was surprisingly practical and down-to-earth. Sara stood quickly before she changed her mind and walked over to John's table like a woman on a mission.

John exhaled in frustration. That hadn't gone well, but he shouldn't be surprised. Sources could be so unreliable. It was a long shot that he would find someone who would speak to the corruption in the mayor's office. And even if they did, he'd still have to sell the story to Bernie.

The din around him seemed to come back into focus and he realized how stuffy and hot it was in the pub. He would finish his drink quickly and be on his way home in a few moments. But then he heard his name and he had to catch his breath.

"John Schuyler Moore," she said with slight amusement. He knew that voice anywhere.

He looked up to see Sara standing across from him. He was taken aback by her blue eyes and general loveliness. Her pale cheeks were barely flushed from the heat of the room. Her light green dress bought out the colour of those inquisitive eyes. Her blond hair was pinned up as she always wore it, but slight wisps of it escaped from the behind her ears. She always looked so put together and professional, but he caught that slight detail and something in him stirred. For a moment, he remembered her hair down that one fateful morning, his fingers touching the long, soft strands. Everything about her had been soft and lovely.

He stood up abruptly and couldn't stop the smile from forming. "Sara," he said with affection. He stepped forward and embraced her briefly, a hand resting on her upper back. He kissed her on the cheek then stepped back and gestured to the chair across from him. "Please join me."

Sara seemed reluctant, but gave a slight nod and took the seat. "Your companion seemed to leave rather quickly," she commented.

John gave a shrug. "I thought he could assist with an article, but he decided at the last minute he didn't want to. It happens." He took a drink and looked at her. "What brings you here this evening?"

"I also had a business meeting, although I believe mine went slightly better. It was with a new client."

John nodded. "So business is good?"

"Very good. I had a case that took me to Boston." There was something in her eyes, a slight frown, between her brows, but then it is gone. "Bitsy took care of everything while I was away."

John is pleased that things are well for her. "Your reputation precedes you."

"It was a personal case. A women I knew from school." Sara explained. "But how have you been? I don't imagine the newspaper has slowed down in your absence."

John frowned slightly. "My absence?"

Sara gave a slight smile. "I'm sure Violet was hoping you'd go to her Godfather's paper and you wouldn't be out these late night meetings when you could be home for suppertime." There's something in her manner that is forced, like she's trying to be casual.

John leaned forward slightly. "Violet and I didn't get married Sara."