Plenty of Attitude

In Schuyler Square, Mindy Cooper has decided to return to her job as a reporter on the local newspaper, The Schuyler Square Times, after ending her engagement to her former boss, Bernard Morton. Although bitter over her shattered wedding plans, Mindy is determined to get back to the work she loves: reporting the truth.

"Mindy! It's good to have you back! Are you here to stay or are you planning another undercover assignment that will keep you away from work for the next six months or so?" Jack Harding, the other reporter on the paper, welcomed Mindy back.

"Well, Jack, I would have to say that after what I've been through, I don't think I'll ever leave the paper again. The pay may be lousy around here but at least it's reliable."

"Yeah, I'm sorry things didn't work out for you with that Morton creep. He didn't sound reliable at all."

"I suppose it's better I found out before we tied the knot." Mindy sighed. "So where are we on the murder of the Kutrate Kemical chemist? Any leads?"

Jack shook his head. "The police talked to your ex-fiance but as far as I know they don't have anything to hang on him. What are your thoughts? You worked with that Fritz guy. Did anybody hate him enough to off him?"

"Not as much as they hated Bernard. I honestly don't know who would have killed Fritz. He was kind of subversive but he wasn't nasty. I liked him."

"Subversive? Meaning?"

"Well, he worked closely with Bernard on Fat Off--Kutrate Kemical's weight loss aid. He thought Bernard was ripping him off--which he was."

"But why would Morton want to kill him? A smart chemist would be worth a lot more to him alive than dead."

"I don't think Bernard did it," Mindy said slowly. "Bernard is not a nice person but he's not a murderer."

"Then who?"

"I don't know but if you don't mind, I'm going to leave the story in your capable hands. I've had enough of Bernard Morton and Kutrate Kemicals to last me a lifetime."

"No problem. You can do everything else around here. Oh, the boss did hire someone new. She should be around here someplace."

"You're kidding! To do what?"

"Reporting, editing, making coffee--she seems like a nice enough person but I haven't read anything she's written yet. You'll like her. Her name is Sandi. With an i."

Mindy stopped cleaning off her desk. "Sandi with an i? What does she look like?"

Jack whistled. "Like a babe. Kind of like you--only better. No offense."

"I'm not surprised she looks like me," Mindy snapped. "I think the Sandi with an i the boss hired is my sister! What is this, a remake of the Dear Abby-Ann Landers rivalry?"

On cue, Sandi walked into the newsroom wearing a low cut dress, thigh high boots and plenty of attitude. "Isn't this fun?" she asked. "Mindy, we're working together!" She hugged Mindy tightly before asking, "Oh, another thing--you don't mind if I date Bernard, do you?"