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Michaela strapped Angel in the passenger seat next to her and drove carefully over to Stuart Circle. She wheeled her SUV into a numbered parking spot behind Dr. Dude’s stone and concrete building. The parking lot was cleared of snow and almost empty. She found that weird since it was early afternoon, and she’d assumed the good doctor would be extracting teeth and designing movie star mouths for most of Hollywood and anyone from Richmond who could afford his services. Oops, she’d forgotten he didn’t extract teeth. It was “too barbaric,” or at least that’s what he’d told her a few years ago. He practiced cosmetic or “fashion” dentistry and was a “smile-maker.”
Mic’s attention was drawn to the side entrance where she spotted a young Hispanic girl, with long beautiful dark hair dressed in a short white faux fur-trimmed jacket hurrying to her car as tears streamed down her face. She wiped away the tears furiously with her hands. She sat in her car, an old Volkswagen Jetta, close to where Mic had parked. Mic watched as she frantically pushed numbers into her cell phone as she wiped tears away with her forearm. It was all Mic could do not to get out of her car, go over, and comfort the young woman. Instead, she grabbed her iPhone and snapped her picture. At the same time, she spotted Slade McKane in her peripheral vision. He slammed the door of his unmarked police cruiser and stretched his long legs as he walked toward her and opened her door.
“Ready?” he asked. “Let’s go have some fun with the good dentist.” His dark eyes twinkled and smoldered as he looked at her.
Mic put her finger to her lips to shush him and said quietly, “See the young woman over in the Jetta? She just left the office, and she’s obviously very upset. I’m gonna check her out. You go start things with Dr. Dude, and I’ll be along in a few moments. Then we’ll ask the same questions twice.”
Slade gave Mic an admiring look and sly smile, “I always thought you were pretty slick. Good plan.” He headed around to the front of the building.
Michaela let Angel out of the car, grabbed his leash and walked over to the young woman in the Jetta. Mic could hear her talking rapidly in Spanish on her cell. Mic tapped on her window and the lovely young woman just about jumped out of the car. Her face showed terror.
“Sorry, sorry. I’m not going to hurt you,” Mic said loudly through the car window. “And neither is my dog. I saw you crying, and I wondered if there was something I could do... someone I could call for you.”
The young woman smiled through her tears and said, “Oh, thank you, but I think I’m okay. I’m talking to my mother.”
Mic looked at her, and the two women locked eyes. She saw fear flicker in the young woman’s brown eyes
“You look scared,” Mic observed. “Here’s my card.” The Jetta window slid down. “I’m a private investigator, and if there’s anything you’re afraid of, call me, and I will help you figure it out ...no charge, I promise. By the way, what’s your name?”
“Danielle,” The young woman replied. She could easily be a movie star and flashed Mic a perfect smile. Her dark hair was piled on her head in a messy bun. Her white teeth gleamed in the sunlight, but her brown eyes glowed with pain.
“I’m a dental tech here at Dr. Smirkowitz’s office, and I made a mistake, and the office supervisor told me to leave,” she admitted in a shaky voice. As the tears rushed into Danielle’s eyes again, Michaela touched her shoulder.
“We all make mistakes. It’ll be better tomorrow, but if you need me I’m available.”
Danielle gave her a grateful smile, thanked her, accepted her card and went back to her conversation with her mother.”
Michaela and Angel walked to the door of Dr. Dude’s office. Angel growled ferociously and strained at his lease.
“What’s up, boy?” Mic asked as she placed her hand on his head and looked around. She saw a man dressed in scrubs and navy down vest move behind a tree. A bit later, he walked toward the alley behind Dr. Dude’s office.
“I guess you don’t like him, Angel,” Mic said to her dog. “Let’s move inside where it’s a little warmer,” she added as they moved closer to the door.
Angel turned his head and continued a low, deep growl until the man was out of sight. Then he followed his mistress into the office.
“Guess you didn’t like him at all, buddy,” Mic said as they entered the office. She scratched his ears and they moved to the reception desk.