"A sedan? Like a cheap car? Gawd, no," she said. "Why?"

"Nothing." I motioned for her to get up. "I've got to let my neighbors know I'll be gone for a few days."

"Whatever."

She followed me back downstairs. The sedan stayed put as I knocked on the Goofball Brothers' door.

"Hey, Reed, how's it going?" Deuce greeted me when he opened the door. "Did you get your coat?"

"Yeah, thanks for bringing it back." I briefly explained what was going on, and asked him to get the mail and watch my place. "I'm not sure when I'll be back."

"Sure," he said, trying not to stare at Stephanie.

Behind him, Ace sauntered up. "What's going on?"

"Reed's on another case," Deuce said.

"Kind of like Bogie," Ace said knowingly.

A blank look crossed Deuce's face. "Talking golf again?"

"No, you moron," Ace said. "Bogie, like Bogart. That film noir stuff he likes." I was impressed that Ace remembered any of that.

"Huh?" Deuce said. Unfortunately, he didn't.

"Never mind," I said. "Call me if you see anything suspicious."

"I don't want any trouble," Deuce said, nervously pulling whiskers on his chin. They were both wary of helping me out if it involved their being subjected to bodily harm.

"I doubt anything will happen," I said, thinking about the sedan. "Don't do anything, just let me know."

"You can count on us." They both nodded deliberately as the door closed.

"What a couple of losers," Stephanie said as we got in the 4-Runner.

"Back off," I growled. "They're my best friends, and two of the greatest guys anyone could know. They'd go to the ends of the earth for me."

Stephanie smirked at me. "Got a man-crush on them, huh?"

I turned on her. "Let's get some things straight. You don't want me around, and quite frankly, I'm having second thoughts myself. But we both have to make the best of it, so try to put your b.i.t.c.hy att.i.tude aside, just for a bit, until we get through this."

She c.o.c.ked her head, gazing at me. "What's my father got on you?" she asked.

b.i.t.c.hiness aside, she was shrewd. Or, maybe her father had something on everyone.

"Nothing," I said. I started the car and we drove away.

This case couldn't end soon enough.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

I pulled into the street, keeping an eye on the sedan. It didn't move. I reached the end of the street and turned the corner.

"What now?" I asked as we waited at a stoplight.

"Huh?" Stephanie stared at me, not unlike the Goofball Brothers.

I c.o.c.ked an eyebrow at her. "I'm hired to stay with you. It's your call. What do you want to do?"

"Oh, okay. Let's get some lunch."

"Where?"

"I'm dying for a hamburger. They're so good when you're getting over a hangover. You know?"

I nodded. I did know.

"Let's go to the Cherry Cricket," she said, naming a restaurant famous for its mouth-watering burgers.

I headed south to the Cherry Creek neighborhood, a high-cla.s.s neighborhood a few miles southeast of downtown Denver. It's known for the posh Cherry Creek Mall, full of expensive boutiques, high-end department stores, a large movie theater, and plenty of expensive restaurants, as well as local favorites like the Cherry Cricket.

A little before two o'clock we were seated in a booth at the Cherry Cricket, munching on burgers. The Cherry Cricket had high ceilings, a huge bar along one wall, booths by the front windows, tables throughout and plenty of television that showed sporting events. I'd eaten here a number of times, and I had to agree with others that their burgers were fantastic.

"Oh, that hits the spot," Stephanie moaned as she took another bite.

I was about to agree when I peered past a couple in a booth. Outside the window, a new black Toyota sedan was parked across the street. I swallowed hard. It couldn't be coincidence, could it? But how did that guy get back to his car so fast and then find the 4-Runner?

"What?" Stephanie asked through a mouth full of fries.

I'd kept an eye out for the sedan, and I never saw it. But then why park right there?

"Stay here," I said.

I slipped out of the booth and moseyed to where I could look out the window without being seen. I studied the car. Someone with a hat and sungla.s.ses was in it, but I couldn't say for sure if it was the man I'd seen from my condo.

I'd parked the 4-Runner right around the corner. Whoever was in the car had a view of it, as well as the front entrance to the restaurant. I thought for a moment, then pulled out my cell phone and called Ace. He didn't answer so I called Deuce.

"Hey, Reed, long time, no chat," he said, then guffawed.

"I need a favor," I said as I watched the sedan.

"Sure, as long as it's not dangerous."

"This is easy," I said. "Is Ace there or is he working?"

"No, he doesn't have a job anymore, remember?"

"Right." Ace had recently worked at Blockbusters, but since the stores had all closed, he was now unemployed. "Here's what I need. I'm at the Cherry Cricket. It's on 2nd and Clayton, in Cherry Creek."

"I know where it is," he said. "I've eaten there sometimes."

"Great. Can you both come down here and then one of you drive my car home? I'll treat you to dinner if you can."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Great. I'll be inside waiting."

"Okay," Deuce said. "We'll be there soon."

I hung up and walked over to the hostess. "Do you have a back way out?"

"Sure, through the kitchen."

"There's someone I need to avoid," I said. "I'm going to have a taxi meet me out back, okay?"

She gave me a funny look. "Uh, I guess it's all right."

"I appreciate your help." I handed her a twenty. "It's no big deal, just my girlfriend's angry ex-boyfriend."

She relaxed slightly. "No problem."

I called for a taxi, then went back to the booth.

"What's going on?" Stephanie asked.

"I think someone's been following us."

Her face turned three shades lighter. "Who?"

"Someone your father knows?" I shrugged.

She lifted her gla.s.s to her lips, then set it back down without drinking. "What do we do?"

"My two friends are going to come here and take my car home. We'll go out the back and take a taxi to your place."

For once she didn't have a comeback. We sat in silence for a while. She played with her French fries and muttered under her breath. She nibbled at her burger, but finally tossed it back on the plate. Then she grabbed her phone and began texting.

"Are you telling someone about this?" I asked.

"None of your business," she snapped.

"It is if you foul things up." I signaled the waiter for the check. When he came over, I handed him a credit card and he sauntered away. "I really don't want to die today." And under my breath, I thought, "Certainly not from being your bodyguard."

She made a big deal of putting her phone away. "I'm not telling anyone that we're here, or about your brilliant plan. But I'll quit texting. Does that make you feel better?"

"As a matter of fact, it does." The waiter returned and I signed the bill.

"How long will it take your friends to get here?"

"There they are," I said as Ace and Deuce came through the front door.

She saw them and snickered with disdain. "You sure they won't screw things up?"

I ignored that, got up and waved them over.

"What's going on?" Ace asked.

I explained my plan. "Now the sedan might follow you," I finished as I handed him the keys.

Deuce paled. "It's not dangerous, is it?"

"It's okay, Deuce. I'll have Ace take my car." I turned to him. "Are you okay doing this?"

Ace nodded slowly. "What do I do if the car follows me?"

"Park on the street in front of our building, then call the police and have them meet you there. Stay in your cars until they arrive, and then tell them you thought someone was following you. But I suspect the sedan will leave when the cops arrive."

"Right," Ace said. "Don't worry, we'll be fine."

I handed him a couple of twenties. "This is for dinner."

"Thanks, man."

Stephanie got up and they took our places at the table. I caught the hostess's gaze and she came over and led us back through the kitchen. Cooks and wait staff gave us little notice as we pa.s.sed by.

"Here's the alley," the hostess said, holding open a heavy metal door.

"Thanks," I said as we stepped outside.

The door closed behind us and we stood in the crisp shadows of the building.

"Now what?" Stephanie asked.

"We'll take a cab to your place," I said.

"So what happens when I want to go out? Whoever that is will probably be watching my place."

I didn't have an immediate answer to that.