He agrees

She smiles at him, and once again you're reminded how pretty she is. Her attractions aren't lost on Brian either, and his eyes flicker over her with interest.

"Let's start with how you got hired," she asks, flipping over a page in her notebook.

"So this is background, right? Like Mason said? No names or no way I can be identified?"

"Absolutely, if that's the way you want it," she replies, putting her notebook away. "Does that mean you'll talk to me?"

"I don't see what harm it can do. I don't know anything much."

"So tell me about being hired."

"Not much to tell. I applied for a whole bunch of jobs after I graduated. I got a few offers to be a supply teacher, you know a substitute? But this was the only place that offered full time work."

"You went to school in California, right?"

"Arizona actually. It's where I played college ball and it was easier to go back there."

"What made you apply for a job all the way across the country?"

"I just applied for everything I could find. I figured that improved the odds."

"How did you even hear about a job at a private school for girls? As far as I can tell they barely advertised the position."

He sits back, as if searching his memory.

"One of my professors gave me a list of private schools that were looking for faculty. They were all over the country, and some of them wanted more experience, but I applied anyway. This was one of them. I guess they liked what they saw because they flew me out here for an interview."

"Who interviewed you?"

"Three members of the Board of Regents. They were pretty enthusiastic about my athletic credentials, and didn't seem to care I had no experience as a teacher. They said I'd been highly recommended."

"Did they say by who?"

"No. They didn't," he answers thoughtfully.

"That sounds like there's something more."

"They didn't say, and I didn't ask. But when I talked to Ms. Naylor yesterday she said she'd seen me play and was very happy to have me join the faculty and coach."

"Interesting," Holly says. "Very interesting. That's it? You didn't check into the school before you were interviewed?"

"I looked at their website, and my professor said they had a good reputation. Honestly, I was happy to have a full time job offer, and I like this part of the country. I got to see some of it when I played ball."

"Oh right, you played in Burlington, wasn't it?"

"That's right. Two seasons."

"Good field no hit," she says with a smile. "That was the story on you right?"

"Yeah. I had trouble with the curve," he replies sulkily.

"Tough break," she says with genuine sympathy in her voice. "Oakland could have used a good glove at short this year."

"You a fan?" he asks with some surprise.

"I'm from Boston. That means I'm genetically conditioned to be a Red Sox fan. But I can read the sports pages and see what's going on around the league," she laughs. "Don't tell me you're the kind of neanderthal that thinks 'chicks are for banging, they don't know baseball'."

His face flushes, then flushes deeper when she chuckles knowingly. "I bet you got your share of baseball Annies. The Burlington girls must have been creaming for you. Don't be ashamed of it! You're a good looking guy and you're not the first and certainly won't be the last athlete to sample the cookies." She gives him an impish smile, obviously enjoying teasing.

"So now that I've made you blush, let me ask if you'll do something for me. I'll give you my cell number, and if you hear anything that sounds like it's connected to what we talked about, you call me ok? We'll stay off the record, no name mentioned. Hell, I'm not even close to having a story yet. But there's a story here, I just know it. So what do you say Slick, will you help a girl out?"

"Slick?" he laughs. "I haven't been called that in years."

"Not since college? I found it when I was researching you," she smiles.

"You're pretty thorough. What else did you find?"

"That you were a great fielder and a decent hitter in college but couldn't adjust to professional pitching. Oakland didn't have the time or patience to invest in working with you when you didn't respond quickly, and when they drafted Iglesias they gave up on you. You had a reputation as a good guy, and a good teammate, and apparently you were quite the hit with the ladies wherever you played. I can see why," she winks at him with flirting eyes. He flushes again, obviously not sure what to make of this sharp intelligent woman.

"So what's it going to be Slick? Will you stay in contact, let me know if you learn anything? There could be something in it for you," she grins.

"Like what?" he grins back, trying to match her confident flirting.

"Like a beer," she laughs. "Maybe even lunch. Depends on what you find out. You'll have to wait and see."

"Ok," he agrees with a charming smile. "I'll do it. Just keep my name out of things."

"Deal," she says with a pretty smile. "Nice smile," she adds. "This should be a hit with the local ladies."

"What about with tough Boston reporters?" he asks with a wink.

"Oh, it takes more than a smile to impress those bitches," she laughs, then touches his chin with a forefinger. "But it's a start, Slick. Let's see how things develop." She smiles at both of you and walks away, letting you watch her fine rump as she strolls out of the diner.