The wealthiest man in the upper middle east was sitting quietly at home with a beautiful female Siamese cat named Yum yum on his lap. Her companion Koko was resting across the top of the chair that Jim Qwilleran was sitting in. Qwill has been mulling over the problem of drugs making their way into Mosse County. Suddenly, Koko turns his head and looks at the phone just as it rings. Qwill Picks it up and it’s the Pickax police chief, Andy Brodie. How is the investigation on the drug problem going,Qwill asks? We-e-el, we have brought in someone to help us and she will be undercover for awhile. SHE,said Qwill? Yes, her name is Laura Simmons and she will be working with the kids in school and as assistant at the Art center and she will be leasing a condo at the estates. Is she an artist, asked Qwill? Yes, replied the chief, an amatuer one, but most of our artists are amatuer also. That’s true, said Qwill. What do you need me to do, he asked? Oh, I thought you could show her around, take her out to dinner, said Brodie. Okay, I’ll do my best, replied Qwill How is my little sweetheart, asked Brodie? Yum yum is fine although she misses your shoelaces.

A large SUV pulls into the parking area of the condo estates, parks and a woman gets out and stretches. A Great Dane follows and immediately begins to sniff around the grounds. CHRISTIE, she calls, stay close! Qwill steps out of his condo, sees her and walks over. Good morning, he says and extends his hand,I’m Jim Qwilleran. She looks at him somewhat warily and then shakes hands with him. Good morning, I’m Laura Simmons. Are you moving in, he asks. Yes, she says. I live here also,said Qwill, it’s good to see someone moving in, we don’t like to have empty units. By this time, Christie is standing right next to Qwill and leaning against his leg as Great Danes are want to do. This is quite a dog you hame here, he says. She’s a good girl but her size worries people although she really is a pussycat. I believe we have a mutual friend, said Qwill. Oh, replied Laura? Yes, Andrew Brodie, he said. Her face lit up and she said. Oh, of course he told me about you, I thought your name sounded familiar,she replied. Qwill asked Laura if she would care to have dinner with him that night and she accepted.

Qwill and Laura are having a quiet dinner at the MacIntosh Inn. Laura asks, how do you know Chief Brodie? Oh, we have a mutual interest in keeping Moose County crime free and somehow I always end up in the middle of things. Laura looks at him for a moment and said “with the help of your cat?” Yes, Brodie told you that, did he? Yes and I believe it’s possible in case you are wondering, said laura.
Why, said Qwill? Because animals have gifts that we don’t have and some of them are as smart as we are–cats and dolphins, for instance, replied Laura. And Dogs, asked Qwill? Hummm, not so much, said Laura. If I understand Brodie correctly, you are here to work with students in the schools, kids that are at risk for drugs.
Yes, said Laura, I’m a trained social worker and drugs are not a big problem here but a little preventative work will help keep them out.
After a few silent minutes Laura said: In case you are wondering, I’m
45, was married once a long time ago and I have a son who is a junior in college. A-a-ah, said Qwill. I also like jazz and bike riding, she said
A-a-ah, said Qwill. Oh, if and when I invite you to my condo for coffee you'll find my taste is--well, it’s somewhat sparse, all my free time is for my painting and I just have a few basic pieces of furniture. Have I been too blunt,asked Laura? No, not at all,said Qwill, I like Jazz and bike riding also. You paint, asked Qwill? Yes, said Laura and I will be working as assistant manager at the Art Center as well as anti-drug councilor in the schools. I think Christie would like to meet your cats, said Laura. I don’t know but it should be interesting,said Qwill.

On a cold leisurely Sunday morning, Qwill heard a knock at the door, went to answer it and there was Laura and…Christie. I think it’s time Christie met Koko and YumYum, said Laura. Oh, boy, said Qwill, let’s give it a try and he let them in. Christie immediately lowered her front legs and pricked her ears up. Koko was observing from the loft, jumped down and landed on the coffee table and looked at Christie. Christie inched forward on her back legs and Koko very slowly moved forward. Then Christie stopped, dropped her back legs, lowered her head and waited. Koko inched forward until he was a few inches away from Christie, lowered himself into the same position and tentatively put out a paw to touch Christie’s nose. Christie snuffled but didn’t move. Qwill and Laura looked at each other and then…they both bounded up, Koko took off up the stairs with Christie after him, around the loft, into the bedroom and out and down the stairs again. Koko never took to the air, as he was known to do, as if he knew Christie didn’t possess that ability. They ran into the kitchen, around the dining area and up the stairs again. After three cycles they ran to the kitchen for water and collapsed on the rya rug in the livingroom. Qwill and Laura were flabbergasted, they hadn’t even tried to stop the melee, it had happened too fast. Qwill heard a noise and saw Yum Yum come into the room. She went right up to Christie and snuggled into the place between Christie’s front legs. Well, said Laura, I guess they like each other, I have never seen anything like that, said Qwill, and I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. After a few minutes Qwill said, would you like some coffee?

It was a quiet night and Qwill was pondering what Brodie had told him about break ins at the condos during the early Fall. Later that night Koko perked up his ears and went to a wall in the livingroom and stood pawing a section. What’s wrong, old boy, Qwill asked? Koko leaped back just as there was a strange ripping noise and a section of the wall pushed into the room, followed by a head of auburn hair. Hello, said Laura! What in the world–exclaimed Qwill!
I noticed a descrepancy in my hall wall, looked closely and could see that a two foot by four foot section was held in place by some kind of invisible tape. I used a knife and worked the tape loose and after some time I was able to pry the section out. Behind all the condos there is a space, between the condo wall and the outside wall. I searched in our building and found that the section behind your condo had a handle, I pushed and–well, here I am. Qwill and Laura sat in the livingroom thinking of the implications of Laura’s find. The door and windows have alarms, so they couldn’t get in that way and whoever is behind this would know that, said Laura. But how to get to the space in the first place, said Qwill? Were there cut out sections on the other condo walls, he asked? No just yours and mine, replied Laura Was there a handle on the section that you pulled out, he asked? Yes, said Laura. Okay, so whoever did this was interested in Polly’s former condo and mine. Well lets call Brodie and see if he wants to set up a little sting, said Qwill.

There was no moon that night and it was black as pitch outside, Qwill has spent quite a bit of time making sure the rumor mill would report his departure back to the garage apartment with the cats. There were many events going on in Pickax that weekend and Qwill didn’t want to make several trips back and forth between the condo and the apartment.. All was quiet in the condo but around 2 a.m. the small door was pushed into the livingroom. Three men entered and once they were in the room…Qwill flipped the light switch, Brodie yelled FREEZE and the three men were face to face with Brodie and his deputies. The men were handcuffed, and read their rights and taken to the station. These were not the errant youths of Bixby, but men in their thirties. Koko had disappeared into the wall with a howl and Qwill quickly followed. Once in the space he followed Koko to faint light at the end of the building. Brodie!, Qwill called, go around to the end of the building! Qwill made his way toward the light and found Koko on the threshold of an opening about 3′ square. Well, I’ll be, said the chief! That’s how they got in. Qwill jumped down grabbed Koko as he did and examined the piece of the building laying on the ground. Brodie picked it up and put it in place. Look at that, said Brodie, you would never have known it was there. It looks as if the previous breakins were a sham, they really wanted access to your condo, must have thought you kept valuables here and waited for you to move back. I wonder how long the opening was there and why was there a space between the wall and outside wall, he mused. We may never know, said Qwill

All is quiet at the Qwilleran condo, Koko and Yum Yum have had a read with Qwill and are dozing on the rya rug. Qwill is mulling over his ever increasing relationship with Laura. She is younger than I am, he thinks, but we are compatible on a lot of levels. Laura is smart, seems to know what she wants and, Oh my, those beautiful green eyes, he thought! He still can’t believe the compatability of the cats and Christie. That was quite a surprise. Laura doesn’t seem to think it strange that he is involved with Brodie in solving some of the crimes around Moose County and, she didn’t bat an eye when he mentioned Koko’s abilities. Just then, Koko jumped on the livingroom window ledge, Qwill flipped on the outside lights and saw the first snowflakes beginning to fall. He grabbed his jacket and hat and ran outside just as Laura’s door opened and she and Christie stepped out. Is this it, she asked?! Looks like it, replied Qwill. Christie was running around the yard in excitment snapping at the snow flakes. Laura gave Qwill a sidelong glance and stuck her tounge out just as Qwill did. Ah, said Qwill, great minds think alike! Yes indeed replied Laura.

Thanks, Susan. I think your story lines are improving with each iteration. I like the idea of Qwill and Laura discussing the merits of animals as intelligent creatures with abilities sometimes superior to our own.

Qwill picked up the folder and handed it to Laura. Is it anything special, he asked? Let's see, she replied and began going through the file. Well it's a list, a lengthy one at that, of all the phone calls that went in and out of he office at the drug drop. They must have looked at this before, she said. Oh yes, Fred's initals are at the corner indicating he was the one who looked at it. Perhaps we should give it another look and they devided up the pages. Do any of these names or numbers look familiar, asked Laura? There seem to be a lot of call into and out from this number and he read it off. Do you know that number,she asked. Well, actually, the number does look familiar but not the name. I can't place it and that name..Dexbirge, I have never heard of that. Qwill went to the phone book and looked up the name, just as I thought no Dexbirge listed. Well, it could be unlisted, she said. I think I have Andy's I.D. here, let me try and see if I can access that. She called the phone company, gave the I.D. and information they needed and listened. Laura looked at Qwill and said, the name for that number is EXBRIDGE not Dexbirge. EXBRIDGE, said Qwill! Yes, do you know..., asked Laura? Don Exbridge is in jail, if he weren't this would be just like him, replied Qwill. Couldn't he run things out of the prison, it's happened before, she asked? The only other Exbridge is his ex-wife Susan and I can't imagine she would be involved in anything like this. How well do you know her,Laura asked? Well...well enough, I thought, replied Qwill. Does she need money, Laura asked? It's possible, now that Don is in jail and his assets frozen, replied Qwill. Laura reached for the phone, called the number and listened. After she hung up, she looked at Qwill, hesitated a second, then said; it was a recording for Cobb and Exbridge giving the hours of business. Humm, said Qwill. YOW-OO-OW, said Koko.

Qwill and Laura were having a quiet dinner at Tipsy's Tavern on a cold night in November. The Big one was over but it snowed daily and the temperature was in the single digits. They ate in silence for awhile and then Laura asked...who is Polly Duncan? Ah, said Qwill, what have people told you? Oh, that she was your, um, girlfriend or companion for a long time and then went to Paris and didn't come back. That's it exactly, said Qwill. Laura looked at him and he began to talk. Polly went to Paris on a two week vacation, wrote to me halfway through and told me she wasn't coming back. She also told almost everyone else in town at the same time: friends, people at the bookstore she ran and the SOMETHING. Laura's eyes had gotten very large and she said; you must have been so, so hurt and shocked. I had a lot to work through and I did, but it wasn't easy, he said. Have you seen her since, she asked? Yes, she was here this past summer and I ran into her and met her husband, Qwill replied. Was it difficult, asked Laura? You know, it wasn't and I think seeing her again made me realize I was over our relationship, he said. They ate in silence for awhile and then he asked; you were married, weren't you? Yes, my husband was killed in the line of duty, he was a police officer. That must have been very hard for you, Qwill said. It was, but I had to pull myself together fairly qwickly because I had a child, she replied. I finished college using my husband's pension. Your son is in school now, isn't he, said Qwill? Yes, replied Laura, he has a year and a half left. I see him on school breaks and vacations, he loves it up here. What is he studying, asked Qwill? Journalism, replied Laura with a small smile.

After dropping Laura off, Qwill and the cats had a read, he gave them their snack and they went off to their room for the night. Qwill sat up for awhile in his big chair and had some feelings of unease. It was not the case they were working on and it wasn't Laura, or was it. In a way he was afraid to start a new relationship, but he had to admit he was lonely and Laura was beautiful,smart and talented. He thought he was over Polly but maybe he wasn't or perhaps he needed to look at things in his relationship with her that he hadn't addressed you. After so many years of traveling from job to job, why had he been so content to stay in Moose County all the time, they could have traveled, could have gone down below to see shows. Polly never gave any indication that she was unhappy, how could he have missed that? Mildred had cautioned him about buying things for Polly that Carol Landspeak picked out, but he really didn't know what to get he
or...was it that he didn't take the time to really see who she was. Why is this bothering me now, he thought? I don't want to make the same mistakes again and I don't like to think I drove her away with my neglect. Why didn't she speak up? Well, she did at times and I just..ignored it, pushed it aside? I believe that old saying; IT TAKES TWO, is true, it was both of us, he sighed heavily. Is it worth a new relationship, he thought?

Dinner was delicious, said Qwill! I'm glad you liked it, replied Laura. It had been an ususually warm day in Moose county for January, only 30 degrees out and they had walked through Pickax, looking in stores, greeting people, having lunch at Lois's, but through it all Qwill had been unusually quiet. Finally, Laura asked, are you allright? Yes, of course I am, he replied. No, I don't think you are, what's wrong? Well, we've known each other for four months now...Yes. said Laura. I'm developing feelings for you replied Qwill. Yes, I know, said Laura. You do,asked Qwill? Yes, and I have the same feelings for you, she said. Is there something wrong with that, she asked? No...but, as you know, I had a long term relationship with Polly and, well, I feel as if I didn't know her at all and it worries me that I night not know you either, or, should I say, that I'm not capable of knowing anyone. Oh, I see, said Laura. Is it your fault that she didn't tell you how she felt, what she wanted or needed? No, but I've been doing a lot of thinking about this and...did I ever mention that I tend to brood, he said? She smiled and said I've noticed it once or twice. I think I didn't want to know what she wanted or needed, as long as I could get away with miminum attention...I always remembered her birthday or our anniversary and I even gave spontaneous gifts at times, but I let others pick out the gifts for me. I said I loved her, I thought I loved her but I didn't put much work in to the relationship Looking back, I can see that she gave up a lot for me. I didn't give up anything. I kept things from her...Like what, asked Laura? Well, my sluething, for one thing and lunch with various women in the area. She was very jealous, you know. Qwill turned to Laura and asked; would you be upset if I had lunch with Hixie or Fran Brodie or Lori Bamba? You have done that haven't you, she said. Yes, but does it bother you? No, not if you are committed to me. I know you hate to eat alone and if I'm working and not available...no it really doesn't bother me. Qwill, women need to know they are first in any relationship and not just a committment to be fairhful but to care about them. I takes a lot to make that happen and I get the feeling that neither one of you were working at it. Polly wasn't because she wouldn't speak up and tell you what she needed and you because, for some reason, you held back a big part of yourself. When you went to the Potato mountains, why didn't you take her with you, she asked? I don't know, I could have, she's a good companion, it never entered my head, he replied Qwill turned to Laura and asked...so do you want to go to the Potato Mountains? Laura laughed and said I don't think you were meant to be together or you would have married her. It had become a habit you didn't want to break because your needs were met, but obviously, hers were not. Are you saying a good relationship has to end in marriage, he asked? No, not at all, I'm saying she needed marriage and was ready to lose you in a last ditch effort to get what she needed. It was pretty brave on her part, said Laura. Qwill looked at Laura intently and asked; do you need that? She thought for a moment and replied, no, I don't think so, but if we are in a serious relationship and I think we are, I would expect you to take the time to know who I am and what I am about. I can see that I have been selfish and thoughtless at times and I hope I can learn because I don't want to lose you, he said.

Qwill was pacing back and forth wondering to himself how he could have been so wrong about Susan. True, he didn't know her all that well, she was an acquaintance though and had been for a few years. He wondered if you could ever know anybody totally. At that moment there was a knock at the door and he let Laura in. She didn't look very happy. What happened, he asked? She's gone, Laura replied. Who, Susan, Susan is gone, he asked? Laura nodded and told him what happened. Brodie and his duputies went to the shop and that was empty, completely cleared out and then they went to her condo and that was empty too. When the Chief located her assistant she said Susan had let her go a week ago with no severange pay. She did say she had seen Susan driving out of town a day ago. We missed her by one day! Brodie has an APB out on her, they'll find her, said Laura.
Qwill was quiet for a few moments and then he looked at Laura and said, I don't think so, I don't think you will find her. She only has a days head start, replied Laura. Yes, but you can go pretty far in one day, think of it, if she planned carefully she could be in South America by now, he said. Laura sighed.

On memorial Day in Pickax the town was busy with parades, cookouts and get-to-gethers, but the main topic of conversation was the new home Jim Qwilleran and Laura Simmone were building on the site of the old barn. Qwill and Laura had worked with architechs from Lockmaster to come up with a design that everyone could be happy with. Their tastes were similar and Laura was content to leave many decisions to Qwill after only a cursory overlook. She liked comtempory as well, but with warm wall colors to set off her paintings. Laura had agreed to work with Chief Brodie on a consulting basis,pro bono. Today the Rikers were having a look at the progress at the new house and were impressed with what they saw. It's big, but not too big, said Arch. I like that it's all one floor, except for Laura's studio, said Mildred. Laura had wanted a room upstairs so that she could work and play music or tv without disturbing Qwill in his downstairs den. There was a large master bedroom, a smaller one for when Laura's son visited, a valted livingroom and diningroom and a compact but very functional kitchen because Laura did like to cook and did so often much to Qwill's delight. He would no longer have to scrounge up lunch and dinner companions unless he wanted or needed to for business reasons. The cats had their own abode, but Qwill thought they would probably spend most of their time with Christie in the main part of the house. The fenced yard was being landscaped and of course a gazebo was planned with a butterfly garden. Later back at the Riker condo for lunch, Mildred asked; so when is the big day? When we move in asked Qwill? No, chided Mildred, eyeing Laura's ring, the wedding day. Oh, the wedding day, said Qwill and Laura in unison; well...

A very soft peach or light pinky peach or cream, said Mildred. They would be wonderful colors for your complexion, don'tyou think? Millie, said Arch, Laura probably wants to pick out her own gown. They all watched Mildred's face fall and she said; oh,oh, of course. Well, actually, Mildred, I was hoping you could help me with something else. I know you just retired and I'm sure you have so many things you want to do and I don't want to ask too much...Oh, no, said Mildred I really want to help! Qwill and Arch exchanged relieved looks. Well, said Laura, as you know, the O'dell's are catering, Bushy is doing the photography, Hixie is handeling the piece in the SOMETHING, Fran is going to decorate the church and our house, but we need someone who can coordinate all of it, keep tabs on everything. I don't have a wedding planner, per se, so I wondered if you could be that person? I would be glad to do it, said Mildred and I know Sharon will help also. Well, said Laura, that's a load off my mind and I can't thank you enough! All this took place at the Riker's dining table after a wonderful meal, as usual. Later when Qwill and Laura were driving home, Qwill said; I thought you were going to coordinate everything? I was, but I saw the look on her face and deceided to delegate. She's a lovely woman and I didn't want to hurt her, she said. I think she's up to the task, said Qwill. That's good, now that I gave her the responsibility, said Laura. Qwill said, I also think it was very kind of you. You don't know Arch and Mildred very well, I appreciate it and it couldn't have been easy to give up the control of your own wedding. I think we are going to have a wonderful wedding because of all the people working on it, they are obviously so happy to be involved, how could we not let them share in our happiness? A lot of people care about you, Mr. Qwilleran and not because you are rich but because you are rich in spirit. Qwill reached for her hand and put it to his lips and said; the beautiful spirit in this car is sitting next to me.

Laura walked into the livingroom and joined Qwill on the sectional where he was reading the SOMETHING. Koko, Yum Yum and Christie look up expectantly. Well, I'm done with my dress, she said. Oh, good may I give my opinion now, Qwill teased? No, you may not, she replied. Laura looked at their little menagarie and said; let's take the troop out for a walk. At the word WALK Christie and Koko jumped up, Laura grabbed Yum Yum before she could dissappear and gently put her into a new down sling, with just her head peeking out. Laura zipped her jacket over the carrier and spoke gently to her. You never cease to amaze me, said Qwill. They set out and soon came to the common and walked around poking in shops. People loved to see the famous Koko but had enough respect for Mr. Q. and didn't get too close. Laura felt a tap on her shoulder, turned and yelled...Tom! Oh, Tom, I didn't expect you for a week! Laura quickly introduced her son to Qwill. Tom and Qwill shook hands and eyed each other specutively. I've heard a lot about you, said Qwill! Uh, oh, replied Tom. Christie was bounding about, happy to see her old friend, while Koko and YumYum started at the stranger with interest. Let's walk back, said Laura, we have so much to talk about. Tom and Qwill got to know one another while Laura put the finishing touches on dinner. Tom looked a lot like Laura, thought Qwill, but not totally. He had brown eyes and light brown hair but the same basic face shape, he was about 5'10" and had a wiry build. Very personable young man, Qwill thought.

I am amazed at how much research you must have done to capture this many characters and story lines and weave them into your plot. I think for the most part, the characters are true to form. However, when they went to get Susan Exbridge and talked to her "assistant" instead, wouldn't that "assistant" be Fran Brodie? thus wouldn't Andrew Brodie already have an idea that Susan would be planning to bolt?

On the night before the wedding, Laura is standing in front of the mirror in the bedroom trying to decide what to wear to the rehersal. She finally decided on a sweater, pencil skirt and knee high boots. She and Qwill have talked over every conceivable contingency their marriage would mean to others. Laura didn't want her name on his will but Qwill insisted and she also had mixed feelings about the money she would get if anything happened to him. At least now she could use her savings to pay off Tom's college loans and anything that was left over would give him a start when he graduated in June. Tom was walking her down the aisle and she was so proud of him. Time had gone by so fast and she hoped as a single mom she had given him what he needed growing up. Down the hall from the bedroom, Qwill was in the den lost in his own thoughts. Was it possible that tomorrow he was getting married? He had said he would never do it, but here he was taking the biggest step of his life. Surprisingly, he wasn't nervous, his only regret was that he hadn't met Laure earlier. He had insisted on a will, even though Laura hesitated, he thought she was worried that he would think she was marrying him for his money. But the fact was, he was older than she and if anything ever happened to him, he wanted to make sure she was set for life. After almost a year with Laura, he realised why he could never have married Polly. He had loved her and they did have a close and intimate relationship but in too many ways they were disimiliar on important issues. He looked forward to some amatuer sluething with Laura occasionaly and that would have been out of the question with Polly. Also, Polly was asways pushing him to write the perfect novel and he wasn't free to be spontaneous and have lunch with someone if he wanted to, espicially a woman friend. All these things sent up warning flags and he couldn't take the final step Well, this is it, he thought, now if we can just get through the ceremony with our menagerie thers. Oh boy, he thought