Hugger Mugger by Robert B. Parker Page B

someone like yourself.”
    â€œThen it will have to be myself,” I said. “There’s no one else like me.”
    â€œOwen also told me that you found yourself amusing.”
    â€œHow do you know Owen?” I said.
    â€œI am a litigator at a major law firm in this city—which one is not germane to my reason for being here.”
    â€œSure,” I said. “What is your reason?”
    â€œI am a single mother,” she said. “And a woman with a career. To balance those two responsibilities I employ a nanny.”
    â€œThat’s what I’d do,” I said.
    She paid no attention to me. I didn’t feel bad. I was pretty sure she didn’t pay much attention to anyone, engrossed as she was with being a single mother and a woman with a career.
    â€œKate is a lovely girl,” Valerie said, “but she has made some unwise choices in her past life, and one of them now threatens not only my nanny but my child.”
    â€œKate is the nanny?” I said.
    Valerie looked surprised. “Yes. Kate Malloy.”
    â€œAnd what is her problem?” I said.
    â€œShe is being stalked by a former lover.”
    â€œShe been to the cops?” I said.
    â€œShe has, and I’ve spoken with Owen. We have a restraining order, but . . .” She shrugged.
    I could tell that she didn’t like shrugging. She wasn’t used to it. She was used to nodding decisively.
    â€œShe call the cops when the lover shows up?” I said.
    â€œYes. Sometimes they come promptly. Sometimes they don’t.”
    â€œWhat is the lover’s name?”
    â€œ Ex- lover. His name is Kevin Shea.”
    â€œHas Kevin threatened her?”
    â€œYes. And he poses a threat to my child.”
    â€œWhose name is?”
    â€œMiranda.”
    â€œAnd she’s how old?”
    â€œSixteen months. Why are you asking all these questions?”
    â€œSo I can follow what you say. Has Kevin harmed Kate?”
    â€œWhen they were together he beat her.”
    â€œAnd has he threatened Miranda?”
    â€œHis presence threatens Miranda. Kate can’t take care of her if she’s being harassed by this ape.”
    â€œAnd you wish to employ me?” I said.
    â€œYes. Owen said you were the man.”
    â€œWhat do you wish to employ me to do?”
    â€œMake him go away.”
    â€œDo you have a course of action in mind?”
    â€œNo, of course not, how would I? That’s what you’re supposed to know. I wish he were dead.”
    â€œDead is not generally a part of the service,” I said.
    She shook her head as if a fly were annoying her.
    â€œIt was just a remark. I am at my wit’s end. I need you to help me straighten this out.”
    â€œOkay,” I said.
    â€œHow much do you charge?”
    I told her.
    â€œIsn’t that a lot of money?” she said.
    â€œYou came here asking me to save your child,” I said.
    â€œSo you boosted the price?”
    â€œNo. That’s the price. I was trying to help you decide if it’s worth paying.”
    â€œBy playing on a mother’s guilt?”
    I didn’t remember anything about guilt, but I let it ride.
    â€œCan you do it?”
    â€œSure,” I said. “I can eat this guy’s lunch.”
    â€œDo you require payment to start?”
    â€œNo. I’ll bill you when it’s done.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do?”
    â€œI’ll speak with Kate.”
    â€œShe’s very frightened. You’ll have to be careful with her.”
    â€œI’ll need an address.”
    Valerie took out a business card and wrote on the back.
    â€œI’d prefer that you talk to her when I’m there.”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œThis evening?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œSeven?”
    â€œFine.”
    She stood. I stood.
    â€œWhere is Kate now?”
    â€œI sent her and Miranda to my mother’s home inBrookline,” Valerie said.