It was the moment Nathan feared the most while on the job. As he tailed the man accused of grand larceny, the hooded suspect turned around and looked in his direction. Nathan attempted to jump behind the corner of the alleyway he was walking by, but it was too late. The man had already seen him and was looking straight into Nathan's eyes, an intimidating snarl etched on his face. A chill went up Nathan's spine and his mind started to race. His cover blown, Nathan watched in horror as the man pulled out a shiny object from his black hoodie. As the man started to walk toward him, Nathan knew all too well that he was wielding a gun, and that there was no place to hide. He also knew he couldn't make any sudden moves since there was no telling what the man would do now that he knew he was being followed.

Only steps away from him, Nathan winced as the man grabbed him and shoved him against the side of the brick alleyway. The night breeze turned colder as Nathan breathlessly awaited his fate, and all time seemed to stop when the suspect pressed the weapon into his shoulder.

"Why are you following me, huh?" The man said menacingly, his icy glare sending further shivers up Nathan's spine.

The man's eyes were as black as the night sky around them, the intensity and anger within them rendering Nathan speechless. By the look on the man's face, Nathan was in grave danger unless he could convince him he just happened to be a random citizen following him toward a private warehouse at 2 a.m. in a sketchy area of town. Nathan wasn't sure what was colder, the night or the weapon digging into his shoulder, but he had never wished to be in the comfort of his warm bed more than in that moment. Before Nathan could open his mouth, the man pulled back his hand that was holding the gun, and Nathan flinched in anticipation as he swung the butt of the gun toward his head, the powerful object just inches away from making contact with his face and knocking him to the cold hard ground…

The alarm going off on his phone, Nathan woke with a start and looked around, his heart rate gradually returning to normal as he realized he had been merely having one of his recurring nightmares of an investigation gone wrong. His forehead sweating, he turned off the alarm and took a deep breath to calm himself. Hoisting himself out of bed, he walked to the bathroom to grab a cool rag and start getting ready for another day on the job. While he knew the life of a private investigator mostly consisted of tedious surveillance and few, if any, moments of actual terror, Nathan was prone to having nightmares about the job. He didn't know why. Perhaps it was because he had the bad habit of watching too many cop shows, or maybe it had to do with his father's history of getting mixed up with unsavory individuals. One thing he did know, it was Archie Grant's tendency to end up on the wrong side of the law that had influenced his son to pursue a career as a private investigator.

Ten years on the job, and I'm still having these nightmares, Nathan shook his head as he washed his face. Drying it with a towel, Nathan sighed and picked up his toothbrush. It's not like he was a police officer who had to deal with violent crimes. In fact, most of his work involved investigating insurance fraud or looking into people accused of marital infidelity. Nothing too perilous or earth-shattering. Yet, he always seemed to fear the worst. Whether that was due to the difficult situations he'd had to get his father out of in the past or his dealings with his miscreant brother-in-law, he wasn't sure. If there was one thing Nathan had learned in life, it was that people were complicated and many were not to be trusted. While he couldn't solve all the injustices in the world, it was his job to restore a bit of law and order in any way he could.

"Uncle Nathan, are you almost ready?" Allie said, jolting Nathan from his thoughts. His niece always had a way of appearing when he most needed a reminder of his life's mission. To protect and take care of his loved ones. Leaning against the open doorway, Allie continued. "I don't want to be late for school."

"You don't, do you?" Nathan raised an eyebrow at his niece's words. While Allie liked school, she was not particularly known for being a morning person. In fact, Nathan was usually the one who had to make sure Allie was up and ready for the day. Ever since she was a little girl, he had gladly taken on the responsibility of raising his niece and bringing a sense of stability to her life. Ever since Colleen passed and Dylan ran off, Nathan thought sadly.

"Yes," Allie said, rolling her eyes playfully as 14-year-olds were wont to do. "I have that field trip at the science center, remember?"

"Oh, that's right," Nathan said with a smile as he turned off the water in the sink. "We better have some breakfast so we can get you to school early then."

Following his niece downstairs to the kitchen, Nathan tried his best to focus on the upcoming events of the day and put any unsettling thoughts out of his mind. With Dillon out of the picture and his dad seeking help from a kleptomaniacs' support group, his family situation was the best it had been in a while, although that didn't erase the hurt of the past. Even with the move to Pittsburgh a few years back, he thought of Colleen every day. In fact, despite the fact that he and Allie were finally settled in a permanent environment, the thousands of miles that separated him from his childhood home did not diminish his painful memories of his father's frequent arrests, his mother's heartbreak, and his sister's premature death.

"Are you alright, Uncle Nathan?" Allie asked, interrupting Nathan's thoughts once again.

"What? Oh, yes, I'm fine." Nathan assured her. He tried to flash his best smile and give Allie his undivided attention. "So, what are you most looking forward to seeing on your field trip today?"

"I'm not sure," Allie said truthfully, walking over to the toaster to retrieve the bagels that had popped up. Putting them on a plate to butter them, she continued. "I hear there are lots of interesting exhibits to see. I think the fossil area will be pretty cool."

As Allie's eyes sparkled with excitement, Nathan couldn't help but see Colleen in her. In truth, everything Allie did reminded him of his sister. "Yes, the fossils were always my favorite part, too," he said absently as he retrieved two glasses from the cupboard and filled them with orange juice.

Setting the bagels on the table next to a fruit bowl she had put together, Allie walked over and took the glasses from him. "Uncle Nathan, you look like something is on your mind," she observed, folding her arms and giving him one of her expressive looks.

Nathan smiled. She knew him too well. "I'm just thinking about my latest case. I start work on it today."

"Ooh, are you going to go undercover?" Allie said teasingly, giving him a playful shove.

"You know I can't give you many details," he replied with a grin as Allie gave him a look of mock disappointment.

"I know, I know," Allie said. Well aware of the responsibility he had to his work, she repeated the phrase he often used. "Confidentiality of information." Nathan smiled to himself. Allie always wanted to know as much about his job as possible, even though he had a duty to keep his cases private. While he didn't always like being so tight-lipped about his work, at least he could share his burdens with Bill Avery, his colleague at their small firm.

"I've taught you well," Nathan said, handing her silverware to place on the table.

Allie dutifully took the silverware from him and paused before setting them on the table. "Just promise me you won't be too exhausted when you come home. You promised me we would play Catan tonight."

"And I keep my promises, don't I?" He said, a playful grin forming on his face. "Now, how about you start your breakfast and I'll make us some eggs."


After dropping Allie off at school, Nathan headed toward his next assignment, a feeling of nervous excitement always setting in with each new job he took. As he drove on the Roberto Clemente Bridge heading into Pittsburgh's downtown, Nathan couldn't help but take in the city's beauty. He loved taking Allie to Pirates games when he could get ahold of tickets and to Highland Park for fishing, their favorite activity. Wishing to provide Allie a more stable foundation after so many moves over the years, Nathan was happy they had settled in Pittsburgh. The city had a lot to offer, and Bethel Park School District was a good fit for Allie. Driving through the downtown area, Nathan smiled as he found metered parking near his destination. As he parked and got out of his car, Nathan looked up at the blue sky and felt the warm, early autumn breeze on his back. Today was shaping up to be a lovely day.

Locking his car and walking in the direction of Coulter Steel, Nathan felt his phone vibrate and stopped to check the incoming text. Good luck on your new case, read the text from Bill. I'll be here to help when you inevitably reach a dead end in your investigation.

Nathan smiled at his colleague's trademark dry wit and headed toward the entrance of Coulter Steel. He was excited to offer his services to one of Pittsburgh's oldest and most-renowned steel companies. While the company no longer had a steel mill within the city's limits, it still had a manufacturing plant in the region and shipped steel from its facilities to customers around the world. Led by Leland Coulter, one of the most respected men in the business, Coulter Steel employed 7,000 people and helped transform the perception of Pittsburgh as a "dirty steel town" to a thriving, family-friendly city. As CEO, Coulter had modernized the company and diversified its interests, ensuring its future in a rapidly changing business world.

Entering the corporate building, Nathan looked around at the modern yet tasteful features. The lobby was welcoming and spacious, with glass windows reaching all the way to the ceiling and comfortable-looking chairs surrounded by colorful plants. At the center of the lobby was its defining feature, a tall fountain made of blue terracotta tiles. Nathan took it all in with wonder. Coulter Steel was beyond even what he had imagined.

Focus, Nathan, he thought as he headed toward the front desk. You're here on business, not to admire the architecture. Walking up to the receptionist behind the desk, Nathan smiled as she looked up at him. "Hi, I'm here for my 9 a.m. meeting with Mr. Coulter."

The receptionist checked the schedule on the computer. "Nathan Grant?"

"That's me." It didn't have a ring to it like James Bond, but then again, he didn't consider himself the James Bond type.

"Take the elevator up to the seventh floor. That's where the corporate offices are."

Thanking her, he walked in the direction she had pointed and found the glass elevator. Pushing the button, he only had to wait a few seconds before it arrived. As he got on and the doors closed behind him, Nathan looked down at the lobby below him. This place certainly is impressive, he thought. Yet, somehow not over-the-top.

The elevator arrived, and Nathan stepped out as the doors opened to the seventh floor. Looking around, it didn't take him too long to find the CEO's office. On the door to the left in big gold letters read the words Leland Coulter, CEO. As he walked across the lobby area toward the office, Nathan stepped through the open door and looked around. It felt like he was in a corporate suite. It was certainly the biggest office he had stepped inside.

In front of him was a desk where the CEO's executive assistant sat, the only person who stood between him and the open door of the boss' office. Taking a deep breath, Nathan walked up to announce his arrival. As he reached the desk, he made eye contact with the woman behind it. "Hello, I'm Nathan Grant. I'm here to see Mr. Coulter for our 9 a.m. appointment."

"Of course. Let me check for your name," she said with a kind smile as she clicked a few buttons on the computer. She was a pretty woman with long, flowing brown hair and blue eyes. Ever observant, Nathan read her name plate and committed the name to memory. Elizabeth Thornton. "Here you are." She glanced back at her boss' office before returning her gaze to Nathan. "Would you like anything to drink before your meeting? Water or coffee?"

"Black coffee would be great," Nathan said gratefully, still feeling a little groggy from the morning.

Elizabeth smiled that lovely smile of hers again as she got up to get the coffee. "I'll start a fresh pot," she said as she walked toward a table with a fancy coffee machine on it.

Nathan watched her operate the machine, her back turned to him and her foot tapping on the floor absently. While he waited, Nathan glanced at Elizabeth's desk in curiosity. A leather bound journal lay by her keyboard, and a cup of calligraphy pens was placed next to it. Two small succulents sat toward the edge of the desk flanked by images of the city and the typical family photos. However, two photos in particular stood out to Nathan. One was of Elizabeth in a beautiful wedding dress, beaming with joy next to a handsome man in a police uniform. The second was of Elizabeth holding a baby boy, the same joy in her eyes, although that joy appeared clouded somehow. Nathan saw the man who looked to be her husband was noticeably absent from the second photo.

"Here you go," Elizabeth said cheerfully, and Nathan quickly looked up from the photos. Taking the opportunity to glance at her hands as she handed the coffee to him, Nathan noticed she was not wearing a wedding ring. Was she divorced? Did she lose her husband?

Snap out of it, Nathan. You've got a case to investigate.

"Thank you," he said, feeling awkward after being caught staring at her personal photos. "I suppose I shouldn't keep Mr. Coulter waiting."

"No need to worry yourself. He's a very patient man," she assured him. When Nathan didn't respond, she continued. "I'll walk you in."

Elizabeth's polite tone eased Nathan's embarrassment slightly. Either she hadn't noticed him hovering around her desk, or she hadn't seemed to mind. Still, he knew he had allowed himself to be a bit too curious. She wasn't the one he was investigating, after all. In an attempt to recover, Nathan gave her a slight smile and followed her toward the CEO's office.

Knocking lightly on the open door, Elizabeth smiled as her boss looked up from his computer. "Nathan Grant is here to see you."

The CEO smiled and got up from his desk. "Thank you, Elizabeth," he said as she turned and left the office, closing the door behind her. His smile widened as he approached Nathan. "It's nice to meet you, Nathan."

As he shook his hand, Nathan immediately felt at ease and returned the handshake with equal vigor. "It's nice to meet you, too, Mr. Coulter."

"Oh, no, call me Lee. That's what everyone calls me around here." Lee smiled genuinely, and Nathan felt himself relax further. Though not a tall man, Lee had kind eyes and an easy confidence about him that commanded respect. He certainly lived up to his reputation as a strong yet humble leader.

"It's nice to meet you…Lee," Nathan said with some hesitation. He had never been on first-name basis with a CEO before, and he wasn't sure how he felt about it.

"Please, have a seat." Lee gestured to the chair in front of his desk, unaffected by Nathan's awkwardness. Nathan did as he was told. Sitting behind his desk in his own chair, Lee smiled at Nathan and looked down at the coffee that sat in front of him. "Is the coffee to your liking?"

"Yes, it's very...strong," Nathan said, having just taken a sip.

"That's how we like it here," Lee said with a grin before turning serious. "So, I think you know a little bit about why I've asked you to come down here today."

"I know you would like to use my services in some way," Nathan replied, unsure what Lee was about to ask of him. In all honesty, he had been surprised when the CEO had requested a meeting with him as opposed to a more seasoned sleuth like Bill Avery. Combined with the few details he had so far, Lee's invitation for a meeting left Nathan thoroughly puzzled yet intrigued.

"Yes, I would," Lee said in his direct manner. "I talked with a business associate who said you had investigated a legal matter at his company. He recommended you highly."

"Well, I do like conducting research," Nathan replied modestly. Was that what Lee wanted him to look into? A legal matter?

"Good to hear," Lee said, seeming pleased at Nathan's answer. "This case will involve a great deal of research." His smile faded and his tone turned serious. "Actually, it might be a pretty long-term assignment. I need you to go undercover to investigate who might be stealing from my company."