"Now, you girls haven't told me how you got those pretty purple bruises around your necks. Have you two been playing hangman?" she teased as she leane...d over to kiss Kathy's moist lips.Christi was slipping off a nylon to answer Mommy's question when the phone rang again."Oh, hello, Officer Ray!" Mommy stood up so quickly that Christi's noose missed entirely. The blue-eyed brunette hurriedly put her stocking back on so she wouldn't spoil the surprise."No, no, you're right, Officer Ray, tiny. ’s compliment of twelve officers barely matched the number of Detectives in my two divisions. One reason for that was the way this State allowed counties to compose themselves, which was different than my current State’s structure. In my State, there were town police and county police and/or Sheriff Departments, and of course my own County was merged with my Town into one unified force. In Apple Grove’s county, the town had police jurisdiction in a radius of several miles outside the town. "Good morning," she said brightly, "SCraMBle Computers, appointment for ten."Mrs Brown smiled back at her and stood up. "Good morning ladies, if you would just come this way; I'll show you to the conference room."She led them to a long room with a large table in the centre and a dozen chairs running down each side of its length."If you would just like to take a seat, Mr Conrad and Mr Reynolds will be right with you. Can I offer either of you any refreshments?" she enquired courteously.Both. We have had a "more-than-just-a-friend" relationship for aboutfive years, since my divorce, and have occassionally spent the night in eachothers bed. Nothing serious, but more than just a friend. When Kim calledat mid-week wanting to come to my house just to talk, I knew she needed afriend more than a lover. Once there, she cried for two hours sobbing outthe events that led to her fiance telling her he'd been sleeping with hissecretary for three months, she was pregnant and he was going to.