"No, because he investigated so many burglaries that he's become super uptight about home security."

"Solomon installed mine because a maniac broke in and tried to kill me." We both shivered at the memory. It wasn't one of my favorite nights at home, but my security was now state-of-the-art, thanks to Solomon and his team.

"Jord thought about waiting for that, but decided against it. Wait, did you get a discount for potential maniac murder preventable security?"

"One hundred percent off."

"Sweet. What do you think about your client? Did you ask her about her purse?"

"It didn't come up, but I think she could genuinely have a stalker."

"Depressing."

"I know."

"On the positive side..." Lily brightened. "You don't have one!"

"Not all that positive," I pointed out, "but all the same... yay!"

"Sooo... are we staking anyone out?"

"Just as soon as I've got all the information I need from my client. I asked her for a list of suspects, and a list of all the incidents she could think of before I start surveillance. I'm still waiting."

"You want to help behind the bar until then? The dishwasher left salt granules on every glass so now I have to clean them all by hand."

"Don't you employ people to do that?"

"I do, but there's only me until the lunch shift starts in half an hour."

"I'd love to, but I have to talk to my client's friend."

"I want to know all the details as they happen. And I definitely want in on a stakeout. We haven't followed anyone for ages."

"You sound like a stalker!"

"A crime-fighting one. Can we get suits?"

"Suits?"

"Like superhero suits. We could wear them under our clothes... I'm thinking Spandex. Maybe, pink. When we go to fight crime..."

"We don't fight crime!"

"Not intentionally, but when we do..."

"Do you really want to wear pink Spandex when you're six months pregnant?"

Lily looked down at her bump and wrinkled her nose. "I don't know. Maybe."

"You'll look like a trouser snake that swallowed a peach."

"I'll be the only SuperPregnantWoman ever!"

"Bit of a mouthful." I put my hand to my ears and pretended they were a phone. "SuperPregnantWoman, only you can help me! Save me!"

Lily put her phone hand to her ear. "Call me back. I'm in labor!"

"You'll have to retire in three months anyway."

"I could be SuperMom, the transitioning superhero."

"Transitioning superhero? Sounds like you're becoming a man."

"I don't like the tone of this conversation. Can we at least have a secret handshake?" Lily stuck out her hand and wiggled her little finger. I placed my hand in hers and we both wiggled our little fingers.

"That doesn't look suspicious at all."

Lily beamed. "Exactly! No one will know... except Ruby. I'll tell her later when she starts her shift. We also need a secret clubhouse and cool gadgets. I'm so glad you work here now!"

"I'll leave you to iron out the details," I told her as I slid off the stool. "I'll be in my office."

Before Lily could suggest any more daring ideas, I jogged out of the bar and through the staff door, turning into the corridor that led to my office. Unlocking the door, I stepped through, shutting it firmly behind me. I dropped into my chair as I placed the file on my desk and opened it, glancing down at my supposition-filled notes and reaching for my phone. Juliet gave me a cell phone number for Penelope so I tried that. It went directly to her answering service. I left a message asking her to call me back and hung up.

Plucking a pen from the top drawer of the desk, I set about making my plan. Today and tomorrow I would find out as much as I could about Juliet and her life, mostly through interviewing her friends as she explained her family weren't currently around. With a lack of access to all the databases previously at my disposal, I had to rely on her. I hoped she would be forthcoming about her past and present. Since there was an element of financial crime linked to the stalking, I aimed to get the past year of her bank records and credit card statements too. That way I could gain a bigger picture of how the financial crimes occurred; and what the stalker might have done to access Juliet's money and credit. It would mean intimately combing through Juliet's life, but I figured she was worried enough that she would have been less concerned about me looking at her shopping habits and more interested in any answers I might find.

Just as I opened my laptop, preparing to connect to the bar's WiFi network and fire off an email to Juliet, I stopped. If the stalker had access to her credit cards, it stood to reason that he or she could also access Juliet's computer, including her emails. Maybe even access her cell phone. Electronic communication would have to be kept to a minimum, I decided; but the potential for creating an entrapment was also possible. Instead, I shot Juliet a text message. I asked her to call me from any number except the one she normally used. A few minutes later, she did.

"I don't understand," she said, "why can't I use my cell phone?"

"I want to get your phone and laptop checked over."

"What for...? Oh, you mean bugs? Do you think someone bugged me?"

"If they can access your home, car, and money, I don't want to rule it out until I'm sure."

"That's awful. They could be watching my every move!"

"Don't panic. They could, but they might not be. Can you bring your laptop and phone to my office so I can have them inspected?"

"Yes, but not until I finish work at six. I can get to you at six-thirty. Is that okay?"

"Perfect. Also, can you get copies of your credit card and bank statements? And highlight any fraudulent transactions."

"But I already reported them to the credit card company."

"Are they still investigating?"

"Yes, but it doesn't look good. Like I said, they're claiming I made those purchases."

"I need to see everything, going back a year should be far enough. Bring any communications from the credit card companies too, please. I can't contact them without your authority, but it won't hurt to look at those communications too."

"I still don't get why someone would do this to me."

"We'll find out."

"Is there anything else you need?"

"Not yet. I'll call you if I need anything else. If you need to call me again today, do it..."

"From another phone," Juliet finished. "I remember."

I had to reassure Juliet a couple more times before we said our goodbyes. It wasn't any good to make false promises to her, nor did I have a detailed plan yet of how to control her case. High expectations were something I often had to temper early on in a case. The simple fact was, investigative work was slow and time-consuming. The results often took days, if not weeks, to collate. Working on Juliet's side was: the stalking hadn't progressed to a serious level. What worried me was the possibility it could soon. Her stalker had no problems being invasive; and I felt sure that once I saw Juliet's incident log, I would see a pattern whereby the stalking would escalate soon.

I tried Penelope again, but once again, my call went to her answering service. Instead of leaving a message, I hung up and redialed my oldest brother. Garrett was a lieutenant in the homicide division and a go-to source whenever I needed help.