Mac and Jo got the financial records from Pierre Manicotti's restaurant. "Every month like clockwork," Jo remarked as she was looking at the records. "He goes practically the same date every month."

Mac was looking at the appointment calendar. "He had an appointment last night at seven," he said. "He just has 'meeting' written there with '7 pm' under it."

Jo looked at Mac. "So if he was having a meeting at seven, why was he there so late?"

Mac considered that. "What's the last entry in the financial journal?" he asked.

Jo looked at the last page in the journal. "The date is yesterday…and today." She looked at Mac. "Maybe he was there working and they came there because he knew they were selling less than true mushrooms."

Mac considered that. "That could be right but how did they know that he would be there?"

"If someone wants to do something, they usually know how to find out what they need to know."

"So, how do we find out who did this? I'm sure they also know how to cover their tracks."

"There must be something…or someone out there who knows something."

Mac thought a moment. "Flack may have someone who will know or be able to find out."

Mac got his phone and called Flack and told him to try and find out something about mushrooms sales in the city. "I think this is the most ridiculous thing I've ever investigated," Don said. "Who kills over mushrooms?"

"These are very expensive mushrooms," Mac said. "Just find out."

"I'll get on it."

Don turned his car around and headed back the way he had come. He knew who might know something about this. Terrence always knew something about everything. He was not a criminal but he had contacts on the streets and always knew what was going on. Don went down to Terrence's club and went inside. Terrence was standing behind the bar. "Don Flack," he said. "What are you doing here?"

"I need to ask you something, Terrence," Don said.

"Like what?"

"Do you know anything about Black Truffles being sold here in the city illegally?"

Terrence stared at Don with a confused look. "Black Truffles? No, I haven't. Why?"

"Cause, we've got a guy dead who may have been killed over them. There were some fake ones in with the real ones. See, these truffles sell for a lot of money and the fake ones…or the ones that are different sell for a lot less."

"I haven't heard of anything like that. Who was the dude who was killed?"

"Pierre Manicotti. You know him?"

"I've heard of him." Terrence leaned on the bar. "I don't think he was killed over mushrooms, man."

Don stared at Terrence a moment. "Why?"

"That guy had a lot of stuff going on the side."

"Like what?"

"If there was some kind of deal going on, he was in it. He was probably connected to every low life in this city. He had his finger in every pie."

"So he was into drugs and everything else?"

"You can believe that. Have you ever seen where that dude lived? No restaurant owner can afford a pad like that."

Don scowled. "His house hasn't been searched yet," he said.

"House?" Terrence chuckled. "Wait till you see it."

"I guess I'll have to let Mac know about this. Thanks, Terrence."

"You're welcome." Terrence held up a bottle. "You want a drink?"

"No, I'm on duty."

Don turned and went back outside. He took his phone out as he got into the car…

"Taylor," Mac answered as his phone rang.

"Mac, I found out some interesting information about Mr. Manicotti."

"Tell me."

Don told Mac what Terrence had said. "Looks like our restaurant owner was into more than cuisine."

"He could have been hit by anyone then," Mac said. He blew out a breath. "Let's see what we can figure out."

"Looks like this is turning into a complicated case."

"Yeah, one that has been heading in the wrong direction."

Mac put his phone away and went to Jo's office. "We've been looking in the wrong direction for this case," he said. "Don just found out some information about this Pierre Manicotti. He had his thumb in every pie in town."

"He must have pulled out something besides a plum then," Jo remarked.

Mac shook his head and smiled at Jo's sarcasm. "You really know how to turn a phrase, don't you?"

"You might as well joke. It makes things lighter."

Mac sat down on the couch. "This situation just makes it harder to figure out who killed him though. This may wind up being one of those cases that sits on the corner of my desk for years."

Jo looked at him. "Don't tell me you're giving up," she said.

"Of course not but this is going to be hard to solve."

"Why don't we go out for dinner tonight and we can figure out something while we're relaxed?"

Mac scowled. "You want to go out for dinner with a case like this?"

"Sure. Everyone needs to relax and Ellie is gone to stay with her aunt tonight so we can have all the time we want."

Mac stared at her a moment wondering what she had in mind. "What did you have in mind?" he asked.

Jo leaned on her desk. "Oh, maybe we could get really bold and go see a movie," she said.

"That could be fun."

"Or we could go to a concert and jump around like teenagers."

"That could be fun too." Mac looked at her. "But you remember what happened when we went shopping."

Jo smiled and leaned back. "So this time we won't be looking around trying to find a criminal."

"I don't think that's possible."

"Yes it is. I go out all the time and don't find criminals."

Mac smiled. "Are you saying that I don't have any fun?"

Jo stared at him a moment and narrowed her eyes. "Mac, I don't think you have had any fun in so long you don't even know how to turn loose and have fun anymore."

Mac's smile faded slightly. "You're probably right, Jo. You always point out the worst in me."

Jo's mouth dropped open. "That's not what I'm meaning to do," she said. "I just want you to live life."

"Yes, I know. Hey, I run every day."

"But I want to take you out. Will you go or not?"

Mac considered that a moment. "Sure, I'll go."

"Great! By the way, we're not dressing up. We have to dress up every day at this office and I do not wear dress clothes when I go out."

"I can go along with that."

"Then it's settled."

"So where are we going to eat?"

"I'm not sure yet but I'll figure that out. I'm going to pick out the most fun place I can find."

"Can I eat a big, juicy steak?"

Jo smiled. "I would like to see you do that."

"I don't think I want any mushrooms." Mac's eyes twinkled with humor. "They might not be authentic."

Jo laughed. "I think you're a whole world of fun under that shell."

"You never know. You might have more fun than you've ever had."

"Probably since you haven't had fun in so long."

Mac was not sure what she meant by that. "Well, I'll go in there and write my report. If we don't get any more calls or get any more clues, we can go out tonight."

"Let's keep our fingers crossed."

Mac left the office. Jo watched him walk away. She had wanted to go out with Mac for so long. She enjoyed being with him and she thought maybe they could be more than friends but she was not sure he would want that.

Mac sat down at his desk and thought about that date. He supposed it did not hurt to go out and have some fun. She was right though. He had not had any fun in a long time…of course, he enjoyed his job but that was not the same thing. He was looking forward to going out but he hoped she did not think this was more than that.

Don and Danny were out looking for leads in the case. "Maybe the mushrooms didn't have anything to do with the murder," Danny said. "Maybe this was about money he owed someone or something."

"You could be right," Don said.

"They say this house is almost like a castle. I just hope Mac and Jo are going to come and help me search it. I'm going to collect computers and see what I can find in the office."

"What about under the mattress?"

"Oh please."

Don chuckled. "You never know what people do."

When they arrived at the "house", they were shocked that they had never noticed the place before. "Wow," Don said. "This doesn't look like a place that a restaurant owner could own."

"Nah, not without something else," Danny replied. "Unless he is up to his eyeballs in debt."

"Or drowning."

They went through the gate that led to a long driveway up to the white house which looked like it could have forty rooms. Don parked in front of the house and they got out. They looked up at the house which was about three stories tall. "I hope somebody in there knows where the office is," Danny remarked.

"It might take a long time to find it if they don't," Don replied.

They went to the door and rang the doorbell which sounded like a church bell. Don looked at Danny. "Well, I guess if you're in a house this big, you need a loud doorbell," he said.

"That's enough to wake the dead," Danny replied.

They waited a few moments but no one came to the door. Don rang the doorbell again and Danny tried the handle and the door opened. "Hello!" Danny called. "Police!" He pushed the door on open.

Don and Danny stood there a moment and just stared. "Well, it wasn't enough to wake the dead," Don said as they were staring at two dead bodies.

"I guess I better call Mac and let him know this case just got a lot bigger," Danny said.