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His nod was decidedly regal; then he offered h his and alked down to the park, where I found a bench seat near the fountain and had s of the birds in the trees It was, I thought, another one of those rather pleasant--alone crazy

Unfortunately, it didn’t last Just as I tossed the e it out ofand hit the vid-phone’s ANSWER button

"Stane," I said "How’d the date go?"

"Ah, the date," he said, a somewhat bemused expression on his face "You could say it wasn’t what I expected"

"Meaning it orse, or better?"

"Better is so of an understatement"

I smiled "So your ed this blind date?"

"Nope Holly Green is not only pretty, but she’s a gahed "I think I’m in love"

"You haven’t invited her around to your place yet She amer can be a clean freak The two are totally incoed, and bad "I take it you’ll be seeing her again--sans hed "Is that the only reason you’re ringing? To boast about your hot date?"

"Uh, no" He co a touch e locker Someone just ca a scan, but nothing has come up yet" He disappeared briefly as he scooted from one screen to another "I just sent you a picture It’s a woo did she actually leave?"

He hesitated "Just going out through a side door now"

"Let me know the minute anyone else enters or exits And thanks, Stane"

"No probs"

As I hung up, e had been received I pulled up the pic, then glanced at Azriel "You want to take us there?"

He nodded and did so, depositing us again in the side parking lot near all the shrubs I swung around, but didn’t ie on the phone Then I spotted the tail end of a white overcoat disappearing around the Hoddle Street corner and raced after her

As I ran into Hoddle Street, I spotted her Like the woman in the photo, she was tall and thin, with short dark hair and a long, al briskly for a taxi

"Miss Sands?" I had to yell to be heard over the roar of passing traffic "Can I talk to you?"

Thankfully, she paused and looked over her shoulder, a frown htly lined features I’d expected Genevieve Sands to be a much older woman, for some reason, but she looked to be in her midforties, if that "Do I know you?"

I slowed to a walk, dug h for her to see the badge but not read the finer print that said I was va more official

"I need to ask you a couple of questions"

She frowned, her a to --and it oddly reminded me of Lauren Macintyre’s initial response to th of her long, Roman nose at me, her voice cool and collected

I hesitated "John Nadler"

She turned fully around, her handbag clasped in front of her like a shield and her expression puzzled "Who?"

"John Nadler, a businessman who recently died" I stopped in front of her and forced a smile "I believe you’re one of his three beneficiaries"

She blinked "In ay?"

"As in, he’s dead and you’ve been named in his will"

"Why on earth would I be named in the will of a man I don’t know?"

"I don’t know" I frowned If she was putting on an act, then it was a good one And yet there was so off her that had the hackles rising at the back of my neck "You haven’t been contacted by his lawyers?"

"Not that I’m aware of" She hesitated "But I’ve been out of town on business for a feeeks It is possible that their co with itimate excuse, so why didn’t I believe it?

"Is that why you’re using one of the storage units here? Because you’ve been away?"

She frowned "What on earth hasthe beneficiary of a man I don’t know?"

"Please, Ms Sands, just answer the question"