Free Liar, Liar by Kasey Millstead

please?”
    “Certainly.  I’ll do it now.”
    She leaves the room and I tip my head back, exhaling a frustrated breath.  The last thing I want to do is get the police involved, but I think it’s time I made a report.
    Walking into the conference room, I see Mitchell already seated.  I give a smile and say good morning, while I take my usual seat across from him.
    “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever,” I say.
    “We’ve both been busy.  Business is good.”
    “It is,” I confirm with a smile.  Our little business is growing in leaps and bounds, and we are busier than ever.  Our client list grows every day, and if it keeps building, soon we will have to think about employing some investigators.
    “How did it go with the Shaw case?  I haven’t had a chance to speak with you since you took that on.”
    “It went well, and was as easy as you predicted.  I’ve already met with Michelle Shaw and passed on all the information and pictures I collected.”
    “Great news.”
    I nod.  “What about you?  How did the meeting go for the contract you were hoping to land?”
    “Still haven’t heard back yet, but I’m quietly confident we’ll get it,” he replies.
    “Keep me posted.”
    “Always.  I wanted to talk to you about something else.”  Is that hesitation I detect in his tone?
    “What’s up?”
    “I’ve got to travel out of state for the Wells case.”
    “Okay?” I’m not following.  We go wherever the case requires us to go to get the information we need.  Sometimes it’s to the gym, sometimes it’s across town, sometimes it’s out of state.  The latter doesn’t happen often, but it isn’t unheard of.
    “I want to take Josephine with me.”
    “Ahh.” I grin.  I knew he had a thing for her!
    “It’s not like that,” he rushes out and I can’t help but grin broader at his clear discomfort.  “It’s just that she has been helping me a lot with this case, because it’s such a large and complex enquiry.  I’ll need an assistant to come with me, and Josephine’s the logical choice because she’s already been working it with me.”
    “We’ll need a temp to come in.”
    “I know.  I took the liberty of looking into that already.”
    “Oh, you did?  So, you were quite sure I’d agree?”
    “Just hopeful,” he says sheepishly.
    “I’m fine with it, so long as the temp is adequate,” I say and he lets out a relieved breath.
    I fill him in about Juliette Maas and he encourages me to make a report with the police. In the very least, they will be aware of her harassment.  I agree to make the call before I leave work this afternoon.
    “How’s the Duncan case coming along?”
    I hesitate for a beat.  I’m unsure of how honest I want to be.  “Going well,” I say simply.
    “Good.  I’ll be gone for ten days, leaving tomorrow.  I’ll sort out the temp situation before the end of the work day, and Josephine and I will see you when we return.”
    “Have a good trip.” 
    ***
    Later that day, when I have finished compiling reports and documenting my notes, I pick up my phone and call the police station.  Josephine provided me with the list of calls and three separate incidents where Juliette had showed up here at the office.  All in all, there was a total of twenty-two occurrences.
    The officer at the front desk transfers me through and I speak to Officer Whitlock.
    I explain everything to him, and he asks me to come down to the station and to bring the document with me.  I assure him I’ll be there within the hour.
    I gather my handbag and my cell phone and leave the office for the day, saying goodbye and wishing Josephine a safe trip as I leave.  The walk to the police station takes me about forty-five minutes, but it is such a nice afternoon out, I don’t mind.  The day is slightly cooler than it has been the past week, and there is a cool breeze blowing through.
    “Hi, I’m here to see Officer Whitlock.  He’s expecting me,” I tell the