'Owen Brooks suggested I might speak to you about my situation. You know Owen?'
'Yes.'
Owen Brooks was, improbably, the district attorney of Suffolk County. He was black, Harvard-educated, smart, humorous, pleasant, tolerant, and tougher than a Kevlar gumdrop. In a political office, he seemed primarily concerned with the successful prosecution of criminals.
'He said this was a circumstance that might best be dealt with informally, that is to say, by someone like yourself.'
'Then it will have to be myself,' I said. 'There's no one else like me.'
'Owen also told me that you found yourself amusing.'
'How do you know Owen?' I said.
'I am a litigator at a major law firm in this city-which one is not germane to my reason for being here.'
'Sure,' I said. 'What is your reason?'
'I am a single mother,' she said. 'And a woman with a career. To balance those two responsibilities I employ a nanny.'
'That's what I'd do,' I said.
She paid no attention to me. I didn't feel bad. I was pretty sure she didn't pay much attention to anyone, engrossed as she was with being a single mother and a woman with a career.
'Kate is a lovely girl,' Valerie said, 'but she has made some unwise choices in her past life, and one of them now threatens not only my nanny but my child.'
'Kate is the nanny?' I said.
Valerie looked surprised. 'Yes. Kate Malloy.'
'And what is her problem?' I said.
'She is being stalked by a former lover.'
'She been to the cops?' I said.
'She has, and I've spoken with Owen. We have a restraining order, but…' She shrugged.
I could tell that she didn't like shrugging. She wasn't used to it. She was used to nodding decisively.
'She call the cops when the lover shows up?' I said.
'Yes. Sometimes they come promptly. Sometimes they don't.'
'What is the lover's name?'
' Ex-lover. His name is Kevin Shea.'
'Has Kevin threatened her?'
'Yes. And he poses a threat to my child.'
'Whose name is?'
'Miranda.'
'And she's how old?'
'Sixteen months. Why are you asking all these questions?'
'So I can follow what you say. Has Kevin harmed Kate?'
'When they were together he beat her.'
'And has he threatened Miranda?'
'His presence threatens Miranda. Kate can't take care of her if she's being harassed by this ape.'
'And you wish to employ me?' I said.
'Yes. Owen said you were the man.'
'What do you wish to employ me to do?'
'Make him go away.'
'Do you have a course of action in mind?'
'No, of course not, how would I? That's what you're supposed to know. I wish he were dead.'
'Dead is not generally a part of the service,' I said.
She shook her head as if a fly were annoying her.
'It was just a remark. I am at my wit's end. I need you to help me straighten this out.'
'Okay,' I said.
'How much do you charge?'
I told her.
'Isn't that a lot of money?' she said.
