Phoenix, May 1972

Upon Lillian's request, Larry and Shirley arrived at the Maxwell's house a few minutes early. The woman, a thirty-something year old blonde with tall curls and a handmade knitted tube dress, stood at the door with a Corelle casserole dish, filled with tuna and noddles.

"Lillian! Hi!" She blew kisses at her friend, as she handed her the warm dish.

"And where's my favorite G-Man, Lillian?" Larry asked, as he walked into the house, in a sharp looking, multicolored leisure suit.

"Oh, he's working late again." She led her two friends into the kitchen. The house was spotless and tidy, although the ceilings were beginning to turn pale yellow from nicotine stains.

Larry looked at his wife, Shirley, and shook his head. "I don't understand how Billy can leave such a pretty girl home alone every night." Grabbing his wife and kissing her on the neck, he added "I know I couldn't!"

Lillian sighed, but came to her husband's defense. "You know he's working late, Larry. He's trying to close his cases! You know, it's because of my husband -and men like him- that the streets of Phoenix are safe!"

Shirley looked at her friend and smiled. Her smile, however, hid feelings of sympathy. This was not the first time Bill had not shown for a dinner party. Larry and Shirley were her closest friends in Phoenix. They were completely supportive, and they knew that Bill was rarely there for Lillian anymore. Over the years, he had slowly become distant, angry and bitter, as his career began to slide downhill.

"Lillian," Shirley began, as Larry went out to find himself a drink. "You can't go on like this. He's been a wreck for years. It's no secret what it's doing to you. And what he's doing to himself. He's not the same man. You have to face that fact."

"Oh, Shirl! Bill is just in a little bit of a slump! Soon, he'll pick himself up and be as good as new!"

Shirl hated to see her friend in denial, but listened as she tried to justify Bill's countless missed engagements and his deepening depression.

"Oh, Shirl!" Lillian added, as if reminding a small child of her chores. "You know he had that bad fall out with his partner last year. Don't you remember? Campbell? He tried to get Bill to turn on their boss! Well, you know how loyal Bill is. I think that was really hard on him. It's taking him a long time to get over that."

Shirley looked at her friend, and simply nodded her head. The doorbell rang. Lillian's party was beginning, and it was certain that she would need some help tonight.

Continued