Free Dead Suite by Wendy Roberts

discretion.”
    Bingo.
    “You’re welcome to ask Seattle Police Detective Dean Petrovich for a reference. I’ve
     worked closely with Seattle PD many times.”
    “I’ll be sure to do that. Let me get your contact information.”
    Sadie gave the manager the Scene-2-Clean office phone number, her personal cell phone
     number, and the company e-mail address. She would’ve offered her blood type and bra
     size if it would help her get the job.
    After ending the call Sadie caught up on paperwork. She checked and double-checked
     to see if there were any outstanding accounts that had yet to pay for her services.
     Unfortunately she would’ve had more luck searching her sofa cushions for loose change.
     She did that later and found almost enough to cover the cost for parking for her dinner
     meeting later.
    By the time she’d watched an old movie on TV and checked her phone a dozen times to
     see if Zack had texted back, it was time to get ready for her dinner date with Gayla
     Woods.
    Maeva called just after Sadie finished applying some mascara. She was surprised to
     hear Sadie was meeting the co-owner of the Halladay Street house for dinner.
    “After last night I was sure you wanted nothing to do with the place.”
    “And don’t think that I’m not still pissed at you for not telling me up front about
     it,” Sadie snipped. “But it’s no big deal. Gayla Woods convinced me to hear her out
     on the subject of working with the Thingvolds, and she’s buying me dinner at Etta’s
     with no strings attached, so I agreed.”
    “You said yes because money’s tight and this way you get dinner out at one of your
     favorite restaurants,” Maeva chided.
    “That’s a definite bonus.” Sadie had the phone under her chin while she tugged on
     her black jeans and a deep purple sweater to ward off the evening chill. “Do you think
     I’ll luck out with parking midweek on Western Avenue?”
    “Probably not on Western,” Maeva said. “There’s a parking garage up on Lenore, and
     that’s not too far.”
    “It’s too far if I decide to wear my knee-high black suede boots with the three-inch
     heels.”
    “Wow you’re getting gussied up to go out for dinner with a woman you’ve never met?”
     Maeva smiled. “It’s been a long time since you’ve been out.”
    “I’ve had to make a lot of hard choices since business dropped off. I’m buying single-ply
     toilet paper and no-name kibble for Hairy. Dining out isn’t a priority, but yes, it’s
     nice to have an excuse to wear heels.” Sadie went into the bathroom to touch up her
     lipstick and brush her hair.
    “At least Zack is trying to be responsible here. Going all the way to Portland just
     to work as a crappy security guard and part-time private investigator. I’m sure all
     the counselors at Whispering Groves told him he needed to keep busy so he didn’t relapse.
     At least he’s doing what he’s told.”
    “Did they tell him not to text me regularly? And do you think the counselors also
     told him to avoid performing his boyfriendly duties around the house?”
    “Sex? I doubt they’d advise against it, but it’s a definite possibility they told
     him to take a hard look at all his relationships.”
    “Well, he’s not looking very hard at ours.” Sadie walked to the living room and sank
     heavily onto the sofa. “Or maybe he is and he’s just not liking what he sees.”
    “You need to talk to him. Ask him flat out where his head’s at.”
    “You’re right.” Sadie worried her bottom lip. “Next time we talk I’m going to demand
     to know what’s up.”
    “No, you’re not going to
demand
anything. You’re going to share how you feel and ask how he feels.” Maeva laughed.
     “Look at it this way. You guys were strong once, right? Sure, an accident caused by
     a crazy ghost hurt him and he fell back into the Vicodin addiction that caused him
     to lose his job as a cop. That doesn’t mean he stopped loving you.”
    Why does it feel