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that, I’d actually made a new mosaic mirror out of shards of stained glass, which turned out much better than expected. I’d also hung sheer cream curtains along the window. The overall effect was more like a living room than a psychic’s parlor.
    ‘‘You like?’’ I asked.
    ‘‘No,’’ Candice said as she wrapped an arm over my shoulders and gave me a squeeze. ‘‘This, I love .’’ She pointed to the mirror. ‘‘And where did you get that? It’s like your other one, only bigger, right?’’
    ‘‘I made it,’’ I said.
    ‘‘Get out of here!’’ she exclaimed. ‘‘I didn’t know you did art.’’
    I laughed. ‘‘A friend of mine taught me years ago. It’s really easy. I’ve kind of taken over Dutch’s garage making these recently.’’
    ‘‘Can you make me one?’’ she asked, then said quickly, ‘‘I mean, I’d pay for it.’’
    ‘‘Hell, Candice, I’ve got a whole friggin’ garage full of these things. My physical therapist said it would be good to help me regain the motor skills in my right arm. I think I’ve got a dozen of them lying around. Come by anytime and pick whichever one you like. There’s no price tag. They’re cheap to make and I like to do it.’’
    ‘‘Thanks, Abs,’’ Candice said and gave me another squeeze before settling into one of the leather chairs. ‘‘Now, let’s get down to business. How much were you thinking to charge me for Theresa’s old room?’’
    I opened my mouth to suggest the price I had in mind when my intuitive radar gave me a buzz. Moving over to sit in the chair opposite Candice, I hesitated for a moment before answering her as I pulled the thought close. ‘‘Actually,’’ I began, sending a mental thank-you to my guides, ‘‘I was wondering if, for the first month, we could do a trade?’’
    ‘‘Trade?’’ she asked. ‘‘What did you have in mind?’’
    I reached into my back pocket and pulled out the folded piece of paper on which I’d written out my impressions about Walter’s murder. ‘‘I’ve come across something that I could really use your professional opinion on.’’
    Candice cocked an eyebrow. ‘‘Just my opinion?’’
    ‘‘And maybe a little legwork,’’ I added.
    ‘‘Opinion and legwork?’’
    ‘‘Okay, so maybe there will be some interviewing and background checking and other private eye stuff too.’’
    Candice chuckled. ‘‘This deal just went from fantastic to are you serious?’’
    ‘‘I see your point,’’ I said, looking at the paper in my hand. ‘‘Make that the first two months’ rent.’’ My crew was making me feel like I was definitely going to need Candice’s help on this one, and I knew I had to pin her down quickly before her caseload built up.
    ‘‘How much legwork, background checking, and other private eye stuff are we talking about?’’
    ‘‘Depends.’’
    ‘‘On?’’
    ‘‘On what we find out initially.’’
    Candice sat back in her seat and eyed me critically. ‘‘Want to elaborate a little just so I know what I’m getting myself into?’’
    I looked up and met her eyes. I’d really wanted to avoid the whole getting-into-the-details end of the case. As I saw it, this Wolfe guy was one bad dude, and if Candice had heard of him prior to committing to me and found out he was involved, well, that would be a good reason for her to turn me down. ‘‘It involves an old case of Dutch’s,’’ I began.
    ‘‘Did he finally wise up to the gold mine he has for a girlfriend and ask you to tune in on some cold cases?’’
    ‘‘In a manner of speaking,’’ I said. Then I laid out for her the story I knew about Bruce Lutz, Walter McDaniel, and Dick Wolfe.
    When I finished, Candice’s body posture had changed. Her arms had folded across her chest the moment I mentioned Wolfe, and I thought for sure she was going to refuse my offer. I did my best to make the deal slightly sweeter. ‘‘Three months’ rent— and I’ll throw in an