She stepped out of her apartment onto the icy sidewalk. The wind cut through her coat and chilled her to the bone. She considered going back for a sweater, but he was waiting for her. Waiting for her. She hated being late, but it was difficult for her to hurry to this meeting. And maybe he could wait for her, just this once. She’d waited, sometimes weeks, for him.

She met him at the Pret A Manger in Trafalgar Square one rare, sunny day in April last year. She’d darted in to grab lunch on her way to the theatre for rehearsal. They both reached for the same sandwich and he was kind enough to back away from his claim and offer it to her. Maybe it was because he was kind or maybe it was because he couldn’t take his eyes off of her face. She felt the jolt of electricity as their eyes met, and quickly looked away to not betray her embarrassment. She’d never experienced it before – instant attraction. She mumbled thank you and stepped into the queue. She could feel his eyes on her back as if he had touched her. She dared to glance at him and caught him staring. He smiled shyly and looked down. She moved up in the queue. She felt more than saw him step in behind her. Just as she was going to turn to speak to him, ask him to step back out of her space, it was her turn. She reluctantly stepped forward, ordered her chai tea and paid for her lunch. As she stepped away from the counter, he looked her straight in the eye.

“Hello.”

“Um, hi.” She tried not to look at him but couldn’t avert her eyes.

“May I trouble you for a moment? I’d like to ask you a question.” He asked quietly.

“Yeah, sure.” She waited.

“Not here. Will you wait while I pay?”

“Yes, I’ll be outside.” She nodded and walked out onto the street. As she stood waiting it the midday sun, warm for London in April, she unbuttoned her jacket and took a deep breath. Who was this guy and why was she so drawn to him? It scared her. Her luck with men hadn’t been very good lately. One broken engagement, a few disastrous blind dates and a egotistical ex-boyfriend left her with a wall the size of the Great Wall of China around her. It didn’t help that she’d lost her father in a train accident when she was 15.

Lost in her thoughts, she almost didn’t see him come out of the Pret. He stepped up to her and extended his hand.

“Hi. I’m Derrick. Nice to meet you.” He spoke with a slight accent, maybe from the country?

“Hi Derrick. Anna.” She took his hand. His grip was firm but not too tight. She felt that jolt of electricity again, right to her heart. She dropped her hand, rubbing her palm to subdue the sensation.

“I’m sorry, did I hurt you?” he asked.

She smiled at him.  “No, not at all.” She paused to look at him. He had a shock of black curly hair, framed around lovely olive toned skin. But it was his eyes that she couldn’t get over. They were an azure blue, like the sky on a crisp winter day. He briefly looked up and she detected specks of gold as the light hit them. They were mesmerizing. She caught herself staring and glanced at a passing double decker bus.

“You wished to ask me something?”

“Um, yes. I am not usually a brash or forward person, but something told me I couldn’t let you get away without talking to you. I had to think of something, right?” He looked at her shyly.

“Well, right, I think. I can’t say I’ve ever had this kind of thing happen to me before.”

“Why not? You are lovely.” He beamed at her.

“Well, um, thank you. That’s not a sentiment I hear very often either.”

“Then you don’t hang around the right people.”

“That’s probably true enough. So…was there really a question?” She tried to get the derailed conversation off of herself and back to the matter at hand, whatever that may be.

“Well, yes. Um. Would you have coffee with me? I feel the need to get to know you. Just one cup. If you don’t feel like getting to know me, I’ll understand.”

“Sure, why not? However, I’m kind of busy for the next few days. Can it wait until Saturday?” If he couldn’t wait, maybe she could fit it in? She was definitely intrigued by him. No one had ever been this brave before.

“Yes, of course. May I ask what you are doing? Wait, nevermind. I’m sure it’s none of my business.”

“No worries. I’m in rehearsal at the Globe. We are doing a workshop on Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. I’m playing Paulina. Do you know it?” Her smile reached her eyes as she talked about her work.

“Not very well. I read some Shakespeare in college and try to make it to the plays at least once a year. I haven’t seen that one, though.”

The excitement in her voice was evident. She answered, breathlessly, “It’s one of my favorites. I saw it as a young actress with some people I admired greatly. It’s not done very often so when my teacher offered us the opportunity to work on it, I was one of the loudest voices in favor. It’s been amazing, yet exhausting. We open in two weeks.” She almost invited him to the opening, but thought better of it. Coffee first.

“It sounds exciting. Best of luck.”

“Why don’t you give me your phone number? I’ll text you on Friday so we can set something up for Saturday?” She heard the nervousness in her voice, hoping he didn’t catch it. Since when did she do anything like this?

“Sure. How about I text it to you? What’s your number?” He flipped open his mobile.

She paused, ever so slightly. What the heck? “079 6628 5515.” He keyed into his mobile.

“Okay, I’ll send you a text.” Typing quickly, he sent her a quick text. She heard the chirp as the text arrived..

“Great.” She pulled her mobile out and read the text. It simply said “Looking forward to Satuday. Derrick.” She smiled, in spite of herself. “Me too” she answered to his smiling face.

“Until then.” He reached out for what she thought was a handshake.  He caught her off guard as he raised her hand to his lips and gave it a feather-light kiss. The butterflies woke up in her stomach and she felt the blush creep up her cheeks.

“Until then.” Anna clutched her hand as he smiled and walked down the street. Shaking her head to clear it, she watched him walk away. He had a confidence in his gait that was alluring. Dressed in jeans and trainers with a leather jacket, he fit the bill in so many ways. He reminded her a bit of Bruce Springsteen, her absolute favorite singer. No wonder she had a hard time breathing. Forcing herself to take a deep breath, she remembered that she needed to get moving herself and hightailed it to the Charing Cross tube station.

Their coffee date went well. As did their dates over the next six months, each better than the rest. As they got to know each other, she was still enthralled with him even if he made her wait. He was always late! This made her a little crazy because she hated being late. He would breeze in, kiss her and say “Sorry darling. Couldn’t be helped.” After a while, she accepted it, but she was not happy about it. Then, one day, he didn’t show up. She’d waited for an hour, not unusual in their short but energetic relationship. She finally ran out of things to keep her busy and went home. She rang him on the way, but no answer. Two days went by before he rang her back  to explain. “I got called away on business.”

Since when do you get called away on business, she thought…but held her tongue. She’d grown tired of this waiting game, even after only six months. “No worries” she said through clenched teeth. “I understand your work is important.” He was an environmental activist trying to stop global warming. “I just wish I was too.” She clicked off the phone with a sigh. And that was the last she’d heard from him…until yesterday. And now she was rushing out to meet him. Why? Because her heart still fluttered when she heard his voice? Because she’d missed him like crazy over the last five months? Or because she just couldn’t say no to someone needing her help? Probably all of the above, but the last one was the most likely. A sucker for hard-luck cases, she’d probably run out in a blizzard to help a friend in need.

Which is what this storm might turn into of the weather station was correct. She hoped Derrick would be on time and be quick about what he needed from her. She really needed to get a good few hours in writing her script. And she couldn’t bear looking into those eyes for too long. She knew she was susceptible to his charms and spent the trip to see him guarding herself as well as she could.

She also had an emergency escape plan. She’d asked Beth, her flat mate and best friend, to text her after 45 minutes. Anna planned to text Beth when Derrick arrived so she could time it. That way, if she needed to escape, it could be an emergency post that had to be taken care of. Or if things were going fine she could save it for when she needed to escape. It was flawless, or so she thought.

Anna turned up her collar and shoved her hands into her pockets. Her bag was a little heavier than normal as she’d brought some work to do, just in case. Old habits die hard, she thought sourly as she hurried down John Adam Street to the Charing Cross tube station. It was just after five, the streets bustling with workers heading home. She ran her Oyster card through the ticket gate, darted down the escalator - passing on the left and deftly leaping the last few meters to the floor. She heard her train coming and raced to catch it. Missing it could mean too much time to think.

As she rounded the corner, the train came into view. She always preferred a coach near the front of the train, but didn’t have time to be picky today. She joined the queue and entered the coach third from the front of the train. It was packed and she only had the choice of standing in the middle or near the end. She chose the end. As a matter of course, she pulled out her copy of The London Times and perused the headlines. Not much interesting in today’s news, but it was better than eye contact. She was feeling off center because of her meeting with Derrick and needed to stay focused. It would be just her luck to find herself in unwanted conversation with someone who felt the need to tell her their life story, Tube version. Not that she didn’t care, but she didn’t care.

The trip to Oxford Circus station was quick, no big hang-ups or delays. She had secretly hoped for something to hold her up, but alas, not today. Everything seemed to be moving along quite nicely. She rode the escalator up to the street level, ran her Oyster through the ticket gate, and stepped out onto the street. Heading south on Regent Street, she quickly walked the short distance to Great Marlborough Street, home of the Shakespeare’s Head. Clever of Derrick to pick this place. Knowing her love of all things Shakespeare, they had spent a few precious hours within the doors of this pub. She would regale him with the stories of the Bard and he would buy the drinks. It held sentimental value, and Anna wasn’t sure whether she was flattered or angry. That remains to be seen, she thought icily.

Turning onto Great Marlborough Street, she spied Derrick leaning casually against the wall just outside the pub. His long legs were clad in dark denim and he was wearing his leather jacket, the one that stopped right at the hip bone. Underneath, he was a black shirt open at the neck…she always did love his neck. He was checking his mobile, probably to see if she was coming. At last, he had to wait for her. How does it feel, Anna wondered, to doubt if she would show. She must might have to ask him. What did he want, anyway? Well, she was about to find out.

Anna pulled out her mobile and sent at text to Beth: “Almost there. He’s on time. Text me in 45. :-)”. She hit “Send” and stashed her phone away.

She walked calmly up the street. When she was about 50 meters away, he looked up. He spotted her at once and a smile lit his face. She was a little surprised at the depth of feeling she witnessed before a slight cloud covered it up. He was shielding himself. Curious.

“Anna. I am so happy to see you.” He hurried toward her, raising is arms to embrace her. She hesitated only a moment before allowing his arms to envelop her.

“Derrick. What a surprise to hear from you.” She tried to keep the old hurt from her voice, but it edged in slightly. He winced.

“I…I…” he stammered. “I don’t know how to explain my behavior, but I can try, if you will let me.”

“Is that why you called? Guilty conscience? Well, there’s no need. I’m fine.” She had put up her wall again, thank you Derrick.

He dropped his arms and his eyes lost a little of the sparkle she’d seen there a few minutes ago. She hesitated. Finally she spoke.

“I’m sorry. That was unnecessary. Of course I’ll listen. But it will cost you a pint.”

He smiled. “Absolutely. Let’s go in. I hope this was okay. I always liked the food here.”

“Yes, it’s a fine choice.” She let him hold the door for her. A blast of warm air greeted her as she stepped across the threshold. She immediately realized she would need to take off her coat soon. Happy hour was underway, with it £1.50 drafts and Pub Grub specials. They sidled up to a tall table near the front window where it was a little quieter. She shed her overcoat and scarf, stashing her gloves in her bag. Guess she wouldn’t need her work to keep her busy. Derrick was still full of surprises.

Perching herself on a stool, Anna grabbed a menu and made her choice. When the waiter came to take their order, she asked for the fish and chips and a Guinness. Derrick smiled at her again. Some things don’t change, she thought. It what she used to order but gave up for a while. Derrick placed his order and put his menu back. Then he leveled his gaze on her, piercing her soul with those azure eyes. He still was devilishly handsome. Stop it, she told herself. You are just here for a chat.

Derrick took a deep breath. “So, how’s life?” he asked.

How’s life? This is why he asked her here today. Maybe she’ll just humor him until he gets to the point. “Life’s good. Busy as usual, but good” she said.

“That’s great” he said. “Great.”

“Derrick, what is this about? You didn’t ask me down here after all this time to have an idle chat.” She was known for being blunt. Derrick blushed, he actually blushed.

“Anna.” He paused. “You’re right. I need to ask you a favor, but I’m just not sure how you are going to respond. After all, I did leave you without much explanation.”

“Much explanation? How about any explanation? I would have been happy with at least a real answer, not some story to fob me off. What happened? I need to know before I offer to help you.”

“I…I…got scared” he stammered out finally.

“Scared? Of what? Our casual dating? Our discussions about taking it slow? Tell me the truth?” Over the last few months, Anna had thought about this a lot.

“I…I…” he stammered again.

“Oh, come on, spit it out.” She was already tiring of this game.

“Sara came back. There it is. Sara came back and called me.” He wouldn’t look at her.

Anna was gobsmacked. Sara Clarke. She’d been just a name dropped here and there during their short but stormy relationship. Sara. Really. She looked towards the bar. Their waiter was heading to their table with their drinks. After he left, she took a long drink of the creamy chocolate coloured stout. Then she took another. Feeling a little fortified, she looked up at his face. It was lined with worry, lines she hadn’t noticed before. She drew a long, steadying breath.

“Oh. I see. I didn’t realize she still meant that much to you.” Anna’s voice was breathless.

“Well, I didn’t realize it until she called. But there’s more to it that just that. I felt I had to give it a try again. We’d been together for three years…” he explained.

“Yes, and then she dropped you for something ‘better’. Hmm, sounds too familiar.”

“I know I don’t deserve a second chance, and that’s not why I’m here, but I felt you had a right to know." He took a long drink of is pint. "Was I wrong in telling you?” he asked, holding his breath as he waited for her answer.

“No. No, I’m glad you did. But why call me now? What about Sara? Doesn’t she mind you seeing me?” she asked.

“Um, no, she doesn’t. See, she left me again.” Anna could have sworn his face paled when he admitted this. “It only lasted three months this time. But this time, I was almost glad to see it end. Of course it didn’t turn out how either of us thought it was going to. We’d changed. And I know it was meeting you that changed me towards her forever.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that I was not the same person Sara dumped two years ago. I had changed, and it was partly due to you” he said.

Anna took another deep breath. She was not sure what this meant, but it was probably the strangest conversation with an ex-boyfriend she’d ever had. “What am I supposed to say to that?”

“Nothing. You don’t have to say anything, I just wanted to explain myself. Please understand, I don’t expect anything from you in regards to us. I just needed to clear this up…and ask for some help.” She saw a shadow cross his face as he said this. What was going on with him?

“Thank you. I’m glad you told me, and I’m sorry it didn’t work out with Sara.” She wanted to reach out to him, but wasn’t sure it would be accepted.

“That’s nice of you to say, considering, but I’m actually glad it is over with her. She was terrible for me." Another drag on his pint.  "But, she is why I’m here.” There was that shadow again.

“What do you mean?” Anna was now confused.

“Well, I think she’s in trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“She’s...she's...kind of...well, missing.”

“Kind of missing? How is someone 'kind of missing?' And how do you know? Maybe she’s out of town? Busy with work? Why do you think she’s missing?”

“She hasn’t shown up for work in three days which is not like her. She won’t pick up when I ring her, and her flat is dark.”

“How did you find this out if you aren’t involved with her?”

“Her brother called me. He and I were mates at university; it’s how I met Sara. She was supposed to go to a family dinner on Sunday, but never made it. He figured she was just being a flake, but then someone from her employer called him yesterday when she didn’t show or phone.” His voice was thin, worried.

“You still care about her, don’t you?” Anna could see it in his eyes.

“Of course I do. Our final break-up wasn’t awful and we are still friends."Another drag on his pint, what is up with him? I still care about you, too, you know.” He smiled shyly at her.

Anna shifted in her seat. Why did he have to look at her like that? She felt the heat crawl up her cheeks. “Don't, please. Anyway, back to Sara…” She took another drink of her beer.

The waiter chose that moment to bring their food, which was probably good. Anna needed a few minutes to absorb all this information. She inhaled the smell of the beer batter and salt from the chips. Grabbing the malt vinegar, she liberally doused her fish and chips. What were fish and chips without malt vinegar? She dug into her meal, not realizing how hungry she really was. Maybe it was the conversation. Derrick could be exhausting, she recalled with a smile.

After a few minutes of companionable silence, Derrick spoke. “How’s your fish?”

Trying not to talk with a mouthful of food, Anna swallowed and took a drink of her beer before answering. With a laugh in her voice, she said, “Great. Yours?”

“Just fine.” He smiled over his glass as he took a swig. An awkward pause gave Anna reason to examine the vinegar bottle.

“Okay, back to this problem of yours. Why are you asking me for help? Why not go to the police?”

“I can’t go to the police. There is some concern that this isn’t just a party girl off on a jaunt and her family is concerned. As for asking you, aren’t you still the amateur detective?” he said with a grin.

Anna tensed up. She’d hoped he’d forgotten that incident, but of course he hadn't. About three years ago, she’d gotten caught up in a murder investigation by nature of proximity. A body had been pushed into the Thames just outside the Swan, next to Shakespeare’s Globe where she was working as a publicity intern. She’d stepped out to take a break and get some air when she heard the scream and the splash. She ran to the embankment in time to see the body hit the pylon and drop into the murky water. From the thud, there was no way he or she was still alive. After seeing the body bob up in the water, she ran into her office and rang the police. They insisted on talking to her even though there was really nothing she could add. She hadn’t seen anything other than the body hit the pylon, but they grilled her anyway.

Anna had always been persistent. Over the next few days, the police continued to ask her questions, so she tried to help. But this dragged her further into this investigation than she originally wanted. She’d always been a fan of the good murder mystery story, fancying herself like the heroines in her stories, but never imagining being in the middle of the actual investigation. But there she was, smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation. She discovered a knack for uncovering interesting facts because of this case. It was looking more and more like this was not an accident. Through skillful deduction and dogged persistence, she helped uncover a blackmail/murder plot. Her clues brought the men responsible to justice and her to the eyes of the Chief Inspector for the Metropolitan Police.

“That was coincidence. I am not a detective.”

“Your help brought that case to an end, even if the police don’t want to admit it. You have a knack for this. It must be all that Holmes you’ve read,” he said with a smirk.

“Ha, ha. Very funny,” she paused, taking another deep breath, and swig of her drink. “What is it you think I can do? Are there any clues?”

“She was last seen at the Drury Lane theatre on Saturday night with her new boyfriend.” He said, not meeting her eyes.

“What was playing? Wait, new boyfriend?” she asked.

“Um, yes...and he wasn't that "new". Waiting for Godot…you know the one with Ian McKellan? She was really excited to see it.”

“Curious, I never pegged her for a theatre goer. Anyway, do you know her actions for the night?”

He said, “Yes, to a point. Apparently they grabbed some nosh after the play at a pub in the area, not sure which one, and then they went to his place. She never came home.”

Anna thought this out for a moment. Here’s an obvious question: “Who was the guy?”

“Jonathan Fox. She’d met him at a work event a about a month ago and has been seeing him off and on. He’s a partner in the firm where she works. He put the call to her brother yesterday.”

“Do you know him?” she asked.

“I met him twice. He seems okay, but I got a weird vibe from him.”

“A weird ‘vibe’?”

“Something seemed off about him. He seemed really jumpy and nervous.”

“Could be that running into your girl’s ex-boyfriend is enough to make someone a little edgy…maybe?”

“I guess, but it didn’t seem to be because of me. He was edgy before he knew who I was.”

“Okay, so you say she never came home after going to his place? Are you sure?”

“Yes, she has a concierge in her building. He doesn’t mean to keep track, but he does anyway. In this case, I’m glad he did. There are cameras, so even when he was sleeping, there’s a record,” he said.

“Well, curious. And you’re sure she didn’t run off with him, or away from him?”

“Yes, remember he’s the one who called.”

“Right. But are you sure it was him?”

“What do you mean? Someone might have called and used his name?” His shock at this idea was written on his face.

“Yes, that is possible. Now don’t panic, it’s just an idea, something to follow. It’s at least a place to start. And if you want me to help you, I need a place to start. Sounds like a little look into Jonathan Fox is as good a place as any,” Anna said, feeling a little jolt of energy as the thought of this project filled her head. At that moment, her mobile tweeted at her. “Excuse me.” She grabbed her phone and clicked the screen on. As expected it was from Beth. Wow, time was flying by.

Taking a moment to ascertain the situation, she shot Beth a message back telling her all was well, and that she had quite a story for her, she’d be back in an hour with the details. She stashed her phone away.

“All okay?” Derrick asked.

“Yeah, just Beth asking if I was going to be home tonight. She wants to catch up on Being Human.”

“I love that show. Just started watching it a few months ago, after…well, a few months ago anyway.”

They passed some more time discussing the Beeb and the new shows coming up, projects they both had going on and the weather. It seemed they were both not ready to talk about Sara again.

After 15 minutes, Anna knew she had to bring it up and move on. Derrick was lost to her anyway, and she was remarkably okay with that. But he was in need of her help, and what was weird, she was excited to give it. Not feeling over confident in her skills as an amateur Holmes, or more aptly named, Watson, she figured she could at least do a little digging.

Derrick gave her the details – Sara’s flat and work locations, her brother’s name, best friends name and parents information. He sent her a picture taken a few weeks ago at a charity event. This would at least get her started. She agreed to keep him posted, but in her head vowed to keep it to a minimum. Being around him, even out of her reach, still sent shivers down her spine from time to time.

“Anna, how can I thank you?” he asked.

“Don’t thank me yet, I haven’t done anything. Keep looking for her yourself. Do you know where she hangs out? Cafes, bars, clubs? Look there. Send me a list of the places she frequented tonight, okay? And her family may want to reconsider not contacting the police. Just a thought if this goes on much longer.”

“I will,” he said as he hopped off his stool. Following suit, Anna grabbed her coat and scarf, donning them before heading into the bitter cold. Before she could put her gloves on, Derrick grabbed her hand. His warm hand sent that old familiar jolt of electricity to her spine. She reached out and gave him a quick hug, dropping his hand. It was safer this way, oddly enough. A wool coat makes a great barrier. He tried to hold on, but she pulled away.

“Derrick, no. I’ll help you find Sara, but I can’t go back. I hope you understand.” She couldn’t meet his eye.

“No, I understand. Maybe I hoped we could try again, but I don’t think I believed it, truly. Maybe we can be friends?” he asked hopefully.

“Maybe. Please let me think about it, okay? I will be in touch as soon as I have something. Keep me apprised if you find anything out.” With a wave, she grabbed her bag and her gloves and headed out the door of the pub. She didn’t look back until she was well away. Glancing over her shoulder as she turned to cross Great Marlborough street, she caught Derrick watching her walk away. A longing welled up inside her. She desperately wanted to turn back and take away those last words, but she knew it was for the best. She was convinced he hadn’t really changed. Maybe he had, but she wasn’t ready to find out.

She headed back to the tube station and made the trip home. Her head was reeling from all the information she’d gleaned in the last 90 minutes. Sara. Sara. Where are you?

Exiting the tube station, she headed down the Strand to Adam street. Just a short walk from there to her flat and the warmth of her fire. Maybe Beth had refreshed their wine cabinet. She sure could use a glass.

Anna opened her eyes. Her head was pounding and her heart was racing. What was going on? She blinked back the sleep that was still lingering and cast a glance towards the clock next to her bed. 2:15am. Something woke her up, but what? She peered through the darkness of her room and nothing seemed out of order. She listened for a noise. Nothing.

She closed her eyes again, determined to drift back to sleep, but her heart would not stop racing. Had it been a dream? Did it wake her? The last thing she remembered was seeing Sara’s face…Sara’s face in the water. Sara’s eyes were closed and she looked peaceful. But panic surrounded the scene. She could almost hear the sirens descending on her position. She knew she should do something, but felt frozen in place. Why was she there? And what was Sara doing in the water? Anna looked up. She recognized the place as one often does in a dream. She knew she was in Hyde Park, but yet it didn’t look quite right. This was the serpentine, she was sure of that. She felt herself reaching out to Sara. Just as she plunged her hand in the water, she woke to find that she was not in Hyde Park, but safe in her bed, with her heart racing and her head pounding.

After fifteen sleepless minutes, she decided to make a cup of tea. Nothing like some camomile, honey and vanilla to help her settle down. She put the kettle on and started up her computer. May as well make use of the time by doing a little searching. When she left Derrick last night, she was convinced Sara would show up before the night was out and he’d call off the search. Anna tried to watch Being Human with Beth, but couldn’t stay engaged. Her mind would wander off to Sara and where she disappeared to. She’d drag it back, but no sooner would Mitchell do something sexy than her mind would wander off again. Two glasses of wine later, she took herself to bed. She fell into a fitful sleep sometime after midnight.

She sat down to her computer just as she heard the kettle click off. She padded into the kitchen, poured the water, added some agave and carried her steaming cup to her desk. The golden liquid was just slightly sweet and warmed her as it went down. Taking a deep breath, she opened her email. She was just about to click on an email from Derrick when the chat window popped open. It was Derrick. Why was he still a contact?

DerrickStevens: Hi. You’re up?

AnnaMarieWS: Yes. Bad dream.

DerrickStevens: Sorry to hear that.

AnnaMarieWS: What’s up?

DerrickStevens: Nothing, just saw that you were here and thought I’d see how you were.

AnnaMarieWS: Derrick, I just saw you last night. Nothing’s really changed. 

DerrickStevens: Right. Sorry. It was so nice to see you yesterday. I thought...we might be able to be friends now?

She gulped some air with her tea. Struggling to catch her breath and not cough up chamomile all over her keyboard, she typed quickly.

AnnaMarieWS: BRB.

DerrickStevens: Um…okay.

Anna wasn’t sure what to say. This was unlike the Derrick that dropped her 5 months ago. It was more like the Derrick she first met…bold, brash, charming. What was he thinking?

AnnaMarieWS: Sorry. Tea accident. So, friends? Is that what you want?

She held her breath…not sure if she wanted to be friends…or more. Or nothing.

DerrickStevens: Well, yes. Friends would be good, a nice start anyway.

AnnaMarieWS: Derrick, I can’t talk about this right now.

Anna typed a little to agressively into her keyboard.

DerrickStevens: Why not? Cuz it's the middle of the night? You always were a night owl.

AnnaMarieWS: No, that's not it. It is just that...here you are. You show up out of the blue after five months, ask me to help you find your ex-girlfriend, the ex-girlfriend you dumped me for, and you want to be ‘friends’?

It was probably a good thing she couldn’t see his face or she might not have been able to say what she said next.

AnnaMarieWS: I think we should focus on finding Sara. This conversation can wait until I get used to you being around again, okay?

No response. She jumped over to her email, scanned the messages, checked back. Still no answer. Had she been too harsh? He was the one who came on so strong. Anna knew her resolve was weak when he was around. She desperately tried to keep strong, but she also knew that he made her feel happy like no one else had. But that was then.

Her chat button blinked. “New message from Derrick.” Ah, finally.

DerrickStevens: Fair enough. I’m sorry if I came on too strong. I’ll admit I’m a little freaked out about Sara, and seeing you today…well, that’s for another time. Do you promise to talk to me about this later?

She took a deep breath. It was the least she could do, right?

AnnaMarieWS: Yes, I promise. Now, back to business. Have you heard anything?

DerrickStevens: No, I haven’t. I tried calling her brother again, but he’s away on business. Apparently there’s still no sign of her at home either. I’m going by to see her brother tomorrow, he supposed to be back in the afternoon.

AnnaMarieWS: Okay. I’ve got some ideas, but I need to sleep on them before I do anything else. And now that I’ve had my tea, I think that sleep time is now.

2:30am was not the time for sleuthing… or was it?

DerrickStevens: Alright, good night Anna. Thanks for the chat. We’ll talk soon?

Anna could sense that maybe he sounded hopeful.

AnnaMarieWS: Of course, and we’ll find her, Derrick. Goodnight.

DerrickStevens: Goodnight.

Anna signed out of chat so no one else would feel the need to have a late night heart-to-heart with her. Taking a long drink of her tea, she sat back in her chair. What did her dream mean? Did it mean anything? She had an old college friend, if it was who she was thinking of, who dabbled in dream therapy, maybe he could help? She thought he was working at a clinic in north London. She sent him a quick email. Now, for bed.

Anna trod the short distance back to her room, dropping off her cup on the sideboard. The camomile did the trick, she was sleepy again. She crawled into bed, closed her eyes and was out in minutes.

##

The hazy sun was peeping through the shades covering Anna’s windows. She rolled over and drifted back to sleep. She was awoken by the shrill ring of her mobile phone, charging on the table next to her head. She sat up, shaking the sleep from her brain, and grabbed the phone. Derrick. Oh, no.

“Hello?” she mumbled into the phone.

“Anna? Did I wake you?” He gasped into her ear.

“Um, yeah, actually. What time is it anyway?”

“Sorry. It’s 7:45. I had to call. I got a cryptic text from Sara early this morning. She said she’s fine, not to worry, and she’ll be back tomorrow.” He sounded like he’d been running.

“That’s good, isn’t it?” Anna was trying to make sense of this while still trying to wake up.

“Yes, and no. It’s not like her to send short texts like that, and why would she send it to me unless she knew I was aware she had gone missing and would worry about her. Weird.”

Anna could hear his breathing, and it was strangely comforting. “Are you thinking it wasn’t her?”

“I am. Again, she wouldn’t text me. If she needed to talk to me, she’d call me. What do we do now?”

“Well, do you think we could trace the text? We all have GPS now, couldn’t that help? Can you call her cell phone company? They might give you something if you explain the situation. Her brother may be able to help as well. Have the police been notified of this?”

“I haven’t yet, but I will. I am also going to see if I can hit her hot spots today, see if anyone has heard or seen anything. I’ll keep you posted.”

“Okay. Derrick, hang in there. We’ll sort this out, somehow.” She wanted to tell him about her dream, but until she understood it better, she decided to wait. It would probably just freak him out.

“Bye.”

Anna ended the call and sat holding her head. The pounding from the night before returned, threatening a full blown migraine if she was not careful. She looked at the clock. Calculating a few things out in her head, she figured she could safely get about two more hours sleep before she had to get up and face the day. She felt bad not jumping up to find Sara, but if she didn’t tend her head, she’d be laid up for two days.

Grabbing an ice pack out of the ice box and her ice pack cover she'd made last year, she padded back to her bed. She added drops of peppermint and lavender to the cover. She slipped theice pack into the cover and then she crawled in bed. She downed two aspirin with a big gulp of water, and settled onto her pillow. Draping the ice pack over her aching forehead, she drifted off to sleep to fight the dragon that was the impending migraine.

##

“Anna, are you there?” he asked her, again.

“What? Yes, I’m here. Sorry. What did you need again?” She’d answered into the phone through the haze of her headache. The two hours she got this morning only helped to take the edge off. However, she couldn’t say in bed. She had a deadline to get the conference information out to the delegates by 3pm today. She had most of it finished, but the final touches were her specialty.

“Is the website ready? I need that up by three today.” He asked, the impatience ringing in his voice. William Stuart, Director of Marketing and Special Events, at her service.

“Yes, it will be.” Anna glanced at the clock. She had just over 2 hours to finish it. “There aren’t any more changes to be made before it goes live, are there? That would cause a hold up.” She grimaced as pain laced through her head.”

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“Just a headache. It’s nothing.” She lied.

“Okay. The site is good the way it is. Is it hard to make changes after it is up?”

“No, not at all.” Now that she had the right software, it was really easy.

“Great. I’ll let you get back to it. Keep me posted.” He hung up.

Anna dropped her head into her hands and sighed. Time for more tea. She stepped out of the lobby and crossed the street. Lucky for her they decided to open a Starbucks across from the theatre. This was great when she didn’t feel like boiling water. How lazy was that?

She ordered her tea. Maybe the caffeine and sugar combo would help. Glancing at her phone for the time, she decided a quick stroll along the river might clear her head. She crossed the street and strolled up the steps to the Bankside Pier. She leaned on the wall and took a deep breath. The air was clear and crisp, and immediately the pain in her head ebbed away. With a fortifying drink of tea, she took another deep breath. Feeling a little better, and ready to face the launch, she turned to head back to work.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something bobbing in the water. It was not strange to see things floating in the Thames, but she rarely noticed them. This one caught her eye. She turned back and walked a few paces towards Southwark bridge, curious to see what had grabbed her attention. The Thames was still a very dirty river, although not carrying the pestilence it carried in Shakespeare’s time. It was bigger than she expected and looked like it was covered in a white cloth. A bateaux was cruising by with tourists gawking at the Globe. In the wake, the object was jostled and Anna swore out loud. As the object settled back into it’s float, a head of hair was clearly now visible on one end. It was a body!

Paralyzed with fear, Anna stared at the body floating the in the Thames. She’d heard stories of people finding bodies every week, but she’d never been one of those people. Now it was her turn apparently. Finally coming to her senses, she called the Metro Police. After a brief conversation, they were on their way. Anna had a sinking sensation in her stomach that she’d seen that fabric somewhere before. It looked strikingly like a fabric used by the Chanel House a couple of years ago. Where had she seen it? Anna was not known to be a clothes horse, but she did appreciate a nicely tailored garment. And Chanel was just that.

As the body continued to float towards the bridge, Anna moved down the jetty walk. Suddenly, she remembered where she’d seen that suit. Sara had been wearing it in a picture Derrick sent her just yesterday. She grabbed her phone and called up the picture. It was the same suit. Her heart skipped a beat, then the pounding began again, first in her chest, then in her head. It couldn’t be Sara! Anna forced herself to look at the body again. The hair. The suit. Sara’s disappearance. Too much coincidence for one day.

As she stared into the murky Thames, her dream came back to her vividly. Had she foreseen this? Could she have stopped it from happening?

Anna was not sure what to do. She couldn’t call Derrick until she knew for sure, but her anxiety was beginning to overwhelm her. At that moment, she heard the blare of the sirens and the police screamed onto the jetty. She waved down the inspector as he jumped out of his car. He was about six feet tall with a mess of sandy blonde hair, his long legs closing the distance quickly.

“Were you the one who called?” he asked in a rush.

“Yes. Anna Watson,” she answered breathlessly.

“I’m Inspector Dempsey. Ms. Watson, what exactly happened?”

Anna recounted the story to the handsome inspector, trying not to stare at his finely chiseled cheekbones and emerald green eyes, leaving out her suspicions of the identity, for now. She couldn't help checking his left hand for a ring. Aha, no ring, but a tan line? She forced her eyes back to his face. His piercing green eyes held her gaze as she told her story. He took her statement and led her over to another officer, who asked her to have a seat. Now the waiting began. She texted William to let him know she'd stepped out and would be back soon. He asked if she was okay, and if the site would still go up on time. The show must go on, must'nt it?

Anna had never seen anything retrieved from the river before. The body was far enough away from the jetty that they couldn’t just extract it. It took over an hour for two boats to arrive and finally pull it out. They police were not going to let her see, but she insisted. After, she found it, right? It was only fair.

“Are you sure? It’s been in the water a while and doesn’t look like much.” He tried to warn her away.

“I’m sure.” With that, he walked her over to the stretcher where they’d laid the body out. It was covered with a blanket to keep it out of the eyes of the tourists who’d gathered around to gawk at the spectacle.

The officer pulled back the sheet. Anna felt her head swoon, the city around her blurring as the darkness over took her.

A faint light pierced her eyes as she opened them slowly. She saw faces hovering over her as she struggled to sit up. A firm hand on her shoulder told her to stay put. Where was she and what had happened?

“Ms. Watson, can you hear me?” The owner of the hand, Inspector Dempsey, was speaking to her. He kept his hand on her shoulder, firm by gentle, keeping her from sitting up. No doubt sitting up was probably a bad idea anyway if the pounding in her head was any indication of how it would feel.

“I…I’m fine. I…” she stammered, not sure if she was fine. What made her pass out?

“What is it?”

“Oh, my. I think know her. If it is her, her name is Sara Clarke.” She gasped for air as the realization hit her. Sara was dead.

“Sara Clarke.” He turned to a junior officer. “Run that name. See if there is a missing persons report.” He turned back to Anna. “How did you know her?”

“She is…was the ex-girlfriend of my…ex-boyfriend.” She gulped back tears as they started to sting her eyes. “He asked me to help find her. She’s apparently been missing for a few days.”

“Did he file a report?” The inspector looked up from his notebook, fixing Anna with his stare. Again those eyes!

“I don’t think he did because he wasn’t involved with her any longer and wasn’t really sure she was actually missing.”

“Can you give us his name? We need to contact him.”

“Yes, but may I call him first? This is going to freak him out and it might be better to hear it first from a friend.” Anna wasn’t sure of that, but it certainly would be better than hearing from the police.

“You mean ex-girlfriend?” Anna stopped him with a look but backed off when she saw that glint in his eye. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t right," he said sheepishly.

“You’re bloody right there. Now, please excuse me.” Anna looked at him one last time, as if to challenge him to stop her. He nodded and stepped back to his car.

Anna was still lying on the stretcher, but felt well enough to sit up. Now that the Inspector had moved away, there was nothing holding her down. She gingerly sat up, feeling the pounding increase momentarily, but settle down as she took a few deep breaths. She wasn’t a fainter and was glad for that. This was unpleasant.

Hmm. Anna tried to figure out how to tell Derrick. By phone? In person? That might take too long and the police would only wait so long. She pulled out her phone and fiddled with the buttons. Bollocks! Knowing she should get this over with, she dialed Derrick’s number. He answered on the third ring.

“Anna, hi.” He sounded breathless.

“Derrick, hi. Are you okay? You sound out of breath?” Anna stalled.

“I’m fine, just came up the stairs. I’m a little out of shape. What’s up? I didn’t expect to hear from you until…Anna, what is it? You’ve found something, haven’t you?” His anxiety was clear in his voice.

“Um, you could say that. Derrick, I don’t know how to say this, so here goes. They’ve…I’ve…I found her.” She couldn’t go on. This was going to shatter him.

“Really? That’s great.” His voice boomed through the phone. “Where?”

“No, Derrick. It’s not great. It’s bad, really bad. Derrick, she was found in the Thames today, just about two hours ago, by me.” Anna held her breath for his response.

“What? No, it can’t be. Was she…is she…oh my god. Anna, tell me, is she…” he whispered the last word “dead?”

“Yes, she is. Derrick, I’m so sorry.” What else could she say to him?

His sobs carried through the phone, interspersed with phrases like “It can’t be” and “no, no, no.”Anna had never hear him cry like this. She didn’t think he could cry, he always seemed so self assured and in control. Would he cry if it had been her? She stopped herself with a sharp reprimand from pursuing that line of thought.

“Derrick, honey, are you okay? I know this has got to be impossible to believe, but it’s true. I saw her myself.” Anna tried to penetrate his sobs with her soothing words.

“You saw her? Oh, Anna! Where is she? Can I come see for myself? I have to be sure.” His voice quivered on the other end.

“Derrick, I don’t think that is a good idea, but you can ask the police. I’m sure they will call you soon. I had to tell them about your quest to find her. They will want to ask you some questions. They may let you see her as well. Inspector Dempsey seems to be a “by the book” kind of guy, but I don’t know for sure.”

“Where are you? Are you still there? I’ll come now.”

“Derrick, listen to me. Don’t come down here. Stay put and wait until the police call you. You cannot do anything for her now. And seeing her like this won’t help you. She’d been in the water a long time.” She regretted adding that last part when he gasped. “I’m sorry. It was hard to look at her because she doesn’t look the same, but it was clearly her. Did you hear me? Stay put.”

“Yes, I hear you, but I don’t agree. Bloody hell! This is not how this was supposed to end. Why couldn’t you find her sooner?”

“I beg your pardon? What do you mean by that? I was doing all I could. I do have a job, remember, and you only asked me yesterday. Don’t start blaming me.” She felt the fire in her face burn her cheeks. How dare he?

“I’m sorry. I know you are not to blame, but someone is. Anna, Sara was a good swimmer. There is no reason why she would have drowned. There must be another reason.” He sounded deflated.

Anna did not know this tidbit. That shed a new light on this situation. Whereas Anna was thinking that maybe she’d lost her footing, like the guy so many years ago, instead, it now looked like it could have been foul play. Great! Her detective instinct kicked into high gear. No, she told herself, you will not get involved any further than answering their questions and directing them to Derrick. He knows more about it anyway.

“I’m sure the Inspector will figure out what happened. I’m sure there will be an inquiry and an autopsy, so until there, there isn’t much to do. We don’t even know how long she’d been in the water or where she went in. Until then, I think we have to sit tight.” We? What was she suggesting?

“We?” Bollocks. He caught that. “Do you mean that you’ll help figure this out? If it wasn’t drowning?”

Did she mean that? “Yes, I mean that. I thought at first that it was probably just an accident, but knowing that she was a good swimmer makes me question that. I don’t know if we can do anything, but maybe we can try? However, you are still to stay put.”

After a few more moments of haggling, Derrick promised her he would wait. She promised him a call tomorrow unless he needed to talk to her after the police rang him.

Anna hung up the phone and searched out Inspector Dempsey. He was questioning the captain of the boat that pulled Sara’s body out. She caught his eye and he signaled for her to wait for him. She wandered over the bench on the pier and sat. Her head was spinning, and not from fainting. Derrick sounded so lost.

She waited about ten minutes for Dempsey to finish. He walked over to her slowly, as if trying to figure her out. When he got there, he didn’t speak, he just looked her in the eye. She looked back at him. He really was an attractive man.

“Ms. Watson, were you able to ring Ms. Clarke’s ex-boyfriend?” He asked casually.

“Yes, I just got off the phone with him. He’s in a pretty severe state of shock, but has agreed to wait for your call. He wanted to come here, but I wouldn’t tell him where we were. I didn’t think a hysterical man would be helpful.” She hoped she’d done the right thing.

“Yes, that is probably true. Is he at home? Would you give me his number?” Dempsey looked her in the eye with that last question. Was he flirting with her? At a crime scene? She put it out of her mind…at least for the moment.

Anna gave him the information. He had already gotten her information, in case they needed more information. Sure, she thought. He thanked her and told her she was free to go. He indicated they would contact her if they needed her. He didn’t add the part about not leaving the country, she thought with a smile as she walked away.

##

Anna sat at her desk, head in her hands. She’d finally finished the launch, just in the knick of time. Will, her boss, had called her four times while she was out and she didn’t even have time to call him back. She’d go do that in a bit, right now she needed a spot of tea. She pushed herself up from her desk and walked to the kitchen in the green room. She started the kettle and pulled out her favorite tea, Everyday blend from Twinings. Adding a lump of sugar and a little milk, she dropped onto the sofa for a brief respite while the water boiled. Bloody crazy day, she thought.

When Anna agreed to help Derrick, she never, in her wildest imagination, expected it to end in death. She’d figured Sara had run off on a romantic notion for a mini-break and had gotten carried away. But to find her floating in the Thames was a little too Agatha Christie for her liking. How ironic!

Anna heard the kettle click off, realizing she’d fallen into a light sleep. Maybe this was a little more strenuous than she’d thought. She got up from the sofa begrudgingly and finished making her tea. Holding her favorite mug, a picturesque china cup with images from Shakespeare all over it, she made her way back to her office. On the way, she thought she’d stop by her Will’s office. This might be better told in person.

As she walked up, she heard him hang up the phone with an exasperated sigh. Anna peeked her head around the door. “Have you got a minute? I’ve got a story for you.”

“Sure. I could use a good story right now.” Will’s eyes looked tired and his hair was out of place.

“Well, I don’t know if this a good story.” Over her tea, Anna related the last 48 hours. She wasn’t sure what kind of reaction she expected, but it wasn’t pity.

“Oh,  Anna, how terrible for you. I’m so sorry you had to find her.” Not that Sara was dead, but that Anna had to find her. Huh.

“Yes, it was quite a sight. Having only seen one dead body outside a funeral parlor it was pretty rough.” Anna swallowed the last bit of her tea, but hang on to her mug like it was an amulet to protect her. “But what was weird was that I found her. Derrick just asked me to help yesterday. Why in God’s name should I find her floating in the Thames?” She finally voiced that nagging thought that had plagued her since she left the crime scene.

Will pondered that for a moment. “It seems a little coincidental. Why here and why today?”

“Ah, if I only knew, I’d probably solve this little mystery. But that is for another day. The website is up and functional. I’m going home.”

“Home? Yes, good idea. You’ve had quite the day. Will you back tomorrow? I suppose things will be fine with the website, but if you need the day, just ring me in the morning, okay?” Will offered.

“Will, thank you. I can check the site from home as well. I’ll see what happens tonight and let you know. That’s very kind of you.”

“No worries. Talk to you then.” He waved a little wave just as the phone on his desk shrilled to get his attention. “As long as this isn't Mrs. Detrick…Hello?” He sang into the phone. Anna saw his face petrify into stone as he heard the voice on the other end. “Mrs. Detrick, how nice to hear from you…again.” Anna tiptoed through his door. She informed his secretary she was out for the day, and may not be back tomorrow, and headed back to her own office.

She tidied her desk, cleared her messages and checked her email. Just as she was about to close it down, a new message arrived. It was from her college friend , Max Harding, telling her he’d be glad to help and how glad he was to hear from her. It took her a moment to place his face again, and then she blushed, realizing she’d gotten it right. Right. That one. The one all the girls in her dormitory were in love with, but he didn’t see a single one of them. He was enamored by the only one he couldn’t get, Anna’s roommate. She was two years ahead of them and had an ego to match the best diva’s in the business. He followed her around and she used him like a lackey. Finally, he gave up on her after a year and he and Anna became closer friends. Ah, Max. Anna wondered if he still looked as good as he did in college. From his email, she could find out tomorrow if she wanted to. He’d be in Southwark in the morning, did she want to meet for coffee? She checked her calendar and shot him an email back with her phone number. Now that the dream had come true, could he still help her with it? She wanted to meet with him anyway, so she suggested 10am, asking him to name the place.

Shutting down her computer and turning off the light, Anna went home. The trip was a blur and she stumbled up the stairs to her flat. Beth was not home yet and the flat was quiet. Anna dropped her keys and bag on the hall table and shuffled down the hall to her room, where she kicked off her shoes, took to aspirin and fell into her bed. Sleep overtook her, dropping her into a dreamless, restful state. The last thing she remembered was seeing the clock. It was 4:30pm.

Anna’s room was dark. She didn’t know how long she’d been asleep, but finally her headache had abated. She pryed her eyes open to look at the clock. 7:30pm. She blinked the sleep from her eyes and sat up. Swinging her legs onto the floor, she slipped her feet into her slippers and padded out to the kitchen. She was starving, having not eaten since noon.

She heard Beth on the phone in her room, so Anna dug through the freezer for something to eat. Grabbing a presto meal, she popped it into the microwave. She grabbed the wine bottle from the night before and poured a glass. The garnet coloured liquid glided down her throat, soothing her from the inside. The microwave dinged a few minutes later. Amazed that the food smelled so good, Anna realized she’d been staring at the sink. Shaking her head to clear it, she grabbed her food and a fork and settled in at the table.

Beth joined her a few minutes later. “Hey, girl, how’s things?”

Anna looked up, not saying anything.

“Whoa, what’s up? Are you okay?” Beth slipped into the chair opposite Anna.

“No, not really. Remember Derrick asked me to help find Sara? Well, I found her alright. But not like he hoped.” Anna took a mouthful of food.

“What does that mean?” Beth asked.

“She was floating in the Thames.”

“Floating? Was she alive? Yuck, the Thames is disgusting.”

“No, she was not alive and yes, it is disgusting. You should have seen her.  Well, maybe not, it was pretty horrible.”

“Did you tell Derrick?” Anna nodded. “How did he take it?”

“As you can probably guess, not well. But he told me something that made me think. He said Sara was a good swimmer, so how could she drown? Although I realize it’s not really swimming if you’re in the Thames, but she would have probably been able to get to safety, at least. That got me thinking…” Anna tapped her fork against her front teeth. Beth cringed, she hated that sound. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. You only do it when you are trying to muddle through something. What are you saying? This wasn’t an accident?” Beth eyes betrayed her confusion. Not a dumb woman by any means, but not always the most in tune with what was going on, Anna found Beth to be a fierce friend and a great help in a crisis. Beth was known for asking the questions that seemed obvious, so obvious they often got overlooked.

“That’s what I’m thinking, not saying. But, if she didn’t fall in, who wanted her out of the way so much that they would do this?” The thought chilled her. 

Beth grabbed a wine glass and poured herself a glass. "This is too much for my sober brain. Now, you say she was a good swimmer. Any idea how long she'd been in the river?" Beth asked, taking a long drink from her glass.

"No. And I don't know if I will find out...although," Anna smiled.

"Although, what?" Beth asked.

"Well, I may be imagining things, but I think the Inspector, Inspector Dempsey, was flirting, or trying to flirt, with me. That may work in my favor," Anna said.

"You think? You couldn't tell?" Beth laughed.

"First off, no, I couldn't tell. It was an investigation into a dead body that I found, remember? And second, he was not overt about it, there was just something in the way he looked at me. So maybe...just maybe," Anna's thoughts drifted back to his piercing green eyes. Yes, maybe indeed. She felt her cheeks grow warm.

"Ah ha, I see that," Beth observed.

"What?" Anna asked, pulled from her reverie.

"You are blushing." Beth laughed again. 

"What? I am not. It's just the wine." Anna smiled in spite of herself. "Okay, maybe just a little. But you should have seen him!"

They spent the next half hour giggling and laughing like school girls over the cute police man. Anna was just getting ready to clear her plate when her mobile phone rang.

"That's probably Derrick," she said with a sigh. "I"m not sure I want to talk to him just yet." She grabbed her phone. It wasn't a number she recognized, but something told her to answer it. She slid her finger across the screen.

"Hello, this is Anna," she said into the phone.

"Ms. Watson? This is Inspector Dempsey. Do you have a minute?" he said.

Her eyes must have gotten wide because Beth mouthed "Who is it?" across the table. "It's HIM," she mouthed back. 

"Hello, Inspector. To what do I owe this honor?" She breathed into the phone.

"Honor, huh. Not sure you will think so in a few minutes," he answered.

"Uh oh. Has something else happened?" Anna felt her heart skip a beat.

"No, nothing new. Just wanted to ask you a question. About Ms. Clarke. If you are up to it," he said. She heard sirens in the background.

"Sure, but I am not sure what I might know. Go ahead," Sara said. Beth got up and left the kitchen, smiling over her shoulder. Anna waved her away and smiled a shy smile.

"How well do you know Derrick Stevens?" he asked.

"How well? I've known him...wait, why do you want to know?" she asked.

"Please just answer the question, Ms. Watson," he said, with a chill in his voice.

"What is going on here? Is he under suspicion?" she asked.

"You know I cannot answer that." he said, sounding impatient.

"I knownothing of the sort. I'm just an actor," she answered indignantly.

"Mr. Watson, I'm sorry. This case is getting weird and...I...um..." he hesistated.

"Yes?" she asked, a little breathless.

"I may need your help. There I've said it." he answered quietly.

"My help? How can I help you?" she asked increduously.

"Well, your name is Watson, isn't it?" he said.

She almost fell over. He wasn't serious, was he? She was about to answer to that effect when she heard something that sounded like a strangled cat. He was laughing.

"Ah, you got me. Do you really think I can help you?" she asked.

"Yes, I do. I happened to pull up your file and learned that you helped out some time ago on another drowning case," he said.

"I have a file?" she answered, stunned.

"Only because you helped with that case. So, Ms. Watson, care to lend us...um, me... a hand?" he asked.

"I...well, sure. I'll do what I can. So, what is this about Derrick?" she asked.

"I don't think I can tell you much except there is a discrepancy in his story. He says he last saw her a couple of weeks ago, but he was seen on Saturday night at the Drury Lane theatre, where..." he paused,

"Yes, where Sara was seeing "Waiting for Godot" with her new boyfriend," she added.

"Ah, that is who he was. No one seemed to know," he said.

"Funny, Derrick told me that," she mused out loud.

"He did? Well, I guess it didn't really come up in our conversation, but that would have been something that he would have shared, don't you think?" he asked.

"I would think. Anyway, he was seen there? By whom?" she asked.

"The usher...hang on." She hears him muffle the call and she hears voices through the muffling. "I'm sorry, Ms. Watson, but I need to run. Can we finish this later?"

"Sure. Want to give me a call?" she asked.

"Actually, can we do this in person? I think it would be easier," he said. "We could grab a bite, maybe? Later? I haven't eaten and am famished."

"Um, well, sure. That sounds great. Where and when?" she tried to keep her voice steady.

"How about Wagamama by the National Theatre? 9:00?" he almost sounded breathless.

"That sounds just fine. I'll be there." she paused. "And thanks."

"You're welcome...for what?" he asked.

"For asking me to help. This is tearing me up and at least now maybe I can help." she said.

"Thank you for the help. See you soon." he said. Was that a smile she heard in his voice?

"Cheers!" she said as she ended the call.

Beth promptly came back into the kitchen. "And what was that about?" she asked, an evil glint in her eye.

"Nothing, he just needs my help. And asked me to dinner. No big." Anna grabbed her mobile, dropped her dish in the sink and left the kitchen before Beth could answer. At last glance, Beth looked like a codfish with her mouth hanging open. Anna laughed and went to get ready.