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you." Grabbing her mug, she accidentally sloshed a dribble of coffee on her blouse. Heat flushed her face while she mopped the spill with her napkin. Hearing a rustle of papers, she glanced up.

"My partners prepared these documents. I suppose you'll want your attorney to look them over."

Marla's eyes widened as she scanned the contents. "This is highway robbery! What kind of a schlemiel do you think I am? I can't afford to pay that much!"

Stan sneered. "My price goes along with the property appraisal. You want to call off the deal, it's fine with me. In fact, I'll pay you that amount for your share. Just think what you can do with the money: buy your car when the lease expires; pay off the mortgage on your townhouse. What do you say?" He stuffed a piece of buttered roll into his mouth.

Marla slammed her hand on the table, not caring that several patrons glanced at her in disapproval. "I say, _dershtikt zolstu veren!"_ You should choke on it.

"Tch, tch. Not nice, Marla."

"If you want my help, you'd better play nice with me. This cost is too high."

Her resolve must have shone through her expression, because he grunted resignedly. "Very well, I'll give you a discount, but you have to earn it."

She pushed away her plate, no longer hungry. "Consider it my retainer fee as your private investigator. I want new papers delivered tomorrow. I won't trust you until you sign them."

"Hey, you think I'm stupid? I'm not signing anything until you turn in Kim's killer to Detective Vail." His wily gaze penetrated hers. "Let me amend that statement. I'll sign, but with an option to cancel within thirty days. If you don't bring in a suspect by then, our deal is off."

"Thirty days? Ha! A piece of cake."

Like a punctured balloon, his expression deflated. "Kim made the best chocolate cakes. The best. I can't believe she won't be bustling around the kitchen anymore."

"I'm sorry, Stan." Her anger evaporated in the face of his grief.

A flicker of something else flashed behind his eyes. "Yeah, well, in one way you could say she got what she wanted."

"What does that mean?"

He pursed his lips. "A bird who tries to fly with clipped wings ends up on the ground."

"Excuse me? I'm not following your train of thought."

"Never mind." He shook himself, as though mentally resurfacing. "Let me know what happens when you contact the Pearls. Kim's funeral is set for Thursday. Her family will sit _shivah_ afterward at their place. I'll be receiving visitors for the required three days at my house. That includes the day of the funeral, according to my rabbi. So don't expect to be interviewed for the job until Sunday at the earliest."

"That works for me. Oh, I told Leah what happened. She'd like you to stop in and see the kids."

"Thanks, Marla. For everything." Rising, he threw some dollar bills on the table and waited while she pulled on her jacket. At the cash register, he paid their check.

"That was a simple meal," he said to her outside in the parking lot. "It was almost like old times, sitting across from you at the dinner table."

"If I recall, you preferred places with a dress code. But you're right; after things went bad between us, we argued our way through every meal just like tonight. I'll be seeing you, Stan."

"Wait a minute, let's say a proper good-bye." Taking her elbow, he directed her toward a darkened corner. "It's your birthday next week, and I want to give you an early present for being so helpful."

He drew her close before she realized what he intended and kissed her full on the lips. Marla was so astonished that she didn't pull back. He must have taken that as encouragement because he deepened the kiss, arousing memories she'd rather forget. Once upon a time, she'd craved his touch. Now it merely reminded her of past mistakes. She tolerated his embrace only because part of her wanted to comfort him, knowing he ached inside with grief. Maybe a passionate kiss was his way to reaffirm life in the face of