This is an original piece. All characters are the property of Barb & Pat Roman and are copyrighted by PAR/59 Productions.

The day was bright and sunny and the warm air was in delightful contrast to the cool ocean water that lapped over the beach. As each wave subsided, Polly dug her toes into the wet sand. She peered over her shoulder at the two sets of footprints along the water's edge and squeezed Joe's hand. The wind coming off the water was pure with just a hint of saltiness to it. It was a perfect day. It was THE perfect day. The only kind of a day for a couple on their honeymoon. She reached over and nibbled at Joe's ear.

Overhead, a small plane circled the area, the buzzing of its engine only adding to the atmosphere. Suddenly, the engine sputtered with a loud hrrumphing sound, and then continued buzzing once again. It sputtered once more and then it was gone.

Everything was gone. The Beach. The sun. And Joe was gone as well. Polly Merrill was sitting at her workstation at the Cleveland Telephone Company. Only the buzzing and the hrrumphing remained, but the buzzing came from her callboard and the hrrumphing was her supervisor clearing her throat.

Guiltily, Polly winced and connected her headset. "Operator assistance May I help you? ... Would you spell that name please?" As the caller spelled the name, Polly typed it on the keyboard. A few seconds later, the information was on her monitor. "The number is 955 - 8832 ... You're welcome."

Ruthie Mulligan, the operator at the desk next to Polly's leaned over to her. "You better get your act together, Polly." She whispered. "That's the third time today that Mrs. Petrie has been by here, and each time you've been a million miles away."

"Not quite a million. More like about 2500. I got another letter from Joe yesterday. He'll be back in the states in about a month, and he asked me to marry him when he gets back. He even sent me a ring." She reached around her neck and drew a chain from her blouse. On it was a small gold band with an even smaller diamond set in it.

"O-O-O-H!" Ruthie squealed. "An engagement ring! Look everybody! Polly's got an engagement ring!"

Several of the other operators gathered around Polly's desk to admire the ring.

"Put it on, Polly." Mavis Blanchard said. "Let's see that it looks like on your finger."

"Sorry, gals, but I'm going to keep it right here around my neck until I finally see Joe. I want him to put it on my finger."

One of the operators shook her head dubiously. "I don't know about you, but I'd be very, very leery about even getting involved with a man I met through a lonely hearts club, let alone marrying him. You've never even seen him, and you hardly know anything about him. For all you know, he could be a con man out for your money. If you're asking me, you're making a big mistake."

"Well, nobody is asking you, Donna Jackson, so butt out." Ruthie piped up. "It's Polly's life and Polly's decision."

"For one thing." Polly replied. "It's not a lonely hearts club. It's a pen pal association. And they check out their members very carefully. Second, if by some strange stretch of the imagination, Joe is out for my money, he won't get much. You all know what we make here at the phone company. Third, I know all I need to know about Mister Joseph Mark Hammill.

I know he works as a buyer for a major department store chain. He goes all over the world looking for exotic merchandise for the stores. I know we like much the same things. We both want a family, and eventually he is going to settle down, but first, he wants to show me the world as he sees it. While he isn't exactly rich, he does have enough money in the bank that we'll be comfortable. He goes to church regularly, is a member of the Lions Club and a former Eagle Scout. If you can't trust a boy scout, who can you trust.

The most important thing I know about him is that he loves me and I love him, and as the song says, that may be all I need to know."

"C'mon, Polly. Donna's nothing but a wet blanket. Don't let her get to you." Mavis said, leading Polly back to her chair. "We all understand where you're coming from. You can't correspond with someone for three years like you and Joe have been, and not know him pretty well. I think I speak for the rest of us when I say we're all happy for you and we all wish you the best of everything. What are your plans from here."

"Well, I've already written to Joe, he's in Japan, by the way, and told him 'Yes' He should be getting the letter in about a week. I've also typed out my letter of resignation." She rummaged through her purse and pulled out a paper. "How does this sound?

To whom it may concern:

As of this date, July 12, I, Polly L. Merrill submit my resignation as a Customer Service Representative for the Cleveland Telephone Company. This resignation will be effective immediately.

Yours truly,

Polly L. Merrill

I figure it will take about a week or two to get things straightened out here, then on to Los Angeles. Just think, in about six or eight weeks, I'll be Mrs. Joseph Hammill."

"A party! We've got to have a party!" Ruthie said, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, Polly, you can't quit today. You've got to stay until we give you a combination bridal shower and going away bash."

"Okay." Polly said. She crossed out 'immediately' and wrote 'in two weeks'. "I'll stay until then, but no longer. There's a million things I've got to do. Can you do it in that short a time?"

"You know us, we can scare up a party at the drop of a hat." Mavis said, grinning. "All right. If we're going to put a party for Polly together by next Wednesday ... " She looked at Polly. Polly nodded. " ... We'd better get cracking." The operators gathered around Mavis's desk and soon were absorbed in party plans.

Polly's callboard buzzed. "Operator assistance, May I help you? ... No, I'm sorry, Mr. Kent. There's nothing I can do to help you recover articles left in a phone booth ... Have you tried Lost and Found? ... If you'll hold, I'll transfer you."

##########

Anthony Lomas followed the apartment manager out of the bedroom.

" ... And now that you've seen the apartment, what do you think?" The manager said in a voice that reminded Tony of a squeaky bearing.

"It's quite nice."

"We don't usually have units available in the middle of the month like this." The manager continued. "Most of our tenants ... we prefer to call them associates, move out at the end." He shook his head slowly. "But since poor Mr. Hammill died in that plane crash over Korea last week ... They suspect terrorist bombing, you know ... He was such a nice man ... So young ... No family ... " He shook his head again. "Such a shame. You are aware that the apartment is furnished."

"Yes, Mr. Wexlor, I know." You've told me at least a dozen times." Tony said. [If you tell me one more time, I think I'll strangle you.] He thought. "That is one of the reasons I answered your ad." He said aloud.

Wexlor continued, paying no heed to Tony. "We use only the finest furniture here, not second hand junk like you find in some other places. We want our associates to have only the best."

"The apartment is just what I'm looking for." Tony said. "I'll take it."

"OH! ... Oh yes." Mr. Wexlor said. "If you would like to bring Mrs. Lomas to see the apartment this evening, I will have everything ready by then."

"That will not be necessary. You see, there is no Mrs. Lomas. I am not married."

"In that case, we can settle things right now." Wexlor led the way to the dining room and deposited a somewhat dilapidated briefcase on the table. He took out a manila folder. He bent over it and adjusted his thick glasses. "Everything seems to be here." He said, handing a sheaf of papers to Tony. "This is the lease. It's a standard one year lease, but if you want to take it to a lawyer ... "

"That's all right. I believe you." Tony said skimming through the document.

"In that case, sign here ... here .... here ... and initial here." He handed Tony a pen. "When would you like to move in?"

"Since all I have to do is bring my personal belongings, how about tomorrow?" Tony took out his checkbook and wrote out a check.

"Very well, Tomorrow it is. Here, let me give you a receipt." Wexlor bent over the receipt book, mouthing the words as he wrote. "Received of Anthony Lomas. One month's rent plus one month's deposit. Covering the period from July 12 to August 12." He handed it, and a copy of the lease to Tony. He fished in his pockets and handed Tony a set of keys. "There you are, Mr. Lomas. The apartment is now officially yours."

##########

The airport was crowded and Polly threaded her way through the terminal, studying each face. No one looked even vaguely familiar, and no one looked like the photo of Joe that she held in her hand. She upbraided herself for not calling him when she left Cleveland, but it had been a last minute decision to come a week early, and things were so hectic, there wasn't really time. She had written him giving him the flight and time, but it was possible that he, himself, hadn't arrived in the states yet. He was due back yesterday, but with the international situation, who knows.

She stopped at a phone booth and hunted through her purse for change. Her fingers felt a key. It was the key to Joe's apartment. He had sent it to her about a year ago when she was planning to come out for a vacation. Unfortunately, a bad case of Flu that went into Pneumonia quashed those plans. She never bothered to return the key to him.

She clutched the key tightly in her hand. "Why not?" She said to no one, her eyes gleaming. "This is a surprise visit, after all. Why not really surprise him." She put the key back and headed for the taxi entrance.

##########

Tony checked the mailbox. There was the usual assortment. Five advertisements, three addressed to 'occupant' and two addressed to 'resident'. A bill from the credit card company and his monthly statement from the bank. There also was another letter addressed to Joe Hammill and postmarked Cleveland OH. He checked for a return address, but, like all the others, there was only the initials P.L.M. He was tempted to open the letter and read it in hopes of finding a clue to P.L.M.'s identity. Obviously, they did not know Joe Hammill was dead. Instead, he took out a pen and wrote 'addressee deceased' across the face and dropped it in the outgoing mail chute. Let the post office find P.L.M.

He opened the apartment door and stopped. Something was not quite right. He did not know exactly what, but something was wrong. He cautiously drew his gun from his holster and soundlessly closed the door. Carefully, he checked the living room and the dining room. Nothing seemed to be out of place there. Slowly, he made his way to the bedroom and checked that out. Everything seemed in order. As he passed the bathroom, he stopped short. There was a warm,

wet, soapy aroma coming from there.

Polly relaxed in the tub. After the long flight from Cleveland and, to her, the even longer cab ride from the airport, a hot bath felt good. She heard the apartment door open. [Joe's back!] She thought excitedly. [And I'm not nearly ready.] She started to call out to him, but when she heard no further sounds, she began to be frightened. Slowly, she stood up and reached through the shower curtain for the wastebasket that was sitting outside the tub. She removed the liner and immersed it in the water.

Tony pushed the bathroom door open and in one motion stepped into the bathroom in a crouch, his gun at the ready. At the same instant, Polly screamed. She flung the shower curtain open and threw the basket of water at the intruder. Her screams were cut short when she saw the gun in Tony's hands. Quickly, she shut the curtain and crouched as low as she could in the tub.

It took all the self control Tony had not to open fire. "Come out very slowly with your hands in the air." He said, sputtering through the water cascading down him.

An arm slowly came out from behind the curtain and reached for a towel from the rack. A few seconds later, Polly stepped out of the tub, one arm raised high, the other clutching the towel to her chest.

Tony slowly returned the gun to his holster. The towel clad, dripping woman in front of him was clearly not a threat at this time. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" He asked.

"A better question would be who aree YOU, and what are you doinghere waving that gun at me?" Polly said indignantly. "This is my boyfriend's apartment and you had better get out of here before I call the cops."

A half smile crossed Tony's face. "That won't be necessary, Miss." He reached into his back pocket and took out an identification case. Inside was a badge and an ID card. "You see, I am a police officer."

"Oh ... " Polly said flushing with embarrassment.

"Now, shall we start this again?" He took another towel and wiped the water from his face and hair. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

"Well, officer, my name is Polly Merrill, and as I said before, this apartment belongs to my fiancee, Joe Hammill. We're going to be married in a few weeks. I just arrived here from Cleveland, and I thought I'd freshen up a bit before he arrived. He's been overseas for the past three months and he should be back any day now. It's not like I'm breaking in or anything. He did send me a key." Suddenly a frightened look came over Polly. "The police? Nothing's wrong, is there, Officer? I mean Joe's not in any kind of trouble, is he?"

"Merrill ... Polly Merrill from Cleveland Ohio? Your middle initial wouldn't happen to be L, would it?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact it is. Polly Louise Merrill. Why do you ask?"

"Would you please get dressed and come into the living room. There's something I think you ought to know." Tony's solemn look worried Polly.

A few minutes later, she came into the living room wearing a robe and slippers. Tony had used the time to change into some dry clothes as well.

Please sit down" He motioned to the couch. "I am very sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, especially this way. I'm afraid that Joseph Hammill is dead."

"Dead! Joe! Are you sure ... "

Tony nodded. "The plane he was on crashed off the coast of South Korea a month ago. There were no survivors. There was no next of kin listed and your letters had no return address. There was no way to notify you."

He put his arm around her. At first, she fought it, but then the tears and the sobs became uncontrollable. He stroked her head until they subsided. Finally, after an eternity, she wiped her eyes. "I think I'll be all right now. At least for the time being." She said. "But that still doesn't explain what you are doing here, Officer ... uh ... "

"Lomas. Detective Sergeant Anthony Lomas. And this is my apartment now. I rented it three weeks ago."

"Oh, dear me." Polly pulled the bathrobe tightly around her.

"Perhaps you would feel more at ease if you had other clothes on. Where is your suitcase?"

"In the hall closet. I put it there so Joe wouldn't see it right away. I wanted to surprise him."

"Have you had dinner yet?"

"No. Not yet." Polly called from the bedroom.

"I'll fix something. We can talk while we eat."

"That won't be necessary. There's a roast in the oven. I wanted to have something ready just in case he came home today, so I stopped off at a supermarket near here and got all the fixings." There was great sadness in her voice. "But I guess he won't be coming home. Ever."

Tony opened the oven door and the aroma of the roast filled the kitchen. It dawned on him that it was the faint fragrance of cooking meat that subconsciously alerted him to possible danger when he first came in.

##########

He pushed himself away from the table. "That, Miss Merrill, was an excellent meal. My compliments to the chef."

Polly absently picked at a piece of meat on her plate.

"You haven't eaten a thing."

"I guess I'm just not hungry."

"I can understand that. After what you've been through today. It's not surprising that you have no appetite. If you want, as soon as I clear the table, I'll take you to a motel. There's a very nice one not too far from here." He picked up the dishes and headed for the kitchen.

"Sergeant, could you make that the YWCA instead?"

"The YWCA?"

You see, I didn't have all that much money saved in the first place. After my wedding dress, the plane fare to LA, the cab fare and the trip to the supermarket, I'm afraid that all I have is $49.86 to my name. I don't think that will get me a room even at the cheapest motel. I thought I would be staying here with Joe."

"If you want, I'd be glad to give you the money for the motel."

"Thank you, Sergeant, but no thank you. I'm certain the 'Y' will do nicely."

"As you wish. Why don't you go into the living room and wait until I have finished with the dishes."

"That's okay. I'll help you clear the table." Polly started after him, but he gently steered her into the living room. "You've had a very hard day, both physically and emotionally. Rest. That's an order."

##########

Tony came out of the kitchen. Polly was sitting on the couch, her head tilted back. Her eyes were closed, and she was snoring softly, almost a purr. Tony studied her for a moment. She was not what Tony would call a raving beauty,, but she was pretty none theless. Her wavy russet brown hair was short and combed cap style. Her face was long and slightly square. She was thin and shapely, although a bit angular in some places. She looked to be in her early thirties. Asleep, she had an almost innocent, vulnerable look, sort of like a half grown beagle puppy.

"Miss Merrill." Tony said softly.

Polly opened her eyes and yawned. "Are you ready to go, Sergeant

"My first name is Tony, Miss Merrill."

"And mine is Polly."

"Polly, I was thinking. It is late and you are obviously exhausted. Perhaps it would be better if you stayed here for the night. We could make arrangements for a place for you to stay in the morning."

"Sergeant ... Tony, that's very kind, but I've put you out enough as it is. I don't want to impose."

"It's no imposition. You can stay in the bedroom. I'll sleep in the den. There's a fold out couch in there that's very comfortable. Besides, after your long trip here and the trauma of learning of your boyfriend's death, you really shouldn't be alone."

"Are you sure it's okay?"

"I insist."

##########

Tony switched off the Late Show and headed into the den. He took off his clothes and folded them neatly and laid them on the desk. Then he put on his pajama bottoms. His body was tanned, muscular and lean. His hair was curly black with just a slight trace of gray at the temples. He did some stretching exercises and then dropped to the floor and did a dozen rapid pushups. He concluded with a dozen deep knee bends. "Not bad" He murmured to himself. "For a man pushing forty." This done, he put on the pajama top and sat on the bed. He reached for the clock. "Dammit." He said. "Forgot the clock." Grabbing his robe, he headed for the bedroom.

The door was slightly ajar and he could see Polly in the light from the hallway. The covers moved up and down rhythmically with each breath. Slowly, he eased the door open. He let out a yell as a large pan of water struck him on the head, spilling its contents over him. It had been balanced on the edge of the door so that the slightest movement would dislodge it. He sat on the floor and held

his head as Polly woke, screaming.

"What ..." He finally said. " ... Was that for?" Still holding his forehead, he went to the edge of the bed. "If that was meant to repulse any alleged advances from me, it was most effective. However, it was totally unnecessary. I came in only to get my alarm clock. Now, however, I will also need a dry pair of pajamas."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know what to expect." Polly started to laugh and then stopped. She placed her hand over his on his forehead. "Oh, dear. You're bleeding. Let me go and get something for that." There was a slight trickle of blood running down the side of his temple.

"I have survived worse injuries than this." He said. He took a tissue from the nightstand and daubed the cut. "I am going to get my clothes, my clock, and I will not bother you for the rest of the night. Lock the door after me if you wish. It will be safer ... For both of us."

##########

The alarm clock woke Tony. He sat on the edge of the bed. His head was still throbbing. The aroma of bacon frying permeated the apartment. He put his clothes on and went into the kitchen. Polly looked up from the stove, She was crisp in a sunny yellow blouse and slacks to match.

"Good morning Sergeant ... er ... Tony. I couldn't sleep." She said by way of explanation. "I guess my body is still on Cleveland time. Back there it's 10 o'clock. I hope you don't mind my making breakfast."

"Not at all." He said as he headed for the bathroom.

"How do you like your eggs?" Polly called.

"I don't usually eat breakfast. I'll just have a cup of coffee ... black."

"No breakfast! Don't you realize that you should have a good meal every morning? My mother always said that if you skip breakfast, you're cheating yourself out of needed energy and important

nutrition."

"Very well. I'll have one egg. Over easy." He looked at his head in the bathroom mirror. Although the cut was small, it had swelled and the area around it had turned an ugly shade of purple. He winced as he poured an antiseptic on it. "Fourteen years on the police force, and I am wounded by a pot." He grumbled as he plugged in his shaver.

By the time Tony had finished in the bathroom, Polly had breakfast on the table. Tony looked in astonishment at his plate. There were two eggs, over easy, three strips of bacon, toast and jelly, hash browns, and a glass of orange juice.

"Where did you get all of this stuff. I didn't have it on hand."

"I told you that I had stopped at a supermarket for dinner. I also got things for breakfast. I've got two brothers. I know they wouldn't think to have anything nutritious on hand and I figured Joe ... " She closed her eyes and swallowed a sob.

Tony put his arms around her and held her close. "It's all right." He said as he smoothed her hair. "Go ahead and cry."

##########

Tony pushed away from the table. "That was an excellent breakfast, but I've got to go to work." He started for the door.

Polly followed him. "You forgot your lunch." She held out a brown bag.

"Thank you, but I usually send out for lunch."

"I'm sure this is better than some greasy hamburger and soggy fries. Consider it my way of apologizing for this." She gently touched his bruised forehead.

Tony took the bag.

##########

Tony rummaged through the drawer of his desk for the bottle of aspirin. He found it, shook two into his hand and washed them down with the last of the lukewarm coffee. His head was no longer throbbing, but the injury was still quite painful. In more ways than one. "If one more person makes a crack about this bruise ... " He mumbled. " ... He'll be walking a beat."

Pete Thompson, his partner, came over to the desk carrying several sacks from a fast food chain. "Lunch time." He called out. Several officers gathered around the desk. "Here, Tony. I didn't see your name on the lunch list, but I went ahead and ordered for you anyway." He handed Tony a sack. "Double Big Chunky ... everything ... extra onions, monster fries and a chocolate shake.

Right?""Thanks, Pete, but my name wasn't on the list on purpose. You see, I brought my lunch." He reached into the bottom drawer and took out the bag that Polly had packed. Inside were two tuna fish sandwiches, several stalks of celery, an apple, a sandwich bag with cookies, and a small bottle of grape juice. There was also an envelope with the word 'Tony' written on it. One of the officers

picked it up before Tony had the chance to stop him.

"'Sa'matter, Sarge, getting forgetful in your old age?" Have to write notes to yourself?" He opened the envelope and drew out a sheet of paper. "Hey, guys, listen to this:

Roses are red

Violets are blue

It's nice to know

There are people like you

Thanks for last night.

Polly

"So, who's Polly?" One of the other officers asked. "I don't remember anyone by that name in any of your little black books."

"Must be some new chick." Another replied. "And if I know the Sarge ... " His hands traced an exaggerated hourglass.

"Yeah, Sarge. " The first officer said as he sat on the desk. "Tell us all about last night. And don't leave out any of the juicy stuff." He waved the note in the air. "First the bruise and now this ... Thanks for last night? It must have been S-O-M-E night!"

Tony reached up and angrily snatched Polly's note out of his hand and then brought his fist under the man's chin. "Franklin, how would you like a knuckle sandwich?" He growled. "And get off my desk before I have you directing traffic ... On The San Bernardino Freeway ... During rush hour."

Franklin stood up quickly. "Hey, man." He said raising his hands in the air in a sign of surrender. "I was just leaving. Chill out. Don't get so hot under the collar. I was only joking." He took his lunch bag. "Sheesh!" He said as he walked away.

One by one the others picked up their lunches and returned to their desks. Pete sat down across from Tony and spread out his lunch. "Seriously, Tony, who is Polly?"

Tony pointed a finger menacingly at Pete. "Don't you start in on me. We've been friends too long."

"I mean it." Pete said. "As one friend to another. All kidding aside. What happened yesterday that has got you so up tight?"

Tony leaned back slightly and sighed heavily. "It all started when I arrived home last night ... "

##########

Polly opened the oven a crack and peeked inside. The casserole was cooking nicely. "Perfect. I just hope he likes casseroles." As she shut the oven door, she heard the front door open. "Oh, good. Joe's home." She smiled and then a cold chill ran down her spine and through her entire body. She pressed her hands tightly to her eyes to force back the tears. "No, I mean Tony." She whispered.

Tony stood for a moment in the doorway. The house was the same, yet it was different. Then he noticed. All the surfaces were bright and gleaming. The rugs had been vacuumed and the furniture had been dusted and straightened Mixed with the delightful aroma of food cooking was the faint scent of soap and polish.

Polly wiped her eyes as Tony came into the kitchen. He sniffed the air loudly. "And what is that delicious smell?"

"It's only beef and noodles. I used what was left of the roast from last night."

"You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to. I hope you don't mind that I tidied up the apartment. I also did your wash."

"Mind? It hasn't been this clean since I moved in." He paused. "Miss Merrill, I hope you don't take what I'm about to say the wrong way. I have been giving a great deal of thought to your predicament. I mean, you definitely do not have enough money to return to Cleveland, and you certainly do not have enough money to stay here in Los Angeles for any length of time. Even at the 'Y'. I have a proposition for you."

Polly took a few steps back.

"Not that kind of proposition. Strictly business. You see, for some time I have been thinking of hiring a housekeeper. As you have found out, I am not the world's best. Last night's dinner was excellent, and if this ... " He pointed to the stove. " ... tastes half as good as it smells. I am sure it will be excellent as well. And you did a magnificent job of cleaning the apartment and I'm sure my clothes are perfect too.

What I am trying to say is ... if you want the job, it is yours. I can't pay much, but if you want to continue to stay here, we can work something out. That way, you would be able to save your money for your return to Cleveland and you would not have to worry about expenses for room and board.

If you want to think about it for a while, you don't have to give me an answer today."

Polly smiled broadly. "I don't think I'll need too much time to think it over. After dinner I was going to tell you that I had decided to look for a job and a place to stay. I was going to ask you if I

could stay here until I found one. If you are serious, and not doing this out of charity or pity ... "

"I am very serious. I need someone to keep house, and you need a job and a home. It will be strictly a working arrangement and only temporary. Just until you have enough money to return to Cleveland."

"Are you sure?"

"I guarantee it. If you want, I'll even put it in writing. What do you say?"

"I say ... " She held out her hand. " ... Deal."

He took her hand with both of his. "Deal." He repeated. "Good! Now that that is settled, let's eat. I, for one am starved." He picked up one of the serving bowls and followed her into the dining

room. "One thing, though. No more notes in my lunch."

"I guess that was kind of tacky."

"Very."

##########

Polly pulled the handle of the toaster down and then returned to the griddle and turned the sausage. [Three weeks.] She thought. [It doesn't seem that long.] But, on the other hand, it seemed much longer. She liked taking care of Tony. It was almost the way it would have been with Joe. It dawned on her that she had not thought of Joe in several days. It also surprised her that these thoughts of Joe were not accompanied by sadness and tears as in the past. She was not certain whether that was good or bad.

Tony stuck his head around the corner into the kitchen. "Good morning." He called cheerfully. "What's on the menu for this morning?"

"Waffles."

"How are you going to manage that? I don't own a waffle maker."

"I know. You never heard of frozen waffles? They're really good. Almost as good as homemade. Maybe I'll get a waffle iron this afternoon. I still have most of my pay left."

Tony shook his head disapprovingly. "Polly, that money is supposed to be saved for your trip back home, not to be spent on me and this house. You shouldn't be squandering it on foolish luxuries." He pointed to the food processor sitting on the counter. "I know that didn't come out of the grocery money."

"It's my money and I'll squander it if I choose." She stuck out her lower lip in a mock pout. "That blender makes my job a lot easier. Besides, it was on sale. Twenty percent off. I couldn't pass it up, now could I?"

"What about the things you have bought for me? Like this shirt. I'll bet it wasn't on sale and it certainly doesn't make your job any easier."

"You needed it."

The toaster popped and Polly put the waffles on a plate. She turned, but Tony had anticipated her and was balancing three sausages on the end of the spatula.

"What would you like for dinner?" She asked as he sat down.

"I ... want to ... ah ... talk to you about ... tonight. I am ... ah ... entertaining a friend. A ... female friend. We will be going to dinner, then a show and then perhaps some dancing. Then .. ah ... I'd like to ... bring her ... here. There's only one small ... ah ... problem ... "

"Me. " Polly said. "You'd like me to be gone when you get back."

Tony sighed heavily. "Thank you. I was trying to find the right words."

"No problem. You don't owe me any explanations. We have a working arrangement and the rules are no involvement in the other's personal life. I'll just find an all night movie."

"You don't have to do that. Remember I said there was a nice motel not too far from here? You can spend the night there. I'll even pay for the room. I don't want you spending any more of your money. In the morning, you can return."

"Okay by me."

He reached across the table and kissed her solidly. "Polly, you're beautiful."

Polly blushed noticeably.

##########

Tony was feeling mellow as he walked down the hall. The girl on his arm was definitely what Tony would describe as beautiful. She looked like a model, which, in fact she was. He buried his face in her hair and nuzzled her ear as he opened the door.

Once inside, Jennifer unbuttoned his coat and began undoing his tie. "Tony." She said in a sultry voice. "I hope you aren't mad because I didn't want to go dancing and night clubbing." She said as she slowly undid the buttons of his shirt. "I've had a very hard day, and I have this even harder day tomorrow. The agency is doing swimwear ads at the beach all week" She pulled the shirt out of his trousers. "I'm just all worn out."

"It must be very strenuous work just laying around all day in a skimpy bikini." Tony chided.

"Oh! It is, it is. It's very difficult to be beautiful all the time." Jennifer had a body that went a mile a minute, but somehow, her brain never quite shifted into high gear. "After all, I'm just a homebody at heart."

"In that case." Tony said as he headed for the kitchen. "Why don't you make yourself comfortable. I have some champagne on ice. Let me pour you a drink."

"O-o-o-h!" Jennifer squealed as he returned with a bottle and two glasses. He turned off the lights.

"Now." He said as he loosened the straps of her gown. "Since you're such a homebody, why don't we play house?" He slowly eased the zipper down the back of her dress.

He straightened up with a start as the lights came on. Polly was standing in the doorway.

"OOPS!" Polly said, blushing as Jennifer screamed.

"WHO is that?" Jennifer demanded as she attempted to pull the top of her dress over her.

Tony cleared his throat nervously. "That is my housekeeper, Polly Merrill. Polly, I'd like you to meet Jennifer."

"I didn't expect you to be here." Polly said. "At breakfast, you said you'd be staying out very late. I forgot my nightgown. I'll just get it and be on my way."

"Housekeeper? Breakfast? Nightgown?" Jennifer's voice could freeze ice cubes.

"Jennifer. I can explain ... "

"Oh, I'm sure you have a dandy explanation. MR. LOMAS." She said as she picked up her wrap and handbag. "Only I don't care to hear it." She glared at Polly. "Don't rush off on MY account. I'M leaving."

Tony picked up his jacket and followed her to the door.

"YOU don't have to see me home. I'll call a cab. I have my cell phone."

"I'll call you tomorrow ... "

"As the saying goes, 'Don't call me, I'll call you'." The door slammed behind her.

Polly stared at Tony dejectedly. "I'm sorry. I'll just get my things and I'll be on my way."

"There's no need for you to go now. Since you are already here, you might as well stay. Why don't you get ready for bed?"

"What about you?"

"I think I'll take a cold shower."

##########

Tony slammed the phone on the receiver.

"No answer?" Pete Thompson asked his partner.

"For three days I have been trying to reach Jennifer to attempt to explain about the other night. Either she doesn't answer the phone or I get her answering machine. I've left I don't know how many messages, but she never calls back. The few times she has answered, she hangs up as soon as she hears my voice."

"Why are you letting Jennifer tie you up in knots? That's not like the Tony Lomas I know. If she wants to give you the silent treatment, why don't you just go to the next name on your list."

"It's just that I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea about Polly and me."

"Oh. I see. And just what is there between Polly and you?"

"Pete ... !"

"Anyway, here's something that will take your mine off that. Remember that drug case a few weeks ago?"

"Is that the one where we found the heroin in the wreck of that stolen Mexican car?"

"That's the one. While you were trying to reach Miss Frosty-Ice-Cubes, one of our snitches called. It seems a pusher known as ChiChi Baby took the bait. Apparently he believes the story that the driver was only injured in the crash instead of killed. He wants to set up a meet with Gonzales. That's you."

"When and where?"

"Seven tonight. At a place called La Golendrina. I've already taken the liberty of clearing it with the F.B.I and Narcotics. They'll be there for backup."

Tony picked up the phone and dialed his number. Polly answered. "I won't be home for dinner." He said. " ... No, It's nothing like that ... Yes, I'm sure ... Scouts honor ... I have to work late, and I have no idea when I'll be home. ... Better not wait up ... I've got a better idea. Why don't you take the night off. You haven't been out of the house for almost a month. Do some shopping. Go to a show. Have a good meal at a fancy restaurant ... See you later."

##########

Tony sat at the bar sipping a Sangria with lemon. He would have much preferred a dry martini, but this was what he had been instructed to order. Soon, a man slid onto the bar stool next to him. He was a thin, ebony skinned man with a mouthful of gleaming white teeth showing through thick lips. His suit was a bad imitation of a Humphrey Bogart reject. His hair was cornrowed and a multitude of garish beads hung from the braided ends. On his fingers were several large diamond rings, but it was obvious even to the casual observer that they were cheap imitations. Probably Cubic Zirconium.. A floppy hat and dark sunglasses completed the outfit.

"You Gonzales?" The man asked.

"Who wants to know?" Tony said in a thick Mexican accent.

"ChiChi Baby."

"Then I'm Gonzales."

"Let's go to a table. Someone wants to see you."

Tony picked up the crutches that he had been supplied from the property room and hobbled after ChiChi Baby. He had to keep up the pretense that he was the injured driver of the car.

An obese man sat at the table. In contrast to ChiChi Baby, he wore an expensive hand tailored suit of Italian design. He sported a well trimmed goatee and every carefully manicured finger was adorned with several large real diamond rings. Tony recognized him immediately. He was Earnest Pagliani, otherwise known as 'Ernie Pastrami' the number three man in the West Coast operations of the 'Organization'. His fat fingerprints were found on any number of illegal enterprises. Numbers, gambling, drugs, prostitution, illegal aliens, and many more shady undertakings. On either side of Pagliani were two muscle-bound gorillas.

"Please sit down, Senor Gonzales." Pagliani wheezed, extending his hand toward the empty chair across from him. His hand looked like five sausages attached to a bologna. "ChiChi Baby tells me that we might be able to do some business. You have something for me?"

"You got the money?"

"Smart man, Senor Gonzales." Pagliani said to one of the goons. "Never trust anyone. Learn from him." He turned back to Tony. "I fear that the amount you requested is a bit too large to pay for merchandise sight unseen."

Tony reached into his pocket and pulled out a small plastic bag. It contained a few grams of heroin that had been supplied to him by the Narcotics Bureau. It was high quality uncut stuff. Properly diluted, it had a street value of several thousand dollars. "I too, am cautious. I do not like to carry large amounts of merchandise on my person." He said as he handed the packet to Pagliani. "However, here is a small sample of the goods." He looked up and his heart froze. Polly was sitting a few tables away.

She spotted him and waved. "Hi, Tony." She called as she came to the table where he was. "I had no idea you'd be here. I thought you were working late. And what happened to your leg?" She said, pointing to the fake cast on his right ankle.

"I am afraid you have made a mistake, Senorita." Tony said. "My name is Miguel Gonzales. I do not believe we have ever met."

"Oh." Polly said with a puzzled look on her face. "I guess I did make a mistake. You look just like someone I know." She walked back to her table, but every few steps, she turned and stared at Tony.

"Americano women." Tony said, making a tight circle around his ear. "They think we all look alike."

Laboriously, Pagliani rose from his seat. He put the packet in his pocket. "We'll check everything out very thoroughly, Senor Gonzales. If your claims hold up, we'll be in touch." He waddled out of the restaurant followed by ChiChi Baby and the goons.

Tony waited until he was sure that they had departed and then he, too, left. He was careful not to look at Polly.

##########

He finished talking to the two Federal Narcotics agents and returned to the car where Pete was waiting for him.

"DAMN!" He said, slamming his fist on the dashboard. "Of ALL the restaurants in Greater Los Angeles, WHY did she have to pick THIS one!" He slammed the dash again.

"Easy, Tony. Easy. She had no way of knowing what was going on in there. It was just a weird coincidence. The Feds will take it from here."

"I know she didn't mean to do anything wrong. It just gripes me to see six months of work go down the drain. Especially after WE do all the ground work and then THEY step in and get the credit. WE were called in to investigate the accident and WE were the ones who found the drugs. WE were the ones who dug up all the info. It was OUR idea to impersonate the driver. It was OUR snitches that laid the bait. WE did the work. Now THEY are going to get the collar." He pounded the dash again.

"Another one like that and I'm going to need a new dashboard"

"DRIVE!" Tony growled.

"Where?"

"I don't know. Anywhere. I don't feel like going back just yet."

##########

The Captain was not happy and that was understandable. He had not been entirely in favor of letting Pete and Tony handle the case in the first place. Technically, it was a case for Narcotics, but since Pete and Tony had been the investigating officers and they were the ones who found the cache of drugs, he had allowed himself to be talked into it. Now he insisted that they turn it over to the proper authorities.

He had assembled the Federal agents, and the representatives of the Narcotics Bureau in his office, and the two officers were, rather reluctantly, giving them all the information and evidence they had accumulated. As a matter of policy, Pete and Tony had worked closely with both agencies so this was actually just a formality. Tony had managed to get an agreement from them that, on the slim chance that ChiChi Baby or Pagliani would contact him, they would let him continue on the case, since he had made the initial contact.

##########

Tony was silent all through dinner. Even though Polly had made his favorite dishes, he barely ate anything.

"Tony, isn't there anything I can do to make it up to you? I didn't mean to louse up your case like that. You've got to believe me."

"I know. And I'm not blaming you. It's just one of those things. Unfortunately, there's nothing anyone can do. By now, Pagliani and his people are on the defensive. In a matter of days, they'll have driven this operation so far underground that we couldn't touch them with a drilling rig."

"Can't you arrest them. I mean after all, they were trying to buy drugs from you, or rather from that driver."

"Not with what we've got on them now. They'd have the case thrown out so fast it would make you seasick. We've reviewed the tapes from the restaurant, but there's nothing incriminating on them. For all they reveal, I could have been trying to sell him a pair of shoes as easily as a kilo of heroin. Besides, without corroborating evidence, the tapes are inadmissible in court."

"What about the packet?"

"It wasn't marked. That's the first thing Pagliani would look for, so we decided to wait until a later meeting to give him anything that could be traced. We did have a police photographer there posing as a customer, but he couldn't get close enough. His pictures don't show anything definite. Again, we could have been two friends meeting for a casual drink. So far, it's my word against his. If push comes to shove, he will have a dozen unimpeachable witnesses who will swear on their mothers graves that he was on the other side of town helping little old ladies across the street."

"I've got some closeup pictures of you and Pagliani. One of the things I bought while I was shopping was one of those micro miniature cameras. You know, the kind you can hide in the palm of your hand. I've taken several rolls of film and I know I took a bunch of you and Pagliani. I think one or more of them might show the packet of drugs"

Tony grabbed her and gave her a wet sloppy kiss. "Why didn't you say something about that last night?"

"You were so furious, I couldn't get a word in edgeways. I'll get the film. It's in the pocket of my jacket." Suddenly, her face fell. "Oh no! I sent the coat to the cleaners this afternoon. The rolls were still in the pocket."

"Come on!" He shouted as he grabbed her wrist and headed for the door. "We've got to get that coat back."

###########

Tony pulled into the parking lot of the cleaners. The shop was dark except for the security lights. He tried the door. It was locked.

"That's odd. It's supposed to be open until nine and it's only six thirty. I hope nothing's wrong. Mr. Pellham, that's the owner, seems like such a nice man." Polly said as she headed for the side of the store. "Maybe there's another way in."

The rear door was also locked, but there was a small casement window about six feet from the ground. It was open just a crack. Polly rolled a trash can under it and climbed up. "No one in the back room either." She pushed the window open and slid inside. She motioned for Tony to follow her.

"What do you think you're doing?" He asked as he lowered himself to the floor. "Never mind. I don't think I want to know."

"We came here to get the film, didn't we? Well ..." She started for the cleaning area. "Let's get it."

Near the lobby door was a pile of canvas bags with that day's customer's cleaning in them. Polly started going through them until she found the right one. "Here's our bag." She opened it and began pulling out clothing. "There's my jacket." She reached into the pocket. "And here's the film." She put the four rolls in her purse and stuffed the clothes back into the bag.

"Let's get out of here." Tony said, leading her to the window. As he lifted her up, her head hit the pane. With that, the mechanism that held the window open gave way. She barely managed to jump back as the window slammed shut. She reached up to reopen it, but Tony pulled her away.

"Hey! What was that for?"

Tony pointed to two thin metal strips running along the bottom of the window. "Those are contact strips. As long as the window was open, it was not connected to the burglar alarm system. Now, it is. If you had opened it you would have broken these contacts and we would have had every cop in LA here in a matter of minutes."

"Can't you turn it off?"

Tony shook his head. "It takes a special key, and the only people who have that are the security people and the owner."

"Well, call one of them and tell them to get us out of here. I think Mr. Pellham's number is on the front door."

"I don't think that would be such a good idea. You see, there's a law against what we just did. It's called breaking and entering. We could both go to jail."

"Oh. Maybe there's another way out." They checked all the other doors and windows, but they were all firmly secured.

Polly sat on the conveyer belt of one of the cleaning machines and started to cry softly. "Another fine mess I've got you into." She said.

Tony sat beside her and put his arm around her. "Don't panic. We'll find a way out. Trust me." He jumped off and started to help her down.

His sleeve caught on one of the levers that operated the machine. The belt lurched and Polly was thrown onto the conveyer belt. "T-t-o-o-n-n-y-y-y!" She screamed as she disappeared into what looked like a miniature car wash.

Tony made a grab for her, but he, too was caught in the apparatus. Helpless, they were pelted with alternating streams of soapy and clear water as they traveled the length of the conveyer. At the end, Tony was unceremoniously dumped into a large vat of cold water. He stood up and started laughing. Polly was already sitting chest high in the water, a stream of soapsuds oozing down her face.

"SO! You think that's funny, do you?" She said angrily. She picked up a handful of soapsuds and dumped them on his head. "Now THAT'S funny!" She said laughing.

"No, THIS is funny!" He shouted as he splashed her.

For several minutes, they splashed and dunked each other in the soapy water. Then they collapsed in each other's arms in the tub. There was a sign above it that read 'Do Not Fill Above Red Line'. The water was almost an inch above the red line. They both found this to be hysterically ridiculous.

Still laughing, Tony climbed out of the vat and helped Polly out. He found a duplicate set of controls, and was finally able to turn the machine off. They were obviously in the laundry room. Along one wall were several huge washing machines. On the opposite wall was a row of equally gigantic dryers. In the center was a long table. Tony began emptying his pockets onto the table.

"What do we do now?" Polly asked.

"Elementary, my dear Watson." Tony said with a very bad English accent. "One, we are wet. Two, those are dryers. And three, unless you want to slosh around in those soggy clothes all night and catch your death of cold, I suggest you do as I am doing." He already had his shirt off and was unzipping his trousers.

##########

Polly sat at the table, a sheet wrapped toga style around her. Tony came in carrying several bags of cheese crackers and two cans of soda. He was wearing nothing but a beach towel. "I'm afraid this was all there was in the vending machine. Somehow, I pictured our first dinner out would be something more than Cheesits and Grape Faygo."

By the time they had finished their meal, such as it was, their clothes were dry. They dressed and went back into the main cleaning room. Suddenly, Tony pulled her down behind one of the worktables. Polly started to say something, but Tony firmly clamped his hand over her mouth. Just then, the rear door opened and two men came in. Polly recognized one of them as Mr. Pellham, the owner. The other man was pushing a dolly loaded with boxes. They passed where Tony and Polly were hiding and went into the fur storage vault.

"Come on." Polly whispered. "While they are in there, this is our chance to get out of here."

"Not yet." Tony whispered back. "Those boxes are marked 'Maximillan Furs'. Two days ago, Maximillian's was hit for over two hundred thousand dollars in mink and sable. This was only the latest in a series of similar robberies in the past several months. So far, there have been no clues as to the robbers or the whereabouts of the merchandise. It's not my case, and I don't have all the details, but I'm willing to bet a month's pay that the furs are in those boxes."

The man with the dolly came out. Just as he did, Tony spotted Polly's purse sitting in plain view on the pre wash machine. He held his breath as the man walked right by it, apparently not noticing. As soon as he was outside, Tony slipped out of their hiding place, dashed across the room and grabbed the purse. He managed to get back only seconds before dolly-man came back with another load of boxes.

" ... And nothing could be simpler." Mr. . Pellham was saying. "Who would suspect that stolen furs would be hidden in a fur storage vault. As soon as I remove the salon tags and substitute my own identification checks, no one will be able to prove that they aren't legitimate storage. When the heat dies down I'll fence them through the regular channels, just like I did the others. We'd better get that truck unloaded and out of the way before someone spots it. I wouldn't want this deal queered by something like a parking ticket."

Tony and Polly waited until they heard the truck pull away before they came out from their hiding place. Tony went to the vault and opened one of the boxes. The label on the sleeve was Maximillian's.

"So, what do we do now?" Polly asked.

"Nothing."

"Nothing? You've seen the stolen furs. They practically confessed in front of us. What more do you want?"

"There's a little legal loophole. It says that the police cannot use evidence that was obtained by illegal means. In case you've forgotten, we aren't exactly supposed to be here."

"That's not fair. They'll get away with almost a quarter of a million in hot furs and there's nothing you can do about it. I wish I could do something, But then, I'm not a cop."

Tony grabbed her and planted a wet sloppy kiss on her cheek. "Polly!" He pulled her into a bear hug. "You're a genius!" He swung her around.

"What did I do?"

"You're more than a genius! You're fantastic! Say that again!"

"What did I do?"

"No, I mean the part about you not being the police." He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the office. "I can't do anything, but you can! You're a civilian. The law doesn't apply to you! I'm calling Lieutenant Billings. It's his case."

"What about the breaking and entering?"

"This is far more important than that."

##########

The drive from the police station was strained to say the least. Tony had not spoken to her since they left, and before that, it was only one word answers to her questions. More often than not, her queries were met with silence.

"Tony." Polly finally said. "Yell at me! Scream if you want. You can even hit me if it will make you feel better. Just don't give me the silent treatment."

Tony continued to keep his eyes riveted on the traffic ahead of him.

"Was it really that rough?"

"I got my tail chewed." He said flatly. "Royally. And written up. Also a one week suspension."

"Didn't you tell them why we were there in the first place? That it was my idea and my clumsiness?"

"I didn't mention the clumsy part, but the films were the thing that kept me from going to jail. Officially, there will be no mention of your name in the drug case. The film will have come from an anonymous source. The Narcotics boys are going over them to see if there is anything they can use. Unfortunately, I couldn't do anything about you being arrested. I did talk with the District Attorney, though. He is going to go for probation in exchange for your testimony against Mr. Pellham. That's the best I could do."

"Thank you."

There was no reply.

"Tony, do you remember a few weeks ago, you offered to lend me the money to go back to Cleveland? If you're still willing ... I've changed my mind. I mean, maybe it would be better all around if I just left quickly and quietly."

"You can't do that. You are out on bail. If you leave town before the trial, the judge will issue a bench warrant for your arrest. They'll find you wherever you go and lock you up for jumping bail. If that happens, you'll get the maximum sentence for the breaking and entering, probably three to five years, plus extra time for skipping bail. You really want to do that?"

"Then maybe I'll just move out and get a regular job."

"Can't do that either. You've been released in my custody. That makes me responsible for your actions. I want you right where I can keep an eye on you at all times. Besides, I couldn't lend you the money even if I wanted to. Who do you think posted your bail?"

##########

Tony sat on the couch. Polly wasn't home yet. [Good.] He thought. [That'll give me time to rehearse my apologies.] The past week had not been good. Things at the precinct had gone from bad to worse. Somehow, the pictures that Polly had taken of him and Pagliani were slightly out of focus. All the other pictures were clear and distinct, but these were blurred and fuzzy. There was not enough to definitely identify what was being passed. Nacotics was not pleased, and neither was his Captain. Tony had taken out his frustrations on Polly. Even though he had not been in the best of moods, Polly seemed to understand and take it in stride. He patted his pocket. [This might make up in some small way.]

Just then, Polly came bustling through the door. Her arms were laden with packages and bags. "Sorry I'm late." She said. "As you can see, I've been shopping, and I forgot about the time. You remember me telling you about Ruthie and Mavis from the telephone company. Well, they sent me this birthday card that everybody had signed. They included a check for the money they had collected and they said to get whatever I wanted. So I did! After all, what's a birthday without presents." She deposited her load on the hall table. "Just give me a few minutes and I'll have dinner started. I hope you don't mind if it comes from a carton."

Tony took her arm as she passed him. "You can add this to your other presents." He said, handing her a small package wrapped in brightly colored paper. "Happy Birthday."

"What is this? And how did you know it's my birthday?"

"Your date of birth is on your arrest record. I bribed the desk sergeant to give me a copy. And the only way you'll know what's in the package is if you open it." He barely hid his smile.

Polly quickly tore open the gift. "Perfume! Oh, Tony, you shouldn't have done this!" She wiped her eyes.

"Do you like it?"

"Like it! It's my favorite! Of course I like it!"

"Then I should have done it. Why don't you go and put some on. While you're at it, why don't you put on that blue dress of yours. You know, the one with the ... " he ran his fingers from the base of his neck to the middle of his chest several times. " ... You know the one I mean."

Polly started into the bedroom.

"And you don't have to worry about dinner. I've made reservations at Armando's"

##########

The evening had been perfect. The dinner was exquisite. Tony had even arranged for a cake and the waiters and the dinner guests sang "Happy Birthday" as they lit the candles. After, there was dancing until the place closed.

Polly was feeling very little pain as they returned to the apartment. Tony unlocked the door and guided her into the living room.

"This has been the best birthday I've ever had." She said as she executed a wobbly pirouette. Tony caught her as she lost her balance. "Tony ... I think I'm a little drunk." She said. "I've

never had Champagne before. It tickles my nose."

"I'm not exactly sober either." He said as he pulled her close to prevent her from falling. "You should have Champagne more often. You were meant for it." He looked at her for a few moments and then slowly began kissing her forehead. He trailed feather kisses down her cheek and her neck. Each kiss was more passionate than the one before. Finally his lips found hers.

"Tony!" She said sternly. "Tony? OH! Tony!"

He was still kissing her as they went into the bedroom.

##########

The sun filtered through the bedroom window and traced a brilliant swath across her face. Polly cautiously opened one eye. Her worst fears were confirmed. It was morning. She closed her eye. She sat up and groaned. Holding her head to keep it from falling off, she slowly eased herself back onto the pillow. She opened the other eye. It was still morning.

Tony came in. He was wearing his pajama bottoms. Suddenly Polly was aware that she was wearing nothing. She drew the covers tightly around her neck. He sat on the edge of the bed. To Polly, it felt as though an earthquake had struck.

"Here." He said, handing her a glass of green-ish liquid. "Drink this. You'll feel better."

"What is it?"

"Doctor Lomas's patented hangover cure. It's a family secret, handed down from generation to generation. Grandmother Lomas swore by it. Come to think of it, Grandfather Lomas swore at it. It works. Guaranteed."

It smelled vaguely of limes. Holding her nose, Polly drained the glass and handed it back to him. "Tony ... Last night ... Did you ... Did I ... I mean did we ... Or did I just dream it."

"Polly, I care very much for you. And our relationship is very special to me. I would never do anything that would compromise that relationship or that would make you ashamed of yourself ... or of me."

"Then it was just a dream."

"On the other hand, you are a woman." He stood up and turned away from her. "A very beautiful and desirable woman." He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. " ... And I am a man. I have wanted you for a long time."

"Then we did."

"Polly ... I ... I ... I'm sorry. I guess I was more drunk than I thought I was." He hung his head and paced the floor. "If you still want to find a place of your own, and if you want to return to Cleveland when the trial is over, I will give you the money. No strings attached. I ... "

She put her hand on his arm. "Tony, I don't want to leave. What happened last night was bound to happen sooner or later. I have wanted you as much as you wanted me. I think I started falling in love with you when I saw you standing in the bathroom dripping wet on that first day."

Tony sat on the bed and embraced her tightly. His eyes were wet. "Oh! Polly! I ... I know I've been in love with you from the very start." He kissed her passionately and she returned his kiss with equal passion. Slowly, they parted.

"How is your head?" He asked.

Polly felt her head. "It's a miracle! It doesn't hurt anymore. Whatever was in that secret concoction of yours really does work."

He handed her a robe and drew her to her feet and into a bear hug. "Get dressed. I feel like doing something wild and wonderful. I don't know what, but I do know I want to do it with you."

##########

For the next several weeks, Polly and Tony did every wild, wonderful thing that came into their minds. They found a playground and took turns pushing each other on the swings. They went down the slides and swung from the jungle gym. They went to the zoo and fed peanuts to the elephants and the monkeys and to each other. The went to Magic Mountain and Tony won a huge panda and they both got sick from too much cotton candy and fifteen rides on the roller coaster. Now they were sitting on the beach watching a pair of gulls enjoying a thermal rising off the evening tide.

Polly snuggled her head in Tony's lap. "Why haven't you ever married?"

Tony became serious and absently toyed with a stray strand of her hair. "Perhaps because I have never found the right woman. Or perhaps because I'm not ready to make that sort of commitment. You have seen the scar on my side. Eight years ago, I was critically wounded in a shootout and nearly died. Since then, I have lived for the moment, not concerned with what will happen tomorrow. For me, tomorrow may not ever come. Maybe that is selfish, but I cannot bring myself to ask a woman to be my widow."

"I know that the odds are greater for you than for an accountant or a salesman. Sure, you could be killed in the line of duty, but you could also be run down by a speeding car on Pasadena Boulevard. You are being selfish, but not for the woman. You are denying yourself so much ... a family ... a home ... love. You are rejecting all of this for something that might never happen. You could just as easily die in your sleep at age ninety nine."

Tony held her close. She could feel him trembling. "Polly. Share my moment with me. Take it and cherish it as long as it lasts. Do not ask for anything more. When it is over, perhaps you will cry a little. I know I will. Then, find yourself a salesman and share your life with him."

"I loved a salesman once. His name was Joe. He is dead."

He buried his face in her hair. She could not see the tears rolling down his cheeks.

##########

Tony stared blankly at the calendar on his desk.

" ... And then for something else to do, I went upstairs and shot my mother-in-law."

Startled, Tony looked up. Pete Thompson was standing at his desk. Tony was aware that he had been standing there for some time.

"Thought that would get a rise out of you." Pete said, waving his hand in front of Tony's face several times. "Earth to Lomas. Come on down to reality. You haven't heard a word I said."

"Sorry, Pete. I've been doing some very serious soul searching the past few weeks, and I've just about come to a decision."

"Polly."

Tony nodded. He opened his drawer and took out a brown velvet jewelers box. Inside was a Florentine finished ring. In the center was a large diamond surrounded by six smaller ones.

Pete gave a low whistle. "That's some rock. Must have set you back a bundle. What bank did you rob?"

"Two hundred fifty down and a hundred a month for the rest of my natural life. Do you think she'll like it?"

"She's crazy if she doesn't. When's the big day?"

"I haven't asked her yet."

"I never thought I'd see this day. Mr. Love-Em-And-Leave-Em Anthony Lomas is taking the plunge. Going to walk the final hundred yards down the aisle."

"If she'll have me."

Pete took the ring out of the box and slipped it over the tip of his little finger. He looked at it from every angle. "Tell you what. If she won't marry you, I will."

"I'm not joking, Pete."

"I know. I wish you and Polly the best. If anyone deserves it, you two do. You two were made for each other." He took the ring off and handed it back to Tony.

"I didn't come here to talk about your love life, though. It seems Pagliani bought the story we gave him. According to our contact, ChiChi Baby wants to set up another meet. Maybe this time, we'll get lucky."

"I hope so. I've seen the kind of damage Pagliani and his scum can do. I want him, Pete. I want him real bad."

"ChiChi Baby has the special number. Now all we have to do is wait for him to tell us where and when."

##########

They sat in the darkened interrogation room, the special phone between them. This was so that when the call came though, there wouldn't be any background sounds to give it away that they were in a police station. The only light was from a desk lamp on the table.

Tony took a card from his hand and discarded it. Pete picked it up and melded it with his hand. "Gin." He announced as he laid down his cards. "Let's see ... at a dollar a game and a penny a point, that's another $1.52 you owe me."

"Put it on my bill."

Pete made a few calculations. "All told, that's $19.67. Double or nothing?"

Tony shook his head. "I just can't seem to concentrate."

"So I noticed." He looked at his watch. "It's almost ten o'clock. I don't think they'll call. I'm going to call the switchboard and have them relay any calls to your home phone, just in case. As for me, I'm headed home. You can reach me there if any thing happens."

##########

Polly was sitting on the couch in an old bathrobe. "I didn't expect you home tonight. I thought you'd be working late."

"So did I. Apparently, the contact didn't materialize, so I came home. If he does call, it will be forwarded here."

"I saved some dinner. Just in case."

"Thanks. I'm starved." He kissed her and went into the kitchen. He took the plate out of the refrigerator and slipped it in the microwave. Then he got a beer. Just then the phone rang. He went into the living room and plugged a special connection into a tape recorder and then picked up the receiver.

"Yes ... Yes ... Very well ... I'll be there." He hung up the phone and disconnected the recorder. He dialed Pete's number. "Pete? ... Tony ... Bingo! ... Sunset Motel ... Room 87 ... Give me an hour's head start."

He picked up his coat and started to the door. Polly embraced him tightly.

"It's my job." He said as though he had read her thoughts. "Wish me luck."

"Tony, be careful. Come back to me." She said as she kissed him.

She watched at the window until Tony's car had disappeared into the traffic. She picked up his beer and raised it. "Good luck, Tony." He had been on all night assignments before, and Polly knew there was nothing to do but wait. She took his dinner from the microwave and put it back in the refrigerator.

The phone rang and Polly ran to answer it.

"Miss Merrill." The voice was a coarse whisper. "If you want to see your boyfriend alive again, come to the Sunset Motel. Room 87. Come alone and don't tell anyone."

"Who is this?" She shouted. Her answer was a click and then the dial tone.

Polly opened Tony's telephone book to Pete's number.

##########

A fist slammed into Tony's stomach. He doubled over in pain. Two men, ChiChi Baby and one identified only as Lang, held him tightly and forced him erect. A third, the one who had hit him, cocked his fist to repeat the act, but a pudgy hand retrained him.

"That will be sufficient, Moose. I think he will cooperate now." Pagliani turned to Tony. "Let's try this one more time. You are a policeman. Correct."

"What makes you think that?" Tony said. His voice was slightly muffled by his puffed, bloody lower lip.

"Come now, Sergeant Lomas. You obviously know all about us. Therefore, it is only logical that we know all about you. A ... friend at police headquarters has been keeping us informed about everything."

"If you knew the police were on to you, why did you set up this meet?"

"Because, Sergeant, you have become a thorn in my side. A thorn I intend to remove."

"You intend to kill me." It was a statement, not a question.

"Eventually. First though, I'm going to let Moose here, have some fun. He isn't very bright, but he really does enjoy inflicting pain. Don't you, Moose."

"Yeah, Mr. Pagliani. I like that real good" Moose said pounding one meaty fist into the other. He spread his arms wide and slammed them together against Tony's sides. Tony felt bones breaking.

There was a knock at the door, and once more Pagliani restrained Moose. "That must be our other guest. Lang, let her in."

Lang released his hold on Tony and went to the door. He opened it and dragged a frightened Polly into the room.

"What is she doing here?" Tony asked angrily. "She has nothing to do with this."

"She is here by my invitation." Pagliani said. "She knows too much. Her pictures nearly blew this entire operation. Fortunately, my ... friend was able to cover."

"They said if I didn't come, they'd kill you."

"They are going to kill me anyway." He held her tightly. It was worth the pain.

ChiChi Baby started to pull them apart.

"ChiChi Baby." Pagliani said sarcastically. "Is there no romance in your soul? Let the lovers have their last embrace. It's so touching ... "

Tony put his face close to hers as though he was kissing her. "I have an idea." He whispered. "It's a desperate one, but it's all we've got. With a lot of luck, though, it just might work. How hysterical can you get?"

"Right now." She whispered back. "Very."

"Good. When I give the signal, give it all you've got. Our lives depend on it."

"That's enough." Pagliani said. "I'd like to continue this tender moment, but we do have business to attend to." He point to a table. "Lang, take Miss Merrill and keep a close eye on her. We'll get to her as soon as we have finished with Sergeant Lomas, here. Somehow, I think Moose will get a kick out of having her watch as the Sergeant dies." A depraved sneer spread across his face.

Lang grabbed Polly and roughly led her toward the table. Tony waited until they were almost there and began nodding his head.

Polly screamed and began thrashing in Lang's arms. Then she dropped to the floor. At the same time, Tony rammed his elbows into ChiChi Baby's stomach. He doubled over. Moose made a grab for Tony, but he dropped to all fours and the huge man went flying across Tony's back and his head hit the floor with a sickening thud. Tony looked up. ChiChi Baby had a gun. Tony dove for the side of the bed as a bullet whistled past his head and hit the wall behind him.

Lang made a grab for Tony, but Tony pulled him on top of him just as ChiChi Baby fired again. Tony felt Lang stiffen as the bullet hit home. Frantically, Tony searched Lang's pockets for his gun.

ChiChi Baby had retreated to the bathroom. Tony crouched along the bed for position. Suddenly the bathroom door opened and ChiChi Baby came out shooting. He retreated into the bathroom again. Tony rolled over the bed, firing at the door as he went. The door opened once more and ChiChi Baby came out, a blank look on his face. Tony fired again and the black man slowly crumbled to the floor. Tony wheeled and trained the gun on Pagliani, who was cowering behind a faux leather easy chair.

"Don't shoot!" Pagliani said. "Don't shoot. I'm not armed."

"Just give me one excuse. That's all I need."

Pagliani stood up, his arms as far above his head as he could get them. Suddenly a half smile crossed his face. "I won't give you any excuses. I won't have to. You've been wounded pretty badly."

Tony was suddenly aware of a searing pain in his left shoulder. It was becoming increasingly difficult to breathe.

"All I have to do is wait you out. From the way you're bleeding, I'm betting you won't make it until reinforcements arrive."

"That's a bet you'd lose." Pete Thompson was standing in the doorway flanked by two policemen. Behind him was a frightened motel manager. Pete motioned and the manager took off running. The two officers escorted Pagliani and a groggy Moose out of the room.

"Polly! Polly!" Tony cried as he made his way to her. She was still laying on the floor, her eyes closed. Tony held her close and began kissing her frantically. Her eyes fluttered open.

"I think I really did faint." She said. She noticed the blood running down his shirt. "Tony! You've been hurt!"

"It's not important." He said, still kissing her. "You're all right and that's the only thing that counts."

Over his protests, Pete and Polly helped him to the bed.

"I'll call for an ambulance." Pete said as Polly pressed a towel to his chest in an effort to stop the bleeding. Pete returned a few minutes later. Well, it looks like this puts 'Ernie Pastrami' and his crew out of business."

"Not completely." Tony said weakly. "Pagliani had someone at headquarters feeding him information. He knew every move we made. Polly did not blow my cover at La Golendrina. He already knew who I was even then."

"A leak? I'll get on it first thing in the morning."

"That won't be necessary. I know who the leak is. Pagliani knew that Polly had taken photos of our meeting. While the pictures themselves were common knowledge, only three people knew the identity of the photographer. Me .. The Captain ... And you. Why did you do it, Pete?"

Pete's face fell. "I had no choice. We all have our weaknesses. Yours was beautiful women. Mine was the horses. I was up to my earlobes in debt when one of Pagliani's stooges came to me. He

offered to tear up all my IOU's in exchange for a little inside information. I balked at first, but then I realized I was between the proverbial rock and the hard spot. I couldn't pay off the notes any other way, and if I went to the Captain, he'd probably kick me off the force for illegal gambling.

After my debts were canceled, they started paying me for the information. It was easy by then. Besides, what I gave them, they would have gotten sooner or later anyway. Nobody got hurt. At least not until now."

He went over and picked up the gun ChiChi Baby had been using. "I'm sorry, Tony. I really hate to do this, but again, I have no choice. The report I turn in will say that Pagliani and Moose escaped before I got here. You died before the ambulance arrived." He pointed the gun at Polly. "Tragically, Polly was killed by a stray bullet. "

"Drop it!" The Captain stood in the doorway with several policemen and F.B.I. agents, their guns drawn.

"You can thank Miss Merrill for our being here. She called us after she called you, Pete. She wanted to double check, only we never received your call. We were here when you arrived, but unfortunately not in time to help Sergeant Lomas. We decided to let you play out your little scene. We have Pagliani and Moose as well as the two phony officers in custody." He turned to the officer who was handcuffing Pete. "Read him his rights and get him out of here. He makes me sick."

"You have the right to remain silent ... "

The captain went to the bed where one of the other officers was tending to Tony. "It's pretty bad, Sir."

The Captain looked at Polly, who was near panic. "Take it easy. The emergency squad will be here any minute."

"It'll be a very long minute." Pete said as the officer led him to the door. "I never called them."

In the background. the wail of a siren grew louder.

"I did." The Captain said.

##########

The waiting room was crowded with patients and their families. A steady stream of doctors, nurses and attendants went in and out of the Emergency room. From her position near the door, Polly could catch an occasional glimpse of the teaam working on Tony every timethe door opened. The Captain came to her and handed her a cup of coffee.

"Hang in there, Miss Merrill. You aren't doing yourself or him any good by standing here worrying. They're doing everything possible for him. They'll let us know if there is any news. Tony's tough. I wish I had a hundred more like him."

She took the coffee and the Captain led her to one of the unused

seats.

"What will happen to Pete?" She asked.

"It's all up to the courts, but my guess is that he'll be spending quite some time in prison. He definitely will be off the force."

It's a shame. I liked him."

"Me, too, but a bad cop ... " The captain's voice trailed off. "I do have some good news, though. Mr. Pellham, the cleaning shop owner has given the D.A. a full confession and has entered a guilty plea. The D.A. has decided not to prosecute on the breaking and entering charge. That means you are no longer under arrest. All you have to do is come downtown and sign the release papers and you are free. I was going to call you in the morning to tell you."

The doctor came out. "We are preparing him for surgery. He has a mass of bruises and contusions. He also has three broken ribs, and he has lost a great deal of blood. Even so, he is very lucky. As

far as we can tell from the x-rays, the bullet only grazed his lung. You can see him for a few minutes. He is conscious, but he has been sedated. He has been asking for you."

Polly gasped involuntarily as she saw Tony laying on the gurney. His face was colorless. Intravenous tubes carried blood and other life giving fluids into his arms. Monitors kept track of his heartbeat and respirations. She leaned through the seemingly endless tangle of tubes and wires and kissed him gently on the cheek. He opened his eyes.

"Polly." He said. The oxygen mask made his voice sound hollow. "Polly, I love you very much. What you did took a lot of courage. You were very brave."

"What I did took a lot of stupid. If I hadn't gone to the motel, you wouldn't be laying here with a bullet in your chest."

"In an way, you're right. If it weren't for you, I probably would be lying on a slab in the morgue with a tag on my big toe. You saved my life, and yours as well. They would have killed you too."

Polly choked back tears. "You could still die."

Tony brought his hand to his forehead and fingered a small scar. "I have survived worse wounds." He said with a slight smile.

Polly smiled as well as she remembered the incident with the pan of water. Tony took her hand. "That's better." He said weakly.

A nurse came into the enclosure carrying a hypodermic tray. "I'm sorry, Miss. You'll have to leave now. They're ready for him in the operating room."

"Just a few minutes more." Tony pleaded. "There is something I've got to tell her."

"Whatever it is, it'll have to wait until later." The nurse inserted the needle into the end of the IV tube and pushed the plunger.

Tony took Polly's hand and held it tightly. "Polly ... " His voice slurred as he fought to remain conscious. "Polly ... Promise me ... You will be there ... when I wake up ... Polly ... I ... " His hand relaxed as the drug took effect. "I ... love ... you ... " He mumbled as they wheeled him into the hallway.

##########

Polly hesitated for a few seconds before opening the door to the Intensive Care Unit. Tony had been unconscious since the surgery yesterday. "Mr. Lomas?" She asked the nurse at the desk.

"Room four." The nurse replied. "But he's still unconscious. We expect him to awaken some time this evening. If you want to come back then, you can see him."

"I won't be able to come back tonight.. I only want to see him fora few minutes. Please. It's very important."

The nurse nodded.

Polly stood by the bed. Except for the slight movement of the covers and the steady beep of the monitor, there was no sign of life. Polly leaned over and kissed him softly.

"In a way, I'm glad you're not awake. If you were, I don't know if I'd have the guts to say what I'm going to say or to do what I'm going to do. Tony, I love you. More than you'll ever know. That is why I'm going back to Cleveland. I've caused you nothing but pain and trouble since I came here. If I stay ... " She pushed back the tears. "I should have done this a long time ago. I already have my ticket. My plane leaves in four hours." She took his hand and pressed it to her face. "I'll never forget you, Tony. You have been good to me and good for me. I'll always have the memories of the moment. I know I'll cry more than a little. You can't hear what I'm saying, so I wrote it all down." She took an envelope from her purse and fastened it to his pillow with a piece of adhesive tape. "I've got to go or I'll miss my plane." She kissed him tenderly. "Goodbye. Get well soon. Take care." Her voice cracked. "I love you."

She turned and walked away, the tears running down her face.

##########

Tony crumbled the report and threw it into the wastebasket. He took out a new form. This was supposed to be a routine investigation of a minor disturbance, but Tony could not concentrate. He took several deep breaths to try and clear his head, but that just made his chest hurt. Perhaps he shouldn't have came back to work so soon, but after two weeks in the hospital and another three weeks of sitting in the apartment staring at the walls, he was ready to climb them.

He had read Polly's letter at least a thousand times. His first impulse was to go after her, but he was too weak for a cross country trip. By the time he was stronger, he had time to think it over. It was her decision, after all. He had not asked for or promised her anything more.

He left his desk and went to the hall to the water fountain. He took out a vial of pills and shook two of them into his hand, When he returned to his desk, Franklin was replacing the receiver on Tony's phone. Franklin was Tony's new partner.

"You okay, Sarge?"

Tony nodded. "Shoulder's bothering me a little."

"That was the Captain. He wants to see you in his office."

"Sit down, Tony." The Captain said. "I'm sure you realize the you have been less than useless since you've been back. Are you sure you aren't trying to do too much too soon?"

"Perhaps you are right. Maybe I'm not fully recovered."

"From what, Tony. Your broken ribs or your broken heart."

Tony looked puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

This." The Captain handed him a requisition form. "You sent it to the supply room yesterday. 'Two boxes of staples. Five reams of printer paper. A dozen pencils. One Polly Merrill. I love you, Tony.' That torch you're carrying is bright enough to light up all of Southern California and parts of the Baja."

Tony forced a smile. "Hey, come on,, Cap. You know me. Love-Em-And-Leave-Em-Lomas. Never-Get-Involved. That's my motto. Just give me a few days and things will be back to normal."

"Somehow I can't buy that in this case. It's obvious you're still in love with her."

"She has embarrassed me. She has infuriated me. She has frustrated me. And yes ... I love her so much it hurts just to think of her."

"Then what are you doing here? Go get her. Drag her to the nearest Justice Of The Peace and marry her."

"It's no use. She has gone back to Cleveland. The only thing I can do is try to forget her."

"Tony, I've known you a long time. We came up through the ranks together. In all those years, I've never known you to give up on anything you really want without a hell of a fight. And believe me, Polly Merrill is worth fighting for." He took out a sheet of paper from his desk. "Sergeant Lomas." He said authoritatively. "As your superior officer, it is my considered opinion that you are not sufficiently recuperated from your wounds to return to active duty. Therefore, I am authorizing an additional month of convalescent leave." He signed the paper with a flourish. "I understand the atmosphere around Cleveland Ohio has miraculous healing powers. A month should be enough for a honeymoon." He handed the paper to Tony. "Now, get out of here."

##########

Polly absently toyed with the keyboard of her computer. The monitor displayed what she had typed.

Tony Lomas

Mr. Anthony Lomas

Polly Lomas

Mrs. Anthony Lomas

Beside each name, the computer had noted 'no such person listed'

"You're right." Polly answered the computer. "There is no such person. Maybe it's all a figment of my overactive imagination."

Her callboard buzzed and Polly cleared the screen.

"Operator assistance, May I help you? ... Your little boy did what to your cordless phone? ... No, sir, our repairmen can't do anything about that ... You'll have to get a plumber ... No, sir, we cannot make any recommendations ... Why don't you try the yellow pages? ... They're where? ... Perhaps you have a friend who will let you borrow theirs ... You're welcome, sir .. Same to you, sir."

As she unplugged her headset, Ruthie leaned over to her. "How do you get a marching band out of a phone booth?"

"A what?"

"A phone booth. You know the Deco Shoppe, that new fifties theme restaurant that just opened? It seems that the Central High Marching Band decided to try and break the world's record for stuffing people in a phone booth and now they're stuck. Instruments and all. Should I call the Rescue Squad or a wrecking crew?"

"Why not call both. Try the Rescue Squad first."

Ruthie transferred the call to 911. "Did anybody check to see if there was a full moon last night?" She asked. "That's the fourth weirdo call I've had and it isn't even noon."

"Three for me. One of them even tried to make a pass at me."

"Was he sexy?"

"It was a woman."

"Oh."

Polly and Ruthie were busy talking and did not notice the man who entered the room and went to the supervisor's office.

Polly's callboard buzzed again. "Operator assistance, May I help you? ... Yes, Mrs. Petrie. Right away." She disconnected her board. "Cover for me, Ruthie. Our Glorious Leader summons."

Polly opened the door and stopped short. "TONY!" She cried as she ran toward him. He held her at arm's length. His face was grim. "Would you please leave us." He said to the supervisor.

Mrs. Petrie left the room.

"Miss Polly Merrill. You are under arrest. The charge is theft." He said solemnly as he handed her a document.

"What are you talking about? I never stole anything. The charges from the dry cleaning store were dropped. I signed the release papers and I have a copy at my apartment."

"I know. This is much more serious than that. When you left Los Angeles, you took something from me. Something of great value. You took my heart. My love. My being. You took yourself. The penalty for that is life. It's all there." He pointed to the paper in Polly's hand.

Polly opened it. "This isn't a warrant. It's a marriage license!"

"Not exactly. It has to be filled out first, but the judge can do that before he marries us." Tony held her close. "Polly, you were right. I mean about a family, love and all the rest. I wanted to tell you that at the hospital, but there wasn't time before they took me to surgery, and you were gone by the time I came to. I want to share the moment with you. Not just this moment, but every moment for the rest of our lives." He reached into his pocket and brought out the brown velvet box. "What I'm trying to say is, I love you, Polly and I am asking you to marry me."

"First of all, to the charge of stealing your heart, I plead guilty. But then, you have stolen mine as well. Second, YES! YES! YES! I will marry you. YES! YES! YES!"

Her last 'Yes' was cut off as Tony's mouth covered hers.

##########

The day was bright and sunny and the warm air was in delightful contrast to the cool ocean water that lapped over the beach. As each wave subsided, Polly dug her toes into the wet sand. She peered over her shoulder at the two sets of footprints along the water's edge and squeezed Tony's hand. The wind coming off the water was pure with just a hint of saltiness to it. It was a perfect day. It was THE perfect day. The only kind of a day for a couple on their honeymoon.