Free Celestial Bodies by Laura Leone

here?”
    “Stewart did use up most of his inheritance before the daughter took over. Since then, however, I can find no trace of any financial mismanagement. No outstanding debts, no unexplained income or property, and no unusually large expenses. No matter what sources I check, the House of Ishtar seems to make a comfortable—if unspectacular—profit, and the daughter apparently keeps them well within their budget. No complaints about late or unpaid bills, no credit problems.”
    This tallied with Nick’s own initial findings, but he nonetheless attempted to play devil’s advocate. “Still, Felix could have a private account that we can’t trace, one that he could use for extra money acquired from gullible clients.”
    “True,” Peter said.
    “You sound like you don’t think so.”
    “Well, you’re the one in daily contact with them. I can only tell you that their business has an excellent reputation. Felix and Diana are apparently each highly qualified in their respective, uh, fields. They’ve both done articles and interviews over the past few years, they both belong to local and national professional organizations, and they both have plenty of satisfied customers.” Peter drew a breath and asked, “Have you actually found out what goes on in the consulting room yet?”
    “More or less. Felix gave me a free reading last night. He seems completely sincere.” Nick decided to leave out the details. But he had considered the fact that, despite Felix’s predictions, it hadn’t seemed to occur to either Felix or Diana that Nick actually was a detective or that he was investigating them. They appeared to have clear consciences. “What I really need is to find out exactly what goes on between Felix and Mrs. Bouvier.”
    “And if you find it’s perfectly innocent, do you think Claude Bouvier will be satisfied?”
    “Why shouldn’t he be?” Nick said. “I know he wanted to nail Felix, but surely he’ll back down when he realizes Felix isn’t cheating or using his mother.”
    “You sound like you already believe in the Stewarts’ innocence.” There was a long silence. “Nick?” Peter prodded. “Is something wrong?”
    Nick debated it for a moment, then decided that his partner had a right to know. After all, it was his own fault that Peter might soon be looking for work. “The truth is, Peter, I think I may be losing my objectivity on this case.”
    “How’s that?”
    “It’s, uh, the daughter. I... She’s, um, very attractive.” He waited.
    “Is that going to be a problem?”
    Nick pulled the receiver away from his ear and stared at it suspiciously for a moment. It sounded as though Peter was trying not to laugh. “No. It’s just that I don’t want to get involved with a suspect, and I can’t seem to help myself around her.” He grunted. “And I’ve already got enough problems.”
    “You certainly do.”
    Nick sighed dispiritedly. “Any news on the Maurice LeCoz mess?”
    “They’ve set a date for the hearing. Our lawyer looks depressed, and LeCoz called personally to promise that you and I will never work in this business again. Have I left anything out?”
    Nick rested his forehead against the glass booth and squeezed his eyes shut. “Pete... I’m sorry. I wish...”
    “Yeah, I know, you wish you hadn’t done it. But you did, and it’s over now. And if we could turn back the clock, you’d do the same thing again. What else could you do?”
    Nick smiled weakly and gripped the receiver with both hands. No matter how many times they discussed it, Peter supported him and the decisions that had led to their possible—no, probable —ruin. What more could a man ask for in a partner?
    “Well, maybe our luck will change. Things are so weird in the House of Ishtar, it’s enough to make you believe in destiny and karma,” Nick said.
    “See if Felix Stewart’s tarot deck can tell you whether or not we should start considering a new line of work,” Peter advised.
    “I’ll