Page 82 of Maddy's Justice

“Kind of. I’ve done some work for them over the years. He died a few years back. She was eighty-eight and has been in poor health for a while. So, no surprise, but I have to attend. At least put in an appearance.”

“What about you?” Marc asked Maddy. “Want to go downtown with me?”

“I have to meet Tony. Otherwise, I’d love to,” she lied, and Marc knew it.

“Without me going with you, this will be your chance to find out if they’ll validate parking,” Connie said.

“There’s a thought,” Marc said. “Maybe I’ll just bill them for it. They would.”

“True,” Connie agreed.

“I’ll take care of it,” Marc heard the Stafford, Hughes receptionist say into her headset. He entered the office reception area at the same moment she took the call and he patiently waited for her.

“I have an appointment to see Melanie Stewart,” Marc told her.

“Are you Marc Kadella?” she asked.

“Yes, I am.”

“That was Melanie I just spoke with. She told me to tell you she’s tied up for a bit and asked if you would wait a few minutes.”

Marc leaned across the counter of the receptionist desk area, looked around suspiciously then asked, “What do you mean, tied up? Like, kinky tied up?”

The woman burst out laughing, and in between laughing and trying to catch her breath, she shook her head and said, no, several times.

“Maybe I should go back and check it out. Melanie tied up. Might be worth seeing.”

“No, stop,” she said still laughing. “I meant she is with someone.”

“If she’s tied up, I hope so,” Marc replied.

“You go sit down. You’re very naughty. Now, behave,” she ordered him but was smiling when she did.

Marc picked up the sports section of the Star Tribune to check out last night’s game. The Twins had pounded out seven home runs while beating the Angels 12 to 4. Good time to be a Twins’ fan.

Three or four minutes passed by when suddenly the exterior door opened. Marc looked up and found Cliff Spenser coming into the reception area.

“Marc,” Cliff said as he walked toward him.

“Cliff, good to see you,” Marc replied as he stood and shook hands.

“Here to see…?”

“Melanie,” Marc replied.

Cliff looked at the receptionist who said, “She’s busy.” She then looked at Marc and added, “I won’t say it again.”

Cliff, with a confused look on his face, looked at Marc who said, “She told me Melanie was tied up. I offered to go back and check it out. Melanie being tied up is something I might want to see.”

By now Cliff was heartily laughing and the receptionist said, “You’re both terrible. Shame on you.”

“Then why were you laughing?” Marc asked.

“Never mind,” she answered.

“Is she gonna be a while?” Cliff asked.

“She didn’t say, Cliff,” the receptionist replied. “But I got the impression it could be.”

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