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“They?” Frances thought quickly, “well whenever you hear about something and people keep talking about it so much that no one ever knows who said what, that’s ‘they.’”

“Oh,” Drake nodded trying desperately to understand but couldn’t. Must be something like Santa Claus. They want us to believe it him but . . . They . . . hey that’s the they. “Yeah I get it,” Drake smiled broadly. They. “Do you believe in Santa Claus?” Drake turned to Frances then to Jackie. “Do you?”

“Uh . . .”

“Well honey,” Jackie started. “What do you think? Do you think there’s really a Santa Claus?”

“Weeeelllll,” Drake chewed her lip and thought hard. “when I was in that other place he never came.”

“Never?” Jackie asked startled.

Drake shook her head, “no he never came.”

“You know I think I worked that case.” Frances looked at both women.

“Worked the case?” Jackie asked surprised.

“Yeah, for a few years Santa had some of his list stolen. I was assigned to work that case.”

Jackie brightened, “really? I remember hearing about it but never knew it was so serious.”

“Oh, yes. It was very serious. Seems as though one of the uh . . .”

“Wasn’t it an elf?”

“Yeah, one of the elves uh . . . well, I really shouldn’t be talking about a case.”

“What happened Frances? Why did Santa forget about me?”

“Well,” the detective took a deep breath and held the younger woman’s hand. “It appears that one of the elves accidentally left the toyshop door unlocked and the Grinch stole part of the gift list that had names and addresses on it.”

Drake was mesmerized. “Wow. I guess it’s good you lock your doors, uh Jackie.”

“Yes Drake,” the woman flashed a glare at the detective. “So what did the Grinch do Frances?”

“Well, he tried to steal the presents after Santa delivered them. He did get a lot of them for a few years. He was really hard to catch though. Matter of fact,” the woman tapped her finger to her cheek, “I think they made a movie out of it called ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas.’”

“So Santa didn’t forget me? The Grinch stole my presents?”

The detective smiled, “absolutely. Boy were we happy to catch him.”

“Maybe the Grinch was stealing presents because no one gave him presents.” Drake looked at the police officer, “you think?”

“That’s a possibility Drake. I never asked him”

“Maybe for Christmas I’ll get him a present so he won’t feel so sad and want to take someone elses.”

“That is very thoughful Drake.” The detective stood, “well I guess I should be going.” She turned to Jackie, “if I need additional info I’ll touch base with you.”

“Certainly,” Jackie led the woman to the door and opened it, “I’d like to drop by Drake’s house tomorrow and pick up
more of her things since she’ll be staying with me. Would that be okay?”

“No problem. I can accompany you if you like?”

“That would be good,” she glanced at Drake who was looking at her x-rays again. “I really don’t know how she’ll react to being back there after all that’s happened to her. But I want her to be able to take things she wants.”

“I understand,” Frances smiled and squeezed the woman’s arm. “She’s very special.”

Jackie bowed her head, “so was her brother.”

“You loved him.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yes. We were to be married three years ago, then he found Drake. We decided to put it off until she was more settled
and felt safe. Then,” she swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. “Then last year he was diagnosed with the cancer and he wanted to wait until he beat it. He never did.” She turned to the tall, dark haired woman. “We both miss him very much.”

Jimmie pulled a beer from the fridge and twisted off the cap tossing it across the room. The house was quiet without
Drake. He wasn’t sure he liked it that way. He took a long pull from the bottle and dropped into the easy chair putting his feet up on the coffeetable. Palmer would hate that. But hey Palm you’re dead now. He chuckled to himself. Tried to pull a fast one on me selling half of CTI to that broad. Well, ole boy, I got the last laugh.

Jimmie followed the supervisor into the room his crisp starched white uniform reflecting the dull lights. “And this is the dayroom.” The man waved his arm over the collection of tables and chairs. “We like them to spend a few hours a day in here. You know, socializing, that sort of thing.”

He looked around the room where a dozen or so patients sat staring at invisible objects, conversing with invisible friends
or just rocking to unhearable music. “This is socializing?” Even he was surprised.

“Hey what do you expect, they’re retards.”

A throat cleared behind them and both men swung to face the owner.

“Taggert we don’t call them that. They are mentally challenged.”

“Yes Dr. Rogerio.”

“You the new man?” Rogerio held his hand out and they shook.

“Yes Jimmie Bright,” Jimmie smiled.

“Hope you have a better attitude than Taggert.” He nodded and strode from the room.

“He’s still got this idealistic streak. Give him a couple years and it will be gone.” The two men left the dayroom and continued the tour. “What we have here are rich kids gone bad. Their folks can’t handle the scizo’s anymore so mummy and daddy send them here. It costs twice as much as it should, which helps apease the guilt. “Then we got the psycotics who tried to burn the house down or raped the maid.” He shook his head. “We got some that are just plain slow and the folks didn’t want anyone to know there was a retard in the family.” They stopped at the timeclock and Taggert punched out. He handed Jimmie a set of keys. “Welcome to Greystone.” And left.

“Hey Bright,” Taggert slapped the man’s shoulder. “Got anything going tonight?”

“Nah. Thought I’d go to The Bleary Eye and check out the pussy.”

“Want to make some extra dough?”

“No I love living on the edge of poverty. Why?”

“Come back tonight. There’s a grand in it for you if you help out.”

“With what?”

“See you tonight.” Taggert turned and entered the office.

“Damn she’s beautiful.” Jimmie looked through the small window in the door.

“Yeah that’s Drake.”

“Why’s she in the rubber room?”

“Dr. Reiger wanted her here tonight.” He pulled the keys and opened the door. “Ready to come with us Drake?” He turned to Jimmie, “makes it easier to take her out.”

“Take her out?”

“What are you a fucking parrot?” Taggert pulled the tall, dark haired woman from the room and relocked the door.
"Yeah, take her out. As in out of the building.”

“Okay,” Jimmie wanted to clobber the guy, “why are we taking her from the building and where are we taking her?” They stepped out into a cold New England January.

“We’re taking her there,” Taggert pointed to a two story structure across the expanse of grass.

“Doesn’t Reiger live there?”

Taggert turned to Jimmie and laughed, “and you win the million dollars. Yes, you idiot that’s where the head of the damn place lives. And that’s where Drake’s going for several hours.” He pulled the woman along and pushed the doorbell when they arrived. “If you know what’s good for you you’ll keep your frigging mouth shut.”

“Shit,” Jimmie heard the voice.

Bastard Taggert. What the fuck he doing here? Jimmie pulled the gun from his waistband with one hand and switched on the light with the other. “Hello Raymond.”

The man on the stair turned in startlement missing a step and tumbling down the stairway.

“Oops that musta hurt,” Jimmie leaned down and felt the pulse at the man’s neck. “Still with us you bastard.” He stashed the gun back into the waistband and pulled the man into the kitchen. Jimmie opened the basement door and, with effort, lifted the man to his feet and dragged him to the stairway then pushed him. Raymond Taggert went head over heels over and over to the basement floor. “Hope you had a nice trip.”

Jimmie sat on the mattress in the basement as he finished his second beer waiting for his guest to awaken from the unplanned nap. When he heard the moan from the crumpled form at the end of the stairs Jimmie stood and stretched.
"Wake up Taggert.”

“Shit what happened.”

“You fell down the stairs.” Jimmie stood over the man and nudged him with his shoe. “Come on get up.”

Taggert rolled over and pushed himself to his knees. “My head is killing me.”

Jimmie aimed the gun at the man, “it won’t be the only thing if you don’t move to the corner quick.”

Taggert did as he was told. “What’s this about Bright?”

“That’s what I’d like to know. What's this with you breaking into my house in the middle of the night?”

“Uh,” Taggert rubbed his temples with his palms. “Reiger.”

“Reiger what?”

“Wants to make sure the retard isn’t going to be able to identify him.”

“He sent you here to kill her?” Jimmie was stunned.

“He said you wouldn’t do it.”

“Fucking bastard. Of course I won’t do it. She knows nothing.”

“He figures you fell for her. She may be short a few screws upstairs, but shit the broad’s drop dead gorgeous.”

“Which is why he wanted her in the films he made at Greystone. Which is why he screwed her brains out and made her pregnant. Which is why he made sure she got an abortion because if the kid came out looking anything like him he’d be outta his job. Which is why . . .”

“Look Jimmie, I know he fucked you over. I had no way to help you there.”

“You’re a pretty dim bulb yourself  Taggert if you think Reiger is going to keep you around to open your big mouth. He’s got the most to loose.”

“He said the cops visited last night.”

“Yeah. But you got the film. I never keep that stuff in the house. You got everything. I told him that. And Drake ain’t talking. Even if she does no one would believe her. She hasn’t got anything they can nail any of us with. Nothing. Nada.” Jimmie watched as Taggert slipped his hand into a pocket, “I hope you’re reaching for fags.”

Taggert pulled a rumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket and smiled as he shook one out and slipped it between his teeth then lit it.

“Disgusting habit Raymond. You should know better.”

Taggert laughed. “Yeah I should. You know my old man died of lung cancer?” He slid his hand to his ankle and
scratched it then moved it up toward his calf.

“Go ahead Raymond get the gun.” Jimmie smiled and pulled his hand from his own shirt pocket. “I have the bullets though.”

Taggert pulled the weapon, aimed it at Bright and squeezed the trigger. CLICK. CLICK. CLICK. He threw the gun across the opposite wall where it ricocheted onto the concrete floor and spun to a stop. “Shit Jimmie this is big business now. Reiger has guys in Cambodia and Japan who are copying and distributing like crazy.”

“Yeah and how much of the money have you seen.”

“Enough to make it worth my while to make sure nothing happens to Reiger.”

Jimmie leaned forward, “Raymond have you ever thought that we could be doing the same thing. We don’t need Reiger.”

“Fuck it Jimmie, he’s got the contacts.” The man stood, “tell me Bright. Is it true?”

“Is what true?”

“Is it true you’re in love with the retard?”

Jimmie shook his head as he squeezed the trigger. Within the confines of the basement the sound ricochetted and seemed to grow in volume as it bounced from each wall. Taggert bounced twice onto the mattress and lay with a hole in the middle of his chest leaking his precious bodily fluids. “I really don’t like it when you call her that Taggert.”

The following day the detective insisted she drive during which she spent the entire time answering a battery of questions posed by Drake who seemed to be interested in every aspect of the police vehicle. She put her ear to the police scanner. “How can you hear what they’re saying?”

“You get used to it Drake. If it’s too loud after awhile it grates on my nerves. This way I hear it but it doesn’t hurt my ears.”

“Do you put the bad people in the back seat with handcuffs on?”

“Usually a black and white takes the suspect in.”

“Black and white?”

“That’s what we call the police cars. Because they were originally black and white.”

“But police cars are blue and white.”

“Yeah,” the detective had to laugh, “old habits die hard.”

Drake nodded. She had absolutely no idea what the woman was talking about, but decided that if she continued asking
about it she would just become more confused. “How come you don’t wear clothes like the other policemen.”

“You mean a uniform?” Drake nodded. “They are uniformed officers. That makes it easy for people to spot them if they are in trouble. It also shows the bad guys that the police are there to catch them if they do bad things.” She quickly glanced at the woman beside her. “I’m a detective. I work special cases.” She turned toward Drake to make eye contact then faced the road again. “Like yours. As a detective I don’t have to wear a uniform.”

“Oh. How did you get to be a detective?”

“I started as a rookie, that’s a beginning police officer. Then after many years as a uniformed officer I took some tests and got promoted. And now,” she shrugged, “I’m a detective.”

As they approached Drake’s house the dark haired woman quieted. A shiver ran down her spine when Frances stopped the vehicle in front and began to get out of the car. Drake stayed where she was.

“Drake honey,” Jackie opened the front passenger door, “you okay?”

The mentally challenged woman looked at her friend tears in her eyes. “I don’t want to go.”

“Sweetheart,” Jackie bent so her face was even with that of her friend. “You just have to choose the clothes and other things you want to take. Then you don’t ever have to come back.”

“No.”

“Okay honey, I’ll get what you need.” She shrugged and stood, “I just thought you might like to show Frances your train set.”

Drake was out of the car so fast she barged into Jackie and they fell on top of one another. “Oh Jackie,” the taller woman stood and reached down to help her friend up. “I . . . I . . .”

Jackie laughed, “it’s all right Drake. Let’s go inside and you show Frances the trains and I’ll gather your things. Okay?”

Drake nodded, “okay.” She took the detective’s arm and they walked toward the front door. “I have the neatest train set. I’ll let you play with them if you want.”

“I’d love to Drake. I really like trains. I had a train when I was very little.”

“You did?”

“Oh yeah,” she kept the woman busy while Jackie opened the door and they entered. “Where’s the train?”

For a moment Drake didn’t say anything only stared at the basement door.

“Drake,” Frances squeezed her shoulder gently, “would you like to show me your train now?”

Drake was visibly shaking as the detective took her hand and led her up the stairs to the room she knew held the trains. “I haven’t been bad today. Have I Frances?”

“Definately not Drake. You’ve been very good.” She opened the door to the train room and watched as the taller woman’s face changed from somber to joy.

“See my trains Frances? See my trains?” Drake pulled the woman to the door and switched on the light. “You have to turn the switch or the trains won’t go.” She pulled two black striped engineers hats from the wall above the light switch and handed one to the detective. “You have to wear it to be a train engineer.” She got on her hands and knees and looked up at the woman who still stood beside her. “We have to crawl under to get to the middle. That’s where we make the trains go.” She crawled to the center and rose looking over the huge the expanse of track, buildings and scenery. “Come on Frances. You can come.” She smiled as she beckoned her friend over with her hand.

This is huge. The room’s bigger than my entire apartment. Why did it seem smaller Friday night? Maybe because you had your mind on other things. Like how beautiful Drake is and how innocent and how you’ll kill Jimmie Bright if you ever find him. No, no. Can’t kill him. But maybe I can get away with roughing up the bastard a little. Hell a lot. Calm down Fran and go play with trains.

Drake showed the detective the complicated looking map of the track and explained with great patience how to work the nobs and switches. Two collisions later Frances thought she had the hang of it. She watched her engine climb the hill toward the tunnel to her left and out of the corner of her eye saw Jackie. The woman was pale and shaking. “Hey Drake,” she turned to the Chief Engineer, “I need to call the station. Is it okay if I take a break?”

“Sure Frances. I’ll keep them all going till you get back.”

The officer followed the secreatary down the stairs. “What’s up?”

Jackie shook her head and pointed to the open basement door.

Frances carefully went down the stairs and approached the body. She pulled out her cell phone and made a quick call to the station then turned back to Jackie. “I think you should get Drake’s stuff and leave as soon as possible.” She pulled out her keys and handed them to the woman, “she doesn’t need to see this or know about it, yet.”

The secretary nodded and reached to take the profered key ring. “Can I get arrested driving a police car?”

“Damn,” the detective reddened. “You’re right, of course.”

Both women turned at the light tapping at the frame of the basement door, “Carter,” the detective took the stairs two at a time toward him. She turned to see Jackie had followed. “Jackie do you think Drake would like a ride in a real police car with a real uniformed police officer with the lights and sirens going?”

“Lieutenant?” The officer looked at one woman then the other.

Jackie smiled, “she’d absolutely love it.”

Drake leaned her head as far out the window as the restraining seat belt would allow. “Wow,” she pulled her head back
in and turned to Jackie in the back seat. The sound is different if you put your head outside Jackie.” She stuck her head out once again and allowed the wind to race through her hair. The woman stuck out her tongue and felt the cooling sensation of the wind on it. “This is neat Bennie,” she turned to Carter who chuckled to himself. “When do you want me to turn the siren off?”

“You can turn it off now Drake. But,” he glanced at her, “we’ll keep the lights going until we get you ladies home.”

“Did you hear that Jackie? I get to turn off the siren.” Drake leaned over and pressed the button Carter had indicated that would turn off the siren.

In the back seat Jackie chuckled to herself, amazing how Frances knew exactly what would get Drake out without a fuss. Too bad we couldn’t take the trains. “You’re doing a great job Drake.” The woman up front turned with a big smile.

“Yeah,” she grinned, “it’s neato.”

The following morning during breakfast and the ride to work Drake went through everything she had done over the weekend as if Jackie had not been there. “And the siren was neat and louder if you put your head out the window.” All Jackie could do was nod and make relevant inconsiquential comments at the right moments.

“Welcome back Drake,” the mail supervisor hugged the woman. “We missed you.”

“Really?”

“Yep. And,” he stuck his fingers inside his waistband, “the executive’s secretarys have been complaining because their mail isn’t delivered on time or put in the right place. Basically Drake I think they would have gone on strike if you hadn’t come back.”

“Golly Evan. I’m sorry. I’ll try never to miss a day again.”

“Good,” the man smiled at her, “now there’s your cart. Start your deliveries before I begin getting calls about late
mail.” As she turned he touched her shoulder, “and Drake the executive offices are now on the 14th floor not the 20th.”

“Executive offices on the 14th floor not the 20th. Okay Evan. Bye,” she waved and pushed the mail cart to begin her deliveries. Drake’s only deliveries and pickups were at the executive offices. Even so, there were days when she worked with no breaks and would take lunch only because her brother had insisted she join him. When the woman entered Jackie’s office she settled her mail on the center of the desk as was her custom. Drake pulled the next batch from the cart and opened the door to place it on the desk of the president as was also her custom.

Toni listened as the vice president she’d sent to Argentina stumbled through his report on how he lost a contract she’d thought CTI had in the bag. The man’s upper lip was doppled in sweat and he used his handkerchief often to wipe his brow and neck. “I . . . don’t know what to say Ms. Ramsden.” She rubbed her temples with her fingers trying desparately to at least soften the pain of the headache that had plagued her for the last hour and a half.

The blonde glowered at the man. “You don’t know what to say?” She’d personally spoken with Antonio Buscalente Madrid and had discovered the deal she thought she’d made was never finalized by the man who sat before her. “I agreed on $15 million and 22%. It’s the best deal they’d been offered. We had it in the bag.” She stood and settled her fists on the desk and leaned toward the man. “Then you,” she straightened and threw up her hand at him, “decide to take in the local color and get arrested in, what did they call it? ‘A questionable establishment’ and is asked to leave the country. What the shit were you thinking?”

Her office door opened and Toni could contain herself no more. “Damnit Drake don’t ever come into this office again without knocking.”

The stunned tall woman stood shaking at the door.

“Well, what do you want?” Toni could not seem to control the anger in her voice. “Spit it out.”

“I . . . I. . .” Drake held her shaking hand out to the executive. “the . . . mail.”

Toni strode across the room and grabbed it from her hand. “Now get out.”

Tears stained Drake’s cheeks as she fled from the room.

“I don’t know who the you think you are Ms. Ramsden, but that was Drake you just yelled at for no good reason. I’m the one who screwed up.” The man stood and looked down at the woman who was at least half a foot shorter than himself. He took a step into her space, “fire me or don’t fire me, that’s your decision. But I would watch how I speak to Drake in the future.” He turned and left the office brushing past Jackie at the open door.

“What happened?”

“Where have you been?” Toni motioned her in and slammed the door behind her.

“Excuse me?”

“I said, where have you been?” Toni’s head felt like it was being trampled by every chariot in Ben Hur.

“I was taking care of some personal business.”

Toni could feel every cell her her head banging cymbals at the same time. “Your job is out at that desk,” she pointed toward the door, “not galavanting around conducting personal business.”

Jackie took a deep breath and held it then turned to the door and left the office softly closing the door behind her. At her desk she retrieved her purse and a few pesonal items from the drawers, picked up her jacket and turned to leave just as
Toni opened the door.

“I quit.” She shot back at the executive as she continued into the open area of the floor.

“What?”

As calmly as she could Jackie turned to Toni, “I quit.” She saw the confusion in the younger woman’s face. “I’ll drop Drake at work in the morning, but I quit.”

Toni couldn’t believe her ears. “Your quitting? That idiot walks into my office while I’m in the middle of a meeting.” Heads turn toward the voices.

“What idiot Ms. Ramsden?”

“Drake!” The executive shouted.

“Drake is not an idiot.”

“Well she’s fired so you don’t have to drop her off in the morning.”

Jackie turned to the woman and smiled, “I’m history here Ms. Ramsden, but do you think it’s wise to fire the woman who owns the other half of this company?” She strode from the office to the elevators and into one that had opened just as she got there.

Toni watched the woman go and turned to the startled faces of the employees watching her. “So get back to work,”
Toni said through clenched teeth. One at a time secretaries gathered their purses and coats and headed to the elevators. “What’s going on?”

A tall dark haired woman approached the executive, “When you fired Drake you effectively fired every employee in CTI.” She turned and headed to the elevators, “hey hold it for me will ya.” She hustled to the waiting car and entered. The last thing she saw as the doors closed was the startled look on Antoinette Ramsden’s face.

“What?” Toni held the receiver in one hand and stroked her forehead with the other.

“I’m telling you Buscalente Madrid was arrested late last night in Rio with over $8 million in cash. Eight million in U.S. dollars Toni. You bought a company that was rocky to begin with and now is tottering on insolvency.”

“I don’t own the company Greg.”

“What? I thought . . .”

“The guy I sent was er, prevented from meeting with Madrid and couldn’t make the deal.”

“Shit Toni are you lucky. But then you always are. Well I got to go. If you have anything else for me just call.”

Drake raced from the 14th floor into the stairwell where she tried to decide what to do. He legs carried her to the 20th floor without her even realizing it. The corner office was empty and the dark haired woman sat on the carpeted floor where the couch used to be and fell sobbing to the floor then falling into a fitful sleep.

Toni turned to look out the window at the red and purple sunset when she heard the light tap at the door. “Come in.”

A throat clearing brought her around to face Jackie. “I’ll have a severance check ready for you in the morning.”

“That’s not why I came. Drake is missing.”

Toni sighed, “why am I not surprised?” Jackie turned to leave. “Wait Jackie,” she motioned the woman to sit.

“Has the building been searched?” Jackie nodded afraid her voice would break if she spoke. “Maybe she returned home?”

“N. . . no.” Jackie cleared her throat. “She’s staying with me.”

“Well maybe she went there?”

Jackie shook her head, “I thought of that too. She’s not at my place and she’s not at her old house either. And she’s not here.”

“Should we call the police?”

“I already did. Detective Francis is on her way here. She seems to think Drake is still in the building.” Just then a tap was heard at the office door.

“Come in.” Toni stood as a security officer and a woman with graying brown hair entered.

“Nice seeing you again LT.” The man gave a half salute to the officer.

“Thanks Ernie.” Detective Francis entered the room and approached the desk. “Hi Jackie.”

Toni raised a brow at the secretary, “you know the police?”

“Actually,” Frances held out her hand and shook that of the executive. “I know both Jackie and Drake. We’re friends,” she winked at Jackie. “Now what went on with Drake that would make her run away?” She turned to Toni, “by the way I’m Frances Frances and am here more as a friend that a cop.”

Toni smiled, “it will certainly be easy to remember your name.”

“I was was the sixth of eleven children. My parents named us alphabetically. Sixth letter of the alphabet is F. Only name they could think of was Frances which was our surname as well. You’d be surprised how many times I thank god it wasn’t Florence or Fifi or something like that.” She sat in the second wing chair across from the desk and crossed her legs as she brushed imaginary lint from her neatly pressed Levi’s. “Now what happened with Drake?”

Toni sat in her leather chair and folded her hands on her desk. “First you tell me how you know Drake and Jackie.”

“Actually that’s none of your business, but out of courtesy I will.” Frances turned the chair and moved it closer to the desk and began to relate the drama that had begun early Saturday morning. Jackie relayed the story from her point of view and involvment.

Toni sat and listened feeling suddenly very small. She felt a pang of conscious when she heard what Bright had done to Drake and how she was found in the basement. She chuckled when Frances told her about the train set and Drake insisting she wear an engineer hat or she couldn’t run the trains. She laughed when the women told her about the pictures of Drakes bones and how Jackie had to convince her not to bring them to work to show everyone.

“You know Ms. Ramsden,” Frances leaned back into the chair, “we were playing with those damn trains and she kept
telling me about CTI. She told me how important her job is. Her brother had told her she had the most important job in the building because no one could do his or her own job if they didn’t get the mail on time. Frankly I was surprised she believed it. Then it dawned on me that she actually believes everything people say to her. Especially those she loves and respects. Which seems to include you.”

Toni was quiet for a moment then cleared her throat. “You’re right.” She dropped her head. “On a certain level this is none of my business. But I own half of CTI and Drake owns the other half. So I guess you could say we’re partners. On that plane it is my business.” Toni quickly went over the minutes she and Drake had shared that morning. “I’m not used to dealing with people like Drake,” she held up her hand when she saw Jackie was going to interrupt. “But I’m going to have to learn.” She turned to the former secretary, “you can have her train set moved to the twentieth floor tomorrow. “I’m sure you agree that it’s not wise to let her go to that house again.” She stood, “maybe we can put it in her brother’s old office.”

“This wasn’t his office?”

“No detective, I’m uh, . . . I have this phobia about working on a floor higher than a fire ladder truck can reach. And in Dallas that’s about 15 to 16 floors. So I had the executive offices moved here on the 14th.” She made a crooked smile, “you know just in case.”

Frances quickly rose to her feet, “you said her brother’s office was on 20. What’s there now?”

“Nothing yet. We’re in the process of moving and reorganizing some departments. Why?”

“If you were Drake and very upset wouldn’t you go where you both felt safe and had good memories?”

All three women rushed to the door.

“Oh Sylvester, why am I always doing bad things? Toni hates me now.” She pulled her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them resting her head on her knees and rocked back and forth, back and forth as tears streamed down her face. “When will I be smart Sylvester? Will I ever be smart? Will I ever be like everyone else?”

“Now why would you want to be like everyone else?” The voice startled her, but she knew it was Toni before she turned around.

“Because they’re smart.”

Toni sat beside the woman and wraped an arm around her shoulders. “Do you think I’m smart?” Drake nodded. “Well if I’m so smart why did I do such a stupid thing like yell at you?”

“Because I was bad?” Drake turned to face the woman who was shaking her head.

“Drake, do you know what bad is?”

The woman thought about it, “when people yell at you and get angry?”

Toni chuckled, “no. That means those people are being bad, not you.”

“Huh?”

“What do you think you did this morning that was bad, Drake?”

“I came into your office but didn’t knock first.”

“Okay. But how did you know that?”

“Because you told me.”

“But when did I tell you?”

“When I did it.”

“Exactly. So how were you supposed to know that I don’t want people coming into my office without knocking?”
Drake shrugged her shoulders. “Can you read my mind Drake?”

“Read your mind?”

“Can you tell what I’m thinking?”

Drake shook her head. “No.”

“Then how were you supposed to know not to come in unless you knock.” Again the dark haired woman shrugged her shoulders. “I was supposed to tell you Drake. But I didn’t. So it was me that was wrong not you.”

“So I wasn’t bad?” Tears began to fall onto tanned cheeks once again.

“No Drake,” Toni hugged her, “I have never seen you be bad.”

“Are you still my friend?”

Toni throat closed and all she could do at that moment was nod.

“Can I be your friend?”

The executive cleared her throat, “I would be so happy to have you as my friend Drake.” Toni wiped the tears from her eyes before they could fall.

“Toni?”

“Hmmm?”

“Would you call me Tweety?”

“Oh yes,” she stood and leaned to help the larger woman up, “I would consider that an honor Tweety.”

Drake smiled broadly as they walked across the room then frowned. “I miss him.”

“I know.” The executive wrapped her arm around the woman’s waist and stopped. “Would you like your trains to be set up here in his office?”  Tweety nodded unable to speak. “We’ll have that taken care of tomorrow.”

Drake stopped and turned to Toni, “really, I can have my trains here?”

Toni chuckled, “absolutely. I hear you’re a teriffic engineer.”

“Who said that?”

“Your friend Frances. She’s with Jackie waiting for us near the stairs.”

They began walking again, “Frances played with my trains. She kept crashing them though. I think she needs more practice. Do you want to play too?”

“Sure,” the executive nodded as they approached the other two women. “I’ve just been invited to play with trains,” she announced.

“We can all do it at the same time. There are enough trains.” Drake looked expectantly from Jackie to Frances.

Jackie pulled the mentally challenged woman to her. “Oh, honey I’m so glad you’re safe.” Drake furrowed her brow. “I was worried when I couldn’t find you.”

“I’m sorry,” her voice quivered.

“Hey, that’s okay. We found you and now I think we all should go out and get a bite to eat,” Frances smiled, “because I’m starving.”

“Me too,” added Toni. “You hungry Tweety?”

“Yes,” she mimicked the detective, “I’m starving.”

Jackie pressed for the elevator and was pleased they didn’t have to wait long.

Drake walked backwards out of the car facing the three women, “Toni I have to show you the pictures of my bones. Do you want to see them?” Drake didn’t wait for an answer jumping from one subject to another bending the ear of her friends.