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helping Tiffany out." She grinned. "We've been busier than a beehive." She shook her head. "But it's slowed down a little bit over the last few minutes. These people are just waiting for one of the boys in the back to come handle their problems."
    Mona was the chief's receptionist but often helped at the front desk when the precinct was shorthanded.
    "I still think I should apologize beforehand, because my being here is just going to add to your workload," I said with a smile and shook my head.
    I'd known Mona all of my life. She was my favorite aunt's best friend, and after my aunt and mother passed away in a car accident, Mona made it known that she was from that day forward assuming the role of auntie.
    I had absolutely zero complaints.
    She narrowed her green eyes at me, pursed her bright-red lips, and then leaned her thin arms on the counter. She looked around discreetly. "Is there something you're needing me to help you with?" she asked in a soft voice.
    "I should've called ahead, but I'm in a hurry." I nodded. "I need to get into the back and see if I can sneak a peek at the case file on Lydia Hatchett."
    Mona's eyes widened, and she blew out a breath. "What in the world do you need to see that case file for? I thought peeping Toms and slimy spouses were more your thing?"
    "They usually are," I admitted. "But this morning a client came into the office and hired me to clear him of her murder. I need some place to start, and getting a good look at that file would be a great place."
    "Someone hired you to investigate her murder?" she asked with a shocked expression.
    "I'm a little hurt that you find someone thinking that I can solve a murder an impossibility." I placed my hands on my hips. "But yes. He thinks he's being framed, and I happen to believe him."
    "I don't think that about you at all. I know you can solve any case thrown your way. I think you're the best private investigator there is, but I don't know, Barb. This is a dangerous case. A woman was murdered, and you usually deal with cheaters…"
    Mona always had my best interests at heart. She worried about me like I was her own child, so I often understood her lack of enthusiasm where my career was concerned.
    "Mona, I know that this isn't my typical case, but this is the one that could put my company on the map. You know how hard I've been trying to make a name for myself. For my company." I leaned my forearms on the counter again and lowered my voice. "If I can uncover who really killed Lydia Hatchett, I could free an innocent man and put a murderer behind bars. I've already taken the case, so I'm going to do all that I can to solve this murder. I could really use your help."
    "Being a private investigator you have privileges here, why don't you just ask to see it?"
    "I tried, but when I called this morning and asked to see the case file the detective heading up the investigation wouldn't budge."
    Mona looked at me for a long moment. Her bright-red eyebrows lowered in a frown that matched the one on her lips. Mona was always worried that I'd go off and get myself killed.
    "All right, here's what we're going to do," she said with a sigh. "I can't let you back there. It's too big of a risk. If one of the officers saw you wandering around unsupervised you'd be busted in a heartbeat. Then we'd both be in a heap of trouble."
    "But Mona—"
    "Just listen." She held up a hand to stop any further argument. "You might stick out like a sore thumb, but I won't. Let me go back there and see what I can do, but you promise me that you won't go off and get yourself killed if I can get you the information you need."
    See what I mean?
    "I can't let you do that, Mona," I argued. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you'd be in if you got caught with that file?"
    There was no way I was going to let her get into any kind of trouble because of me and this case. It would be easier to just have Mandy hack the system. At least then if I were to get caught, I would take the fall, not