Tess twiddled her thumbs as she sat at her desk waiting for something to happen, for someone to finally walk through that door. She had gone ahead and rented a small space - in truth it was no larger than a closet and she suspected that it used to be just that - for the purposes of conducting her investigative services from. Her name was decaled on the glass window in the door, (just like every other businessman here) and she had done her best to spread the word about her services, and yet no one, not a single paying customer had made their way there (some kids had come by once to gawk at the novelty of it though). Granted she was only available from the hours of seven to nine pm (because she still held down her operator job) but even so, she would have expected just one case to come floating her way in the month since she started.

Another twenty minutes elapsed and she decided to call it quits early, thinking maybe it was best to do so for her entire operation, before she made a complete fool of herself, not to mention renting a space was not cheap. When she reached for her hat, there was a knock at the door. For a second she froze, the sound so alien to her that she didn't know how to respond. Then her brain started to function again and she looked up to see none other than George Crabtree! He smiled at her and she returned it and enthusiastically gestured for him to come in.

Quickly she flattened out her clothes and prepared to receive him. But then she frowned, realizing something else. He was garbed in his constable's uniform! Was he here to arrest her? Had other private investigators complained about a woman sticking her nose into affairs best left to them?

Taking another look at the handsome constable told her otherwise. He would not be smiling like that if he was here to take her away.

"Why if it isn't Constable Crabtree!" she exclaimed, holding out her hand.

He shifted his recently removed helmet to the other armpit and took it. "Miss Moffat." Giving her an appraising look,"To be honest, I'm a bit surprised that you remember me. It must be about...two years now since we last spoke."

Two years? Had it really been so long? Why had he never come to see her again? She had thought there was something there.

"What can I say? You made quite the impression."

He smirked at that. "That's kind of you to say." She was expecting him to return the compliment and when he didn't she was unusually disappointed. George gestured around the place, almost knocking his hand into the wall because the space was so small and said, "Nice set up you've got here."

Was he mocking her? No, he would never do that. He was far too kind hearted for such behaviour; something she had found quite attractive...amongst other things.

Still, she felt defensive and stiffened. "Yes, well, business has been slow." Meaning she didn't have the cash for something more extravagant. Truth be told that wasn't the only reason for this less than spectacular room. She had also been severely limited by very few property owners wanting to rent their precious office space to the likes of her. If she had been from a well to do family, there would have been no issues whatsoever.

"Perhaps I can help with that."

"What do you mean?" Tess asked quizzically, but intrigued.

He reached into a pocket and pulled out a bunch of folded up papers. "I've been receiving these anonymous letters for the past week and I would like to uncover the identity of the culprit."

"Are they threatening?"

"No, nothing like that...but they are making me uncomfortable all the same. It's easier to explain if you just take a look."

After a moments hesitation he thrust them into her hands. She took them, sat down, and gestured for him to do the same.

Oh my! she thought after an initial glance at the first one in the stack. Tess looked up at him and he made a face as if to say, I know. She riffled through the rest of them and if anything they seemed to get worse.

Someone had been writing rather blush inducing admiration letters to him! The last few had taken on an erotic quality but were just below the line of complete impropriety. She stifled the laugh now forming on her lips and it was a good thing too based on his next words.

"I wanted to do this discreetly because, well, I would never hear the end of it from the lads otherwise. One time Detective Murdoch received a pie from a grateful mother and we teased him mercilessly about it. I shudder to think what the lads would do if they ever found out about these."

Tess was silent for a moment, not only to compose herself but also to think critically about the situation.

"Do you think that is the case this time as well? Another grateful mother?"

"It's possible, I suppose. But I can't for the life of me think of anyone who displayed such...desires towards me."

Smiling, "Clearly they were shy and decided to take a more...informal approach."

He might be above making fun of people, but she wasn't. Becoming more professional again she continued with, "Have you considered the possibility that someone is playing a practical joke on you?"

George seemed surprised by the notion. "That seems even less likely to me. You've read the letters, they're rather...explicit."

"Exactly my point. Maybe they did that as a way to throw off suspicion?"

He thought about that for a bit. "To what end, Tess?" George gave her an apologetic look. "Oh, I'm sorry, it's rather presumptuous of me to address you that way after all this time."

"Never mind, George, it's fine." They smiled at one another. "As to your question...maybe one of your fellow constables is simply bored." Getting excited, "Or maybe they've got a grudge against you! Have you severely annoyed anyone recently?"

He made another face. "I can't imagine the inspector would be writing these. Though he is rather gifted with a colourful vocabulary."

Despite her best efforts she burst out laughing. He gave her a wry look and joined in. After the belly laughs subsided, "I must say, it is so good to see you again, George."

"The same to you Tess."

They shared a look for a few seconds and she was vividly reminded of the last time they had spoken at station house four, when she half thought he was going to kiss her right then and there. Just like the last time he intimated that the discussion was nearing its conclusion, this time by standing up.

"Do you think you can get to the bottom of this troubling matter?"

"I'll do my very best, George."

"How much for your services?"

"We'll discuss that later...assuming I uncover anything of value."

"I have faith in you."

"You would be the first."

"But not the last, I'd wager." He held out his hand, which she gladly took again. "Well, I best be off. Early day tomorrow."

"Are you working another murder case?"

"Yes."

"Is it as interesting as the one I helped you on?"

He pondered that. "I'd say even more so."

"What's it about?"

"Well, there's this blue ghost-"

"A blue ghost?! Truly?!"

"Detective Murdoch doesn't seem to think so but I'm quite convinced, as is Emily"

Tess racked her brain for the face that went along with the name. "Emily?"

George became a bit sheepish. "Dr. Emily Grace. She's the new pathologist."

A doctor? How was she supposed to compete with that! And then she forcibly understood why he had never come to see her again.

Apparently her dour mood had become visibly obvious because he said, "Is everything all right?"

"Oh yes, constable, everything is wonderful!" She forced herself to smile. "After all, I have just received my first paying customer!"

He hesitated a bit and then returned the smile. Gesturing to the letters, "So I'll just leave those with you. I trust you'll be very discreet with them...and the investigation as a whole."

"Oh yes, very discreet! You have nothing to fear!"