It looked like a ransom note, each letter cut from different magazines.
All it said was, "Please."
I drove over to Mocha Daze, got myself a latteĢ and went to work at the gym.
As I walked inside, all the guys who worked there were smiling at me. I reached my room, opened the door and saw another dozen red roses on my massage table. Another 'ransom' note stuck to them.
This one said, "Won't you."
I ate my lunch thinking about the Hardy Boys. My mother got me all their books. I use to play in the woods pretending I was the third Hardy Boy.
I'd find an old bottle cap or something and I would be one the trail of the culprit, commie spies trying to over-throw the government, or some land lord out to steal some hidden jewels from their rightful owners.
I didn't watch the seventies TV series. Most of the girls at my school went for Shaun Cassidy. A few of them had a thing for Parker Stevenson. Me? I thought they were both too old to be the Hardy brothers.
I felt like I was once more in the middle of one of their mysteries. "The Case Of The Valentine Roses."
The three of us would find out who the man was that sent them.
I sat at a table at Mocha Daze sipping my drink, looking at the stained glass dove and watching Hugo.
The Hardys and I think our 'mystery man' could be him. It might be his way of saying thanks to me for the window.
"Hey there, stranger," said Hugo, setting down a fresh latteĢ. "Just my way of saying thanks."
"No," I said, winking. "Thank you."
"You got something in your eye?"
I stood up and gave him a big bear hug.
"Okay," he said, patting me on top of my head. "It's just a cup of coffee."
He went on about his business.
We checked him off our list.
I was making myself a salad when I heard the knock at my door.
I went and answered it.
Nobody was there. Just a single rose and a note that said "Be."
I looked around.
There was a trail of the red flowers that led through the back yard and out onto the driveway.
Steve stood in front of a limo with another dozen roses.
I opened my mouth to ask him what this was all about.
He put a finger to his lips and handed me a note.
It said, "My Valentine."
