That evening, Paul was able to drive Perry home when they finished work.

"Perry, there's something I want to share with you, but I am not ready yet," Paul told him.

"What's it about?" Perry asked.

"You'll find out. I already know what to do, if that's what you're thinking of asking me."

"What does it have to do with what you're sharing with me when the time is right?"

"You'll find out. It has nothing to do with your father's cases."

"You'll find out," Paul repeated.

"Does Della know about your news?"

"Of course not. She'll get to hear about it with you," Paul said, thinking of Cindy.

"Do you want me to guess?"

"No guessing, Perry. You won't get very far if you guess. Looks like we're there. I will come by tomorrow and we can get to the office."

"Thank you, Paul. I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you later, Perry."

One the way home, Paul told himself when this case is over, he could do something with Cindy. No, they're not dating, if that's what you're thinking. Maybe Perry probably guessed that also.

Perry opened the door and found Ada in the kitchen, starting to make dinner.

"Hi, Mom."

"Perry, how does chicken salad sound to you?"

"Just fine. You make good chicken salad with muffins."

"I already made them. By the way, Perry, there is a lot we have to talk about tonight."

"About what?"

"Lots of things."

"You can tell me."

"Number one, Staci. I talked with her earlier this morning when you asked me to find that file about the shooting your father was involved with."

"What did your friend say?"

"She accepted your talking with her. We're going to talk about when and where."

"All right. What else do you have for me?"

"Your doctor."

"What about Dr. Charles?"

"He called my house."

"What did he find out?"

"Remember I had those tests that he ran on me?"

"Yes. What about them?"

"There's good and bad news, but mostly bad."

They both sat down at the kitchen table as Ada put the salad and muffins on.

They both were having water to go with it.

"Let's start with the good news."

"Tell me," Perry said again.

"Your doctor said my physical health they found nothing wrong with that, but having issues with mental health. He did point out that he couldn't prescribe something for me. My doctor has to do that since I'm a patient with him like George."

"Did Dad have that same doctor when you married and had me?"

"Yes. He might retire sooner or later. I think that's what he's thinking about, but I can't be sure."

"Is there anymore news you want to talk about with me?"

"The court."

"I know we're talking about this again, Mom, but I think I will have to tell your friend the same thing since I will be asking her questions."

"What do you have to tell her?"

"I know you're a witness to this case, but I am going to tell her that she might be in the courtroom with you."

"This is why I didn't want you talking with my friends. Staci remembers the last time you did this."

"I'm sure she does. Have you both talked about where she and I will be meeting?"

"I suggested your office, unless you both come up with something else."

"The office works best for me so I wouldn't have either Paul or Della drive me."

"I'll be sure to tell her next time I see her."

"Anything else you want to tell me about?"

"What about the counselor? That's a question I have."

"What do you want to know about?"

"The courtroom," Ada answered.

"Do you want me to ask Della this question for us?"

"Yes."

"Does it have anything to do with the appointments?"

"No. My question is this: does she have to be in the courtroom with us?"

"I can ask Della that tomorrow morning. Did you find the files?"

"About the shooting? Yes, I did. I put in the office on your desk, Perry."

"Thank you. Maybe this could be something I missed from the first time I heard about this case."

"Which was what?" Ada asked.

"The newspaper article."

"What about it?"

"It had some information with Dad in that Goodwill store. It's pretty old."

"Why would George keep an article like that?" Ada asked.

"That's what I'd like to find out."

"Here's another question to ask you."

"What's that?"

"When you dated Dad when he was starting out, do you remember him saying anything about visiting Goodwill with the shooting?"

"Perry, I don't think he did. I have to think about that one."

"Since you're the witness with this case, you'll still have to answer these questions, like it or not."

"I know. I'm still trying to figure out how to answer them."

"That's what you said last time. Do you need help answering them?"

"No, I don't. I still can't understand why you want to take over George's case that didn't get finished."

"And I already told you that. Have you made an appointment with your doctor about prescribing some medication that would make you feel better?"

"Not yet. Your doctor said he's going to pass the tests over to mine and go from there."

"That's a good idea. And he knows the contact information of your doctor."

"Yes, he does. I gave it to him after the tests were done."

"There are some hard questions for both of us to answer in this case. I don't know how we'll figure them out, but we will. People keep telling me there won't be a court date."

"I agree with them, Perry. That's impossible it's going to happen."

"But it will. Trust me. Maybe there's another case that something called my name after this one is finished."

"Perry, I know you've gotten this far with the case, but your father didn't. He never said anything about getting it done. That could be why he didn't get far on the case like you have."

"We will win this case, Mom, since it was his to begin with," Perry told her.

"I know. What other cases that you think are calling your name to get finished for George?"

"I don't know yet. That's why I wanted to get something finished for him. I agree with you I don't know what his reaction would be that I found one of his cases to finish off."

"Perry, look at all of those cases you have won in the past starting with your first. But this one is impossible, no matter how old the cases are."

"Do you think Staci would be able to answer these questions?" Ada asked.

"I don't know, but I'll find out. You do remember Paul, right?"

"Yes. I think he's pretty nice. But I still haven't figured out your secretary. I still think she's more than that."

"We just work together, Mom. Paul wouldn't even tell me what his news is yet, but I can guess what it is, and he said my guess is wrong."

"Any other guesses?"

"No. She said that she works with Adam Smith. Ever since he opened up his detective agency, she's been there since. I don't know what her plans are when he steps down. He's been doing this a long time," Perry told her.

"I'm sure he has. Do you need to talk with him again?"

"I think so. We can have him be part of the witness stand. I was told those children and teenagers who were at the shooting at that time some are lawyers, and one took over management when the original retired. But another question I have is this: what was he doing at the Goodwill store?"

"I was dating him at that time. But like I already told you, Perry, I was in the car and watched the shooting, but I also saw the police show up along with the ambulance. It scared me since I was with him."

"How long have you dated at that time?"

"For a while. I can't remember how we first met."

"Was he working on a case at the time you first met?"

"Yes, he was, but recently finished a case when we first met. Don't ask me what kind of case it was, Perry. I never asked and he never told me. It wasn't my business to know. George was like you to keep family and law separate. I guess that's probably why you don't talk about your father and myself with your secretary and detective."

"That's correct. They do the same thing, so there's no need to know about it."

"Maybe your detective is starting to date somebody," Ada said.

"I thought the same thing. What if he does?" Perry asked.

"You may never know," Ada answered.