Day 4

“This is good coffee, Harry,” Lee said over breakfast, still in pajamas and robe.

“It ought to be. By appointment to the King of Sweeden....Tough day yesterday,  Miguel?” I chuckled as Lee rubbed his eyes.

“I almost lost it in the elevator.”

“Your own fault you know,” I buttered my burnt toaster waffles and poured syrup over it.

“You’re not actually going to eat that?” Lee asked as he dug into the easy open box of cereal, the single serving  kind you pour the milk right into.

“Would hurt Edith’s feelings if I didn’t. Though I suppose I could tell her it was the toaster’s fault.”

Lee sighed, and speared one of them, using his fork to break off a piece. “Might help if you can clean the plate,” he valiantly chewed and swallowed. “This is no good, Harry. If we hurry, we can shove the rest down the garbage disposal, and leave the crumbs and syrup on the plate.”

When Edith came  back downstairs she was none the wiser.

“Well,” she said, “ I hope you have a good first day at work Miguel. And remember to wear those protective latex gloves. You never know where somebody’s hands have been.”

“Oh, he’s not afraid of germs,” I winked. “I’m sure he’s much more apprehensive of   Miss Bates.”

“That’s right. She um, seems to have adopted you, Lee,” Edith giggled.

I had to smile at the memory. It was after Lee and I had stopped by the restroom before joining Miss Bates and Edith by the elevator.

Miguel, still holding the stack of family documents,  seemed fascinated by all the buttons inside the car and was starting to punch away happily.

“No, no, Miguel,” Miss Bates took his hand off the panel and shook her head ‘no’.

“Si, senora,” Lee said, dejected.

“I’m sorry, my dear,” she apologized, patting his arm, “I’m sure it is fun. And it’s senorita,” she showed off her barren left hand.

“Si, senorita,” Lee gave her his best wounded puppy dog look.

I could have sworn I saw her heartstrings melt. I held my breath as she started to ruffle Miguel's hair, praying that the white out wouldn't flake off in her hands. (It didn't, but it was close.)

In between cups of coffee, while we discussed all and any known facts about the Nelson Jewels, she saw that his doodles on the museum notepads were rather good if childlike, and requested some drawing paper and crayons from the art dept, ruffling his hair again and giving him so many maternal soppy smiles that I was a bit sickened by it. Still I mentioned (as Lee and I had discussed last night) that Miguel had done a little free lance janitorial work at NIMR and wondered if there might be something similar at the museum.

In seconds, Lee was taken to the personel dept, and hired pending the Dept of Labor's background check. (Thank God for Lee's 'special ' uindercover number from ONI.)

The gate’s intercom roused me from the daydream as Lee hustled upstairs presumably to put white out on his unruly hair and insert his black contacts.

Edith punched the wall security unit to see who was there.

“Um, it’s us, Sharkey and Kowalski and Riley and Patterson. It’s okay, the cab’s gone and...”

 “What the...what the hell are you doing here?” I asked.

“We er,  saw Miguel.  It’s ‘one of those’ sir? Or is it really a look alike?”

“Come on up. I’m not sure Miguel’s interested in discussing it though.”

The men had just entered the house when Lee, in an orange jumpsuit with Boston Museum and a name patch with Miguel embroidered on it, slid down the banister of the great stairs.

“Yipppeeee...oh...um...”he stopped as he saw his crew, their mouths open.

“Lee, Sharkey was telling me he saw you on the news.”

“Me? Not Miguel? I thought the disguise was working,” he frowned.

“Well,” Ski said, “we weren’t sure...”

“But, er...you  used this same kind of disguise before, remember? Only you had a beard too. So if you don’t really have a twin out there, what can we do to help?”

“This is  a civilian investigation,” I began.

“It’s okay, Harry. In fact, they might come in handy...my eyes okay?”

“A little bloodshot.”

“Damn. No wonder they hurt. Okay, we’ll just have to say Miguel tied one on last night. Celebrating his new job.”

“Tequilla?”

“Too obvious. How about that 100 year old vodka in the wine cellar? You had some too if anyone asks.”

“What about us, Skipper?” Sharkey asked.

“Give him a chance to breathe, Chief, ”I said. “I’m sure he has a plan.”

“Heck no,” Lee smirked, “ I’m making this up as I go along...for now, though men, I think your time would be best spent getting settled in... You’ll all need a hotel to vouch for you. You can use your real names if you like. Visit the Nelson’s at some restaurant. Be loud, be anxious about poor Miguel. How’s he fitting in after his odd jobs at NIMR. By tomorrow, I may have a plan. I’m  suspicious about the guy we met yesterday. I may be able to hack into his computer with a distraction, but I don’t know the schedule he and the other staff have. Hopefully you men can be that distraction tomorrow. For now, well, welcome to Boston,” Lee finished, checking his watch. “The cab we arranged for should be here any minute,” he began to pull on his snowboots and parka. In minutes we were both ready.

“Don’t forget your lunch Lee,” Edith said sweetly as she handed him a paper bag.

“Er...”

“I hope you don’t mind a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”

Lee managed to kiss her on the cheek, knowing full well that even such an American classic was ruined in her hands.

A car honked, loud, as the gate intercom transmitted an apparently  impatient driver. Edith pressed the button for the gate to open so the cab could drive up to the house.

“Act two,” Lee winked at the men as he opened the door.

“Come along, Miguel, it’s nothing to be nervous about, “ I said loud enough to be heard over the engine.

“Si, senor,” Lee followed and opened the door for me.

In minutes, we were on our way.