four

Meghan was getting hungry
and she spotted a building
with a large blue awning
with white round tables, and comfortable
looking deep seated wicker straw chairs
that were scattered on the flagstone patio.

she headed down the cobbled street at a fast pace
and the green glossy shopping bag she grasped in
her left hand swung back and forth with her gait.

she hadn't noticed the shopping bag before and was
startled to now feel its presence, she wondered where she had picked it up.

she felt the beaded handle press against the palm
of her hand and she squeezed her fingers more tightly
around its curved shape.

as she did this she frowned ever so slightly and her eyebrows drew
together in a momentary v shape.

she was startled by her actions and she could feel her body momentarily tense
as she wondered where she got the bag

her lips pursed together and drew a tight line
across the lower portion of her face

for a moment the carefree meghan was gone.
and in her place was Mia

Mia the private detective from the lawson agency
who had been hired by a client to check out
second life.

Mia rubbed her left temple, closed her green eyes
and in a momentary flash she stopped walking and drew
circles around her forehead, and then rubbed her
eyes.

it was just a moment but she remembered yesterday,
was it yesterday or last week. the red curtain,
a man named Zeke.

this was very confusing she thought to herself.

she took a deep breath opened her eyes and by this time she was standing in frot of the
restaurant.

Zeke watched Meghan as she stepped on to the circular walk, found
one of the wickher chairs and sank into its bountiful
soft pillowed seat.

He was standing on the outskirts of the the plaza beneath one of
the willow trees with the white flowers watching Meghan as she headed
for Michael's restaurant.

he had been following her for a while this morning and he was perplexed. "what are you doing Mia?" he said out loud.

her behaviour was
getting more bizarre.

hr recalled their momentary meeting at the house at chelsea
street in the red room and he recalled how she acted like
she didn't know him. he had been taken aback but had given
her free reign. Meghan usually knew what she was doing
and he had to trust her, after all he was her partner.
they had worked together the last two years and they were
a perfect fit.

he had never met anyone like her.

he had been in the department five years
when he was told by jeff, the director, that
he would be working with a newbie.

"a newbie, come on Jeff you know I always work along."

Not any more jeff had replied orders coming down from on
high that you and the newbie are to work together on an
important probject.

Well, if it is so important why are you assigning a newbie
to the game.

"Listen Zeke, this girl is special."

"Special, how so special, what do you mean. Can she read
minds, said Zeke, that's the only special I would consider
in our line of work."

"Look, Zeke, play along and it will become apparent to you
why she is being assigned to you."

Zeke had looked at Mike and realized he wasn't going to
get anywhere with the director.

Mike's jaw was set and the muscle was twitching on the side of
his cheek.

Zeke knew what that meant. and it was useless to pursue the
subject anymore.

"All right, said Zeke, I'll give her a try.

"Good," said Mike.

"But I don't have to like it, said Zeke."

MIke's response was you are to meet her in the
Red Room Cafe in the lower part of Manhattan
tomorrow afternoon at 12:00 o'clock. this is
what she looks like. and he passed Zeke a 9 by five
glossy of a head shot of a young woman with curly
red hair, a heart shaped face and a nose with freckles.

"what is she irish, drawled Zeke.
she looks like she is 16.

She's not 16, said Mike.

she's 23 and her name is Meghan and she sometimes
goes by the name of Mia.

mike's parting remark as he left Zeke was, be there
tomorrow and follow her lead.

the assignment will be for a month.

"I assume its an all paid for assignment, said Zeke.

"you'll have what your need. but you are not to let
the girl out of your sight.

Ph, and one other thing.

:what's that said Zeke.

she won't know who you are.

so you are going to have to introduce yourself
or get into her life somehow and win her trust.

Nice, anything else.

Yes, said Mike. keep your hands off of her.

what's that supposed to mean, said Zeke.

Look said Mike i know you have a way with the
ladies, but this girl like i said is special.

"it's going to be your job to make sure no thing
happens to her.

" all right, said Zeke I understand."

:do this right any you will have important people
notice you.

"that's a plus said Zeke, what have I been doing for
the past two years.

Mike looked at Zeke and with one last quick smile he left
the room.

Zeke stood in the middle of the room and breathed deeply.