Chapter 41

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“I can do this,” Joe said under his breath as he walked into the theater lobby. The only person he saw was a woman in the box office. When he approached she said, “We’re not open for business until ten.”

“I’m supposed to talk to Ms. Richards?”

“Ah, yes. You must be Joe Lawson. I’ll let her know you’re here.”

She did, and moments later a woman appeared, introduced herself, and took him into an office on the other side of the lobby. When they were inside, she looked him over with a jaundiced eye. “You don’t look old enough to be a private detective.”

“I know,” Joe admitted. “In this case it helps, though, because I can pass for a new apprentice.”

“True. We’ll need a background story for you, since you’re late joining the program.”