Lt Casey walked up to the two men.

"Crane, Walshe, a job for you. There's been a robbery at the grocery store on 3^rd. The thief was seen getting away in a green Ford, towards the Elliot Bay area."

"We're on him chief," Artie said as he and Martin walked to their car.

"How's Loretta?" Martin asked his partner as they drove after the green Ford.

"She's fine. Her sister is in town at the moment. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, just wondered." Martin sighed.

"What's wrong Marty?" Artie said as he swerved around a lorry.

"Well, I haven't had a girlfriend for ages. Look at me, I'm 18 and still single."

"Hey, I know loads of people who are like that. Take my brother, for instance. He had his first girlfriend at 23."

"Yeah, I know. It's just I've been getting stick that's all. Plus I am a bit lonely."

"Marty, love will hit you when you least expect it. Just wait and the woman of your dreams will be in your life before you know it.".

-----

It was a hard day's work for the two officers. They were glad when they realised the end of their shift was approaching. Then the radio buzzed.

"Crane, Walshe? Sorry to disturb you, but get over to Chester St. There's been a murder there and we have a suspect. Dr Winslow is making the journey over too."

Martin had never met Dr Winslow. He didn't like the sound of him though. From what he'd heard Dr Winslow was an opera loving psychiatrist. A snob, Martin thought. Winslow was employed by the police to run up profiles of murder suspects. He'd been there for a couple of weeks, after Dr Angell had retired.

Martin and Artie arrived at the murder scene. The victim was having his outline traced. A red Ford pulled up and the door opened.

Must be Dr Winslow, thought Martin. I hope he doesn't bore me that much.

Martin didn't see the doctor get out of the car thought because the suspect grabbed his attention. The suspect was trying to escape and Martin was needed to restrain him.

"Come on punk," snarled Martin. "Co-operate with us, or you'll be telling us your life story in tears." He'd heard Lt Casey say that often. Artie was right, it wasn't that funny. Lt Casey seemed to think so though.

Martin then went over to interview a witness, whilst Dr Winslow was given control of the suspect, who was in turn analysed by the doctor.

After he had finished with the interview, Martin walked over to the outline. The body was still there - guess with the suspect and all that they haven't moved him yet.

"Poor man. He lived in my neighbourhood."

Martin looked upwards to find a woman opposite him. Her hair was silhouetted against the lights of the squad cars and coroner's wagon.

"Hi." Damn it Martin, a beautiful woman and all you can say is 'Hi'!!! Martin thought to himself.

"Hello there. Uh, did you know this man well?"

"Not really, but I used to see him jogging most mornings."

"Well, we'd better move out the way. The doctor said he wanted to take a look at him."

"She is."

Martin looked at the woman gob smacked. "You mean, you're Doctor Winslow?"

"Dr Hester Winslow."

"Oh!!! Uh, Marty Crane."

Martin and Hester looked at each other. They gazed into each other's eyes and smiled.

I'm a goner, thought Martin.

The coroners removed the body and left the two standing next to the outline. Hester picked up the chalk used to draw the outline and drew a smiley face on the outline. Martin then took the chalk and drew in some eyes. Before long they were laughing as they drew in more details.

"Uh, Hester, uh, would you like to.....you know, go somewhere for dinner?" Martin asked nervously.

"Sure Marty," said Hester. "I have a couple of tickets to the opera tonight. I was going with my friend but she's ill. Would you like to come with me instead?"

"Oh yes," answered Martin. "There's nothing like a good opera."

Marty, why are you saying this? You don't like the opera!!! Thought Martin to himself.

"This one's particularly fascinating," said Hester. "It's called Der Fliegende Hollander by Richard Wagner."

"Oh, one of my favourites," said Martin.

"Dr Winslow!!!" called one of the cops, "could you come here please?"

"I'll see you at 7," said Hester as she walked away.

In the patrol car, Martin and Artie drove home.

"I've got a date tonight with Dr Winslow," boasted Martin. "I tell ya Artie, it was love at first sight. She's funny, good looking and intelligent too. Tonight, we're going to an opera."

"An opera?" Artie exclaimed. "You don't know anything about operas. You don't want to look stupid in front of her, do you?"

"I know that!!! Oh God, what should I do?"

"You might consider learning a few facts about it," said Artie. "Now, what opera are you going to see?"

"Der Fliegende Hollander by Wag.....Wag....."

"Wagner?"

"Yeah."

"Look Marty, I have a book on Wagner at home. Loretta's father left it behind one time and I haven't returned it yet. Look up this opera and you'll impress your girl."

"I better had. Thanks Artie."

-----

Hester had wrapped up warm that evening. It was windy and she didn't want to be cold. The clouds were gathering overhead and it looked like it would rain soon.

Martin's car pulled up and he got out.

"Hi Hester."

"Hello Marty. Ready to go in?"

"You bet ya," said Martin as they walked in. "You know, I've always admired this opera, especially the scene where....."

-----

"I had a wonderful evening Marty," Hester told Martin as the car arrived at her house.

"So did I," smiled Martin.

"I've never dated a guy who feels the same way about the opera before," said Hester as she got out of the car. "Most guys - not that I've dated many guys, though - think it's boring. But not you. You get the thrills of it that I do."

"Oh, shucks, you're embarrassing me."

Hester leaned over and gave Martin a kiss. He blushed.

"Would you like to go out again tomorrow?"

"Sure," Martin replied.

"How about another opera?"

"Anywhere as long as it's with you."

"Oh Marty!!!" They kissed again. "I'll call you in the morning. Night Marty."

"Night Hester." Martin watched Hester go inside, and then drove home. In the car he couldn't help thinking about their date. Thanks to Artie's book, he knew what the opera was about, but truth be told he'd found it rather boring. But he wanted to make Hester happy, so he'd made it out he wasn't bored.

Then he had a thought.

Martin continued wondering all the way home and through the night. What should I do?

-----

"So that's my problem Artie. Should I let her know or not?"

"Are you kidding? Of course you shouldn't tell her. She'll feel you tricked her, used her. She'll be very upset."

"Yeah, I know. But I feel guilty."

Artie Walshe turned to his partner.

"Trust me Martin, if she finds out, she'll drop you like you dropped that hot dog off the Washington Towers last week."

"I guess you're right."

-----

"Hey Marty!!! Your usual?"

"Yeah, thanks Duke," Martin replied to his friend.

Martin had recently discovered this bar. Named Duke's, it was where all the cops went after their shift finished. Artie had introduced it to him. Martin had soon made friends with Duke, the landlord.

"Put it on my tab Duke."

"Sure thing. So how's your chick?"

"Oh, she's great Duke. Just great." Martin fell silent.

"Something wrong?"

"No.....well, yeah, something is," Martin said quietly and explained his problem. He didn't however mention Hester's name or what she did, as he felt this should remain confidential for the time being.

"I think you should tell her," said Duke. "When a bird that special comes along, a guy don't keep any secrets from her."

"I suppose you're right, but Artie said the opposite."

"Trust me Marty, you've gotta tell her." Then to the whole bar he announced, "Now how's about some Karaoke???"

There were cheers from the crowd, and Marty decided to forget his problem for a while and join in the fun.

-----

"Duke, guard my beer will ya? I need to use the guy's room."

"Sure thing."

Martin left a very drunk Frank Collins singing some folk song and went into the lavatory. Not long afterwards a woman walked into the bar. She was dressed quite elegantly. She walked up to the counter.

"How may I help you Miss?" asked Duke.

"I'd like a beer please," said the woman.

"Hey sexy," said a cop. "How'd you like to make it out with me?"

"No thanks, I already have a boyfriend. Besides, even if I didn't, I wouldn't go out with you even if you were the last guy on the planet."

The cop was surprised and walked off. Duke passed the beer to the woman.

"Wow, no-one's ever said that to him before."

A jazz piece started playing on the gramophone, as Frank Collins wanted to sing along to it.

"Wow, my favourite," said the woman, and she started dancing. The guys started to dance too. Then the woman looked at the clock.

"My God, I have to run. Thanks for the beer." And she left.

Martin came out of the toilet.

"Good God Duke, what do you put in those beers?"

"You'll never guess what happened...."

-----

Martin's car pulled up outside Hester's house. She was there waiting.

"Evening Marty," she said before kissing him.

"Evening my love," said Martin.

"I'm hungry," said Hester as she got into the car. "So where's this restaurant you're surprising me with?"

"It's called the Timber Mill," Martin replied as he drove through the streets. "They serve good steak there and fine wines."

"Sounds delicious," smiled Hester.

At the Timber Mill, the lovebirds looked through the menu. This didn't take long though as they were looking at each other instead.

"You know, I'll have the gammon steak with tartar sauce," said Martin.

"Why don't we order the portion for 2 and share it?" suggested Hester.

"What a great idea!!!" said Martin.

When the meal arrived, the tartar sauce came in a separate container. It was to be poured on manually.

"Allow me," said Martin helpfully, acting the gentleman.

"Why, thank you," smiled Hester.

Martin poured the sauce on, but as he was doing so, a clumsy waiter walked past and bumped into him. This caused Martin to jolt forward and some of the sauce to land on Hester.

She stared at it.

But Hester looked up with a grin on her face. She looked at Martin, put her finger through the sauce and spread some over Martin's face. Then she giggled. Martin laughed too as he did the same back to her. By the end they were laughing hard at each other and at how silly they looked. Then they kissed, and the other diners there cheered.

Later that night, Martin drove Hester home. They pulled up outside her house.

"Thanks for a wonderful evening Marty," said Hester.

"You mean that?"

"Of course I do."

"Even though we didn't go to an opera or a fancy restaurant?"

"Yes. Why did you say that?"

"Hester, I have a confession to make. I'm..... not really one for operas. I'm sorry I lied, but I wanted you to like me."

Hester stared at him.

"You lied?"

"Yes. I'll understand if you never want to see me again....."

"Oh Marty, of course I do!!! Tonight was the most fun I've had in ages!!! I do like operas and the finer things in life, but I also like to let my hair down once in a while and have evenings like tonight and when I visit bars."

"Oh. So, when did you last visit a bar?"

"Wednesday night. I went into Duke's briefly for a beer on the way home from my parents' place."

"Wednesday? So, um, did you dance?"

"Yes I did, why?"

"You were that woman!!! You told Harry Johnson you'd never date him if he were the last guy on Earth, and I was there too, except I was in the bathroom at the time and missed you."

They kissed. "Marty, do you want to go to Duke's tomorrow night? I hear they're having a Sinatra night."

"Sinatra!!! I love that guy."

"Same here," smiled Hester as she walked into her house. "Um, do you want to stay the night?"

"Um, sure," said Martin. "Oh Hester, when I said I love Sinatra, I don't love him as much as I love you, and....."

"Come here you silly sausage," said Hester as they walked into the kitchen, gazing into Martin's eyes as she did so.

Next morning, Martin woke up. He had slept in the spare room, as neither he nor Hester felt ready to share a bed yet. Besides it would be frowned upon.

Martin met Hester in the hallway. They kissed and said "good morning" to each other. Then Martin said:

"I'm going to take a shower now."

"Sure, it's in that room."

Martin went in the shower and Hester went downstairs. She started making coffee when there was a knock on the door.

"Coming, coming," she muttered as she went to answer it.

It was her parents.

"Mom, dad, good morning. What brings you here at this time of day?"

"We were passing and remembered you left this book at our house."

"Hester!!! Where do you keep the shampoo? Martin called down.

"Uh, in the cabinet!!!" Hester called.

"Hester," said her father, "was that a man in your bathroom?"