Slowing to a stop in her old solid bck Victoria, Ellie put the car into park and double-checked the address she had been seeking. Reag over to the passenger seat, Ellie read the address once more.

  -1777 Palm Way.-

  Nervous to the point where her stomach tightened, Ellie hesitated before she turhe key to shut off the engine.

  -You just got your ass hao you yesterday, now here you are in probably the one pce you shouldn’t be.-

  While not directly ordered to stay away from this pce, Ellie couldn’t shake the feeling that she was somehow breaking the ‘spirit’ of her orders. She could almost hear Deputy Director Powell with her firm voice, “You went over to Tatum Bckwell’s house?!”

  -Fuck it, no risk no reward.-

  Taking a few deep breaths, Agent Miller regained her posure and pulled the key free from the ignition. Gathering up a few items so she could duct a proper interview, Ellie took a moment to study the home she’d stopped in front of.

  Easy to see that the home was a standard ranch with a -around porch, Ellie raised her eyebrow at the odd white and green siding that alterhe colors. Figuring that most people de things, she looked beyond and took in the ivory ns with the matg railing that added a fy feel to the rge wooden porbsp; Opening her dent Miller started up the pearl white paving stones and just o herself wheiced that the wn had just been newly sod.

  -In the fall? It ’t take root.-

  Wanting to be certain, Ellie reached down ahe ground and then the seam where the grass square had been pushed onto the other earth. Smag her hands clear of the dirt, she stood up and walked casually up the stairs to the pord gnced around. Rog chairs and tables made up most of the furniture, and upon a gnce looked pletely normal. Traio look beyond the normal, Ellie hat the various items were in pristine dition as though they’d been purchased that day from a showroom floor. Walking over to one of the tables, Ellie brushed her hand over the smooth gss surfad left the only smudge visible behind.

  -Either this woman has the best maid in the world, or no one has used this.-

  Pushing the odd feeling to the back of her mind, Ellie stepped in front of the door and saw a little pque on the door that seemed to have a proverb carved into the wood. ‘Dreams lift the mind's veil.’ P the little saying for a couple seds, Ellie jumped and then screamed when the front door opened.

  “Agent Miller.” A soothing and warm southern at came from the older woman with light brown hair. “Please, e inside. I have been expeg you.”

  Bending over and holding her knees until she caught her breath, Ellie shook her head. “Miss Bckwell?” She looked up from her bent position for a sed and saw that the women had nodded. “You startled me.” Letting out a sharp sigh, Ellie righted herself aended her hand. “Agent Ellie Miller. I wasn’t aware that you knew I was ing?” She raised her eyebrow.

  an ivory dress with little teal plumeria impriatum took and shook Ellie’s hand. “Some things are easy to figure out, Agent.” She winked and stepped to the side, “Would you care to e inside?” Tatum poio the rockers, “Or..we use these if you’d like.”

  Pausing to weigh the options, Ellie fiheir handshake and smiled. “It is a touch chilly. Perhaps it is better that we discuss things inside.” Slipping past the older woman, Ellie made her way into the foyer. “Lovely home. I would have expected a fancy attorney like yourself to be in a huge mansion or something.” She pointed behind her. “I didn’t expect you to live in an older suburb.”

  Slowly closing the door behind the athletically built agent, Tatum twisted the lod put up the small . “I think these older pces have a bit of charm, while not firmly pnted in the 1800’s.” Tatum turned with a fir, and her dress caught a small wind to expose her shapely legs. “I’m also getting a touch older, so I thought it would be wise to be closer to town in case I needed medical attention.” She walked to the edge of the foyer where it met a fair-sized dining room. “Wait, before we go any further.” Tatum held up her right hand. “I would prefer if we talked as..friends.” She winked.

  Swearing that she saw a brief white light emanate from the hand in her face, Ellie took a small step bad raised one eyebrow. “What do you mean, Miss Bckwell?”

  “Humm, a little more resistant than most of your panions.” Tatum nodded in approval, “Oh, what I mea Miller, is that I prefer that this meeting be left off the record.” She waved her hand, “Less formality that way and eak freely.” Pausing to point at the bag Ellie held, Tatum wiggled her finger lightly. “Rec devices aren’t necessary.”

  Following the finger, Ellie looked over her shoulder and saw a small hook on the wall. “I have hat I wao go over with you, Miss Bckwell.” Ellie patted her bag, “Hanging it up means I might not recall what I wao say.”

  “Yun too.” Tatum added. “I’ve seen the lengths to which you will go to pursue a case, Agent. I would prefer not getting shot or having a gun in my face.” She curled her finger and poked toward the hooks again, “It’s the two of us here, your things will be perfectly safe, I assure you.”

  Sensing a familiar warmth within Tatum’s words, Ellie went and pced her bag and shoulder holster on the pair of hooks. “I ’t pce it, Miss Bckwell..but I feel like I’m at my grandmother's house.” Looking back at Tatum, Ellie quickly shook her head to clear the idea that she’d just seen the older woman outlined in a soft white light. “Has to be Sunlight.” Ellie muttered and walked to stand with Tatum. “Where to now?”

  “Oh, I think you will like this.” Tatum winked and curled her arm into Ellie’s. “We are going to my sunroom and having Earl Grey.” She paused, “Ses too. I am nothing, if not a good hostess.”

  Letting herself get led into the windowed room in the back of the house, Ellie felt the heat of the day and took the seat she was offered. “I could use something to eat, I was in a hurry when I left the apartment.” Ellie paused, “Thank you for seeing me.”

  “Anything to assist my federal friends.” Tatum waited for Ellie to scoot closer to the table before p the hot water into a pair of cups. Lifting a small lid from a metal tainer, she handed Ellie a prepackaged teabag. “We have a few minutes before the ses are ready, you arrived earlier than I expected.”

  Dippiea bag into the steaming water, Ellie stirred the tents with the small spoon provided. “This will be rather difficult without my notes.” She looked down at the brown water, “You gave me a rather cryptiswer when I came in.” Pointing with her thumb behind her, Ellie added, “How did you know I was ing? I didn’t even tell my boss.”

  Spooning a small amount of sugar from a bowl betweeatum stirred the sweet crystals until they disappeared then sipped her tea. “It wasn’t hard to figure out, Agent.” She blew lightly across the water, “I guessed that your boss wouldn’t let you anywhere near Miss Rivers, so the logical step is to talk to me.” She paused, “I am very good at reading people, Agent.” She took another sip of her tea, “It was a matter of determining when you would arrive, not that you would.” Holding up her hand politely, Tatum passed the versation to Ellie, “So, what I help you with?”