bffpartone2

The careworn woman smiled and said �I can�t complain, better than most days, Lanie was such a help today, I felt almost lazy with all the work she did.�

Trixie smiled gently �I doubt you were lazy, but Lanie is a great little helper.�

Esther Marovskya Cardoza had a serious heart condition, and had been told more than once by doctors at the local free clinic to stop working. However she was the only one around to provide for Lanie and that meant no rest yet. She treasured her small granddaughter though and didn�t think twice about her own health. She did washing, mending, and cooking for anyone who would pay for it, often working all hours of the night to get everything done. She was delighted that Trixie had come into their lives as it provided a safe opportunity for Lanie to have some fun.

�Trixie, you�re here you�re here!� shouted Lanie as she ran into the front room.

�Yep I�m here, you ready to have some fun tonight?� Trixie grinned at the little girl. Lanie was a small child, with shoulder length curly dark brown hair, warm brown eyes, and exotic cheekbones- a gift from Esther, who�d been born in what was then Czechoslovakia.

Lanie glanced quickly at her grandmother �Do you need help tonight Nona?, cause I could stay, I could go to the library another time.� She smiled up at Trixie again �I�m a good helper for my Nona.�

�That you are,� said Mrs. Cardoza affectionately, �but tonight is for fun for the two of you. So go, have a goodtime and then you can tell me all about it later.�

Trixie and Lanie walked out of the little apartment and down the street. �Are you sure the library is where you want to go on your fun night?� Trixie teased.

�Yes please, I want to get books to read, I like Dr. Seuss, and I want to get some books maybe that I can read to Nona when her eyes hurt too much.� Trixie marveled to herself, this was no ordinary eight year old girl. �Of course we can go to the library; I could stand to do some reading myself.�

They rounded the corner and soon were at the crumbling old Bronx branch of the New York Public Library. �After you Miss Elaina� Trixie said theatrically. Lanie giggled and went in. Trixie was about to follow her, when a hand grabbed her shoulder and a gruff voice said �Hey lady�. She spun around to defend herself and was faced with black eyed Dan Mangan, smirking at her in amusement. �Don�t you ever pull that again��she hissed, and then with a grin said, "You know Mangan, sometimes I can't believe they let you become a cop." He just laughed and said, �So what�s a girl like you doing in a nice place like this?� She then filled him in on the library plans with Lanie.

�Would you like to come in and see her?� she asked, �I know she�d love to see you too.� He smiled and followed her into the library. They quickly found Lanie in the children�s section in the back. She was curled up on a beanbag, scanning through a beautifully illustrated children's book. The staff at the little library had done the best they could to hide the ramshackle appearance of the building. Brightly colored posters and displays were all over the faded walls. After a moment Lanie looked up and squealed with delight when she saw Dan.

�Mister Dan, Mister Dan you came to see me?� �Of course Lanie, you�re my favorite girl,� he said solemnly. Then he broke out into laughter �how are both my girls tonight?� Trixie rifled through a magazine as Dan and Lanie held a serious discussion debating the merits of Green Eggs and Ham vs. The Cat in The Hat The librarian had to shush them at one point, but did so with a twinkle in her eye. Lanie decided she wanted to finish the book she had been reading before they had to go, so she scrunched back down into the beanbag and became absorbed again.

Trixie got up and motioned to Dan to follow her �come on Mangan let�s sit at this table so we can talk and not disturb the peace� she said impishly. �Yeah we�re likely to cause trouble here in the kid�s section� he joked �but seriously I did come to talk to you about something.�

�How did you know to come find me here?� wondered Trixie.

�Well I knew you were going to see Lanie tonight so I stopped by and had a chat with Mrs. Cardoza and she told me...you know I do hope to make detective someday...I gotta be able to figure these things out", he explained with a chuckle.

Trixie looked at him with a worried frown,�is it really so important that you had to track me down all the way over in the Bronx? You couldn't have called?�

He grinned �Don�t worry oh suspicious one. I got off duty a couple hours ago, and had some time to kill. I just wanted to let you know in person that I can�t make our date this Saturday.�

�Oh- that is very important! What could possibly be more exciting than hanging out with me?� she demanded with a smiling face.

"I have a date date," he mumbled sheepishly, "and if you don't want me to cancel our date I can reschedule, I would never bail on a friend, this is just the only night she had free and..."