The phone rang at the office but since Della and Paul weren't there, Perry took care of it.

"Mason."

"Hi, Perry. Are you busy right now?"

"Who is this?"

"June Taylor."

"Nothing is going on. You can come over."

"Thank you."

One thing June wanted to do was have her father show up at the office since he might have something for this new case about the principal.

Perry wondered what June Taylor wanted. Not flowers, and he knew that.

He got up from the desk and helped himself to a glass of water.

Perry also thought since there were different judges, maybe Cindy would show up in the courtroom when this case is ready to get finished. Mention it to her and see her reaction, he told himself.

So when June and Jeffrey showed up at the office, Perry was surprised to see both of them together.

"Sorry about what happened, Perry."

"Thank you, Jeffrey. Glad you both were able to stop by. I have some news."

"What kind of news?" Jeffrey asked.

"We have a new investigator. I want her to introduce herself to you."

"Why do you need two of them for?" June asked.

"It was Paul Drake's idea, and not mine."

"What idea was it?" Jeffrey asked.

"When he isn't here or somewhere at the same time I want him to be, then she can just take over from there."

"I heard you're taking over your father's cases," Jeffrey replied.

"Yes. This new case is another he couldn't get very far to get solved in the courtroom."

"I knew who he was, but that was about it. How long did your father have this job?"

"I don't know. I was young, so I can't answer that question, Jeffrey. Next time I have the new investigator and you come over, both of you can introduce yourselves."

"Thank you for saying something, Perry. Is she here today?"

"No. She's doing something else. For now, I want her to introduce herself to the judge and the police. They need to know we have somebody new."

"How would they react?" June asked.

"I don't know. I'd like to be there when it happens. She worked for a different investigator that my father worked with for a while. He's retired, so we took her in," Perry told them.

"How is she working out so far?"

"I don't know. Right now we're taking it slow. I already have given her something to do."

"Nice start, Perry. Want to do lunch sometime?" Jeffrey asked.

"All right. Della will have to do that part. I don't want to get into another car accidents and lost children cases."

"The car accident you were involved in?"

"Yes, that's the one. Now I am learning some more stuff about what his background was before he quit."

"This is why we gave you those flowers because of your mother," June told him.

"Thank you. I appreciate it. It'll be hard for a while longer since they wouldn't be here to follow the cases in the future."

Perry tried not to cry in front of his friend and daughter. He didn't know June, but knew Jeffrey from school.

"Sorry if we brought up your mother, Perry," Jeffrey said.

"You don't need to apologize. She was very nice, but had more issues than when I was growing up. I don't know what her issues were back then when I was younger since I wouldn't understand what happened. After this case was solved, she passed away."

"It's okay to cry, Perry. I know you're trying not to show it."

"I know this is personal, Jeffrey, I don't want her to hear this."

"June, would you wait outside while we talk alone?"

"Yes, Dad. Let me know when you're finished."

Even she noticed her father's friend was trying not to show the grief he was having for the past couple months.

Once she closed the door, Perry began to speak.

"Do you want me to share this with June?"

"No. She doesn't need to know everything, Jeffrey."

"I understand and agree. Thank you for saying something about your new investigator. What do you want to share with me?"

"I know this is personal, but when my mother was getting lots of issues, Della thought it was a good idea she and I see a therapist to help recover from his murder. From what I heard, he was asleep in bed. I remember he was not a morning person."

"No wonder you wanted June out of here."

Perry finally had tears come down. He didn't want to do it in front of his friend.

"Who was the therapist you and your mother saw?"

"From the minute I heard about his murder, it was hard because I didn't get to see him to say good - bye. Ever since, she and I haven't been talking for the past couple months until the car accident case started."

"We followed that case, Perry. You're lucky you survived that accident."

"Still trying to recover from a long way to go, but I don't know how much longer it will take. My mother was a witness to his murder case since he was at a retail store when a shooting happened. That was the case I reopened because I thought I was missing something from the car accident case."

"Those are old cases, Perry. Do you remember what your father did after quitting his job as a lawyer?"

"Like I said, I was too young. I heard from a judge I was one of the reasons why he quit his practice."

"No wonder you're learning about it just now. I do remember how nice they were, but I don't remember your mother having issues," Jeffrey said.

"Of course we were close, Jeffrey, but it fell apart after he was murdered around the time of the car accident."

"What kind of memories do you remember with both of them?"

"Too many, Jeffrey. I remember you were in a few of them. I don't think I can handle anymore cases from George Mason. I have to keep my mother's promise."

"That's smart of you, Perry. I would listen to her instead of more longshot cases."

"I turned this one down from June the other day because I thought it was going to be another car accident and lost children cases."

"I understand that, Perry. If there's anything you need, we're here to help."

"Thank you, Jeffrey. I appreciate it. Maybe you could help me find a realtor to sell my mother's house."

"Why would she live with you when he died?" Jeffrey asked.

He didn't know much about it, so this was why he asked that question.

"Because the house was dangerous for her to keep living there. Ever since she told me about his murder, she moved into my house because of that. I was told from a neighbor of hers that she didn't get out of the house very much after that except for grocery shopping and hanging out with her friends. She had depression and was very severe at that time. We tried using Della's friend for counseling, but it never worked out. We're keeping her anyway."

"Good idea. I don't remember you doing that when we were growing up."

"Neither do I. When Ada moved into my house, she had never looked back on hers because of him being murdered when he was still asleep in bed."

"I know your mother well enough that she would never do such a thing since they were close when they were dating and then you came along."

"Do you remember what he did when he couldn't find any other way to try reopening his practice?" Perry asked.

"I don't think he did anything except taking care of you. That's all I can remember," Jeffrey told him.

Then he asked, "What memories do you have with both of them?" Jeffrey asked.

So Perry had to think back to the days when he was younger.

"I'll have to think about that, Jeffrey. This case June talked with me about I gave it to our new investigator as a test. Maybe she'll talk with you later in the case."

"What's the case about?"

"I don't know, but with my being disabled now, this is why I turned the case down."

"I understand. Are you going to help her out?"

"No. I will take over when there's a court date."

"Even if it means the police want to talk with you?"

"You're exactly right, Jeffrey."

"Sorry, Perry. Let me know if there's anything I can do for you."

"You'll know. Actually there is a case I remember what it's about."

"You mean the one we gave you?"

"Yes. I still don't know much about it. Are you sure it's connected to George Mason?"

"Do you have a file of the original?"

"It's at my mother's house. I haven't been there in a long time, so I don't know what it's like now. Now you see why she moved in with me. I was also told from her neighbor when we talked that she wasn't eating much or sleeping. She was a mess when I let her move in."

"I'm sure she was."

"She's been asleep here half the day when I invited her to move in."

"I understand, Perry. Glad you were able to reconcile."

"Same with me. Actually, there is a memory from back with both of them. I remember I was young back then."

"We all were, Perry. What do you remember?"

"I think it was Valentine's Day. Do you remember anything about something happening on Valentine's Day?"

"Not unless you share the story."

"I think I was 13 or 14 when it happened."

"Tell me the story," Jeffrey repeated.

"Remember that time when they woke up in the middle of the night and found out I was gone?"

Jeffrey was quiet, but shook his head at the moment.

Della was outside the door, but knocked on it.

"Before you pick up again, Perry, there's somebody at the door."

"Would you mind answering it?"

Perry also heard that knock. Either June or Della.

He was right - Della.

"Are you all right, Perry? Do you need anything?"

"We're just talking about memories with his folks."

"Just don't take it too hard, Perry. It's nice meeting you, Mr. Taylor."

"Same with you. I'm just trying to calm Perry down."

"I've done that several times in the past. Remember, Perry?"

"Yes, Della. How is June doing?"

"She's just anxious to leave and wondering what's taking so long, Jeffrey."

"Tell her we're almost finished. Aren't we, Perry?"

"I think so. Thanks for checking in, Della."

"You're welcome, Perry."

"Jeffrey, that case you wanted me to look at was about that murder in the office at high school?"'

"Yes. I'm not sure how it's connected with your father."

"If it's not, then that's a good thing. I want to keep her promise."

"Those are hard to keep for sure, Perry. What else do you remember about that story?"

"Remember somebody broke into our house at one in the morning?"

"Now I remember. The police showed up ten minutes later. It scared us."

"Good thing June wasn't there at that time."

Jeffrey agreed.

"I remember you and your folks had to stay at our house for a week because the police thought it wouldn't be safe with a murderer in the house."

"I remember that too. Good thing we all survived that."

"And you had to sell the house because of that person trying to rob and murder you and your folks."

"I remember that also. The house we moved into was where Dad was murdered in bed."

"No wonder you and your mother haven't looked back. Maybe it could have been the same person who murdered your father."

"I never thought about that one. I know it was a long time ago, but I might try reaching out to the police station sometime and see if they still have that file."

"You're not going to work on it, are you?"

"Of course not. That was old, but I just want to see it for myself if we can't find it in the file cabinet."

Della couldn't help listening about that story, but she guessed the house was the one he grew up in. She was glad to see that Perry was calming down for the first time today since his friend was there to help out with memories and cases that belonged to George Mason and Perry just trying to keep Ada's promise about those cases and leave them alone.

Della thought about going into the office and check in on Perry and Jeffrey, but she didn't want to be rude. She wondered what they both were talking about. Probably about Ada, Della guessed.

While Perry and Jeffrey were talking, June saw Della come in.

"Hello, June," Della said.

"He looks like he's going to cry," June said, "but that was when we arrived."

"It's okay," Della said.

"They've been talking for a few minutes now. He's just trying not to show he was grieving."

"I understand, June. I've seen him cry, but the recent one was when his father was murdered."

"That is hard. How did his mother react?"

"Took it pretty hard. She moved in with Perry, so that's where she is now. Well, her spirit."

"Sorry. That's why I was over yesterday to bring those flowers over since my dad talked me into it."

"That was very nice of you to do that. Right now we're looking for more files from when George Mason was alive before he quit his job."

"Is that why you were wasting your time working on a case that he couldn't finish?"

"Yes, but I wouldn't think of it as wasting our time. He wanted to find out who murdered him."

"Who did?"

"He looks like he's going to cry," June said, "but that was when we arrived."

"It's okay," Della said.

"They've been talking for a few minutes now. He's just trying not to show he was grieving."

"I understand, June. I've seen him cry, but the recent one was when his father was murdered."

"That is hard. How did his mother react?"

"Took it pretty hard. She moved in with Perry, so that's where she is now. Well, her spirit."

"Sorry. That's why I was over yesterday to bring those flowers over since my dad talked me into it."

"That was very nice of you to do that. Right now we're looking for more files from when George Mason was alive before he quit his job."

"Is that why you were wasting your time working on a case that he couldn't finish?"

"Yes, but I wouldn't think of it as wasting our time. He wanted to find out who murdered him."

"Who did?"

"He looks like he's going to cry," June said, "but that was when we arrived."

"It's okay," Della said.

"They've been talking for a few minutes now. He's just trying not to show he was grieving."

"I understand, June. I've seen him cry, but the recent one was when his father was murdered."

"That is hard. How did his mother react?"

"Took it pretty hard. She moved in with Perry, so that's where she is now. Well, her spirit."

"Sorry. That's why I was over yesterday to bring those flowers over since my dad talked me into it."

"That was very nice of you to do that. Right now we're looking for more files from when George Mason was alive before he quit his job."

"Is that why you were wasting your time working on a case that he couldn't finish?"

"Yes, but I wouldn't think of it as wasting our time. He wanted to find out who murdered him."

"Who did?"

"He's able to drive again, so that's good news. He isn't getting a whole new car, but thought using his mother's car was a better idea."

"I agree with that," June told her.

"What is the new investigator's name?" June asked.

"Cindy McCarey."

"I don't recognize that name. I thought she would've taken over her boss's agency."

"No. Paul took her instead, but she would still check into the agency."

"Good idea," June agreed.

So they talked until Jeffrey and Perry walked out of the office.

"You ready to go, June?"

"Yes, Dad. I was just waiting for you."

"Let's go, then."

Note: Think it might be another big case from George that didn't get done?