”I know it’s not cool to call on the same day you get someone’s number.” She sounded embarrassed. Was it really not the done thing to call this soon? Maura didn’t know. She called when she liked someone. ”But I thought you might wanna check out the karaoke at Last Call bar?”

Maura considered this for a moment. ”Sure, it could be fun.” She finally offered. ”As long as I don’t have to sing.”

Lucy laughed warmly. ”You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.” She purred. ”Just come down and meet some new people, like a welcome to the village.”

”Ok, that would be nice.” Maura smiled warmly. ”When is it?”

”That’s the thing.” Lucy sounded sheepish. ”It’s tonight, starts at nine.”

Maura glanced at her watch. ”Ok, sure, I’ll need some time to get ready.” She said. ”Should I meet you there?”

”If you want, or I can come pick you up?” Lucy offered.

”That would be nice. About 9.30?”

Maura gave her address and dropped the phone onto the table. She had a little over an hour to get ready.

Jane was tired of being lost, tired of not knowing where she was going or what she thought she’d accomplish by wandering around in circles. As the cab pulled up in front of Parker Guest house, she paid the driver and got out the cab.

”Hey.” She stuck her head back in the door. ”Where’s a good place for a beer?”

The driver looked her up and down. ”For you?” he asked, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. ”Last Call bar, its back there on 18th.” He pointed in the general direction. ”A couple of blocks back. It’s the nearest.”

Jane thanked him and pushed open the heavy gate to the guest house. She’d have a shower and head on over there. An icy beer sounding like just the thing she needed.

An hour later, Jane was ready. Regarding herself in the mirror she smiled. The last time she’d worn this outfit, Maura had broken a heel. The memory made Jane giggle as it had at the time. They’d foregone an evening at the Robber in favour of a karaoke bar. Jane had insisted it would be fun and despite her reservations, Maura had agreed to go with her. When Jane arrived at her home, she’d been waiting.