Now, it was true that Mama had a certain reputation to uphold. After all, she was the premier matchmaker in the metro Boston area. And she really did seem to have a knack for bringing the right couples together. It was also true that her track record was somewhere in the ninetieth percentile ... but when it came to me, that woman could no more find me someone suitable than she could brew a good cup of coffee.

As Mama hurried away I turned on Teeko. "What are you doing to me?" I asked her sharply.

"You need to do something other than work, work, work..."

"I like like work," I said. work," I said.

"... and sit alone in that condo of yours letting the best years of your life drift by, afraid of putting yourself out there because you might get rejected."

I scowled at her. "It's not that easy, Teek," I said. She gave me a look that said, Oh, please, Oh, please, so I elaborated. "First of all, I really do like my work. And I'm in the middle of trying to build this business and do not need the distraction of a relationship right now." so I elaborated. "First of all, I really do like my work. And I'm in the middle of trying to build this business and do not need the distraction of a relationship right now."

"So you work," Teeko said with a shrug. "Plenty of busy singles get together and make it happen. Going out with someone doesn't mean you become joined at the hip, for G.o.d's sake, M.J."

Again, I scowled at her. "Granted. But along with my very busy schedule, it's just not easy for me."

"It's not easy for anybody, my friend, and yet people do do pair up." pair up."

"Normal people pair up, not people like me." people pair up, not people like me."

"People like you? What do you mean by that?"

I swirled the black liquid around in my mug for a minute before answering her. "Teeko, most men do not want to date a woman who can talk to dead people. They think it's freaky, weird, h.e.l.l, even that guy with the plugs couldn't wait for the night to end. I'm just tired of seeing that look in their eyes, is all."

"What look, specifically?"

"That I'm cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs," I said borrowing a quote from my parrot.

Karen threw her head back and gave a hearty laugh. "M. J. Holliday," she said, shaking her head back and forth. "I've never known you to be afraid of anything. You're the bravest woman I know, in fact."

I rolled my eyes and stared at the wall. This entire conversation was really making me uncomfortable. Teeko continued. "You walk into places spookier than the Amityville Horror, and deal with stuff twice as freaky, but going out on a little date has you clucking like a chicken."

"It's not that I'm scared," I said defensively. "I just don't feel like dealing with it."

"What you need to find is a real real man. Someone who's not intimidated," Teeko mused. "And I swear, this guy that Dell and I met today, he just might be able to give you a run for your money." man. Someone who's not intimidated," Teeko mused. "And I swear, this guy that Dell and I met today, he just might be able to give you a run for your money."

"He's probably a commitment-phobe," I groused. Sometimes I can really be a ray of sunshine.

Teeko laughed again. "He's not not a commitment phobe, and trust me, I am an expert at spotting those." a commitment phobe, and trust me, I am an expert at spotting those."

"How is John these days, by the way?" I asked her, referring to her beau of three years, John Dodge.

Teeko's smile wavered. "Actually," she said, turning her attention to her own cup of coffee, "he proposed the night before last."

That got me. John was a very very wealthy real estate tyc.o.o.n, and had recently been voted one of Boston's most eligible bachelors. It had always been my firm belief that John liked his bachelorhood, and he never seemed the type to get down on bended knee and do the right thing by Karen, so this news was quite a surprise. "He what?" I asked. wealthy real estate tyc.o.o.n, and had recently been voted one of Boston's most eligible bachelors. It had always been my firm belief that John liked his bachelorhood, and he never seemed the type to get down on bended knee and do the right thing by Karen, so this news was quite a surprise. "He what?" I asked.

"I gave him the marry-me-or-I'm-gone ultimatum, and he proposed."

"You're engaged?" I said, ready to throw my arms around her in a giant hug.

"No."

"No?"

"I said no."

"Did I miss something?"

"M.J.," she said, turning to me. "I realized the moment I gave him the speech about taking the plunge or I'm out of here that it was the wrong way to get what I wanted. What I want... what I've always wanted ... is for it to be John's idea. For him to love me so much that he was willing to make the commitment all on his own."

"So what happened?" I asked, reaching out to squeeze her arm.

"I left him."

"You didn't!" I said.

"Yes. We're done," she said as I noticed the smallest quiver to her bottom lip before she cleared her throat and shook her head a little, trying to hold it together.

I sat there, stunned. Teeko had been dating John so long that I didn't think they'd ever split up. Truthfully, I'd always thought that if the end ever came, it would be John's idea. The fact that Karen had had the courage to walk away from something she'd wanted so much-and a man she'd absolutely adored-floored me. "I am so sorry," was all I could say.

Teeko smiled sadly at me and reached over to squeeze my hand. "Don't be," she whispered. "I'm fine."

I c.o.c.ked a skeptical eyebrow at her.

"Seriously," she said, and the smile brightened just a bit.

"So now what?" I asked her.

"Now I let Mama fix me up with whomever she wants," she said, indicating the paperwork she'd been working on when I walked up.

I noticed that it was one of Mama's profile sheets, where single applicants, like gullible me, filled out an extensive questionnaire. "You're really just going to throw yourself out there?" I asked.

"You betcha," Teeko said with a smile. "You can't let life pa.s.s you by, M.J. You've got to become an active player in creating your own future. You, more than anyone, should understand that."

She had me there. How many grounded spirits had I come across who were simply stuck because they refused to move forward, while all around them the living marched on with their lives as the spirits just resentfully watched?

With a sigh I said, "When you're right, you're right, Teeko. Okay, I'll go on this date, but tell me about the guy. Is he normal?"

Karen smiled brightly at me. "Oh, he's so not not normal you're sure to fall for him." She laughed. normal you're sure to fall for him." She laughed.

I c.o.c.ked my head at her. "He's weird?"

"No. Most definitely not weird. He's fabulous, and completely not what you would pick for yourself."

I scowled at her. "So why would you think he's a good match for me?"

"Because your track record proves that you just can't pick 'em, M.J."

She had me there. "What does he look like?"

"Nope," she said, holding up her hand and shaking her head. "You will get no details from me. You'll just have to approach this with an open mind."

"That has never been my strong suit," I admitted.

"Which is exactly why you'll need to adopt it as your new att.i.tude. Now, I've got to go. Call me Sunday and let me know how it went." And with that she got up, gave me a peck on the cheek, and headed over to Mama's to turn in her profile. I watched the fire in the fireplace for a while, thinking about all she'd said and struggling with how right she was.

Gilley had been saying the same thing to me for years, and after a while he'd given up, knowing I was just too d.a.m.n stubborn to change. "It's all set," I heard off to my left.

I looked up and saw Mama back at my table, her excitement bubbling over as she bounced again on the b.a.l.l.s of her feet. "What's all set?" I asked.

"Tomorrow night. He's going to meet you at Tango's at six thirty sharp."

Ah. The blind date. Maybe I could milk Mama for details. "So tell me about this fabulous man," I said, putting on my most inviting smile. The blind date. Maybe I could milk Mama for details. "So tell me about this fabulous man," I said, putting on my most inviting smile.

"Oh, no," Mama said with a chuckle. "Teeko told me not to tell you anything. She doesn't even want me to tell you his name, because she knows you'll just have Gilley cyberspy on him and find lots of excuses to get out of going."

c.r.a.p. Foiled again. "Okay, so how will I know him?" I asked, trying to hide the impatience in my voice. Foiled again. "Okay, so how will I know him?" I asked, trying to hide the impatience in my voice.

"He'll be wearing black," Dell said.

"That narrows it down."

"I told him you'd be wearing the same."

"Ah," I said, giving her a look. "Funeral theme. This should be buckets buckets of fun!" of fun!"

"Try to have a good time," Mama said, a plea in her voice.

I pulled in the sarcasm and reached for her hand, "Okay, Mama. Sorry. I'll do my best."

"I have a good feeling about this one, M.J.," she said.

I failed to remind her that she'd had a good feeling about the other five duds she'd fixed me up with and simply nodded. "Okay, Mama. I'll be there, in black, at six thirty."

Mama seemed to relax and leaned in to give me a hug. "That's my girl," she said.

"Awww. A Hallmark moment," I heard behind her, and I looked up to see that Gilley had arrived. "What'd I miss?" he asked as he plopped down in the seat Teeko had been sitting in.

"I've set M.J. up on a date," Mama said, releasing me.

"And she let let you?" Gilley said, giving me a wink. you?" Gilley said, giving me a wink.

"She had very little choice in the matter. Karen and I double-teamed her."

"Ooooh. You play rough," Gilley said. "When's the blessed event?"

"Tomorrow night. Gilley, would you make sure she's dressed and ready?" Mama said.

"What's the attire?" Gilley asked.

"I'm sitting right here, you know," I groused.

Mama ignored me. "Black. I know she'll go for pants and a baggy sweater, but maybe you can get her into something a little more va-va?"

"Leave it to me, Mama. I'll even add some voom, no charge."

"I'm leaving," I said, getting up from the table.

"You're not going anywhere, M.J. We need to talk," Gilley said sternly.

Mama glanced at him, then back at me, and said, "I'd better get back to the counter and help the Captain. The lunch rush should start any second." And with that she was gone.

Reluctantly, I sat back down and looked at my business partner. I could tell Gilley was miffed. I knew I'd played it wrong when I'd announced to him that we wouldn't be taking the Sable case and bolted for the nearest exit. "What's on your mind, Gil?"

"Don't be coy, M.J. We had a solid lead with Dr. Sable. What the h.e.l.l happened?"

I took a covert sip of my now-cold Starbucks coffee and shrugged my shoulders. "We couldn't reach an agreement."

"Was it over price? Because we could still cut him a deal."

"No, it wasn't price."

Gilley waited me out, and I did my best to fill the pregnant silence by stirring my coffee. "I'm waiting," Gilley said after a few moments.

I sighed and met his eyes. "He wanted to be a part of the bust."

Gilley gave me a puzzled look. "And?" "And?"

"And nothing," I said, looking back at the fire. "I didn't want him to get in our way, so I turned him down."

Gilley took several seconds to sputter incoherently, before raising his voice a few octaves. "You cannot cannot be serious!" be serious!"

I scowled at him, "Pretty sure I am, Gil."

"M.J.," he began, his voice low and irritated. "Do you realize we haven't had a really good paycheck in several weeks?"

"I just got paid on the Kettleman job today," I interjected.

"Which barely catches us up to current!" Gilley screeched. Seeing several eyes look in our direction, he cleared his voice and tried again. "We cannot keep doing this," he said to me. "I got into this partnership with you because I thought it had potential, and from day one you have set limits that have restricted our income. I have a mortgage to pay, and so do you!" he chastised.

"I'm fully aware of my financial obligations," I snapped back.

"Then why, M.J.? Why would you turn down such a good and profitable job?"

I frowned as I searched for a reason Gilley would accept. "Because," was all I could come up with.

"Because why?" why?" Gilley pressed. Gilley pressed.

"Because we work alone, Gil! The minute we invite our clients along on a bust is the moment we lose control."