Cinnamon the dog barked as Rosemary rooted herself to the chair after boiling into Herbs’ office.

“Herb do you know what thyme it is?” She demanded, steaming from the mid-summers heat.

Herb, a private dick of the old school, didn’t take to Rosemary’s dill presence in his office. However he did think she had spice with a nice rack.

“It’s time for you to take a chili powder toots and stew for a bit. There is plenty cooking here and I am the only chef in this kitchen.” Herb replied.

The vanilla sky of midday was pouring into the dimly lit second story pantry of an office. Other than Cinnamon, Herb was usually alone in this garden paradise on a steamy side table of the main affair in the city known as Hell’s Kitchen.

“We were suppose to meet at 350 Bay Leaf for an hour, until it got so hot I had to cover myself and rest for 10 minutes. That’s what thyme it is Herb. I am very pea’d at you, I paid you a lot of money to follow my daughter Meg and report back to me her whereabouts.”

Just then Basil, the old sage walked into the office. Basil and Herb grew up together, almost as family in Hell’s Kitchen. Basil went on to star in many entrées while Herb just seem to sit on the shelf waiting for his big moment.

Cinnamon greeted Basil, wagging her tail curring his favor.

“Ah Cinnamon you put a little ginger in my step each day.” Then Basil saw Rosemary and broiled at her being there and then turned to greet Herb.

“Herb I just saw that nut Meg.”

Then Basil slightly julienne towards Rosemary.

“Your daughter. Just a bit ago at the Pepper Mill restaurant, I was savoring the fact that she is finally getting her just deserts. She seem to be in a pickle, looked a little agitated if you ask me and was grating to the staff. Is that why you’re here Rosemary? To get the bill on Meg?”

“Basil I don’t like catering to your servile attitude, I can deflate you like a bad soufflé so better watch your tepid manners.”

Both Herb and Basil rolled their eyes and kneaded their lips as Rosemary simmered on.

Herb with no reservations about sitting Rosemary at ringside table near any exit, listen to her dice and slice Basil about his observations.

However unlike a watched pot Herb was ready to boil.

“Listen here Rosemary you are allspice and no action.” Herb interrupted.

“See we got the groceries on Meg, we know what she is doing with all that cabbage your ex husband left her. You’re just ready to be flambeau because she may be broker than a 20 year old blender.”

Rosemary couldn’t take the pressure cooker of this conversation anymore and was about to blow a lid.

“You two think you have all the ingredients here, don’t ya. There’s more to this cookie than meets the eye. I am making like a leaf and floating out of this camp stove of an office. After I blow off some steam and prep myself I am coming back and I want answers! Not just the appetizer you serve up but the main course of info. You got that?”

Rosemary stammer as she whipped around and beat it out of Herbs office.

“She is about as refreshing as a lemon pucker sorbet.” Herb muttered as he swirled and folded himself into his office chair.

Cinnamon the dog barked again, in her own way letting Rosemary know she was done and to stick a fork in it.

“Cinnamon simmer,” Herb said, savoring the moment.

“All sugar and spice that Rosemary.” Basil peeled in a saffron tone.

“Yea a real cooks choice that one.”

“Herb.”

“Yea Basil.”

“Are you hungry?”