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</div>Karl Wahl surprised himself twice, that morning.  Firstly by pausing to admire the garden of the late Mr. Widcombe.  Gardens, in Karl's mind, were for rich people's servants to enhance their employer's homes.  The stereotypical ornamental flowers were present, but there were also sections where tomato vines climbed and wrapped themselves about deeply planted articulated slender metal poles.  There was a section that grew yellow squash and another that grew green. Karl could also detect the scents of herbs, especially the rosemary.  Little pots of orange flowers (marigolds?) marked borders between the produce.<br/>
<br/>
The second thing that surprised Karl was when he checked his watch, he discovered that he was five minutes late in getting to the Widcombe mansion kitchen.  Professionally, this wasn't good and he gave himself a short mental ass-kicking.  Losing track of time was very rare for him.  <br/>
<br/>
If Grace was on time, and she usually was, she'd likely say something cutting about it.  Well, it was his own fault.  Old man Widcombe hadn't had to recommend him for a job with Grace, Widcombe's daughter, and Grace had been a very good employer.  Then there were the fringe benefits of working for Grace, too.  Early on, Karl wondered if the old man had been setting him up as possible marriage material for Grace, but if that was the case then Grace was wise to the ploy and kept the relationship cool.  Even the sex, because Karl came to understand that it wasn't love-making.  Karl didn't know if Grace loved anyone.  Her mother had died ten years ago and her relationship with the old man had gone sour shortly after that.  Now her childhood roots were being completely cut out from underneath her.  In spite of her general temperament, Karl felt a little sorry for her.<br/>
<br/>
Karl put on his 'professional tough guy' face, a face that left no doubt he'd bend someone like a pretzel and leave them in a basket if Grace told him that's what she wanted, and opened the door that led from the outside to the kitchen.  Once inside, the former sergeant saw Audrey, Grace's other personal assistant, and her worried expression.  <br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(84, 172, 210)">"Good morning, Audrey,"</span> said Karl, his bass voice pitched as if nothing could possibly be wrong. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(84, 172, 210)"> "Get any last night?"</span></span>