"So, Lou, did anything happen between you and Peter last night after we girls got back from the Rattlesnake Bar?" Regina asked.
"No, he was already asleep," Lou answered.
She continued. "I saw him briefly this morning. He said he was going out of town to an art festival for a few days."
Because of Lou's dark sunglasses, Regina couldn't see her friend's eyes, so she couldn't tell whether Lou was upset by this development.
_______________
If her situation with Peter was troubling her, Lou didn't show it, except to throw herself into her work even more than usual.
Having analyzed her patient's sample, Lou needed to log her results, but there was someone she didn't recognize on the computer.
"Excuse me," she said, short-tempered (as usual), "could you let me know when you're done??? Because I need this computer."
"Of COURSE you may have this computer," he said, good-naturedly.
"Who are you?" Lou inquired, imperiously.
"I'm Edwin Clinton," he replied. "The new Medical Technologist."
_______________
Lana had caught her latest perp--a teenage boy--at the Solar Flare Lounge.
"What were you doing there???" she berated him. "You're not even old enough to drink!!!"
_______________
After tossing the juvenile delinquent into a cell,
she received a new case assignment, and was working on her next case map. Her phone rang. 'What now?' she thought. 'I'm busy!'
The caller was Cristobal Abasolo, who was Rafael's chauffeur, and who had driven Lana to and from Rafael and Zoe's house several times.
"Hello, Cristobal," she said, "is anything wrong? Have you seen that strange man hanging around the playground again?"
_______________
After her shift ended, Lana stopped by Zoe's Boutique.
"Your store looks GREAT!" Lana exulted.
This was Lana's first visit to Zoe's Boutique. (Lana was not much of a clotheshorse.)
"It's coming together," Zoe told her friend. "We made some mistakes at first, but we're getting the hang of it now."
"So how's your police job going?" Zoe asked.
"Really well," Lana replied. "I think I might be up for another promotion soon."
"You and I should really catch up--want to have dinner Sunday night?" Zoe suggested. "Rafael and I don't open the store on Sundays."
"I can't," Lana said, looking a little sheepish. "Cristobal asked me out to dinner for Sunday."
"Cristobal Abasolo?" Zoe asked, surprised. "Rafael's chauffeur???"
"Yeah--that's not going to be any kind of problem, is it?" Lana worried.
"Of course not!" Zoe exclaimed, excitedly. "Oooh--what are you going to wear?"
"That's why I'm here," Lana moaned. "I guess I'm finally going to have a buy a nice dress."
"Well let's find you something, then!" Zoe said gleefully.
_______________
Dude went next door to Bill and Regina's house that evening. He found both of them tending the garden.
"Hi, guys."
"Hi, yourself," Bill responded. "What's up?"
"Umm, my cousin is coming for a visit--a SHORT visit--and I wondered if she could stay with you."
"Sure!" Regina chirped, delighted at the prospect of another houseguest.
"WAIT a minute!" Bill said sternly. "Which side of your family is your cousin from???"
Dude laughed. "Don't worry--she's on Papa's side! And she has ALWAYS thought that my mother was nuts."
"What's the occasion for her visit?" Regina asked.
"Remember how Mama was so upset that I hadn't given Alice an engagement ring?" Dude explained. "So Mama's solution is to have Ophelia fly over here from Greece to hand-deliver a very old and valuable family heirloom ring. So that I can give it to Alice."
_______________
Lou was once again sharing the analysis room with the new guy, Edwin Clinton.
"Hey, Lou, I'm new in town," he said, "and I don't know anybody here. Want to go out for drinks with me after work?"
Lou sighed, but didn't look up. "Hey, I'm sure you're a 'great guy' and all, but I'm not looking for a boyfriend. Or even just to get laid."
"Well, then you're in luck," Edwin grinned. "I'm gay."
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