Hard Headed Woman

Well a hard headed woman,
a soft hearted man
been the cause of trouble
ever since the world began.

 

 

“Honey!” Trixie wailed into the phone. It was early, but she was determined to catch her friend at home. “Help! I need to start work on Monday morning.”

“What on earth are you talking about, Trixie?” Honey asked. She was toasting a bagel when the phone rang.

“I sort of made a deal with Chuck Prescott.”

“What kind of deal?” Honey’s voice sounded suspicious.

Trixie outlined her arrangement with Charlie’s father.

“Oh, Trixie!” Honey’s exasperation came through the phone line loud and clear to Trixie’s ears. “There are a hundred things you haven’t thought of. Have you filled out any of the required paperwork for a business license? Papers of incorporation? Anything?”

“No – I haven’t had a chance!” Trixie protested. “I’ve got our business plan finished -- the first draft anyway. Di promised to design us a logo.”

“Trixie Belden! If you get in there and accidentally delete some of Prescott’s key business data, a logo isn’t going to help you at all! Tell me again why you’re so anxious to start doing real work? I thought you were taking care of all the boring business details.”

Trixie bit her lip. “Well, yes... that’s what I meant to do, Honey.” Her face was a study in guilt, and she was suddenly glad Honey was on the other end of the phone and not sitting next to her. “But I got carried away while I was dancing with Chuck and...” she paused for a moment. “I’m sorry, Honey. I wasn’t thinking.”

“Hmm.”

“I’ll call Chuck and tell him I can’t do it,” Trixie finally said.

“Oh no, you won’t!” Honey declared emphatically. “This is Eastway-Berkley. The Prescotts are probably knocking on Bill Gates’ door when it comes to money and influence! We’re not walking away from this.”

Trixie was stunned. “You mean it?”

“You better believe I mean it! Do you have a fax machine?”

“Of course.” Trixie started to breathe normally again. “I have a computer, a fax, a scanner, a printer, you name it. If it’s a computer gadget or peripheral, I’ve got it, or I can get it.”

“Good. Then here’s what we’re going to do. If you don’t have a pen and paper handy, get one. You’re going to need to take notes.”

When Trixie hung up the phone thirty minutes later, she had filled two pages with notes on the things Honey instructed her to do. It was embarrassing that out of all the things Honey asked her about, Trixie had completed only one. She had managed to file her paperwork –the application for a private investigator license - with the State. She resolved to try harder and keep as much work off an already-overworked Honey as possible. She sat back as she realized the price for getting her foot in the door with Chuck Prescott. I set off Honey’s radar! She’s suspicious of exactly what I’m doing and why. She appealed to a higher authority, looking upward. “Oh, please God,” she whispered her prayer. “Please, whatever happens with all of this, please make Honey stay in Boston until this case is over!”

 

 

Instead of following her normal Sunday habit of relaxing and doing things she wanted to do, Trixie worked with a hectic fervor. She didn’t even stop long enough to answer a teasing email message from David Steward about the handsome redhead he saw her with the evening before. David’s email also alluded to a website and blog whose names meant nothing to her.

When Di called later to complain about Trixie being so busy at the fundraiser, she explained she was working against a deadline. She had to promise to meet Di for lunch the next week to get off the phone.

By late afternoon, Trixie was still rushing around, attempting to finish all the things Honey had told her to do before nine the next morning. Honey wouldn’t be able to complete everything until then, since she planned to file papers of incorporation for Belden-Wheeler Investigations with the state of New York. Honey had promised to call Trixie’s cell phone the moment everything was in order, so she could embark on actual work at Eastway-Berkley. Until all the appropriate offices received the filings, Trixie would need to stall before she signed any paperwork on behalf of the newly formed Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency.

Trixie was dressed in her ordinary jeans and a faded navy-blue sweatshirt when her buzzer sounded shortly before six that evening.

“Ms. Belden, a Dr. James Frayne is here to see you,” a familiar voice informed her.

“Send him up please, Malcolm.” Trixie replied, pushing a hand through her curls. She knew there was no way she would be ready by the time Jim arrived at her door if she had to put together a full ensemble, so she unlocked the door and headed to her room to find something to wear.

A few minutes later, when she heard the knock, she called out for Jim to come on in.

“Hey, Trix, what’s up?” Jim called out, shutting the door behind him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just running a little behind. I’ve spent the day working with Honey on our new pet project,” Trixie called out from the bedroom. She was already dragging a comb through her hair, having exchanged the sweatshirt for a more acceptable long sleeved tee shirt, and pulled on a pair of boots. With the right jacket, the ensemble would do. She sighed and grabbed her lipstick, quickly applying it.

When she hurried out to greet Jim, she was surprised to see him holding a small red gift bag and the Sunday papers. She hesitated when she noticed the crease on his forehead.

“You look great, Trix.” Jim forced a smile.

“Thanks, Jim.” Suddenly nervous, she forced her hands into her pockets. “Is something up?” Her head dipped to indicate the items he held in his hands.

“Oh, yeah, I uh … I bought you this for Valentine’s Day. I just hadn’t had a chance to give it to you.” Jim held out the red bag.

“Thanks.” Trixie smiled and hurriedly pulled out a flourish of matching white tissue paper dotted with red hearts, before reaching the small white box at the bottom of the gift bag. She studied it for a moment, before looking up at him. “A thumb drive?” she asked.

He nodded. “Yeah, Mike calls it that. I’ve always called it a flash drive, but it’s also a GPS. It’ll run on any computer or device with a USB port. It records latitude, longitude, altitude, direction of travel, and has the entire map of New York City on it. I was looking for something different, and this reminded me of you. I thought you could use it if you ever went on surveillance.”

Trixie was amazed, recognizing the tiny GPS unit for the state-of-the-art equipment it was. She was also a little surprised that Jim had bought her a gift she could use in her new business.

“I like it,” she said as she moved to grab her keys. She clipped the drive to the keychain and held it up. “See, I had a thumb drive, actually I have several, but nothing with a GPS. Thanks, Jim.” She took the few steps to close the space between them and reached up to give him a kiss. “I love it. It’s absolutely perfectly perfect!”

He gave a faint smile, and enveloped her in his arms, kissing her back. When he broke the kiss a moment later he told her, “I was hoping you would like it. With all the work I’ve done on the school trying to keep things straight, I carry a thumb drive all the time. It sure makes it easy to exchange files while we work on finalizing the plans for the school.”

Trixie was curious about the worried look she had noticed flashing across Jim’s face earlier. “So what’s bothering you?”

Jim sighed, realizing that Trixie - of all people -would immediately detect something was wrong. “Did you see the paper today?”

She shook her head. “No, I’ve been busy working with Honey on business stuff since early this morning. I didn’t even go out for coffee.”

He silently handed her the paper he had set down moments before, folded to the page in question. She opened it up and studied for a moment. It was a typical society report discussing the Winter Ball, and there were other pictures as well, including one of Jim and Mitsy. The difference in this article was the snippy statement referring to an online blog. Trixie looked up.

“Did you read what ‘The Squawker’ said?” she asked.

Jim nodded and handed her the print out. It was the same pictures of the two couples, but the blog modified the pictures by ripping them down the middle of the couples to illustrate the point of the gossip. The short write-up was strictly speculation about the four of them, written to paint Jim and Mitsy in the worst possible light. Trixie cringed as she looked up.

“It doesn’t matter,” she told him. “The four of us know the truth.”

“I don’t like being in the gossip section,” he protested, scowling. “My private life is, well – private!”

“Jim –” Trixie hesitated before resolving to continue. “I know you hate this kind of thing, but from what your mother explained, you’re going to have all kinds of publicity. Most of it will be good, and some will be nasty, like this. It doesn’t matter,” she repeated. “Do you think that Charlie or Mitsy care?”

Jim shook his head. He had already spoken to Charlie, primarily to ask about taking action against the columnist. Charlie had been emphatic that it was the worst possible thing he could do.

“I invited them to join us tonight,” he said quietly. “When I talked to Charlie, I thought if the four of us are seen together, as friends, that maybe people will realize there’s no illicit love triangle going on.”

Trixie groaned. “Oh, great, now I have to go change clothes.”

“Why?” Jim asked. “You look great.”

“Because Mitsy will be wearing the latest in casual chic and this ensemble, jeans and a tee-shirt, just doesn’t cut it.” Trixie attempted to explain.

“Come on, Trix. Since when do you care about clothes? There’s no time for you to change. It’s a casual date of pizza and a movie.” Jim smiled. “Mitsy isn’t all about clothes and society. You’ll like her once you get to know her.”

Trixie had her doubts.

“Let’s go,” Jim said, picking up the jacket Trixie had laid on the back of a chair. “We don’t want to be late.”

 

 

“Heavens, I’m stuffed!” Mitsy confided, as she and Trixie freshened their lipstick in the washroom at Vito’s Pizzeria.

Trixie nodded in agreement. “That’s the best pizza I’ve had since I left Chicago. I’m glad Charlie knew about this place.”

“It’s wonderful. I can’t believe I ate four slices! Charlie will think I’m terrible.” Mitsy sighed. “Not to mention I put away most of the popcorn at the movie.” She cast an anxious look at Trixie. “You don’t think Charlie will think I’m a glutton, do you?”

Trixie laughed as she remembered Charlie’s disdain for girls who didn’t eat. “Nope, trust me on this one, Mitsy. Charlie will be delighted with your appetite. He loves to eat.” She took a critical look at the skinny, petite young woman. “It doesn’t seem quite fair. How do you stay so slim? I’m going to have to make sure I run tomorrow before I go into meet with Mr. Prescott.”

Mitsy shook her head. “It’s the curse of the Winstons. I inherited it from Mummy. We eat and eat and eat, and never gain an ounce.” She looked longingly at Trixie’s curvaceous form. “I’d give anything to have your curves.”

Trixie laughed. “And here I was thinking I’d love to be able to eat three pieces of pie and not gain weight! Don’t worry, Mitsy. Charlie thinks you’re perfect.”

“Are you sure?” Mitsy asked anxiously. “I mean he...” her voice trailed off uncertainly.

“What?” Trixie asked, a frown creasing her forehead. “I’m sure he’s crazy about you.”

“He...” Mitsy hesitated for a moment. “He hasn’t tried anything, if you know what I mean.”

“You mean ... nothing?” Trixie’s eyebrows shot up in question.

Mitsy responded with an affirmative nod. “Just kissing. Normally, I wouldn’t give it a thought. But Charlie’s reputation...” she held up her hand. “Don’t tell me, I already know. I’m being stupid.”

Trixie reached out and touched Mitsy’s arm reassuringly. “Mitsy, are you going skiing this weekend with Charlie?”

Mitsy nodded. “Yes. He wants to get in some time at his favorite resort in Vermont.” Mitsy leaned in and lowered her voice before confiding in her new friend. “I told him I’d go, so long as I had my own room.”

“I’m sure that’s what he had in mind,” Trixie hastened to add.

“Yes, well, to be honest, I wouldn’t have minded if he had protested a little.” Mitsy answered, and Trixie had to hide a smile at the slight pout on her pretty features. “But like I said, all he’s done so far is kiss me.”

“Were you expecting more than that after one night?” Trixie was puzzled over why Mitsy was worried about the physical side of her relationship with Charlie so soon.

“No.” Mitsy sighed. “I’ve watched him put the moves on girls for three years now. He could have at least tried something!”

Trixie giggled. “Give him some time, Mitsy. He’s so crazy about you; he’s scared to death he’s going to blow it.”

“I hope you’re right.” Mitsy smiled as she looked over at Trixie. “He really is an excellent kisser.”

“I’ll take your word for it!” Trixie replied, happy that she had been able to dodge Charlie’s moves during their few dates.

“We’re leaving Friday. Would you and Jim like to go with us?” Mitsy invited.

“Can’t,” Trixie answered in an instant. “I start a new project tomorrow, there’s no way I could get off on Friday.”

“Oh, well, too bad.” Mitsy sounded disappointed. “I guess if Charlie moves too slowly, I could make a move on him.”

They were still giggling over Mitsy’s ideas for flirting with Charlie when they returned to the table.

 

 

“What were you and Mitsy giggling about when you came back to the table at Vito’s?” Jim asked as they arrived back at Trixie’s apartment later that evening.

“Just girl talk,” Trixie replied. Her blue eyes twinkled, recalling the discussion about Mitsy putting the moves on Charlie.

“The two of you seemed to hit it off,” Jim offered mildly.

“Yes. Mitsy seems dainty and girly, but wow, she’s not! She loves sports. She and Charlie are going skiing this weekend.” Trixie shook her head, remembering the conversation.

“Charlie told me they were heading to Vermont,” Jim said as he opened her door and handed her the key.

“Would you like to come in?” Trixie offered. “I could make coffee or, if you prefer, I have beer and wine.”

The phone rang before Jim could answer her question. Trixie glanced at the caller ID and saw Honey’s number, and moved to pick up the phone.

“Where have you been? I’ve been calling you for hours,” Honey grumbled.

“I had some plans tonight,” Trixie stammered. “I thought we finished everything earlier.”

“You couldn’t change them?” Honey entreated, confused about why Trixie had disappeared for a few hours.

“Not easily, no.”

Honey realized from the neutral tone of voice that someone was with Trixie. “Who’s there with you?” Her voice was suspicious.

“Jim’s here. We’ve just gotten back from the pizza place,” Trixie explained. She turned to look at Jim and mouthed the name “Honey” so he would know who was on the phone.

“I see,” Honey said slowly. In reality, she didn’t see at all. In fact, she would spend some time mulling over the fact that Trixie and Jim had been out together.

Trixie looked at Jim and shrugged. “Hang on just a second.” She took a deep breath and shot Jim a pleading look.

“Honey wants to review my plan for tomorrow. Do you want to wait? I don’t think we’ll be but a few minutes.”

“Sure, I don’t mind waiting. I’ll be able to hear, though. Do you mind?” Jim asked politely.

“Of course not,” she answered without hesitation and gave Jim a brilliant smile. She moved the phone receiver back to her ear. “Okay, Honey, go ahead and let’s review everything. My meeting with Chuck is at nine in the morning.”

Honey hesitated and then haltingly moved onto business. “Right, okay, here’s where we are. I’ve sent an overnight package with all the paperwork to Ben for an early morning delivery. He should have everything by eight or eight-thirty at the latest. He said he can have it filed as soon as the clerk’s office opens.”

“What do you mean you overnighted the package to Ben?” Trixie asked cringing as she remembered Jim could hear her comment.

“What did you expect? I can’t file papers in New York from Boston. I called Ben because I know him, because he’ll do me a favor, and because he’s an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of New York.” Honey was surprised at Trixie’s reluctance to use her cousin for the transaction.

“But I thought you were licensed for the State of New York!” Trixie wailed.

“Of course not, I took the Massachusetts bar exam,” Honey explained patiently. “When we move, I’ll have to file all the paperwork and request to be admitted based on that and my multi-state proficiency grades. Hopefully, I can avoid taking the actual exam, but it’s going to be tough – I don’t have five years of experience.”

“But why did you --” Trixie stopped and sighed, pushing a hand through her curls. “Okay, I get it. So he’ll get everything filed, and then what?”

“First, before you go to Prescott’s office, you’ll have to go by Ben’s office and sign the paperwork. I’ve already signed it.”

“There’s not time,” Trixie protested.

“Yes, there is. He said he was within three blocks of Chuck’s offices at Eastway-Berkley.” Honey rattled off the address. “Now if you need directions, give him a call. He was going to call you tonight, but I didn’t realize you were out.”

Trixie realized the flashing message light probably meant there were calls from Honey and Ben on her machine.

“Okay, I got it,” Trixie said. “Go by Ben’s office, sign the papers. Go to my meeting, but wait for the all clear signal before I actually do any real work or look at his data.”

“Right, and if there are any problems, you’ll have to get Chuck to sign a new contract tomorrow with a different date, meaning you’ll lose a day of work.”

“Then Ben needs to make sure there aren’t any problems!” Trixie wasn’t at all happy about having to stop by to see Ben. She shot a covert look at Jim and groaned inwardly. She wasn’t sure what was worse – having this conversation with him hearing her every word – or his perusal of the white orchid on her table with the card lying next to it.

“What’s got into you?” Honey asked, surprised at Trixie’s impatience. “Did Ben do something to upset you?”

“No, of course not,” Trixie answered. “I just didn’t think about him having any involvement in our business.”

Honey had her own ideas about that. “Anything else we need to talk about?”

“No, I guess not,” Trixie replied. “I’ll call you tomorrow night and let you know how the day went.”

“Okay,” Honey agreed. “Oh, and Trixie?”

“Yes?”

“Be sure and give that brother of mine a kiss for me, would you?” Honey disconnected the call before Trixie could give her a snappy retort.

Trixie sighed and crossed the room to Jim. “Do you want something to drink? If you like, I could make coffee.”

“No, I’d better be going. It sounds like you have a busy morning planned,” Jim said. He desperately wanted to ask her about who had sent the orchid, especially after reading the card.

“Not really,” Trixie started and the phone rang again. She rolled her eyes and moved to answer it. Before she could take two steps, Jim grabbed her arm.

“Trixie, don’t answer that.” Jim’s eyes were very green.

Trixie felt a thrill shoot up her arm, starting from the spot where Jim was touching her. “What’s wrong?” Trixie was confused, and the distraction of the phone ringing again only added to her bewilderment.

“The last time I was here like this, you made two dates when the phone rang. I don’t intend to let it happen again.”

“Oh!” Trixie smiled and stepped towards Jim. “It’s probably Ben calling.”

“He can leave a message.” Jim’s tone left no doubt that he was experiencing pangs of jealousy.

Trixie stared at him, while in the background, the machine picked up. A moment later, they both heard Ben’s voice asking Trixie to call him.

“Are you going to keep going out with Ben?” Jim demanded.

“It depends,” Trixie answered, frowning.

“On what?” Jim growled, as he struggled to control his temper.

“Why are you asking, Jim? Is it any of your business?” His authoritative demand had irritated her.

Noticing the exasperation in her voice, Jim swallowed hard.

“Trixie,” he swallowed again, his voice full of supplication. “How many more fundraiser events do you plan to attend?”

“I don’t know,” she stammered, taken off guard by this unexpected turn in the conversation and the reversal in his attitude. “Your fundraiser, of course, and a few others. There really aren’t any the next couple of weeks.” She was secretly thrilled there was a winter lull in the society functions.

“Promise me, you won’t attend any more fundraisers without me,” he demanded huskily. “Trixie, I’ll die if I see another picture of you with some other guy.”

Trixie stared at him. It felt like she was in the middle of a crazy dream, where you wanted everything to make sense, but you knew it was too good to be real. “Jim ... I ... are you sure?” she managed to ask.

“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”