Page 3 of Buck Baxter and the Mysteries of Love

“What’s your problem? Ain’t you got yourself a fancy rich boyfriend now?”

“Just because he’s fancy and rich, doesn’t mean I wanna stoop to being needy and desperate. I’ve always made my own way in life, and that ain’t about to change. I have no intention of becoming a burden for Harry to carry. Trust me, when the money comes rolling in, it won’t be because of my rich boyfriend. It’ll be because opportunity came a-knocking.”

At that moment, there came a knock at the door.

Stella and I looked at each other in wide-eyed surprise.

“It’s opportunity!” Stella whispered.

“Better still, it’s a new client! Hopefully.” Quickly I lifted her off the desk. “Remember what I told you. Always act like a pro in front of our customers.”

“Sure thing, toots. If you think it’ll help.” Stella promptly began pushing her tits up.

“Not like aprostitute!Like aprofessional.Act like a professional.”

“Okay, okay. Take it easy, I knew what you meant.” She grabbed a notepad and pencil, then righted one of the chairs by the window and hoisted herself up onto it. There she sat, cross-legged, licking the tip of the pencil and ready to take notes.

I picked up the other chair, sat behind my desk, and as a second knock rapped on the door I called out, “Come in. It’s open.”

The handle turned.

The door squeaked open.

Suddenly my brow creased in confusion… and if I’m honest, disappointment. “Harry? What are you doing here? I thought you were a client. And I thought you had work to do.”

“I… I did. Or at least, I tried.” He stepped inside the door. He seemed anxious. “I went to the club, and I sat in my office and realized you were right. You were more than right. Not only are you the one person who can keep my secret safe, you’re also the one person who can help me solve what’s going on.”

I shook my head, as though some of my baffled questions might fall out. “What? Me? What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I want to hire you, Buck. Ineedto hire you.”

I stood from my chair and crossed the room to him, watching his anxiety turn quickly to distress. I took him by the hand and led him back to my chair, sitting him down to try and calm his nerves. “Stella, would you get Harry a water please.” Stella jumped off her chair as I asked, “Harry? Is everything alright?”

He shook his head. “No. I don’t thinkanything’salright.”

Stella returned with a glass and gave it to Harry, who poured the entire drink down his throat before spitting it back up with a cough and a gasp. “That’s not water,” he wheezed.

“Of course it’s not. It’s gin,” Stella said. “Have you seen the color of the water that comes out of the pipes in this building?”

I took the glass off Harry and set it on the desk. “Harry, start from the beginning. What is it that’s troubling you? Whatever the problem is, we’ll solve it together. You and me.”

Stella nodded in agreement. “That’s right. We’ll solve it together. You, him, and me.”

I saw Harry glance between me and Stella and I sensed his reluctance to discuss his troubles in front of her. “Stella, perhaps Harry would be more comfortable if you stepped out of the room for a moment.”

Stella looked at me indignantly. “He said he wants to hire you for a case, didn’t he?”

“Yes, but…”

“And ain’t I your assistant?”

“Yes, but…”

“No buts. I should be here to take notes, that’s my job.”

“Yes, but there may be something of a somewhat sensitive nature he’d like to discuss.”

“Are you saying I ain’t sensitive? If you cut me, do I not bleed? If you tweak my nipples, do I not flinch? If you take a feather duster and—”

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