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Dumb. Dumb and more dumb.
    The anniversary of his death was a few weeks ago. She had spent it crying and losing her mind.
    They had met outside the locked, cobwebbed doors of The Skinny well over five years ago. She had listened to him sing, signed him to a contract and then found a perfect spot to open, Perfect Sound Studios. Together, they watched it grow.
    A few years later, they opened The Clue together, one of the hottest Jazz restaurants to hit a
new
corner of New York. Misty sold it after Ken's death, to the first buyer who came knocking, Tia.
    Tia, ironically, turned out to be Mia's sister. In fact, Tia and Mia had originally gone in to purchase the place together, but now Misty had learned that it only belonged to Tia.
    Something she had planned to change real soon.
    She caught sight of Mia coming out. She watched as she got in her car.
    They said that I had no heart.
    They used to whisper that I was uncaring and fierce when I ran that place. But boy, was it a place! My artists were on the top of the charts. Perfect Sound Studios was hot!
    I had finally made a name for myself, something my lousy father could never accomplish.
    I had done it. I had really made it.
    That day is coming again, real soon.
    She watched Mia drive off in a brand new Lexus.
    They weren't right back then—saying that I didn't have a heart. But now, who needs one?
    "There is no love in success," is what my father once told me. I will live by those words and I will get it all back!
    Misty reached into her purse and produced a handwritten number. She reached for her cell phone and began to dial; then she pulled her car into the street without looking, or caring.
    A few drivers blew at her. One pulled up to her side and rolled down his window.
    He began screaming at her. "What, do you think you own the street just because you drive a crappie old Lexus?"
    Misty smiled at him. "Yes," she said. Then she hit the gas pedal and drove through a red light. As she glanced back in her rearview mirror and saw him sitting at the light, she laughed harder than she had laughed in weeks. It felt good.
    I am definitely back
! She tried the phone number again.
    Finally someone picked up.
    "Hello."
    "Who is this?"
    "I'm someone in need of your services."
    "How did you get this number?"
    "I used money, how else?"
    "What can I do for you?"
    "I hear you've done some work for an old friend of mine, Mia."
    "That's confidential."
    "Nothing is ever really confidential. Everyone has a number. Give me yours."
    "What if I don't have one?"
    "I don't have time for games. Give me your number!"
    "I heard you were tough."
    "If you've heard about me, then you know that you need to stop wasting my time!"
    "Okay, calm down."
    Misty listened as he gave her his price for doing business.
    "Hold on," she said.
    Misty clicked over and dialed another number. She quickly gave instructions and then switched back to her original call.
    "The money will be there within the hour. Have it all ready."
    "Yes ma'am. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
    "Yes, I want you to also get me everything you know on a Monà Naya Simone Creek."
    "Wow, she must be one popular lady."
    "Who else is asking?"
    "My answer will cost you more."
    "Do I sound like I care?"
    "It was some reporter."
    "Jake?"
    "Yeah, that's the one."
    "What else did he ask for?"
    "He asked for everything on a Jonathan Creek."
    "Which one, Senior or junior?"
    "Junior."
    Misty was silent for a moment.
What is he after?
    "I'll double your number. I want everything you gave him."
    "Sure, do you want the file on yourself that he asked for?"
    Misty hit her brakes hard; another car barely missed slamming into the back of her car.
    "Funny," she said. Misty could hear her heart beating fast.
    "Hey, a guy has got to find something in this business to laugh at."
    Misty hung up.
    As she pulled off onto a small cramped side street, she stared at herself through the rearview mirror.
Why do you want to know about me?
    She reached for her phone