My second story by this author. This time Beatrice is approached by a friend who has this little problem. He has been extorted out of money for the past ten years. And he felt like a moron. So he just kept paying and not telling anyone. And, even now, doesn't want the police involved. But, maybe, Beatrice might help?

Absurd on the face of it. Both the extortion and the idea that the police can be kept out of it. Nathan, the friend, isn't being blackmailed. He just got into the habit of helping someone. That someone happened to have saved his life one winter, and so . . . when they needed a little extra money, Nathan helped. Then continued to help for the next ten years. Mostly because he was embarrassed. About . . um . . helping. I guess.

I liked the mystery plot more in the first story, and less in this second story. Yet I've rated this one higher. And that is, mostly, because this one seemed to have been written with that tiny bit more polish than the last. ( )