The cigar almost fell from commissioner Gussel?s mouth in astonishment. ?What? Are you his helper?? ?Precisely,? grinned Mickey. ?Well, good,? replied Gussel with remorse. ?Can you confirm his statement??

?Yes, commissioner,? answered Mickey. ?Certainly.?

?That will suffice,? sighed Gussel. ?However, it does not help my investigation?s progress any further.?

?Then stop suspecting honest workers like me, who, day in and day out, earn their bread by the sweat of their brow. Have a word instead with the husband of Mrs Buttercream, the old freeloader and incorrigible gambler. Presumably he has flogged the valuables so as to pay up his debts at the casino.?

?Hmm?,? grunted Gussel sullenly. ?I must unfortunately admit that it isn?t such a bad idea, Mr Higgins. So, let?s go men!?

The next morning Minnie drove Mickey to work in the car. Higgins was sitting in front of his office, dozing away.

As she stood before him he woke up and said surprised, ?Good day to you. Hey, how come you haven?t told me that you have such an enchanting lady friend??

Minnie?s cheeks grew as red as strawberries when Higgins gallantly kissed her hand. ?You see me inconsolable, my lady, but unfortunately we have no time to talk,? he said, raising his hat. ?I have to go with your friend to work on another job.?

With a wink in Mickey?s direction, he added: ?Pickering has sent a fax that we have to instal a new sink in the home of Ronald Mickerman, the famous art collector. This Mickerman is an important client and I must satisfy my customers.? ?I understand,? said Minnie and started the car. ?One must also see that one doesn?t outstrip someone, isn?t it?? she added with a smile and a brief wave. Then she was gone.

Art collector Ronald Mickerman proved to be a difficult customer. ?Above all you must be very careful,? he warned Mickey and Higgins, as he accompanied them down a hall which was completely packed with works of art. ?Here, even a sneeze is enough to bring about a catastrophe.?

?Don?t worry, sir,? Higgins assured him. ?If we have to sneeze, we will close the kitchen door.?

?Better see to it that you do,? remarked Mr Mickerman gruffly and swept out of the room. Higgins looked around. ?You will be completing these minor jobs alone. I have to make some purchases in the city and will be back in a couple of hours.?

Minnie, who had followed the two plumbers , observed how Higgins got behind the steering wheel and shortly thereafter a man got into the car with him. She was not surprised that she recognised him. He was an amateur actor at the small theatre, which had recently closed down! What were the two telling each other, she asked herself. She got out of her car and crept up alongside the pick-up. However, Higgins had turned up the volume of the radio, so that she couldn?t hear a word?