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Sady didn't see Matt again until Monday morning. He was leaving the parking garage as she entered. She got into her car and dropped the car keys. With a grumble of complaint she patted the floor under the dash but couldn’t locate them so she got out and knelt on the concrete. This time she even looked under the seat but still couldn’t find them.
She peered closer and pushed the floor mat to one side. There was a hole rusted through the floor panel of the car! Checking under the car, she saw the keys and stretched to get them. Now she was dirty from the garage, but that was too bad. Blaming Matt for her predicament, she drove to work cranky and dirty. She parked in back and slammed the office door when she entered.
CJ and Harry stayed in their offices. Matt foolishly wandered out with a cup of coffee. “Car trouble?”
She snarled, “What makes you ask a stupid question like that? Have you seen that piece of...”
“Watch the language. You're at work now,” he scolded.
Her eye twitched. “Okay, yes. I have car trouble. Why don't you ask me about it?” she shouted.
Pretending to be distracted he said, “Gee, look at the time. I should be getting to work.” He ducked into his office and closed the door.
Sady stomped to the office supply room and grabbed a mailing label. She wrote something on it, laminated it, then went out the back door. Less than a minute later she was back, tossing the waste side of the mailing label in the trash. Matt's door was still closed- good.
She went to her desk and focused on her work. Mid-morning the front door opened and Sady was surprised to see the man who hired them for the jewelry job. Then she remembered she had fallen victim to the thief and hoped she wasn’t in trouble for almost losing that earring. She gave him a hesitant smile, and he asked to see Harry. She buzzed Harry, then took the client to his office.
Fifteen minutes later Harry called her to his office. Sady sighed- Great, how long could Monday last? She entered Harry's office, prepared for the worst. The client grabbed her hand and shook it profusely, thanking her. Sady tilted her head at Harry, feeling confused.
“He'd like to show his appreciation,” Harry explained. Sady looked back at the client.
“I'd be offended if I couldn't do something for you,” he said. “My wife and I talked it over and we'd like you to keep the earrings. Well, once the police release the evidence.”
Sady’s eyes popped. “Thank you, but I don't think I should,” she replied, and the client glared at Harry.
“Is this your policy?” he demanded and Harry sat back with a shake of his head.
“Don't you like jewelry?” the client asked Sady.
“Well, I have little use for it to be honest with you.” Sady sent an unsure glance at Harry.
“That's too bad because you wear it well. Here.” He shoved a business card at Sady and continued, “When you decide what you want let me know. Just don't wait too long or I'll send those earrings.”
He shook Harry's hand and walked Sady to the front door. Sady looked at his business card and her eyes lit up. She tugged on his arm hopefully.
“I knew it! What can we do for you, honey?” Sady ignored the honey. He could call her anything he wanted if he would grant her request. She whispered to him and he laughed. “You just come down when you're ready and show them my card. Are you sure that's all you want?” Sady nodded, and he shook his head, “Okay. The wife will be disappointed but not everyone has a thing for jewelry.”
Sady ignored Matt and CJ and focused on her job. When she stepped out the back door at noon to go get lunch, she found someone had stolen her car. This was the best Monday ever!
She ate lunch at the café across the street instead of driving to a restaurant. Sitting in the front window she watched traffic drive by. Hey- her car just passed! She'd recognize the plumber's crack rear end anywhere. Something didn't seem right, though, and she worried when she saw it turn at the corner.
After lunch she looked in the parking lot behind the office. Her car was back, minus the hubcaps and front grill emblem. She looked inside. At least they had the decency to leave her cushions and floor mat, but she’d bet they drained the gas tank. Matt pulled in looking as mad as she felt.
“Who snapped your garters?” she asked rudely.
“Every...” he took a deep breath, “horn blowing moron out there. It must be national horn blowing day or something.” Sady turned away so he wouldn't see her smile. “What are you doing to that car, Morrow? Stripping it for parts?”
She gave him a cold look. “It barely qualifies as a car and there’s not much left to strip. Thank you for choosing the car of my dreams. I'll never have to worry about getting car jacked, that's for sure.” She turned on her heel and went back to her desk.
In the middle of the afternoon CJ gathered the team in the conference room. “We have a new case and we're working it together.” Matt and Sady looked daggers at each other. CJ saw the look, “Does anyone have a problem with that? I didn't think so. We'll be at the Renaissance Festival in Holly this weekend. It’s opened last week, and besides the usual petty criminal element this year’s featured attraction is a thief with anger issues. He’s getting rough with his victims. The management has hired us to take care of the problem before it gets out of hand. The good news is the Renaissance Festival is incredibly fun... and we get in free.”
“She likes it because she can dress like Robin Hood,” Harry said.
“Hey, a little fringe and you make a great Friar Tuck,” CJ teased. “And that's why he hates it.”
Sady's eyes sparkled. “We can dress for the event?”
CJ nodded and said, “If you need rental outfits let me know so I can reserve them before they're all gone.”
“I'm all set,” Sady yelled. She gave the Knights an apologetic smile and continued in a quieter voice. “Except I might need a prop or two.”
“What kind of special props do you need to be a barmaid or a wench? Can't you get those at a regular store?” Matt teased.
“Oh, you did not just suggest what I think,” Sady warned, her eyes narrowed to slits as she stood. She turned to the Knights. “If you find him with a dagger where his liver should be it wasn't me. It was your violent thief. And I am NOT riding in the same vehicle as him.” With a huff she left the conference room.
CJ and Harry swiveled to see Matt's reaction. He raised his hands. “I was just kidding but I guess it's a little late to apologize.”
“What did you do to get her so riled?” CJ asked.
“Well, she might be a little sensitive about her vehicle,” he said.
“You mean that piece of junk. You're responsible for putting her in that thing?” CJ inquired while Harry looked upset.
“That whole situation backfired. It wasn't even running when I bid on it,” Matt said in exasperation. “That's the whole point! It should have at least broken down by now.” He grew embarrassed at their looks of reproach. “Well, I'd just feel better if she wasn't out driving around on her own right now, especially after the stalker ordeal,” he mumbled.
“Have you told her that?” Harry asked.
“We wouldn't be having this conversation if he did, idiot.” CJ snapped. “We aren't all as sensitive and understanding as you, Harry.” The room grew quiet. “Did I mention forgiving?” CJ asked, ashamed of her outburst. Harry lifted a brow, and she said, “That's why I love you. Who else would put up with me?”
“Next time warn me so I don't have to witness this,” Matt complained as he left in a hurry. Following Sady to the front, he sat on the corner of her desk.
“Go away. I'm ignoring you,” she instructed without looking up from her monitor.
He swung one leg while he picked up a folder and fingered through it. Then he set it down and grabbed another.
She slammed her palm on the stack. “Will you please quit making a mess?”
He scanned it leisurely, then asked, “Are you talking to me?”
She growled. “NO! Now go do your own work. I have things to do.”
He leaned over and pulled papers from her filing basket. “Sorry, I can't.”
“Why not?” she asked with a sigh.
“Because you're still mad.”
She tilted her head back and glanced at the ceiling. “Let me guess. I shouldn't be mad because it's my fault, right?” She waited for another gibe.
“No, I'm hoping you won't be mad because you've forgiven me.” Sady studied him, still waiting for the punch line. He scooted over on her desk until he was next to her chair. Then he grabbed the chair arms and turned it to face him, leaning over so they were face to face.
“I'm sorry, Sady.” His blue eyes darkened as he held her gaze. “Sorry if my smart mouth hurt you and I'm sorry your car is still running.” She appeared surprised, and he confessed, “I didn't intend it to turn out this way. I hoped you might need me to be your driver for a while longer.”
She still had a doubt in her eyes and he smiled. "It's true." He leaned forward and stopped, his mouth just a whisper from hers. Her lips parted slightly with an intake of breath. He was about to take advantage of that when CJ cleared her throat.
“Meadows! Will you stop pestering my employees?”
Matt stayed where he was and said, “Why are you interrupting, CJ?”
“We're not running that type of business, Junior. Ask her if she's forgiven your stupidity and take her out for dinner to finish your conversation. Sady, make sure he takes you somewhere nice... and expensive,” CJ advised.
“Why don't you mind your own business? I was thinking take out or pizza at my place,” he told CJ.
She cackled. “Don't overwhelm her, big spender. Between take out and that car she's better off with my brother.”
“You have a brother?” Sady asked, and Matt pulled back with a dirty look at CJ.
“Yeah, and he's as old as she is... and about as big,” Matt said to Sady.
“He will give you a beating when he hears that,” CJ warned.
“He can try,” Matt replied with a dismissive snort.
“Are you two at it again?” Harry asked from the hall. “It's a wonder we get anything done around here.”
“Just making sure all is right in the front office,” CJ told him. “And it was- until he insulted my brother.”
Harry rolled his eyes and said, “Let's leave him out of this, please. We have enough trouble as it is.” Matt issued a challenging look, and CJ returned it with one that let him know it wasn't over. Harry grabbed his wife by the arm and pulled her to his office.
“Well, they ruined that moment,” Matt said to Sady. His expression turned serious, and he asked, “You're not mad anymore are you?” She shook her head.
“Then can I take you out for dinner tonight?”
Sady smiled and shook her head again. “I have plans. Maybe another time.” She turned back to her desk, leaving him curious and disappointed at the same time.