Late one afternoon shortly before Christmas we were sitting contentedly in front of the fire in Pat's apartment when the front door buzzer sounded. She pressed the speaker button.
"Hello, who's there?"
"It's Hallam. I've brought you a visitor. May we come up?"
"Certainly, come right in."
A few moments later they walked through the opened door.
"This is Inspector James of the RCMP," said Hallam, introducing a tall, thin, grey-haired man in civilian clothes.
"Won't you sit down?" Pat indicated chairs by the fire.
"How about a drink?" I said to the Inspector.
"If you're having one."