"What?" He was standing slightly hunched over the dining table, his arms full of papers, ready to release the flood on the table's surface.
"I just cleaned off your last mess. I want to set the table for dinner."
"Esther, we need these for the next case. Time and tide wait for no man."
"Put them down at the other end of the table. The tide will have to wait until after dinner."
Brian followed instructions and began to sort the papers into separate piles as Esther laid the dishes and utensils. A few more trips back and forth into the kitchen and casserole dish, a bowl of rice and a salad were ready to serve. Esther said, "Come sit down, Brian, it's time to eat."
Brian took his place but stared longingly at his stacks of information at table's end. Then he looked down at his full plate, "What this, then?"
"It's sort of Caribbean stew. Something that nice Mrs. Henry told me about. You know, we found where all the stock was disappearing from her store."
"Oh, ay, walking out the back door with her nephew," Brian said.
"Yes, a good idea she called us in instead of the police. She probably suspected a relative all along. Anyway, we chat sometimes."
"It's quite tasty," Brian said, still chewing his first bite.
"Oh, there was a check in the post today, from the insurance company," Esther said. "For our finding evidence about that man not being hurt at all in his accident."
Brian chuckled, "Snaps of him kickboxing while he's supposed to be wearing a back brace did the trick."
"How are you doing with their missing heir case?" Esther gestured at the paper stack's across the table.
"I'd finish up tonight if we didn't have to go out."
"Well, they couldn't find him for nine months, one more day won't matter."
When they finished eating, Esther washed up the dishes; Brian dried and put away. Then Esther said, "No work now, Brian, we're going to rest for an hour and then get ready. It"ll probably be a long night."
"All right."
They relaxed in their armchairs and may have even drifted off to sleep when the alarm Esther had set went off. "Hurry up, Esther, we want to get to the allotment shed and be well hidden before those vandals show up. And dress warm, you'd be surprised how chilly you can get in the night, just sitting."
"Really, Brian, this isn't my first stakeout," Esther replied with some asperity. "I have our kit all packed and ready to go. I just have to make the tea for the thermos. And I know how to dress."
Ten minutes later the firm of Lane & Lane, Inquiry Agents, left on their next assignment.
Oh, oh! THis is perfect, and I love you! When we got the exit for Brian & Esther that we did, I was just waiting for fic. This is so very them - Esther's "the tide can wait". And everything she does here, getting Brian to try the new food, making sure life happens as well as cases, but being more than up for the stakeout. ♥
(Sorry, if I'm a bit incoherent, but yes. This is awesome, basically - and so are they, of course.)
"What?" He was standing slightly hunched over the dining table, his arms full of papers, ready to release the flood on the table's surface.
"I just cleaned off your last mess. I want to set the table for dinner."
"Esther, we need these for the next case. Time and tide wait for no man."
"Put them down at the other end of the table. The tide will have to wait until after dinner."
Brian followed instructions and began to sort the papers into separate piles as Esther laid the dishes and utensils. A few more trips back and forth into the kitchen and casserole dish, a bowl of rice and a salad were ready to serve. Esther said, "Come sit down, Brian, it's time to eat."
Brian took his place but stared longingly at his stacks of information at table's end. Then he looked down at his full plate, "What this, then?"
"It's sort of Caribbean stew. Something that nice Mrs. Henry told me about. You know, we found where all the stock was disappearing from her store."
"Oh, ay, walking out the back door with her nephew," Brian said.
"Yes, a good idea she called us in instead of the police. She probably suspected a relative all along. Anyway, we chat sometimes."
"It's quite tasty," Brian said, still chewing his first bite.
"Oh, there was a check in the post today, from the insurance company," Esther said. "For our finding evidence about that man not being hurt at all in his accident."
Brian chuckled, "Snaps of him kickboxing while he's supposed to be wearing a back brace did the trick."
"How are you doing with their missing heir case?" Esther gestured at the paper stack's across the table.
"I'd finish up tonight if we didn't have to go out."
"Well, they couldn't find him for nine months, one more day won't matter."
When they finished eating, Esther washed up the dishes; Brian dried and put away. Then Esther said, "No work now, Brian, we're going to rest for an hour and then get ready. It"ll probably be a long night."
"All right."
They relaxed in their armchairs and may have even drifted off to sleep when the alarm Esther had set went off. "Hurry up, Esther, we want to get to the allotment shed and be well hidden before those vandals show up. And dress warm, you'd be surprised how chilly you can get in the night, just sitting."
"Really, Brian, this isn't my first stakeout," Esther replied with some asperity. "I have our kit all packed and ready to go. I just have to make the tea for the thermos. And I know how to dress."
Ten minutes later the firm of Lane & Lane, Inquiry Agents, left on their next assignment.
Reply
(Sorry, if I'm a bit incoherent, but yes. This is awesome, basically - and so are they, of course.)
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Lane&Lane, here to solve your problems!
Reply
Leave a comment