"Lonnie I don't want to run from this. I want it fixed and I'll do what it takes."

"You're not running. You just need a place to sort things out before you make a move. My friend Thomas is a PI too. He's pretty well connected. He can help."

He reached for her hand as she put the car in park. "You're not involved in this. You should go home."

"Listen to me Bud; if this has anything to do with the Archer case then I have a lot to do with it. I'm going to contact him to let him know the man in the picture with Angel has been killed. I want to see how he reacts. Bud, I'll know. I'll be able to tell but I need to know what you and Stens were up to. I don't get this. Tell me point blank. Do you know Archer?"

He turned his head slowly until their eyes met. Bud drew a breath then nodded. "Yeah, baby. I know him well. I know a lot about him."

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Why would I? I had no fucking idea you were taking him on as a client."

"I'll give you that, Bud, but the picture. When I showed you the picture you didn't say anything except for to tell me to turn the case down. Then you proposed to me. Did you mean it Bud, or did you just propose to throw me off?"

"What the fuck, Lonnie. What do I have to do, plead? I'm not going to beg you to marry me. Fucking hell, yes I meant it. Take it or leave it. I don't give a fuck."

"That hurt, you bastard, that hurt."

"Hurt's my middle name, baby. Get used to it." Bud got out of the car and slammed the door before he realized he had no place to go. They were parked in the driveway of her friend's house. She followed suit, getting out and slamming the door behind her.

"Let's go inside. I'm sure Thomas will have a bottle of scotch to help calm us down. Bud, this is a matter of life and death. We have to stay calm and work this out. I…I don't want to lose you, not over a fucking stupid fight and especially not to a bullet."

They didn't exchange any more words at that point. Thomas Decker had noted their arrival and he strode out to greet them easing the steam from the situation.

"Lonnie Brannigan, what kind of trouble have you gotten into?" Decker spoke with the stub of a cigar hanging from the corner of his mouth. His voice was loud and smooth but the Hawaiian print shirt he wore was a hell of a lot louder. He was a full four inches taller than Bud and every bit as muscular. Thomas had a moustache that was so thick his upper lip never saw the light of day.

Thomas, it's nice to see you again. This is my..." She looked at Bud not knowing how to describe him at the moment so she went for broke, "...fiancé, Bud White."

"White. Thomas Decker." The PI offered his hand and the gesture was accepted. "You trapped ole Lonnie here? There are a couple dozen men who'll want to know your secret."

"Maybe someday she'll tell me all about it." He shot a glance her way.

"Come on inside where we can talk. You never know who's out here listening."

"I feel real secure Thomas," Lonnie laughed lightly hoping to ease some of the tension. The three of them entered the house and Thomas directed Lonnie to the kitchen, telling her there was stuff to make sandwiches in the fridge. He and Bud had a few moments alone.

"She got herself in some kind of trouble huh?"

"It's more like I got her in trouble and I don't mean in the classic way. Listen Thomas, this is real kind of you but I'm not going to stay here. You take care of her for me okay? I've got a murder to solve and some loose ends to tie up."

"I don't think she'd be too happy if you bailed on her now. By the way she sounded on the phone, this was all set up for your protection. Tell me what's going on. You can trust me."

"Buddy, I don't trust anyone right now. Not you, not…"

"Me?" Lonnie interrupted as she carried a plate full of sandwiches in to them.

"Don't go there, honey." It was the first thing that rolled out of Bud's mouth. Of course he trusted her but he was afraid for her too. Bud didn't know how to make her understand.

Once again Thomas eased the tension with his mellow voice. "We've got to trust each other if we're going to figure out how everything ties in. Lonnie, did this Archer fellow know you were with Bud when he called to hire you?"

"I don't really know. He said he pulled me right out of the phone book and all I was supposed to do was find out if his lover was cheating on him." She went on to tell him about the picture and Bud's partner.

"Let's assume he didn't know. Let's assume this was a big coincidence. What's your tie with Archer, Bud?" Thomas lit the end of the cigar as he leaned back in his seat.

Bud pressed his lips together in the odd way he did when he felt pressured. He cocked his head and dropped his eyes to the table as he began to speak.

"Armand Archer is a local crime boss. He always managed to slip under the wire when it came to prosecution though. One of his flunkies would go down for laundering money or selling a shit load of drugs but Archer always seemed to come out of the deal with a clean nose." Drawing a deep breath, Bud let it out slow. "Coupla months ago, the captain drops a file on my desk, Archers file. He says for me and Stens to do some digging on this character to see if we could link him to a homicide. The stiff was a clerk in the alderman's office downtown and we'd just come up with a lead."

"Alderman Deakman's office?" Lonnie asked. "Isn't he the one who is big on redevelopment?"

Bud nodded.

"What was the lead?" Thomas queried.

"The clerks name was Martin Martinez. He took the notes for several meetings that Archer had with the alderman and these meetings occurred right before the alderman made his recommendations to council about where the redevelopment would occur. It seems he was choosing some warehouses and stuff that were owned by Archer and the city would be forced to buy this property from him. The payoffs exceeded fair market value by a fucking landslide. We figured Martinez got greedy and demanded a cut or he'd start singing to the papers about how the taxpayer's money was being used."

Thomas rolled the cigar in an ashtray on the table to extinguish it. He was finding some of this difficult to comprehend. "Was this an assumption or did you have facts?"

"Stens had come across another property sale in the recorder of deeds office. The purchase was a piece of prime real estate just on the fringe of the hills and the buyer was Martin Martinez. There ain't no way he could afford it on the salary he makes. I was figuring we'd shake him down a bit but Stens put the kybosh on it. He said we should hold off. You know, I couldn't get a straight answer out of him as to why but he told me that I wouldn't regret it."

"You reckon Stens was on the take?" Lonnie interjected.

"I don't want to believe it."

Thomas and Lonnie exchanged some quick glances. "Bud …" She asked softly. "Did he offer you a cut?"

"Don't fuckin' ask me that. You know better and so did he. I ain't the cleanest cop in the department but I ain't on the fucking take, none of it goes that far. I'm just the guy they call when they need a bull. That's it."

"I'm sorry baby. I shouldn't have asked but whatever Stens had his mitts into got him killed. You know my position." She didn't have to voice it. "Tell me something. Was Stens fucking Archer's lover. Was he messing around with Angel?"

The question made Bud more nervous. He shifted in his seat and rubbed a hand over his face as if it were going to help. "Lonnie, Angel is on the job. It's not her real name. She works out of the detective bureau Hollywood division. She's a plant."

"Now I'm even more confused. You knew her when I showed you the picture?"

"It's why I didn't want you getting involved. You would have fucked up the case, Lon."

"So there was more to it then just my well being!"

"For fucks sake, Lonnie don't fucking twist this up."

"That's enough!" Thomas played referee. "Arguing about this isn't going to solve anything. It's late. We're all tired. Let's call it a night and start fresh in the morning. Lonnie, I want you to phone Archer. Set up a meeting and tell him you're bringing your business partner. Me. Bud, you should lie low. "

"I'm not letting her get anywhere near Armand Archer. Not with you or anyone else. Lie low ... my ass." If Thomas thought Bud would even consider melting into the woodwork he had another thought coming.

"I've had enough of this. I'm going to try to get some sleep. You coming?" Lonnie looked directly at Bud. He started to rise from his chair but Thomas stopped him.

"Stick around for a few minutes, Bud. A glass of scotch might help you sleep better. Might help clear your mind."

Lonnie didn't have any idea what was on Thomas' mind. Maybe he wanted to talk to Bud a little more, maybe she was making too much of it. "Wake me when you come in honey." She kissed his brow and moved off to the guest room. Thomas poured both himself and Bud a good glassful from the cabinet in the dining room. He slid the glass across the table to the cop then offered him a cigar.

"No, thanks," Bud raised a hand. "What's on your mind, Thomas?"

"Drink up." Thomas raised his glass and took a deep sip off of it. "I have a hypothetical question for you. Let's suppose you're driving along in a car that only seats two people. It's a horrible stormy night and you pass a bus stop. Standing there are an old woman who looks like she's on her deathbed. Somehow you know she's trying to get herself to the hospital. Next to her is your best friend. He looks like hell, shivering against the cold whipping wind. There's a third person standing there and she's the girl of your dreams. Lets for the purpose of the question say it's Lonnie. You know the bus isn't coming to pick them up but you only have room for one person. Who do you chose?"

Bud swallowed a little more of the scotch. He sat the glass down on the table and Thomas refilled it. The full glass provided comfort for Bud but the question didn't. "I'm not sure I know what you're getting at," he responded.

"I'm trying to feel out your priorities. Lonnie and I are old friends, Bud. If you hurt her in any way…"

"What the fuck is this, some kind of inquisition?" It wasn't hard to piss Bud White off, especially if he felt backed into a corner. His hand tightened on the glass in a white knuckled grip and anger flared up in his eyes.

"Take it easy buddy boy. I'm not trying to piss you off. Don't answer the question if it's going to grip your ass. It served its purpose. It made you think."

Bud leaned across the table. The glare he gave Thomas made the usually in control man shiver. "You're her friend. You've been hospitable and I won't disrespect it but you listen to me. Lonnie is the most important thing in my life. I won't let anyone harm a single hair on her head and that, my friend, is all you really need to know."

"The question was hypothetical. You didn't have to answer it. I'm satisfied."

"Good. If you don't mind I'll turn in." Bud pounded down the last of the scotch in his glass and stood. He walked toward the hallway where Lonnie had gone but stopped short. "You know. I'd give the keys to the car to my best friend and tell him to take the old woman to the hospital, then I'd stay there with her, with Lonnie. She is the girl of my dreams after all."

"Good response...and Bud..."

"Yeah?"

"Last door on the left. That's where you'll find the girl of your dreams."

It's where he did find her too. She was sitting on the edge of the bed stripped down to her panties and tee shirt. Bud didn't say a word to her as he yanked his tie to loosen it. He began to undress and she turned to look at him.

"Are we okay?" she asked as he sat down on the other side of the bed. He was quiet for a moment before he reached behind his back to offer his hand to her. Lonnie took it with her as she lay back. He turned to take her in his arms. Maybe he couldn't say the words to her too easily but he could show her that he loved her. Releasing her, he slid his hand down to roll her panties over her hips. She no sooner kicked them off of her ankle when he was on top of her. Lonnie spread her legs for him and he didn't waste any time before he entered her with a grunt. It was the only way he knew how to tell her