by JL Simpson
“What a pleasant surprise. Honesty, and unlike most of the men I meet, you don't appear to be harboring any fantasies about my uniform.”
“I prefer the women in my fantasies to be naked.”
Mavis's cheeks flushed. He held back a sigh. She was a pretty girl who deserved better. Honesty had nothing to do with why he was meeting her. He wasn’t interested in her body, just in the case she had access to.
Chapter Fifteen
Solomon slipped into a seat across the table from Mavis, and passed her a glass of full-bodied Australian Shiraz. He'd been surprised at her choice, but expensive cocktails were apparently not to her liking. He'd ordered the same.
His phone’s ring tone broke the silence. He checked caller ID. “Do you mind, if I take this?”
She shook her head. “Go right ahead. Do you need me to give you some privacy? I could go and powder my nose.”
“No need.”
He accepted the call.
“Solomon, how's it hanging?”
“A little to the left as usual, Princess.”
“Shit. Don't say stuff like that when I'm driving… Does it really?”
Solomon frowned. “Why didn’t you take my calls earlier? Did something happen to Molly?”
“Molly’s fine. She loved playing with the puppies. We're on our way to get something to eat, and then to visit a pet shop before they close.”
“Is the pet shop likely to have your missing dog?”
“No, but they do sell dog food and accessories.”
“Why do you need dog food?”
“I thought Paul might like it for his tea.”
“Trying to improve your cooking skills, Princess?”
“Screw you, Solomon.”
“Why do you really need dog food? Tell me you didn't buy a dog.”
Daisy laughed. “Bye Solomon.”
He growled with frustration, and shoved his phone back in his pocket.
Mavis frowned. “Trouble?”
“No. That was my business partner.”
“Your partner's called Princess?”
“My partner's called Daisy, and she's nothing but trouble.”
“So why do you work with her?”
“She's married to my best mate. Paul deserves a bleedin’ medal for putting up with the woman. She can turn any situation into a disaster.”
“And yet you let her drive around the country with your daughter?”
“She has a son of her own, who’s survived so far. Besides, I was stuck for a babysitter.”
“If you plan to fight to keep Molly, you'll need to show you can take care of her.”
“I usually only have Molly every other weekend, which I keep free. I’d no time to sort out childcare before becoming a fulltime parent.”
“My oldest sister has her kids in daycare.”
“I doubt they'd be open at two in the morning, when I need to tail some unfaithful maggot, and photograph him with his trousers around his ankles.”
Mavis laughed. “The glamorous life of the private investigator.”
“Is it glamour you’re after?”
“Absolutely, which is why I became a cop. Wrestling drunks and being vomited on is the stuff dreams are made of.” Mavis took a sip of her drink. “There is another option.”
“To being vomited on?”
“No, to your childcare problem. You could hire a nanny.”
“I could, but that will take time.”
“I could help out until you find someone.”
“How's that?”
“I've got two weeks leave, and nowhere to go. I could take care of her for you. It's not like I've never looked after kids before, and Molly is a real sweetie.”
Solomon stared at her. If you wanted to know what a person was up to, what better way to do it than to plant someone in their home? Would Dan stoop so low? Absolutely. Was there a way to turn Mavis into a double agent? Solomon smiled, and she smiled back. Undoubtedly. Either way, could Solomon refuse such a generous offer, when he’d no other way to ensure Molly was cared for while he sorted out Lisa’s shite? “She did take a shine to you, but I'd not ask you to give up your holidays, to get me out of a fix. We hardly know each other.”
Mavis's face flushed. “We could get to know each other.”
“Are you hitting on me, PC Mills?”
“I am, Mr. Liffey.”
“Are you offering to work at my house, so you can get a look at my bed?”
She looked up at him through her lashes. “Is it a big bed?”
“Huge.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls.” Mavis chewed her bottom lip, and Solomon held back a groan as his body responded.
He leaned back in his seat. He needed a babysitter, and Mavis could definitely keep his little angel safe, until he found out what mess Lisa was involved in. He was yet to ask Mavis to look into the background of the dead man. Would she say yes? From the way she glanced at him from under her thick lashes, he had a feeling she'd be up for anything that pleased him. Her flirting could all be part of the mission Dan had set her, but two could play at that game.
“Only if you'll let me pay you, and help me find someone to take over full time. I don't want you wasting your entire holidays fixing my problems.”
Mavis shrugged. “If that’s what you want.”
* * * * *
Solomon pulled his SUV into Daisy's driveway, and parked behind her vile bright-green hatchback. He'd driven Mavis back to her car, avoiding any talk about the dead body he found at Lisa's. Time enough for that discussion tomorrow. Now that he’d sorted out temporary childcare, getting home was his priority. Molly would be tired.
He locked his car and walked up the drive. Paul opened the door, and ushered him inside. “Have you come to rescue your daughter?”
“Why does Molly need to be rescued?”
“Daisy has never had a girl to fuss over before. I think it's gone to her head. They're in the kitchen.”
Solomon strode down the hall, and pushed the kitchen door open. Daisy looked up from stirring something on the cooker. Sherman acknowledged Solomon’s arrival with a nod, before returning his focus to Molly, who stood on a chair. Her dark hair was decorated with brightly colored butterfly clips, and she wore a hot-pink fairy dress, complete with wings. Flour dusted her hands and face.
She squealed when she saw Solomon, and tried to climb from the chair. In her haste, she toppled. Before Solomon could get around the table to save her, Sherman bundled her into his arms, and blew a raspberry on her neck. She giggled with delight, and then wriggled to be free until he set her on her feet.
Solomon strode across the room, and Molly wrapped her arms around his legs. “Da.”
He lifted her, and planted a kiss on her sticky face. “Angel. Did you have fun with Aunty Daisy?”
“Puppies. We sawed puppies. And I gotted to pick Rosebud. And I'm a princess, Da. See.”
Daisy leaned back against the counter, and smiled. “You've got two little white hand prints on your bum.”
“Thanks for taking care of her.”
“It was a pleasure.”
“You'd no need to buy her clothes.”
“I was only going to buy her a change of outfit, but when we got to the store I went a bit mental.”
“How's that?”
Sherman lifted four large carrier bags from behind the table. “She's teaching your daughter to be a real woman. They'll be getting manicures and going to day spas next.”
The smell of smoke drifted from the oven, and Solomon raised an eyebrow. “Just so long as she doesn't teach Molly to cook.”
Paul crossed the room, and threw the back door open, as Sherman grabbed a tea towel and waved it at the smoke detector before it could go off.
Daisy pulled a baking tray of blackened lumps out of the oven, and glanced at Solomon. “And I was going to ask you to stay for dinner.”
Solomon flashed a lopsided smile. “What is that you're having?”
&
nbsp; Paul pulled his phone from his pocket. “Chinese or Indian?”
Chapter Sixteen
Monday morning, Solomon sat at his desk with Molly on his lap. She pressed random keys on his keyboard, turning the email he was composing into gibberish. He didn’t have the heart to be angry with her. If typing with him made her happy, the email could wait. Cliff was using the shower, and Daisy had called to say she was running late. A couple of weeks ago, his life had been empty, other than seeing Molly every other weekend. Now it was overflowing with people. Not that he minded having Paul and Sherman back in his life, even if they did come with Daisy.
Molly wriggled, turning to sit sideways on his lap, and he shifted her so she was snuggled into his chest. He'd taken Sunday off to spend with her, and she'd been happy enough but slept badly again. She’d not been home when the man was shot. The police had searched Lisa’s place after she was taken into custody, and he clearly hadn’t been there then. If the police hadn’t arrested Lisa, who knew how much trauma Molly could have suffered? The murderer could well have shown up when she was at home.
Solomon ground his teeth, not sure if he was angrier with Lisa for putting Molly in danger, or with himself for not taking enough notice of what went on in his ex-girlfriend’s life and intervening before things got so out of hand.
The door to the office banged open, making Molly jump and whimper. Daisy stepped into the room. “Oops, sorry. Did I scare her?”
Solomon glared at Daisy. “Can’t you do anything quietly?” He cuddled Molly tight, and kissed the top of her head. “Shh, baby. You're safe with me.”
Molly stuck her thumb in her mouth, and settled back against his chest.
Daisy shut the door quietly, and tiptoed across the room in her ridiculous heels, before spoiling the performance by dropping her bag on her desk with a thud. She flinched and whispered, “Sorry. Is she still not sleeping?”
“Not really. Although she agreed to sleep in my bed last night, so I've not got a sore back.”
“I just popped in to collect Cliff, and then we’ll leave you in peace.”
“No need to rush off. I've a babysitter coming to collect Molly.”
Daisy frowned. “Really? Are you sure they're trustworthy?”
“Absolutely. Actually, can you do me a favor?”
Daisy rummaged through the stuff on her desk. “Just a second. I need to find something.”
“What?”
“My mini tape recorder. I want to get this on record. The great Solomon PI needs a favor.”
“Very funny.”
Daisy stopped hunting and turned to look at him. “Have you been in my desk?”
“No. What makes you ask?”
“I know it usually looks like a mess, but I’ve got a system. Nothing is in the right place.”
“We had a break in on Saturday.”
“What did they take?”
“Nothing.”
“Was it hooligans looking for money?”
“I doubt it.”
“Did you call the cops?”
“I called Matt.”
“Matt?”
“Computer specialist. Whoever broke in installed software that tracks keystrokes, so don't buy anything online or look at anything you don't want them to read.”
“Why didn't you get it removed?”
Solomon smiled. “Because I'd rather feed them bullshit.”
“This has got nothing to do with my missing poodle. What are you up to, Solomon?”
The door to the office opened, and Solomon shifted his focus from Daisy. Mavis stepped inside, dressed in figure hugging jeans and a soft-pink T-shirt. God had blessed the woman with girly curves that would snuggle against a man in all the right places. He sighed, and shoved aside the sinful thoughts crowding his mind.
She shut the door behind her, and smiled. “Morning, Solomon. Am I late?”
Daisy stared at Mavis, before turning her attention to Solomon. He raised an eyebrow, and Daisy glared at him.
Molly lifted her head from Solomon’s chest, and pulled her thumb from her mouth. When she smiled at Mavis, he was overwhelmed with a sense of relief. “Not at all. You're right on time.”
*
Daisy stared at Solomon. He was positively beaming. The woman was pretty, in an understated fashion, but her appearance was hardly stunning enough to have Solomon’s tongue hanging out. Clearly his aborted attempt to get Belinda in the sack had left him with a heightened level of testosterone. He was like a randy dog in heat, ready to sniff out any available female willing to accept his meager slightly left-hanging charms.
Solomon nodded toward the woman. “Daisy, this is Mavis. She'll be taking care of Molly for me.”
“Is she qualified?”
Mavis folded her arms, and stared at the carpet.
Solomon glared at Daisy. “She's doing me a favor.”
Daisy rolled her eyes and muttered, “I bet she is.”
“Daisy!”
Mavis looked up at Solomon. “It’s okay. She knows nothing about me. If I were in her position, I'd want to know who was looking after Molly.” She turned and looked at Daisy. “I'm not qualified, but I have my sister's children to stay over all the time.”
“And she's a policewoman. The one who took care of Molly when Lisa was arrested.”
Daisy let out a long sigh, and glanced at Solomon. His glare brought her undone. She could never hold his gaze when he flashed his CIA interrogation face. Daisy crossed the room and mumbled an apology, as she held her hand out to Mavis. If Solomon was happy she could take care of Molly, then Daisy believed him, and taking care of Molly was all this could be about. Even if Solomon was interested in Mavis, he'd never be dumb enough to chase after her. His life was full of stuff he preferred the police didn't know about.
“He must have been happy to find you, but don’t you have criminals to catch?”
Mavis took her hand and smiled. “I've got two weeks off. Hopefully by then he'll have found someone more permanent.”
Solomon got to his feet, cradling Molly in his arms. “He has a name, and he prefers you don't talk about him like he's not here.”
Daisy leaned toward Mavis. “Don't worry. He's always grumpy in the mornings. And the afternoons, and most evenings too.”
Mavis laughed. “Something to look forward to.”
Solomon stood next to Mavis. “If you've no objection, I thought I’d drive you to the house. Show you where everything is, and get you settled.”
“I'll follow you. I'm parked outside the florist.” She glanced at Daisy. “Bye, Daisy. Lovely to meet you.”
Daisy smiled. “You too.”
Mavis slipped out the door, and Daisy grabbed Solomon’s arm before he could follow. “What's going on?”
“Nothing.”
“Liar. There’s no way you’d willingly take a policewoman to your house.”
“There's nothing at my house for Mavis to find.”
“You sanitized your house? You could have hired someone from an agency instead. What are you up to?”
“I don't have any secrets, and I'm up to nothing. Mavis offered to babysit, and I said yes.”
Chapter Seventeen
Solomon drove through the security gate to his house. He came to a stop on the front drive, and Mavis pulled up beside him. By the time he turned off the engine and got Molly out of her seat, Mavis was standing with her hands on her hips, taking in her surroundings.
Daisy was right; his life was no place for a policewoman. He was only using Mavis because he was desperate for a babysitter who could protect Molly in his absence. Even better, if she could help him keep track of how the investigation into Lisa was going. He didn't care how long Lisa spent rotting in jail, but the break-in at the office was unacceptable. If the people she was involved with knew about him, they knew about Molly.
Mavis smiled at him. “After the ten-feet-high wall and the security gate, I was expecting a castle, or at least a mansion. Why all the security?” She waved t
oward the cameras covering every access to the front of the modest tudor style house.
“The system was here when I bought the place. I'll show you how to deactivate the alarm, and give you a remote for the gate.”
“It’s not going to be a problem if I take Molly out, is it?”
“Not if you keep your wits about you. I need to know she’s going to be safe at all times. I’m sure you’ve heard about…you-know-what, at Lisa’s house.” He bent down, placed Molly on her feet, and then stood back up and met Mavis’ gaze.
She nodded. “I’m aware. I spoke to Dan. Molly’s safe with me.”
He looked down at Molly, who stood with her arms wrapped around his leg. He ruffled her hair. “Would you like to stay and play with Mavis, Angel?”
Molly let Solomon's leg go, and held her arms out to Mavis, who lifted the little girl so she sat on her hip. “Want to show me your princess bed?”
Solomon led the way to the front door. Once they were inside, he nodded toward the stairs. “Why don't you take Molly up, and let her show you her room? I'll make us a coffee, and meet you in the kitchen. It's at the back of the house. Then we can discuss exactly how this is going to work.”
Mavis smiled. “Sure. I take mine black, two sugars.”
He watched as Mavis carried Molly up the stairs, his little girl chatting about her princess outfit with real wings. If things had turned out differently with Lisa, he would come home to a loving family at the end of a busy day. He pushed the thought aside as he checked the door to his study was locked, and then headed to the kitchen.
* * * * *
Daisy switched on her computer and brought up Google, She sat staring at the screen, her fingers hovering on the home keys. Solomon had told her the woman was called Mavis, but not her last name. A quick search of policewomen named Mavis in Hampshire might give her some results. After all, Mavis was a very old-fashioned name, but would that be giving the hacker some information Solomon would rather they not have?
She tugged her phone from her pocket, and scrolled through her contacts.
After three rings, a deep male voice responded. “Detective Maloney.”
