Vinnie and Wendy had arranged to meet at a dessert shop. The recently-established Flores Company was slowly carving out a name for itself in Los Angeles. Unknown to many, Vinnie was the owner, as Wendy managed all business operations on her behalf.
The wind bell sounded as Vinnie swung open the door.
"Hey, Vinnie!" Wendy called out while waving her hand. Next to her seated a man in a duckbill cap, with black-framed glasses and a neatly trimmed beard. Wendy introduced him excitedly, "Vinnie, this is Vincent Harrison, the private detective I've been telling you about. He's an alumnus of my school and absolutely fantastic!"
"Great, I hope you're as exceptional as Wendy claims," Vinnie replied as she sat opposite them, handing over an envelope stuffed with cash. "This is the deposit."
She
