A/N: Not my characters...I promise not to abuse them...too much!

Chapter 7

We Need Clarification, Please!

Reaching for the phone, A.J. gave Rick a warning glance. Rick responded with a light nod. He knew he was one step from a verbal admonishment from his brother. Sitting down at the table across from Miles, Rick smiled. "So, Miles, did you know Mrs. Dresdan?"

Mosley placed the letter from the woman on the table, swiping his brow. His voice was somewhat shaky, "Yes, we, my mother and I, visited her a couple of times after Dad had died." The last few words were only a whisper. Miles tilted his head catching the last few words of A.J.'s phone conversation.

'Thanks Lt. Brown, we'll be in touch." Andrew slowly placed the handset back into its cradle. Realizing that he was being watched, he turned towards the other two men. Clearing his throat, "That was Lt. Brown."

"We gathered that." Rick's heavy drawl indicated his annoyance.

Andrew grit his teeth trying not to react to the comment, he continued with the phone conversation. "He discovered that Mrs. Dresdan died shortly after giving birth to her son. Since she or Stephen did not have any family locally or family that was willing to step up in behalf of the child, he was placed in the care of a local Catholic Church." A.J.'s disappointment was apparent. "That's all the information that Brown had at this time." Rick picked up his cup of tea and took a sip. He grimaced as now the golden liquid had turned cold and was even less palatable. Setting his cup back down Rick glanced over at Mosley.

Miles nodded. "I remembered that it seemed like one day we were visiting and then, nothing. No mention of Mrs. Dresdan or the baby. It's like, they disappeared off the face of the earth." He turned his attention to some of the documents on the counter slowly looking from one piece to another.

"Janet, isn't there anyway to find out what happened to the baby?" A.J.'s voice was pleading as she rolled her eyes again.

"A.J. just how am I going to look for a baby that was born in 1949? No computers, probably limited documentation, if any at all." She grabbed some papers off her desk walking quickly over to the file cabinet. She pulled a folder and stuffed the papers inside it. "Look," she spun around glaring at him. "Look," she dropped her voice trying to remain calm. "Computers are still new, old files probably will never be placed on them, let alone on micro-fiche."

"So, you're saying we should give up?" Andrew's calm, quiet demeanor turned more defensive. She turned away from him sighing shutting the drawer with more force than necessary.

Janet walked back to her desk and plunked down. A.J. took the opportunity to sit on the corner of her desk giving her his best lost puppy look. "Oh stop it!" She wailed, throwing up her hands in self-defense.

"What?" His face had soften to more of a tease the corners of his mouth slightly turned upward.

"You know what," she stopped and growled, realizing that she had once again fallen into A.J.'s trap. Picking up a pencil, she quickly jotted down a few notes. "Look, I will check with the local diocese to see if they have any records of a baby boy or baby boys in 1948/1949. But, don't get your hopes up! Meantime, you might ask your desk."

Andrew beamed. Leaning over, he kissed her on her forehead. "Thanks Janet."

She shook her head. "Don't thank me yet."

Rick stopped pacing long enough to peer out A.J.'s kitchen window. Opening the door just as his brother inserted the key, he greeted his brother gruffly. "Well? What did Janet have to say?"

"Well 'hi' to you too!" Slightly caught off guard, the younger Simon pushed passed Rick going to the refrigerator, pulling out two beers, he handed one to Rick. "I think it's time we become more pro-active with solving this case."

"Just what the heck do you think we have been doing?" Rick made a wide sweep with his right arm around the kitchen to include all the documents that occupied all available space before opening his own beer. "Pray tell, how do you propose we become pro-active?" He took a sip.

"We, we are going to write Mrs. Dresdan asking her specific questions, just like any client." A.J. emphasized the word client.

"Really? Aren't you afraid she might react badly?" Rick smirked.

"That's just it! We have been treating her like a live, breathing human being, which she isn't. She may hold some information that we can't find, because there's no trail." A.J. walked to the desk, taking out some paper, he sat down in the chair. He sat there for a moment before picking up a pen. He began writing.

My dear Mrs. Stephen Dresdan:

It seems we have come upon an impasse and need some information before

we can move forward with this investigation.

A.J. tapped his pen on the paper as he read what he had written. Rick nodded. "It's the truth."

He continued writing.

We have been in contact with Miles Mosley and he said that you had a boy.

Could you please tell us what his full name is?

We know that you are not originally from San Diego, could you tell us

where you lived prior to coming here, and perhaps your maiden name?

Sincerely,

Simon and Simon Detective Agency

He looked up at his brother, Rick. "What do you think?"

Pulling the drawer open, Rick responded. "Answer to those questions should provide us with additional avenues to search."

A.J. folded the letter sealing it in an envelope. "Agreed." Stuffing it in the drawer, he gently closed the desk, silently hoping that she would respond soon.

A light tap at the side door caused Rick to straighten up rather quickly. He pushed his hat back on his head. "Well, do you think she's hand delivering the response?"

Andrew scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous." He went to the door, peering out before he opened it. "It's Janet."

Opening the door he smiled. "Hi."

She nodded as she walked past him into the room. "You two must have an angel on your side. Not only were the sisters willing to work with us, they even had documents! I couldn't remove the files, but, they did allow me to photocopy many of the papers." She pulled papers out of a yellow manila envelope as she spoke, handing several to each of the men.

"Interesting." A.J. flipped through the pages he had been handed. "Just how many baby boys did they get in in 1948/1949?"

Before Janet could respond, a noise came from the living room. More specifically, the writing portion of the desk was open. Janet quickly glanced at both brothers. "What the heck? I could have sworn that was closed when I first walked in!"

Rick grinned. "It was. Just your friendly ghost delivering a response to our inquiries."

Before either man could move, Janet was at the desk, noting a drawer slightly ajar, she opened it and gingerly plucked out an envelope. There was a faint smell of lilac, she sniffed the envelope.

"Lilac?" Rick's gruff voice brought her back.

"Yeah." She handed the envelope to him, though, she was tempted to open it herself.

A/N: I am going to pause it there. Will be back as soon as I get some more pages written. Please remember to leave a review. Thanks!