“I was at your wedding.” Alice reasoned.

“Please Alice.” He begged.

“Ok fine.” Alice conceded. “But if this back fires its all on you.”

“Promise.” He signalled for the waiter. “We’ll discuss the fee and her schedule tomorrow.”

“Ok.”

The following Alice met with Jeff at his office. She called me right after and asked me to meet her at the Planet. When I walked in she waved to me from our usual table. “Hey.” I greeted her as I pulled my chair out. “Where’s Shane?”

“She left. She had an eight o’ clock appointment.”

“Oh ok.” I took a sip of my coffee. “So what’s the job about?”

“Well he wants us to follow his wife around.”

“For how long?”

“As long as it takes.” She handed me an envelope and I opened it. “That’s her.” She indicated. “She doesn’t do much really,” She continued as I watched through the pictures. “She owns an art gallery so after gym, she goes in to work for about nine and she would always leave around eleven.” I look at her. I am a bit confused because she seems to know so much about her when we haven’t started the job yet. She notices my confusion. “He has her secretary on payroll so to speak.” She clarified. I shook my head. “Anyway, what she does between eleven and one is a mystery. She also leaves work around five but she is never at home before eight.”

"Sounds easy enough.” I told her and she gives me another envelope. “What’s this?

“Part payment. You get the rest when the job’s done.”

“When do I start?”

“Can you start today?”

“Sure no problem.” I looked at the pictures again. This time more closely. She is breathtakingly beautiful. Her face almost perfect, very expressive. We finish breakfast. I left her there like I do every morning and headed for the Bette Porter Art Gallery.

I got there a few minutes later. I saw her car in the lot reserved for her. I was arrived long before he normal departure time so I had no doubt that she was still there. I had more than an hour to spare, and I got bored just sitting in the car doing nothing. I decided to take a look inside the gallery, browse for a bit or perhaps get a look at Mrs Johnson. I walked around for a bit. I was more interested in the photography gallery. I sometimes take photographs of people, landscape and things around me that I find different or captivating. I walked slowly, taking in every detail of the photos. Some in black and white, some in sepia tone, some were done on old paper to give an ancient look. I pleasantly surprised and somewhat impressed by some that were obviously doctored by some computer graphics package. The fade in and superimposition was well done. I stood a little longer in front of one photograph in particular. It was a picture of a woman sitting on a park bench. I can tell it was a shot taken from distance. She was unaware of everything around her and the tears caught streaming down her face freely was proof enough that she did not know she was being watched, as did I when I allowed a tear to escape my eyes. “It does the same thing to me when I look at it.” I jumped back holding my chest. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to startle you.” She smiled.

“It’s ok, I didn’t know you were standing behind me.”

“I’m Bette Porter.” She held her hand out and we shook hands.

“And I’m just browsing.” I joked, which was rewarded by a smile even more beautiful than the one in the picture. “I’m Tina.”

“Well nice meeting you Tina, hope you enjoy what you see. And if you need anything or questions feel free to ask.”

“Thanks.” I replied and glanced at my watch. It was almost eleven and I needed to take position before she leaves. “But I’m just about done. You have a beautiful collection here. I would definitely visit again.”

“Thank you. I hope to see you again.”

“You will.” I left the gallery and sat in the car as I waited for Bette Porter to make her exit.