Mickey On The Job

Preface.

This is my first submission to Literotica and so is probably in need of much improvement, please do leave suggestions on how to improve. And accept as an older English guy, writing about a hot blooded young Irish-American gal some things may seem odd.

For the observant of you, the plot may seem similar to a well known novel; I shall let you know my source at the end of the story.

So read and enjoy, and accept I've kept all characters over 18, especially as there is a good selection of sex in this tale.

...

Story.

Mickey rolled off the girl and lay back. He was breathing heavily, his chest heaving his body covered in a thin film of sweat. This had been a long session, with the girl who took his whole length and squeezed him just right so they both came together. And as he felt his cock soften, the cool air against the moisture on it, he turned to look at the girl next to him.

She was stunning, medium height, well length as she lay on the bed, her tits not large but firm and plump, her waist slim and her full hips drawing to her long athletic legs. She had pale skin, which showed the contrast with the dark red tangle of hair between her legs, matching the deep red hair now spread out behind her head on the bed as a red veil. She was pretty too, thin lips, slightly too long a nose but with large green eyes that just took your attention.

"When you've stopped admiring the view... are you going to pay up?" she said, her voice with an edge and a faint Irish accent.

"You mean, me fucking you hard wasn't payment enough?" he answered.

"Oh really... you should be paying me... I'm good" she said.

"You sure are... 750$ we agreed?" he said, easing out of the small bed and reaching for his jacket.

"We did... and I'll take it big or small... er notes" she giggled, letting her hard face relax a little.

He counted out the notes, using her naked body as a table before she got up and walked through to the other room, unlocking her desk, opening a drawer, pulling out a large envelope before putting the money in and closing it. She returned and handed the envelope to him. He opened it, looked through the black and white prints and smiled.

They were very explicit showing a beautiful blonde woman in bed with a younger man and showing various sexual positions. The photos were good, and he recognised the woman as his wife, the man as his chauffeur. He smiled as he looked through them and knew he had the evidence he was after, her infidelity.

"These are good, just what I need... but how did you...?" he said, not finishing his statement.

"Well, you haven't asked about the third pair of legs... and there are one or two pics I've not included 'cos they implicate the photographer." She answered, giving him a big wink.

"You mean you?" he asked, shocked.

"Oh yes, seems you wife likes a threesome..." she said, with that familiar giggle.

He shook his head, wondering how dedicated to her case this woman was, and yet the thought of that same woman, still naked by the bed, with his wife and chauffeur was somewhat arousing, and his dick hardened again. He looked up at her and smiled.

"What about one more fuck... for luck?" he asked, patting the bed.

"I charge 100$ per hour... she answered as she climbed into bed.

...

That was the previous afternoon, Friday, and here she was back in her office again. She checked around the office, it was decent and clean, but not exactly tidy. It had her desk, a comfy desk chair and two upright chairs in front of it. There was a bookshelf, filing cabinet and a few old pictures on the wall. There was the door to her other room, the one with the couch and bed, the bed where she had made an extra 200$ the afternoon before.

The main glass door had her name on the front... 'Michelle Spillane. Private Investigator'. She smiled; her dad had named her after himself and nicknamed her Mickey. There was another glazed door that led to a small, outer office where her secretary worked on a part time basis, and today being Saturday, it was empty. She didn't normally come in on a Saturday, but she had another important client, and they were due any time.

And just then she heard a knock on the outer door, and someone enter the outer office. Michelle opened the top drawer in her desk and moved her revolver closer to her.

"Come in... I'm in the inner office." She shouted through the door. As it opened, she reached for the gun.

The door opened and a stunning blonde woman walked in, a very familiar woman, one she knew intimately. This was Mrs Jayne Maxwell, wife of Michael 'Mickey' Maxwell, the man who had paid her the best part of a grand to get pictures of her infidelity; the woman she had seduced with her lover to gain the photographs. She now walked in, expensively dressed in a full fur coat and heels.

"Ah Miss Spillane... how nice to see you again" the blonde said, "I'm sure you know why I'm here?"

"I do... and yes I got them." Mickey said, unlocking another drawer and pulling out another large envelope.

She passed it over to Mrs Maxwell, who opened it and pulled out a set of photographs. She looked through them carefully and smiled.

"Well, these are excellent, and I think I recognise the woman... but how... and when?"

"Well, your husband made it clear from our first meeting he wanted me... so I let him. All it took was a hidden camera, a careful angle and me developing the shots yesterday. And to complete your question, in my bed next door."

"You are a resourceful woman... working both sides and making money off us both." Mrs Maxwell said, with a frown "But I got what I wanted... thank you, and this is for you..."

The blonde now passed over an envelope and Mickey counted out the notes, seven new 100$ bills. Mickey put it in the locked drawer and locked it.

"So, Mrs Maxwell, is there anything else I can do for you?" Mickey said as she stood up.

"Oh yes, I hope you're not busy... but I wanted to 'consult' you on something else" she said, standing up and slowly undoing her fur coat and easing it off her shoulders... she was completely naked underneath, her full figure so tempting, so sexy.

"I charge 100$..." Mickey said, getting up and walking to the bedroom door.

...

Mickey sat back and relaxed. It was Sunday, a day she had for herself and looked around the familiar room. This was her family home, the one where she was born, where she grew up and where she had lost her virginity. And now here she was all alone. Her mother had died when she was very young, and her dad had brought her up, with help from his sister. But they were both gone, and she missed her dad especially.

He had been a cop, one of the old-fashioned sort who believed in good and evil, law and order and that bad people should go to jail. He had been big, tough and very Irish, being a second-generation immigrant from Dublin. But at home he had been the big, gentle giant that loved and looked after his daughter, the image of her mother, but with his hair.

It had been five years ago, when she had left school and was still considering college or a job; eighteen tough and independent, pretty and sexy that he had been gunned down. He had found about a colleague passing on information to a mobster and had gone to his Lieutenant. But he too had been involved, and her dad had been gunned down to protect him. It had left her devastated and determined to find out more and avenge him.

She had joined the police academy and done very well. She was strong and fit, clever and knew the game and graduated with high recommendations for working in detection. She had done her two years as a patrol officer, being highly valued. But the after-effects of her dad's demise were still present and that Lieutenant, now a captain had tried to get her eliminated. She had survived the gunshot but knew her career was over. However, the connection back to the captain was made and he had been quietly paid off while she was given a very generous pay-off for her injury and to keep her quiet.

And so, she had set herself up as a Private Investigator, quite happy to take on the somewhat simplistic and low paid jobs at first before getting more juicy cases, such as the 'Maxwells'. She smiled to herself, being able to work both sides had been very risky and yet very fulfilling and with both sex-starved people taking advantage of her, she had cleared the best part of two grand: all for the love of her pussy.

She sighed, opened the bottle of whiskey and poured herself another large shot... she could enjoy this.

"To you Dad... made another big case... love you." She said into the empty room and drank the fiery liquid in one.

...

The Mandy Moore case started properly for Mickey on the Tuesday. She was sitting at her desk, finishing up writing up her notes for the Maxwell cases, when she heard the outer door open and a muted conversation in the outer lobby/ office. Then she heard the clickity-clack of her 'secretary', Alice's high heels, a knock at the door and the young woman came in.

Alice was short and young, with short dark hair, a decent figure and glasses hiding her dark eyes. She now looked at Mickey and spoke.

"Hello, Mickey... a Mrs Moore is outside and wants to speak with you."

"Sure, Alice... show her in". Mickey said.

A middle-aged woman stepped into the room and Mickey was already intrigued. She was well dressed but the clothes were old and worn. And as she walked in, Mickey noted the slightly shaky walk, the slight droop in her stature. She sat down and looked up at Mickey who was even more surprised. This was a woman who looked, dressed and walked like a fifty-year-old, and yet when she looked into the face, Mickey saw a woman much younger.

"So how can I help you Mrs Moore?" she said, sitting straight and watching the woman.

"I want you to find my daughter." She replied, her voice wavering slightly.

"Sure... when did she go missing?" Mickey asked.

"About three months ago... she hasn't been found, and neither has her... body." the woman said, holding back her tears.

"Right, so I assume the police have been involved." Mickey said, and seeing the nod "... what do they say?"

"Oh, the usual things... she may be dead... she has run away... she will be back in her own time." The woman said, "But I know my daughter, she is no fool, and she would always let me know where she is."

Mickey now listened as the woman described her daughter as she reached for a photograph. When she passed it over, Mickey saw a pretty blonde face looking back, with blue eyes and a slightly wicked looking smile. With being dressed in a high school cheerleader outfit, she could also see she had a sporty but good figure and would certainly attract guys.

According to her mother she was outgoing and clever, worked hard at school and was aiming for college. She swam for the school, led the cheerleading squad and was a popular girl with some very good friends. She was close to her parents but liked being out with her friends too. Mickey was about to ask about boys but was cut off.

"Oh, I know I'm describing the perfect girl, but we are close and she has confided in me. She knows her mind and likes boys. So she told me she is no virgin and she had slept with two former boyfriends. But she took those decisions herself, always uses a condom and is on the pill. So you see, Miss Spillane, she is no naïve innocent."

"Thank you for that, Mrs Moore." Mickey replied "I have to ask this.. has she any enemies... anyone maybe unhappy she turned them down... or split up with them?"

"No... I'd kinda say the opposite, she is well liked and maybe a little too forward, if you get my drift." She answered.

Mickey was beginning to get a feel for this missing girl. She could picture her with her friends, probably the most outgoing, probably the most flirty too and probably the one willing to go through with her flirts. She somehow suspected that Mandy had been with a few more men, maybe even women, than she had told her mom.

"Well Mrs Moore, if the police haven't found her, I'm not sure I can... they have so many more resources than I do." Mickey said honestly. "And I don't want to waste your money."

"I know, you're probably thinking I'm a woman who will try anything, and you're right" she answered "But you're a woman, not much older than Mandy. And I suspect you may have insights on her the police don't have; maybe an empathy?"

"And you're also right, we're not rich, but we do have some savings... our daughter is worth more than that, even more."

Mickey saw the intensity in the woman's eyes and knew she could take her for all those savings. But for all her hard-headed approach, she wasn't hard hearted and she felt a sympathy for the mother. But she was sure this wasn't a case that would be successful.

"Ok, Mrs Moore... I will have a look into it." Mickey said after a pause "I'll tell you what I will do, I will make some enquiries and if after a week I don't get anywhere I shall stop. I'll not take your money for nothing."

The look of relief and hope in the woman's eyes seemed to light up her face and for that moment Mickey saw the attractive woman at her real age. It added to Mickey's feeling of sympathy and reinforced her belief she shouldn't be unfair.

...

Mickey started straight away on the new case, making a brief summary of the case, adding the photo into a new file. Having done the initial admin, and put away the starting fee of 200$ into her locked drawer, she picked up her phone and made a call to a familiar friend.

"Hello, police.. Sergeant Higgins speaking." A familiar voice answered.

"Hello John... Mickey here, how are you?" she said, brightly

"Ten times worse since I picked up the phone." He answered, his voice deep but with a trace of humour.

"Aw don't be like that... are you busy this evening, can I buy you a drink?" she said.

"So you want information... ok usual place, usual time." He replied and put the phone down.

Five hours later and Mickey walked into the bar. It was a pretty uneventful place; dark clean enough, with the aroma of cheap beer and smoke. It was the sort of place where people knew who you were but didn't spread the information around. The perfect place for illicit meetings and hookups.

She looked around and saw the usual mix, businessmen on their way home, taking a drink before facing their wives. A few younger guys around the pool table, losing their money to the two pool sharks working the tables. And a scattering of young women, dressed smartly with too much lipstick; working girls looking for their money of the day; usually on their back with no clothes. But it was the large black man at the end of the bar she saw and went to,

"Hello John." She said, sidling into a stool next to him and catching the barman's eye.

"Hello trouble... same again." He said to the barman "And she's paying."

"Same for me thanks" she added, putting a bill onto the bar.

"So how is my favourite godfather?" she added.

Sergeant John Higgins was another good cop in a district renowned for too many bad ones. He had been at the academy with her father and they had become good friends and excellent partners. It was a strange mix, an Irish American white man and a big black man from Brooklyn and yet they got on so well. So much so that her father had asked John to be her Godfather for her christening.

Her father's death had hit John hard and he had briefly taken to drink, but the need for him to find out about her father's death and his wanting revenge had put him back on the rails and he had become a tireless seeker of the bad apples in the department. He had been shot but recovered and put two other cops away. But his success had come at a cost and he was now a desk holder in the records department, a stupid waste of his talent, but a valuable resource for her.

"The usual... bored frustrated but good." He answered "My Bonnie's heading to college."

"Oh great, how is the girl?" Mickey asked

Bonnie was his eldest daughter, a bright pretty girl who was also very clever. She was only a few years younger than Mickey and they had become good friends.

"Oh she's good... I hate to think how she'll get on at college... too clever for her own good." He said.

"Oh she'll be fine... good head, good body. She'll do well" she answered with a chuckle.

"That is not something to say to a father." He replied "Now what is it you want?"

"The Mandy Moore case... I've been asked to look into it." She answered. That drew a look from her godfather.

"Mrs Moore been to see you eh... well I guess I'm not surprised." He said.

"No I bet, seeming you apparently gave her my name." she said.

"Shhh... don't tell everyone." He said "But yes, she accosted me coming out of the station and asked me to help. The case had been closed in the precinct, so I suggested you."

"It has been described as an open and shut case; pretty young female runs away from her unhappy home and has disappeared. The detectives are split, one reckons she is dead, killed by a jealous boyfriend, the other thinks she has gone to live with a lover. Either way, there is no clear trail left, and no body."

"I don't know though, Mickey, something doesn't feel quite right. From what I could see, the home was very happy, the girl didn't seem unhappy, and the boys seemed above board to me. There was no evidence of drugs, she liked a drink yes but not excessively and the girl was no prude sexually; no repressed virgin running off with the first man with an erect dick she met."

"That's my John... always sugarcoating the sexual element." She laughed, catching the barman's eye for more drinks.

"And there seems no evidence of a kidnap neither... no ransom demand, no panties sent to the parents and honestly, they're not rich enough, not famous enough" John continued sipping at his drink.

"Yes, I talked with the mother, and I was a little surprised at how open she was with her daughter's sexual history. I got the feel for a genuinely loving mother who wants her daughter back. But I did warn her I may not get anywhere."

"I'll write down a few details for you and send them to you." He said, "Office or home?"

"Office please... I don't trust my local mailman." She answered, "I think he fancies me."

"Oh, who wouldn't, the way you dress..." he answered and took another swig of his pint.

...

His letter arrived two days later and were a brief but detailed assessment of the case. The girl had disappeared on her way back from high school. The disappearance had been reported near to midnight, as she was often home late. The detectives had interviewed the normal suspects, but everyone seemed genuine and no one seemed suspicious. But from his notes, she got the distinct feeling her godfather was not impressed by the efforts of the assigned detectives.

She started properly the next day. She first talked to the parents again, both the mother and father and was unafraid to ask some detailed questions, some quite pointed. But she was impressed by the quiet dignity, the obvious love for their daughter and the father even confirmed that they would give everything to have her home safe. She was convinced they had nothing to do with the disappearance and that there was no sexual deviancy in this house.

She also took the chance to look through Mandy's room, using her own memories of being a late teen and where she might hide things. It was much like her own room had been; similar posters of hunky men on the walls, the same feeling of a girl moving from teenage to adult. The clothes and underwear might be different, but she felt a bond with the missing girl.

It took her a while but she did find the secret location, like her own room, the loose floorboard teased up over months so a box could be hidden there away from curious parents. Inside the box was the usual mix, love letters, a pressed flower and maybe more surprisingly, a large dildo; so this girl was sexually aware and prepared to explore it.

There were two bound up bundles of love letters, the evidence of her two main relationships. They were similar even if the boys were quite different. Love letters, photos, a pressed flower, and pair of her panties, probably the pair she had worn on their first time of sex, and she thought she could detect a faint scent of her sex. They were rather sweet even though the letters got pretty explicit, detailing what she wanted next, how, where and when... and it was clear, both guys had nice dicks. She knew she had to interview these two guys.

Mark Randolph was the first she talked to. He was a tall, fit and athletic guy in his first ear of college; two years older than Mandy and handsome. They met at the college café and talked. He came over as very honest and approachable. Yes he had dated Mandy for about three months, yes their relationship had got sexual and yes the sex was good. It had ended when they had got bored with each other and she had found someone else. Yes he was disappointed, but he had got over it, especially when he met Sally a fellow college student. He had last seen Mandy a week before her disappearance.

Mickey had to admit she liked him, he was handsome with an open honest face and yes he had a good body. She also noted his eyes spent a lot of time wandering over her own body. She had decided to be informal and so was wearing tight jeans and a sweater that showed off her good figure and she wasn't surprised he was eyeing her up. She gave him her card, and asked him to call if he remembered anything else, somehow suspecting he might, in an effort to pick her up.

Steve Gold was different. He was short and dark, with suspicious eyes. He was also handsome but was much more cautious and it took a lot more time to get him to talk. He was also much more guarded about their relationship. He gave the impression it was Mandy that pursued him but that when they got together it was very intense. But it had been short and she left him for someone else, but he didn't know who. He had last seen her on the day before she disappeared, and yes there had been an argument but he hadn't harmed her, wouldn't harm her.

She was intrigued at Steve, he was a young first year student, like Mark and yet more introvert and didn't really eye her up. She was sure he was holding something back and she was sure it was important. And yet she didn't get a negative vibe from him. She gave him her card too and urged him to call if he remembered anything else.

She then talked to some of Mandy's friends, a group of girls she agreed to meet at a local coffee house. They were a typical mix of eighteen-year-olds, different looks, different races but all bubbly and fun. But she didn't learn much more she didn't know. Mandy was fun, she was cool and no one could understand why she would go missing. But Mickey felt one of the girls, a slightly shorter, dark haired girl called Jenny seemed less bubbly and she felt she knew something. Again she passed out her cards to them.

The following day, Mickey dressed up more formally in her dark suit, white blouse and skirt with sensible heels. She looked smart and professional and older than her twenty-four years. Today she interviewed Mandy's teachers, three of them, the subject heads for her chosen subjects of English, History and French.

The first was the history teacher, Mrs Fiona Thomas, a middle aged woman with a slight English accent. She was somewhat plain and yet somewhat charismatic with her obvious enthusiasm for her subject and her students. She told of a bright enthusiastic girl who seemed very keen on the more intensive periods of history. Mickey wondered whether she would be as knowledgeable about her non-academic side.

"Oh yes, Mandy... a girl who is maybe too clever, too wise for her own good. I saw her with at least three different guys here and I'm sure she was intimate with them" she said "Women?... no I didn't see any evidence of that, but I wouldn't be surprised."

The English teacher was next, Mr John Knight, a tall good looking young man who could certainly turn heads. Again he talked about her intelligence, her hard working. He talked about the school play where she was due to play Juliet. He seemed more reluctant to discuss her social life.

"Now come on Mr Knight, a handsome young man like you... surely some girls would have a crush on you?"

"That sort of behaviour is against the rules... anyway, I am a recently married man,"

But somehow Mickey wasn't too convinced.

The third teacher was Eloise Legrand, a second-generation French immigrant. She was short, dark and extremely attractive and something more; she just seemed to ooze sex appeal; Mickey felt it when the woman came into the room. She was wearing a simple white sweater, and dark skirt, that were simple and yet on her looked elegant and emphasised her curves.

Once again, she talked about Mandy's cleverness and her willingness to learn. She had a natural skill at language, even picking up regional accents. She was also particularly good at the oral plays they did. As she spoke, Mandy picked up a couple of things, Eloise's normal school accent slipped a little, her native French accent coming to the fore and her voice changed when she talked about Mandy.

"And her social life... was she attracted to anyone?" Mickey asked.

"oh I saw her with two or more boys... I didn't see her with girls, well unless as a group."

"And the teachers, anything there?" Mickey asked looking straight into the French teacher's eyes.

"No... nothing there." Eloise answered, but the answer was too quick and her eyes flicked away from Mickey.

"Really... a beautiful woman like you, that sexy French accent, the romance of French... and a young girl seeking more knowledge, becoming more adult?" Mickey carried on and saw the woman falter.

"It's ok, this is totally confidential... no one needs to know... and remember I'm looking for her.. to find her" and she moved and held the French teacher's hand.

"But this could ruin me... and my family..." she said, with a whimper.

"It's ok, you don't need to say... just nod if you wish..." Mickey said.

"So you were attracted to her as she was to you. I suspect she came on to you, a girl way ahead of her years in experience and you responded." Mickey said quietly, as Eloise nodded.

"Maybe an after-school French play rehearsal that got a little heated... an embrace followed by a kiss... and then another... then exploring hands... and before you knew it, you were becoming closer."

Eloise threw her head into her hands.

"It's ok... as I say this will go no further" Mickey said, holding the woman's hands "And I'm not judging... I'm just trying to fill in the gaps of this complex person."

"And Eloise... I can understand her feelings... you are a stunning woman." Mickey added looking back into her tear-stained eyes.

"You are too..." she replied. Smiling a little.

"Look Eloise, I probably should go... but I can be in the bar down the road at 5pm, If you want to meet up... maybe we can talk more?"

...

The bar was a little more upmarket than her usual haunts, but there was still that same mixed aroma of stale beer and cigarettes that seemed to be usual for all bars. And the clientele seemed familiar, men on their way home from work, couples looking for some privacy and even the odd woman looking for some action. As she walked in, she was conscious of a number of eyes watching her.

Mickey herself took a usual place for her, a stool at the end of the bar, where she could look at the door and keep an eye open for any unwanted interest. Two men did ask for her company, something she politely refused, saying she was waiting for someone. But it was already 5.15pm and she had been there nearly forty-five minutes and was beginning to think Eloise wasn't coming.

But just then, the door opened and she came in, looking somewhat uncertain and perhaps even scared. Mickey waved and the French woman saw her and came over.

"I'm... I'm sorry I'm late... I wasn't sure I wanted to come." She muttered, her voice hesitant.

"It's no worries, and you don't have to tell me anything" Mickey replied, smiling at her "Now let me get you a drink, and we can go to a table."

"They do a decent white wine here." Eloise said.

"Right then we shall have a bottle.... that way we don't need to keep coming up here" Mickey replied, catching the barman's eye.

A few minutes later and they were drinking the wine and chatting about general things. They had found a table away from the main crowd and were able to talk in privacy. After her first glass, Eloise seemed to relax a bit and started to talk, and she went into some detail.

She had been attracted to the vivacious Mandy, both her looks and her excellent French and it was clear Mandy reciprocated that attraction. And it was the after-school play rehearsal, practising a very emotional speech that they got close, their lips touched, and they were kissing and caressing.

"I wasn't thinking... just kissing, caressing and taking clothes off. Even in such a dangerous place, with a curtain between us and the hall door, we were soon naked and getting very intimate. Oh, it was silly, I realised afterwards how stupid I'd been, and I awaited the blackmail. But it didn't come, and she told me afterwards she had found someone else, someone secret."

"So, it was just the once?" Mickey asked, topping up their glasses.

"Yes... somehow we both knew it was over... exciting though it had been" Eloise said, "Its funny talking with you a stranger, and away from school, I don't feel so embarrassed."

"It's ok... as I said, I am trying to find her.. I'll not say a word.. your secret is safe with me." Mickey said.

Somehow the conversation had got incredibly quiet, very intimate and their hands were touching; they were looking into each other's eyes and Mickey realised how a young girl could be attracted to this gorgeous woman. She herself was feeling somewhat aroused by the closeness of this woman.

"Oh... er the bottle's empty... Shall I get another one?" she asked, breaking the silence that had descended over them.

"Well yes... but if you prefer I have something better at my home... it's only a few minutes away." Eloise said.

And there was the offer, and Mickey knew what it meant... this was a not-so-subtle invitation to share her bed, stay the night. She was shocked and yet not surprised and she wondered if there was more information to come. She smiled and nodded and the two girls walked out together.

Her place was a small, but well laid out apartment on the second floor of an apartment block. It was in a reasonably decent part of town, not ideal but cheap. The apartment itself was quite different, clean and tidy and well furnished even if it was second hand. It had a sense of style that shouted good taste. And that continued with Eloise pouring out a particularly good wine that both enjoyed on the sofa.

Eloise had taken her coat off and was sat in a cream sweater that hugged her slim figure, showing off her small but beautifully shaped breasts, and a pair of loose pants that added to her elegant look. Mickey had to admit, in that outfit and her pretty, dark looks she looked the epitome of French style and she exuded sex appeal.

They chatted for a while, simple aimless things as if neither wanted to commit to anything more detailed, but even that conversation eased. Then Eloise took Mickeys glass, set it down, took her face in her hands and kissed her. It was a glorious kiss on her lips, that opened her mouth and led to one of the most passionate kisses she had ever experienced, and she kissed the girl back.

Now there were no words, as things developed in a glorious way... from that first kiss to more kisses,., to hands exploring each other... to slowly easing clothes off and Eloise taking Mickey's hand and leading the naked PI to her bed. The bedroom too exuded style and sexiness, with a large black and white picture of a stunning naked woman, that Mickey realised was Eloise.

And in bed, they continued to kiss and caress each other, hands exploring breasts, necks, thighs and their pussies. It was no surprise to Mickey that Eloise was shaven, her small, slim body beautifully shaped and Mickey could understand a photographer, an artist, a sculptor wanting to capture this beauty in art. But Eloise was also drawn in to Mickey's bigger but beautiful figure too and soon she was taking over, turning Mickey onto her back and slowly but surely seducing her to climax.

And Mickey just lay back and moaned louder and louder as Eloise moved over her body, her soft lips kissing her all over, against her sensitive neck, down her navel, little flicks of her tongue, small nibbles with her teeth adding to the sublime pleasure. And her lips on her breasts, her teeth gently biting her hard nipples and then between her legs was getting her so aroused, so close to cumming.

Now she felt the deep pleasure of the French girl's hot breath against her pussy, her tongue exploring the folds between her ass and her prominent clit, her fingers circling her inner folds, bring her ever closer and then her tongue circling and flicking against her clit. Mickey cried out loud as that and her body started to shake, her inners seemed to turn over.

"Oh... fuck yes..." she screamed out as she bucked against the sheets.

Within minutes she felt the inner warmth the shuddering within herself that was so glorious and so primal and she grabbed Eloise's head as if to push her even closer to her sex. And then it hit, like a wave of sheer pleasure, her whole body seemed to freeze as the emotions took over; it was an orgasm she hadn't felt for so long, maybe never before and she felt the sweet release of her sexual juices as she squirted them all over the glorious dark head between her legs.

Eloise thirstily drank them up and emerged from between her legs, her subtle lipstick a mess as she licked at Mickeys juices, smiled at her panting post orgasmic state and then slid sexily up her body and took her into a lovely long hug. They didn't say anything for a while, just enjoying each others bare skin against theirs, their shared sexual enjoyment. Then Eloise spoke, quietly.

"You are welcome to stay the night, if you want." She said quietly.

"I intend to..." Mickey responded "I think you want to tell me something... and I owe you an orgasm..."

"Oh you do..." she giggled back and then looked into Mickeys eyes "And I do have more to say.."

She spoke softly and without the previous hesitations. She had been with Mandy more than once and it was a short but very erotic and hot relationship. Mandy had been so enthusiastic and as Mickey knew, Eloise was a highly skilled and beautiful lover.

But even though it had been wonderful, the affair had ended and although Eloise was somewhat relieved, her career might not be ruined, she was also a little sad. But she also knew Mandy had someone else, someone especially important.

"I thought there might be someone from the start." She said "But it didn't stop her being very sexual with me."

"But somehow it seemed to change... she got less insistent, I was taking charge more,,, I had thought she was getting bored with me, but I realised there was someone else, someone more attractive for her."

"We split up in a remarkably adult way and that made me even more sure she had someone else. And before you ask, I don't know, I didn't ask her and I didn't want to. And I don't think she would have said anyway."

"I understand that... the more I'm investigating, the more I'm seeing a very complex, very adult and very mysterious woman; much older than her eighteen years."

"Yes, that is how I would describe her... and someone seeking something, something different." Eloise responded.

The rest of the conversation faded out as Mickey now pushed Eloise onto her back and started to seduce her. She was sure she was no way as skilled as the Frenchwoman but she knew her way around a female body and soon had her panting in delight. She loved kissing her shapely neck, the small breasts with the large erect nipples; the taught tummy that led to her shaven pussy. She smelled and tasted divine, her musk so delicious and Mickey drank thirstily. Her orgasm was hard and noisy and Mickey was sure she hadn't come in a while.

Their passions spent, they soon fell asleep in each others arms, deep sleep they both needed. In the morning, a naked Eloise made breakfast, strong coffee and French baked croissants with jam. The pair of them sat, naked and happy chatting about many things as they devoured the food. Eloise offered Mickey her shower but Mickey refused saying she'd prefer to spend the day in Eloise's scent.

Mickey got dressed and hugged the |French girl before she left. She had already scribbled her home address and number on the back of her card.

"No pressure, and my place is much scruffier than this, but if you need time away from here... or just more sex... give me a call." Mickey said as she hugged Eloise and left. She was sure they would be meeting up again.

...

The rest of that day, Mickey sat in her office, drank a lot of coffee as she wrote out her brief notes and thoughts into a more logical way. She wrote a page for each of the people she had met, writing down the interviews and adding her thoughts on each character. Having done that she sat back and thought about whet she had written and how to proceed.

She was getting a much clearer impression of Mandy, a cute looking girl in that photo and yet a far more complex and adult woman. And more than ever, Mickey was sure she was still alive and that she had heard something, seen a reaction that told her more; but like an object just out of reach it remained frustratingly elusive. But she had put together a new plan of action including who to interview next.

That evening she went back to the Moore's house and talked with the parents. She gave an outline of what she had learned so far and her views of where things stood. She gave a overall view, holding back on specific details, but she could tell they thought there was more.

"Thank you, Miss Spillane,... er Mickey..." Mr Moore said, "But I think there is more... please don't sugar coat it for us."

"Ok... well your daughter has not been entirely truthful with you, I think she has been with more people than she has told you. She is more adult, more mature than I have known any eighteen year old and that includes me at that age." She said.

"I guessed so... I think we both did." Mr Moore said. "But I think we both need to know one thing."

"yes... Mickey... do you think she's alive?" Mrs Moore interjected, her eyes tearing up.

Mickey thought for a moment, asking herself the same question and not knowing the answer. She was in a quandary; she hadn't found anything new that suggested she was alive or for that matter that suggested she wasn't. And yet, she was sure she had been told something that was important to the case. And as she looked at the couple, seeing the hope in their eyes she didn't want to raise false hope or yet devastate their hopes.

"I don't know..." she answered "I've not found anything yet that gives any proof either way."

"But in your gut, Mickey... what do you think?" Mr Moore asked.

"Again I cant be certain, but I somehow feel she isn't dead." Mickey answered "But if that's the case, then it suggests she doesn't want to be found."

She regretted saying that as soon as the words were out of her mouth. Mrs Moore burst into tears and Mr Moore's composed expression seemed to break for a moment. But he composed himself, put an arm around his wife and responded.

"That's fair, I did ask. And if I'm being honest, I wondered if that might be the case." He said "So Mickey, I'd like to hire you to find out more. What are your rates...100$ a day plus expenses?"

"They are... but I won't lie, I may not find anything."

"I know... but my wife was right, you are close to Mandy's age, have a similar feminine instinct and we both trust you to do your best" Mr Moore continued "So here's 500$, a week in advance... and let us know of any expenses."

Later that evening, she got a phone call from Alice to tell her that she had a message and that Jenny Harlow wanted to talk. Jenny was one of Mandy's school friends, the quieter one, and she wanted to meet Mickey at a local café bar the next Saturday.

Mickey wasn't to know, but this would be a major move forward.

...

Saturday and Mickey walked into the café bar near to Mandy's school. It was much like any café bar, a long diner like counter, an Italian style coffee machine a board offering snacks and pastries and a set of plastic seats and tables by the large window. It was already quite busy as she walked in and looked around. She saw the girl, looking different out of her school uniform but the same short, shy girl. She was already at a table slightly away from the others.

Mickey ordered herself a coffee and pastry and the same for the girl. From the start, with the way the girl was dressed in a blouse and skirt, with some subtle makeup and her choice of coffee, that she was trying to be more adult. But she was nervous, uneasy in her skin, that she looked even younger than her eighteen years.

But Mickey understood, even though she herself had been a more confident teen, and with her father's death at eighteen, she had grown up very quickly. But she remembered the insecurity of being that 'near adult', trying to fit into a complex adult world. And so she started by chatting generally, school, subjects, achievements and soon Jenny was proudly talking about her academic successes and hope to go to college.

Mickey ordered them more coffees and then turned the conversation to more personal matters. She had such good listening skills, the dark-haired girl was soon talking more openly. Alice felt she was the school swot, successful in subjects but awful with boys. She had had a few boyfriends but they hadn't stayed long and Mickey knew she was still a virgin. She leant in, her next question a gamble.

"And girls, Jenny... do you find girls attractive?... do you find me attractive?" Mickey asked.

"Oh I... that is..." Jenny stammered and blushed bright red.

"That's ok Jenny... many girls go through a phase where they fancy girls" Mickey said, holding her hand "It really is nothing to be ashamed of."

"Oh, no one has ever said that to me... I've always felt bad about thinking those thoughts."

"So tell me, did you have a crush on Mandy?" Mickey said seeing a nod and another blush. "And did it go further,,, a few kisses and cuddles?"

Again more nods and the girl looking away embarrassed.

"Look at me Jenny... Please I'm not judging... would it help if I said I'd been with girls... indeed I spent a night with one a few days ago?"

Jenny stared opened mouthed at Mickey for a while, shocked that Mickey would say such a secret thing but somehow she felt more comfortable with this woman.

"I... no one has ever told me... I... Mandy was so nice, we went somewhere secret and we lay together naked and she... well... no one ever touched me there... I enjoyed it" Jenny stammered out.

"It's ok Jenny... lesbian sex can be wonderful... in fact sometimes it can be better than with men" mickey said "Don't feel ashamed, but you probably don't want to tell your folks."

"Oh fuck no... oh sorry." Jenny said, blushing again.

"It's ok... I've heard worse." Mickey said, and they both giggled, breaking the tension a little

"So Jenny, why did you want to see me?" Mickey asked "Is it something about Mandy?"

"Yes... My time with Mandy wasn't that long, only a couple of times, then she moved on. She did that a lot, especially with boys." Jenny said "And then that afternoon, she walked out of school, saying she was meeting someone and vanished."

"Did she give any indication who she was seeing?" Mickey asked.

"No, but it was someone secret... someone she didn't want anyone to know." Jenny said.

"Ok. That's useful, thank you Jenny."

"No, that's not why I called you... I thought I saw Mandy two weeks ago."

Now it was Mickey's turn to stare at the other girl. This was new and potentially vital. She studied the girl again, pretty face, dark eyes and dark hair, but she now saw the intelligence and the hidden passion behind that intelligence, and she knew this girl wasn't lying.

"Tell me please Jenny... this is important." Mickey said after a pause.

"I was in town with my mom, buying some... er underwear when I thought I saw her coming out of the shop. But I saw I was wrong, she was dark haired, different hairstyle and wore sunglasses. And she looked older too. And yet, there was something about her, the way she stood, the walk that was her. And when she saw me she turned and walked away quickly." Jenny said.

"And you say this was two weeks ago..." Mickey asked, seeing a nod.

"If you could tell me where, I shall investigate" Mickey said "And Jenny, keep this to yourself for the moment, I don't want to raise Mandy's parent's hopes."

...

Later that day, Mickey pulled into the college campus and parked up her bike. She found using a motorbike much easier and cheaper than a car and enjoyed the ride. She locked it up, and walked in to the main campus and found the college café. She had two further meetings that day, but first needed to change out of her leathers.

Her first meeting was with Mark Randolph, the tall athletic student she had talked to before. Once again he was eyeing her up and she was somewhat playing the game. She was wearing a tight shirt, with a few buttons undone, giving a hint of cleavage and a short skirt that showed a lot of leg. She knew she was distracting him somewhat and smiled at his attempt to chat her up. One thing was for sure, he was visually undressing her with his eyes. She had hoped this might loosen his tongue a bit but he seemed far more interested in her hot body.

So she played him along a bit more, heading with him to the local student bar. He signed her in and bought them both beers. This pub was full of students enjoying a lunchtime drink. Drink was cheap here, and although the clientele may be of a higher quality than most she knew, the bar itself was much like many others she knew. Except that there was a higher number of girls in here, a higher proportion of couples and very clearly a high degree of pairing off happened in here.

And still he wouldn't say anything new, giving the hint he did know something but holding back for something in exchange, her body for his information. She wasn't really that desperate but he was a handsome guy, a young virile man with an obviously good body, the results of his athletic feats. So she submitted to his charms and joined him back in his dorm room.

His room was a typical student room, untidy with books and clothes strewn over many surfaces. The walls were covered in a mix of posters, famous sports stars and a number of topless and naked women. On his noticeboard was a mix of schedules, notes of assignments to complete and various small notes with a name and number, and yes her card was there too.

He quickly pushed the clothes off his bed then drew her into his arms. She had to admit he was good at this, it wasn't long before he had her shirt and bra off, often an obstacle for a guy, but not this one. Soon her skirt and shoes followed so she squeezed into him in only her panties feeling his hard dick pressing against his jeans. And she knew another reason why he was popular with girls, this was a large, thick dick.

And naked, standing over her naked body as she lay on his bed he looked magnificent, tall athletic with a great body and a large dick standing proud in front of him. He didn't waste time, climbing on top of her, thrusting down and into her. Without any proper foreplay, she was barely ready for him and she felt a little pain as he thrust deep into her, his thickness pushing her pussy aside. But the depth of him, the feeling of him filling her was pretty erotic and she was ready for a good long fuck.

Except it didn't work out that way; a few minutes later and he was groaning out loud, she felt his cock jerk and then pump his seed into her. She felt a twinge of enjoyment but really she was disappointed, that cock that body promised so much more and she realised he was just after enjoying himself, not caring for his partner, a fact reinforced when he slid out and seemed reluctant to even hold her.

And that wasn't the end of her disappointment, he didn't have much more to add to his previous statement. Yes he had been with Mandy, but she had left him for someone else and no he didn't know who it was. As she dressed herself, the young man watching her from his bed, she felt a pang of shame, she had been duped into this and it was her own fault. But it had been a nice distraction, so she slung him her panties as a reward and left his room.

Walking through the campus in her shirt and short skirt she was very aware of the cool breeze now blowing, especially against her bare pussy. She had another half an hour before her next meeting, in a different bar with the other undergraduate. Steve Gold. Part of her didn't want to go, the feeling of disappointment after Mark was still with her but maybe this would be better.

Another student bar, much the same as the previous one; bright, noisy and busy. A few guys turned their heads as she opened the door but soon turned back when she strode along the bar to where Steve sat alone. It was so strange the difference, two handsome young men, but Steve was dark and quiet against Mark's brash blonde good looks. She ordered two beers and sat at his table.

They chatted easily enough, although Steve was more withdrawn, less outgoing and she was sure he was hiding something. And then she saw the pad, a ring filed one that she recognised as an artist's sketchbook.

"Is that your sketchbook?... can I have a look?" she reached for it as he nodded reluctantly.

She opened it and started to look through. The first couple of sketches were of riverside locations, next to the campus. Then the next was a quick pencil sketch of a pretty girl's head, and she suddenly realised it was of her. She was impressed, it wasn't photographic, but she caught her head shape, the uplift of her chin and her large eyes.

"Is this me?" she asked, seeing him nod "It's very good."

"I did it from memory... you are fascinating to draw." He replied with a slight smile.

She continued to look through the pad, seeing more landscapes and the odd pictured portrait, many half sketches, details of a mouth or an eye. And then she turned a page and saw a drawing of Mandy. This was much better and she gathered she had posed for him; this one had taken time. She nodded and turned the page again, another head and shoulder and then... a full-length sketch, of Mandy lying on a bed, nude. It was stunning, again not photographic in style and yet catching the girl perfectly, and Mickey saw the rebel in Mandy.

"Oh... I'm sorry, I'd forgotten that was there." He said blushing.

"This is very good Steve... you have real talent." Mickey said "Do you have more of her?"

"Yes back in my room... I... er." He said.

"I'd like to see them Steve... and don't worry, as I said, I'm only here to find out more about her, I'm not the law and from these pictures I don't think she was 18 when you did these sketches."

He took her to his room, a similar room to Mark's and yet very different. This was clean and tidy, everything put away, no spare clothes or books flung across the room. The posters were different too, artistic prints, impressionistic really and two full length pictures, one of Mandy, naked and the other a naked dark-haired girl she didn't recognise; both were in colour, both stunning.

And again there were more sketchbooks and she glanced through them. More woman but a lot more landscapes.

"These are good, Steve... do you major in art?" she asked, sat close to him.

"No I do French and History... but I love drawing, as a hobby really." He answered, being less cautious now.

"And let me guess, you don't have many models?"

"No... I'm too shy to ask... and most won't... even if I offer some money."

"But Mandy was different she wanted to?" She asked.

"Well it was more she saw a sketchbook on my shelf, after we... er well... and looking through the book she said she wanted to try." He said "She wasn't nude at first, but soon she was and she was wonderful to sketch."

"So you were already sleeping with her?" she asked

"Yes, we met in the café one afternoon, she asked what I was studying, and when I said French she was very interested. Then well we met more often and she asked to see what a student room looked like... and one thing led to another..." he said.

"But I probably shouldn't say any more."

"Look Steve, I promise I won't tell any of this, I really am only interested in searching for her... for her parents." She said, but he seemed to clam up.

"ok Steve, I can understand your reluctance... how about if I model for you... and you tell me more?" she said, smiling at him "How about if I was nude too?"

He gasped and nodded as she smiled and took her shirt off. Soon her bra, shoes and skirt followed and she lay on his bed naked. He stared and gasped and she was rather gratified he was so impressed with her. He laid her down on his bed and put her into a pose and started to sketch her. He worked fast and regularly turned the pages and she was sure he was doing small, detailed sketches of her body... an eye, her chin, her breasts and then the curve of her hips and pussy area. It was both relaxing and very erotic as he studied her so carefully.

They took a break and she got up and looked over his shoulder at the sketches. They were the details she had thought and they were very good. He had caught her so well and she was very impressed and she suspected this might be his way of expressing his liking of his subject, a fact she was sure of when she glanced down to see a prominent bulge in his pants. And she was aware of a change in atmosphere in the room.

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and gently kissed his neck, pressing her bare body against his back, her bare breasts pressed against his shirt. He moaned softly and turned his head and they kissed, lips in lips, tongue against tongue. She had thought he might be shy, might be reluctant but he wasn't as he turned her around and pulled her to him and kissed her deeply, pressing his hard bulge against her pussy.

And that was but the start, he laid her back down on the bed, tore off his shirt and eased onto her body, kissing her from her chin down to her breasts, circling her breasts with his lips and then flicking his tongue against her hard nipples. And then lower, past her navel and to her pussy where he kissed and licked at her before thrusting his fingers into her hot wet pussy.

She was surprised, she had found few men who seemed so enthusiastic to eat her out, to give her such pleasure before taking his. And he was good, seeming to know just where to kiss her, just how far to thrust and how much to work on her clit. Soon she was writhing in her pleasure, moaning softly as she reached up for him.

And then he eased off her, tore off his pants and boxers, letting his dick out. It wasn't the size of Mark's, his was huge, but it was still big and thick and she purred at the sight of it, standing proudly in front of him. Then he climbed onto her and teasing her just a little longer by pressing his length along her lips, he thrust slowly and gently into her.

She was already so aroused he slid in easily and she was panting as he started to thrust in and out of her. Unlike earlier, her man was taking his time to ensure she got as much pleasure as he did and she appreciated it so much. And she was so horny she was almost cumming as he started to thrust. And it wasn't long before she felt that deep seated feeling, the warmth and deep delight that spread through her until like a bursting dam she climaxed, panting and moaning, her body shuddering and her pussy clamping tight around him. And that sent him wild so as she started to subside, he came, spurting his seed deep inside her.

She held him tight to her as he pumped again and again, feeling his body shake before he finished; and she held him longer, enjoying the feel of togetherness, their bodies locked by their sex, the feel, sounds and scents spreading over them. Then as he softened he eased off her and onto his back, his chest heaving.

She turned onto her side and looked down at him, his subtle handsome face and his eyes ablaze with satisfaction and delight. He looked up at her and their eyes locked and they shared the unspoken agreement that this had been a special fuck for them both, one of the very best. And then he started to talk, finally telling her more.

Mandy had met him in the café and they had started to talk. He had been attracted by her beauty, his artistic eye already beginning to sketch her in his mind. But it was their mutual attraction to French that had got them closer, first him telling her about the French at college and then chatting in French. And then she had wanted to see his room, so she could get an idea of a college room. To his surprise but not Mickey's, She had seduced him there, spending a considerable time having sex with him. After their time together, Mickey wasn't at all surprised.

But he continued with more useful information, as she listened, stroking his chest. He knew she had been with Mark, rather suspected he had followed Mark on her list of lovers. And she started to talk about him, about whether there was something they could do to 'spice things up'. And so the one night, she had got both Mark and Steve together and had a threesome.

"To be honest... I know she got her kicks from it, maybe even Mark... but it did nothing for me," he said "And I think she got that, and that was the start of the end."

"And a few days later, we started to argue and that last time we argued about another threesome." He added "She went off in a huff, and I was scared... well."

"You were worried the cops would think you reacted by killing her." She continued for him, he nodded sadly.

"You didn't though did you?" Mickey asked.

"Oh never... I was rather thinking I was falling in love with her."

That did surprise her and yet she was beginning to get a deeper feeling of the impact this girl had on people, especially those with feelings of their own. Her next question was tricky, but she had to ask.

"Did you think she had someone else?" she asked quietly; he paused for a second and then answered.

"I did yes, I suspected she might always have had someone else and towards the end I was certain." He answered "And I think it was someone she truly loved..."

She suspected that was all she was going to get from him, and she was somewhat distracted by the growing erection pressing against her thigh. She smiled and reached down, grabbed it and slowly stroked it.

"So young man... changing subject... are you wanting to draw me some more... or did you want to screw me?"

"Oh screw you, definitely..." he answered, drawing her back to him.

And for the next hour, any thoughts of missing girls, loving partners and the case went out of the window as they fucked again. This time was even better, his skilled lovemaking sending her into an erotic bliss she had barely felt in her life. She kinda lost count, but reckoned she had three hard, delicious orgasms before he came, sending more of his seed into her. It may have been the best fuck of her young life.

And afterwards, in that post coital time of closeness and relaxation, he told her his secret. When he had just turned eighteen, his parents had business in Europe and he was left alone, except for a French au-pair they hired to look after him, a 22 year-old, stunner called Louise. He had totally fallen for her and it seemed her for him. They spent four glorious weeks where he sketched her naked, and they made love everywhere. And she taught him how to be a great lover. And yes, the other picture was of Louise.

"Well Steve..." she said, while reluctantly dressing "She was very successful... you will have no problems with women if you make love like that..."

...

The following evening, Mickey sat in her favourite armchair, a whiskey by her side, looking through her notes. She kept on trying to reach that part of her brain that kept on nagging at her; she was sure she had seen something, heard something that was crucial to the case, something that would lead to a solution. But it kept on just out of reach.

"Oh c'mon Mickey... you know it's there... concentrate." She said to herself.

The trouble was her mind kept wandering, distracted by the previous evening, that wonderful session of modelling and fucking, of a man that knew just how to turn her on and make her orgasm... and more than once.

"... Mmm Steve..." she murmured under her breath, closing her eyes and seeing him entering her, his lovemaking so skilled...

And then she sat up straight, her mind clearing as she gasped. Her notes fell off her lap as she swore loudly. At that moment, in her room, she had solved the case. She just needed to confirm it.

She got up, threw off her lounging clothes, pulled on fresh underwear, a tshirt and her leather pants and jacket, before leaving her house and mounting her bike.

...

She knocked at the familiar door, knowing it was a Sunday evening but the close seemed quiet. She knocked again and heard the steps approaching the door, the sound of the lock and the door opening.

"Oh... it's you... what do you want?" the man said.

"We need to talk... now" she replied.

At that moment, she heard more steps and a pretty face emerged from behind the living room door, a dark haired young woman.

"Good evening, Mrs Knight." Mickey said "... or should I say... Mandy Moore..."

...

Sergeant John Higgins signed the paper, shut the file and put it in his out tray, another case file completed. It was the eighth he had done today, two more to do then he could go home. He sighed, he was beginning to really hate his job, knowing this desk job was making no use of his detecting skills.

Not for the first time, he contemplated retirement. He had five more years before he could go without issue, before then he would have to apply for special circumstances and would lose part of his pension. He had worked out the figures before and knew he would barely cope with the reduced money. He sighed again and reached for the next file.

At that very moment his phone rang, he reached for it muttering.

"If it's that brat, Mickey..." he picked up the handset.

"... Police... Sergeant Higgins here." He answered as he had so many times before.

There was silence for a second or two and then a muffled male voice answered.

"... Listen, and take this down, I'll not repeat myself... if you want to know more about Mandy Moore... check out the old warehouse on Union Street..."

"Wait a moment, who are you?" John said, but the phone clicked, breaking the connection.

He stared into space for a moment, he didn't recognise the voice, it wasn't one of his old contacts, and he was minded to assume this was a hoax call like so many others. And yet, why his number, it wasn't widely publicised, was this someone who knew him, or knew of him. He phoned an internal number.

"Lieutenant Brown... can I come and see you... I've just had a strange phone call."

Lieutenant Don Brown was the new man in the position, a detective from a different city, brought in to clean up the department and get the detective force back on its feet. He was comparatively young for the role, handsome and clever and John felt a little old and old fashioned in his presence. He told the Lieutenant about the call and waited as the information sank in.

"So John, you don't think this is a prank call?" Don said, looking at the large black man in front of him.

"No sir... my number isn't well known... and I was never associated with the case... and I think someone randomly calling my number doesn't make any sense." He replied.

"Mhm... I agree... do you think this has anything to do with that PI Mickey Spillane... I know she has been investigating... and I know about her link with you." Don continued.

John was surprised. It was true he hadn't hidden his connection to Mickey but he hadn't flaunted it neither and he gained some respect for the Lieutenant knowing.

"I doubt it sir... she is good at her job... but I know her, that wasn't her voice, even if she had tried to disguise it." John said.

"Right... ok John... get Detective Harris to take you there... be careful and be thorough." Don said.

"Me... but I'm off actual cases." He said surprised.

"Until now... I know your file... and you're wasted in your current job... here's your temporary transfer back to active duty... now get out there and investigate" and the lieutenant handed over an authorisation form.

The warehouse was run down and dark and the two detectives took their time investigating around the building. Seeing nothing there, they went inside and carefully, methodically searched the building. It was in a back office, drawn by muffled sounds, that they found the girl; dirty and dressed in old rags, her underwear soiled and a sack over her face. But undeniably Mandy Moore... she had been found.

...

Mickey sat back in her office and read the newspaper, full of the story of the miraculous find. And she was surprised and delighted to see her godfather, John Higgins was prominent in the story. She read on. The girl had been found tied up and gagged in an old warehouse, dressed in rags, with soiled underwear, obviously there for a while. But she was well if dirty hungry and tired.

Over the next few days, the police would issue a statement describing three men who had kidnapped the girl from outside her school. A large black man, a smaller thinner Irish American and the third a small, dark Italian who had been the one trying to keep her safe from the others. He was identified as the one who had tipped off the police.

And more about Mandy's kidnap appeared. She had been kidnapped by the three men and held in different locations, usually bound and gagged. She was given food and drink but the men always wore masks. Sometimes she was punished if they felt she was being uncooperative and once made to sit naked on a chair while they made leery and crude comments.

She also admitted tearfully that the two men had threatened her with rape if she didn't behave but the Italian guy had protected her and she had been so weak, she had had sex with him to keep him sweet. She was beginning to fear for her life when the Italian had taken her away at night and left her alone in another dark building, from where she had been found.

The police were enthusiastic, with a new team set up to investigate but the trail was cold and they didn't make any progress, the case remaining open.

Mickey smiled to herself, her plan had worked. She thought back.

...

"Good evening, Mrs Knight." Mickey said "... or should I say... Mandy Moore..."

The colour drained from the girls face and Mickey knew she had been right, Mandy had been living under the noses of the police and the school, acting out as Mrs John Knight.

They went into the lounge and she told them what she had found out, and how if she had done so, the police would too. She saw their looks of concern.

"Look... I'm not here to do their work... I was asked to find you Mandy and your parents are sick with worry."

"I... I knew they would be,,, I feel so bad... but." Mandy stammered her eyes full of tears.

"I've talked with Eloise, Mark and Steve... and they all said you'd found someone else... you fell in love with John didn't you?"

"I did yes... he was always so kind... and when I fell out with Steve, he was there for me." Mandy said.

"And so your friendship turned to sex and a relationship." Mickey continued.

"Yes... I know it's wrong, but as you can see she is so... well... wonderful" he said "I kinda fell in love with her too."

"And so you came up with the recently married tag... are you really married?" she asked and saw them shake their heads.

"So what are your plans?" John asked, breaking into the silence.

"Well I should tell your parents, inform the police." Mickey said, then saw their looks. "Go on... I can see your disapproval. Did you have other plans?"

"I... I want to go home." Mandy said, her eyes tearing a little "I miss my folks."

"She does, we talked about this... I think our affair is over." John added.

"But I don't want John to get into trouble." Mandy said, looking imploringly into Mickey's eyes "You've been clever to find us... surely you can think of a clever way to get me back?"

Mickey hesitated and then knew her part in this wasn't over.

"Ok... I'll have a think and let you know... but you will have to follow my plan exactly."

...

It had taken her two days to think out a plan, and another couple of days to set it up. She told John and Mandy her plan then looked for a suitable location and soon found it, an abandoned warehouse, away from the beaten track. Then she took Mandy there and told her to stay overnight. The next day, Mickey went shopping, found suitable second hand, dirty clothes and took them to Mandy the following evening.

Mandy already hungry and in need of relieving herself was given a bucket and told to change. She looked more haggard in the used clothes, her hair and skin dirty, her underwear soiled. Then Mandy tied her up and left her overnight again.

It was the following evening that John went into town, found a public phone, disguised his voice and informed the police where Mandy could be found, and so the plan had worked.

...

Mickey finished her report, slipped it in the file and put it in the filing cupboard. She locked that, the secrets of cases that didn't need to be known, and the Mandy Moore file joined them. If she was honest she felt a little smug at her success, and contemplated how to celebrate.

Then the outer door opened and she heard voices in the outer office, footsteps approaching the inner door and the door flung open, without a knock. Mickey turned towards the door, ready to use her self defence training, then stopped and stood up. She turned to the flustered Alice in the doorway.

"It's ok, Alice... I can see Mr Moore now." Mickey said "And head on home... I'll lock up."

"Ok Mickey, see you tomorrow." Alice replied and left the room.

"Well Mr Moore, please sit down... and to what do I owe the pleasure?" she said, walking to her desk.

"First, thank you for what you did to find Mandy" he replied as he sat down "I suspect you had a lot more to do with it than the papers are saying."

"No... I was still investigating..." she started but stopped as Mr Moore held up his hand.

"Miss Spillane, what my wife didn't tell you, and surprisingly you didn't ask, is that I am an investigator for a well known insurance firm. So I know there was never any hostage demand. I'm also trained to detect lying, and I can tell you are." He said.

"But that really doesn't matter, I just want to know two things. Was my daughter badly used, was she assaulted? And secondly was she safe during her 'disappearance?"

"She was safe and no she was well looked after." Mandy replied after a pause deciding she had little choice but to tell the truth, if not the whole truth.

"But she wanted to be where she was."

"I guessed that might be the case. I do have to say Miss Spillane, Mickey, it was a nice solution, I do applaud you."

He reached into his inner jacket pocket and handed over an envelope.

"There is 1,000$ as a special thank you for you, with the press attention, the money for the exclusives we have a lot more now, and we think you deserve this."

"Oh... no please." She said, pushing at the envelope.

"Take it, you deserve it. And secondly, I've had a word with my bosses, my company may well be in touch if we need any help in our investigations... and we pay well."

"Thank you sir." She answered "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Well I wonder what that means?" he said, smiling "You are a very attractive woman, and my wife and daughter are away looking at colleges... I could spend some time with you."

Mickey smiled, got up out of her chair and led the way to the connecting door, undoing her shirt as she went. She looked over her shoulder and said.

"... I charge 100$ per hour..."

...

Endpice.

Thank you for staying to the end and reading this. The plot has similarities to 'Last Seen Wearing' by Colin Dexter.

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