The opposition left, and after I had changed, Tricia and I went to her apartment to try and cheer her up. Her apartment was less Spartan than mine. She had paintings and other things decorating it. I sat down on a nice sofa. Tricia came back with some lemonade, for which I was thankful. I informed her about Noah’s upcoming marriage, trying to keep the topic off volleyball. We talked a little more. “Are you going to that rental agency today?”

“Yes, I think I’ll go after lunch.”

“What about now?”

“I think I’ll go over to the office and tidy up some more.”

“Oh. Well, I have to go to the Museum at 10:00.”

“When do you get off today?”

“3:00.”

“I’ll pick you up, and we’ll go over then.”

“Thanks. I’ll go change.”  She went into another room and changed into her museum uniform. I bowed my sweat covered head, and escorted her to the car, pretending to be her chauffeur. I opened the door for her, and got in the other side. I drove to the museum, got out, and opened her door again. She thanked me, and then I left for the office. Once inside I called the sergeant.

“Hey Sarge, any more info?”  I asked.

“Nothing new. The police are baffled. We need a private eye.”

“There’s no need to fear, Adam Schofield’s here. My rates are the lowest around.”

“Okay, you’re hired. Take over.”

“Thanks Sarge, you won’t regret it.”  I went to the office and called up my old neighbor, Patrick. “Hey Pat, guess what.”

“What?”

“I’m a detective!”

“Yeah right!  And I’m the President. When are you going to grow up?  You and your pretending.”

“But I am.  Seriously!”

“Umm, Hmm.  It was bad enough having to read all those dumb detective stories you wrote, but this takes the cake. I suppose there was something stolen and you’ve been assigned to the case.”

“How’d you know?”

“Let’s just call it a lucky guess. Well, if there’s nothing else. . .”

“Just a minute. Do you remember Matt Hastings, from school?”

“Yeah, so?”

“Have you seen him lately?”

“Just yesterday, why?”

“He’s my lead suspect.”

“Yeah?  He was at the Smoking Gun last night. Seems he and Noelle came in and were very nervous. I’ll call you if anything happens.”  With that he hung up. I sat down in my chair and fell asleep.