Full Circle

Chapter 3 - Water Under the Bridge

Chapter Description: Ellen goes undercover as a wedding planner.

Burke Premiere Events office. July 10, 2006. Monday afternoon.

Peter had called with so many caveats and assurances of "this should be perfectly safe" and "if you're at all uncomfortable with it you can just say no," that Elizabeth was both intrigued and confused. It wasn't until he let Neal speak that she figured out exactly what they were asking of her. After that, there was no way she would refuse. It wasn't an FBI case, but helping with a Winston-Winslow case was almost as alluring.

While she waited for her visitor to arrive, El selected an empty wedding planning binder. For this couple she chose a sleek, silvery-gray without any ruffles on it, and added section dividers for venue, decor, food, and attire. Within each section she added brochures and contact information, with blank pages for notes.

"Sneaking out for a late lunch," Yvonne called out. As she walked past El's desk, she paused. "More new clients?" She gave her usual cheerful smile, but El knew her assistant well enough to detect the stress in her voice.

"In a sense," El said. "Friends of mine are having a commitment ceremony in Baltimore but they live here. They hired an event planner in Maryland and asked if she would coordinate with me. I'll send her to our preferred local vendors for tuxes and other items they'll procure here, so she can take advantage of the discounts we've negotiated."

"Expanding our market," Yvonne remarked. "I like it."

"She's in town today to meet with the couple and plans to drop by our office first to formalize our arrangement."

"I could stick around to meet her," Yvonne looked torn.

"You've earned a lunch break," El insisted, because Yvonne had taken the lead on a combination art and fashion exhibition for Mozzie's girlfriend Janet, and in a planning session this morning it had turned into a much larger event than they'd first expected. "I'll fill you in later." When Yvonne left, El felt a mixture of pride in successfully convincing someone this arrangement was legit, and relief that there wouldn't be witnesses for the first meeting.

Minutes later, a subtle ding announced that the front door of her business had opened. Elizabeth left her office to greet her visitor in the small waiting area.

The newcomer was a woman around fifty years old with blonde and gray hair. She wore a pale blue pants suit over an ivory blouse. "Are you Elizabeth Burke?" she asked.

"Yes. Welcome to Burke Premiere Events. How can I help you?"

"I'm here about the Vasquez-Winslow commitment ceremony."

El nodded, hiding a shiver of delight at hearing the pre-arranged statement. It was almost like being a spy. She responded with her line, "Neal said you're the best."

The woman smiled fondly. "I hope I live up to his expectations. My name's Ellen."

"Let's meet in my office," Elizabeth suggested. "Can I get you anything? I have coffee, tea, and water."

"No, I'm fine," the visitor said, taking a seat in the office. She had a no-nonsense air, seeming determined to get to work on the case.

El wished she knew what the case was, but both Peter and Neal had agreed it was best that she not know the details. The important thing was to provide Ellen a cover to get involved in a Win-Win case. So El walked her guest through the binder and the details she knew of the commitment ceremony plans. "The event will take place in Baltimore, where the Winslow family lives, but the Vasquez family is located here. You can take the couple to local venues under the pretense that they're still trying to decide between New York and Maryland. That also gives you an excuse to visit bakeries and caterers for food options. The couple had already asked me for recommendations of where to buy their tuxedos and rings." She opened the binder. "I've included vendors throughout the city."