Somewhat surprised that they already knew why she had come to them for help, she decided to set them straight on one important point. "He is no longer a loved one. He is an ex-loved one," she stated sharply. "But, he is someone that I need to have found."

The two detectives seemed to lean in toward each other and carry on an apparent muted conversation for a moment, then Overhill smiled and said, "I understand," as Dale nodded solemnly in the background. "Perhaps you would feel more comfortable talking in the other office," he continued, waving his arm toward the inner door.

Ms. White, still not at all sure she wanted to confide in these strange men, looked at their sad, imploring faces and finally said, "Yes. Very well," and allowed Overhill to lead her between the desks to the door of the inner office, while Dale minced along behind her.

Overhill pulled open the door and her breath was taken away as she entered another world. Thick, plush carpet cushioned her feet in a room that was three to four times larger than the outer office. The rug met darkly paneled walls that held narrow bookcases filled with obviously old and expensive leather bound volumes, the bookcases alternating with gilt-framed paintings. A large desk sat at the other end of the room, in front of a wide picture window that framed the Los Angeles skyline. The room had the well-aged, comfortable smell of old leather and wood polish.

Dale closed the door behind them and the two detectives moved around her to seat themselves behind the huge desk. They had identical chairs to sit in and on the desk in front of them were two large blotter pads and twin Tiffany lamps were at each front corner of the desk.

"Please," Dale said to her, indicating the single, wing back chair in front of their desk.

Still stunned by the glaring differences between this office and the outer one, she slowly sat down. "This is lovely," she admitted, still staring at her surroundings.

The two detectives smiled at her compliment. "We thought you might like it," Overhill said, folding his hands on the desk.

"Yes, we thought you would be more comfortable in surroundings you found more to your taste," Dale added, folding his own hands on the desk.

"I must admit this room is more along the lines of what I expected a pair of successful detectives to work from," she said, turning to face the smiling pair. "Why is there such a stark difference between the two offices?"

"Well," Dale began, appearing rather uncomfortable. "Some of our clients expect to see us in an office straight out of an old detective novel."

"Yes," Overhill continued. "And we always try to give our clients what they want."