Wonders of Wonders III

Meadowlark Stanton took off his coat by the window in his hotel street. He gazed down onto the icy streets. A lone streetlight flickered in the drifting snow. The cold was biting outside. Men and woman walked stiffly, with coats and scarves wrapped to their noses. Meadowlark shivered. In corner of his eye, something brought his attention. A rose in a glass sat on the desk next to him. He smiled silently to himself. Meadow reached and gently lifted the flower.  He held the flower to his face.  The flower bright back memories, he thought he forgot. Memories which were short and sweet. These memories brought back the usual depression, and Meadowlark frowned. A piercing pain throbbed in stabbed his thumb. He exclaimed loudly, and the rose fell back down. Meadow sucked the blood from his thumb, and sat on the couch. Happiness, is never forever. Every rose, has it’s thorn.The phone rang loudly, and Stanton jumped. He groaned, and picked it up.
 “This is Meadowlark Stanton, Private Detective. To whom am I speaking?”
 “Meadow, you poor old dog.” Stanton smiled. “Hey there chief. How in the devil did you get this number?”
 It was the chief of Scotland yard, Norrin Roberts. He’d been friends with Roberts since the first days of the academy. He’s always find him attempting to flatter the other girls there, and failing of course. Norris was a ladies man, although the “ladies” didn’t consider him that way. Norris let out that loud, jolly laugh that was so familiar. “Had some help from the boys in tech up here. How’s life, Sherlock?” Meadow rolled his eyes. 
“Why do you ask that? You know you're not going to get much of an answer.” 
“So nothing new? No new trips? New adventures? New things? Perhaps new… people?” Meadow could tell Roberts was grinning. “Alright, alright, cut it out.” Roberts laughed again. “Ah, come on big brother. You know I kid.” Meadow couldn't help but smile at his playfulness. Meadow finally noticed, he needed somebody to talk to. But Norris called for a reason, and Meadow was determined to figure out what that reason was. “Yeah, yeah. Why was I called, Roberts?” He heard a chuckle over the phone. 
“There’s the Meadow I know. Always business. Can’t you have some fun sometimes? You should get out more. I know a plac-” 
“Roberts.” Meadow interrupted. “Answers.” He heard him gulp. 
“We need you on a case again Meadow.” Meadow contemplated this. How long ago was his life in law enforcement. Two years. Was it time to come back? Meadow looked around the room. This life wasn’t doing him much good. “What kind of case?”
 “Homicide, and it’s a doozy.”  Meadow took a deep breath. “When can I start?”   

By Teddy Nortness.  Continuation of Inquisition of Prof. Plumpfront.  Well done! the relationship between Meadowlark and the Chief Roberts is delightful.