Sibling Rivalry

Peter Van Husen is an expert at taking a simple problem and making a complicated mess. For example, he has put himself neatly in the middle between Mindy and Sandi Cooper, sisters who are both attractive and bright and interested in him. While Peter find Mindy the more appealing sister, he is unable to resist Sandi's more obvious charms...

"I guess there's no need for introductions," Mindy said after letting herself into her apartment and finding Sandi sprawled across the couch watching a rerun of Bewitched.

"Of course not!" Sandi jumped up and crossed the small living room to give Peter a hug. "Peter and I are old friends. He took me out to dinner the other night."

"He did?" Mindy asked, surprised. "I didn't hear about that."

Peter laughed a little nervously. Boy, oh boy. His dinner date with Sandi had ended in a wrestling match with her as the aggressor and Peter as the all too willing victim. While he wasn't exactly sorry that he'd taken Sandi out, he could tell that Mindy wasn't too thrilled by the news. "Yes, I took Sandi out to the Shoreline."

"And back to your place for coffee and dessert," Sandi reminded him as she wriggled under his arm. "We had a wonderful time, didn't we, Peter?"

Looking from her sister back to Peter with disgust, Mindy changed the subject. "Sandi, Peter and I want you to find some information out from Bernard Morton. That shouldn't be too difficult since you're also having a 'wonderful time' with him every Thursday evening."

"Like what kind of information?"

"Ask him what he knows about Fritz's murder."

"Is this for the newspaper or is it official police business? Because if it's for the paper, I want to write the story. I'm tired of not getting any bylines."

"That's because you never turn any stories in," Mindy reminded her, "but if you get anything we can use, then feel free to write it up. You are allegedly a reporter, after all."

"It's hard to write up those boring stories," Sandi complained, "but writing about Bernard would be a piece of cake. He is a pretty fascinating man." Running a hand across Peter's broad chest, she added, "And if it helped you out, Peter, then I'd be glad to do whatever I possibly could. You're a pretty fascinating man too."

Peter moved an inch or two away from Sandi's hand. It was embarrassing to have Sandi coming on so strong in front of Mindy. He felt like he was cheating.

"Good. Then maybe we'll be able to find something out that will help Peter solve the murder--although I really don't think Bernard had anything to do with it." Mindy opened the door of her apartment. "It looks like we're through for tonight, Peter. Thanks for the coffee."

"You two had coffee?" Sandi asked.

"Just coffee," Mindy assured her. "That's all Peter and I will ever have."

Peter felt crushed. Mindy was a nice woman, the kind of woman that he should be with. She was down to earth and stable. They could have a nice life together. Why couldn't he settle down and date her instead of doing stupid things like going to bed with every woman he met?

He carefully untangled himself from Sandi's clutches. "Why don't the three of us get together once you've talk to Morton?" he suggested.

Mindy looked at him coolly. "I think I'll leave this mystery in your capable hands, Officer Van Husen. Since you and Sandi already have a 'working relationship,' I'm sure you two will be able to solve Fritz's murder quickly."

She was definitely steamed. Did that mean she was jealous? Peter hoped so because he was starting to realize that Mindy Cooper was definitely the woman for him.