The P.I. Contest. C.J. Carmichael

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СКАЧАТЬ to grab a beer after we’ve showered?” Nathan asked as they completed a slow lap around the track to cool off.

      Jay checked the time. He had an hour before Eric’s school night curfew of ten o’clock. “Okay, but it has to be quick.”

      They both had damp hair when they perched on bar stools fifteen minutes later. Always health conscious, Nathan asked for a Coors light, but Jay ordered a Guinness, figuring his workout justified the extra calories.

      “So—how are you doing?” Nathan asked.

      He’d attended Tracy’s funeral a month ago and he’d called pretty much every week since then to check in. Jay appreciated his friend’s concern, but he couldn’t talk about what Tracy’s death meant to him, the deep remorse he felt and the guilt.

      “I’m doing okay, but I’m worried about Eric. Hell, even before his mother died I was concerned about him.” At fourteen, Eric was at a critical age. Two years ago, he’d been a cheerful kid, eager to please. Now he was silent and moody, and Jay feared he was on the verge of making some very poor choices.

      Just like Tracy had when she was his age.

      “He must miss his mother,” Nathan said.

      “I’m sure he does, but he doesn’t talk about her. I think he resents having to live with me.” But there was no one else, so neither one of them had a choice in the matter.

      “Maybe he needs time to adjust.”

      “Yeah. We both do.” Eric had been furious with him when he’d imposed a curfew, but so far he was honoring it. Jay didn’t think he was doing quite as well about school. He was pretty sure Eric had been cutting classes. He had an appointment set up this week with his homeroom teacher to see if he was right.

      “He’s lucky he has you.”

      Jay nodded, but in truth he wasn’t so sure about that. He’d practically raised his sister on his own, and look how she’d turned out. He didn’t want to screw up with his nephew, too.

      “Have you decided what you’re going to do about work?”

      Jay sighed. “My leave is over this week. I’m afraid I’m going to have to resign.”

      “Jeez, man, I’m sorry.”

      Nathan knew how much he loved flying. But when you worked as a commercial pilot, you had to be prepared to be away from home for three- or four-day stretches of time. With no backup at home for Eric, he just couldn’t do that.

      “Eric’s too young to be alone overnight. And I can’t afford live-in help.” Jay tried to put a positive spin on the situation. “In a couple of years, when Eric’s older, I’ll go back.”

      “What are you going to do in the meantime?”

      Jay shrugged. “Good question.”

      “We’re looking for someone at the agency,” Nathan said casually.

      “Yeah?”

      “Remember that summer we worked for Power Investigations?”

      Jay laughed. “I haven’t thought about that in years.”

      “We were staked out in that van, and it was so bloody cold.”

      “I was determined to make us coffee with that old propane stove—”

      “And the curtains caught fire. Remember how that gray-haired guy came running from his garage with a garden hose?”

      “Yeah, in his underwear. And his wife yelling at him from the front door…”

      They were both laughing too much to continue with the story. Their cover had been so blown that night. Plus, the interior of the van had been badly damaged. For some reason Power hadn’t fired them, though.

      Jay wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. “Yeah, that was some job, all right.”

      “We raked in a pile of dough that summer.”

      “True.” Enough money that they’d both been able to enroll in college that fall. Nathan to study criminology and Jay aviation flight training.

      The two men drank their beers quietly for a moment. Finally Jay said, “You really have an opening?”

      “You bet. Lindsay and I have been turning away clients lately because we just can’t handle any more.”

      “You think Lindsay would agree to hire me even though I have no police training?”

      “All that’s really necessary for this job is the ability to think fast on your feet. You should see some of the characters we’ve interviewed for the position. If you’re interested, come to the office and we’ll talk. How about tomorrow at ten?”

      Jay finished his beer. He couldn’t believe how much better he felt now than when he’d left to meet Nathan two hours ago. The workout, the laughter, the friendship…he’d needed them all.

      And now, on top of all that, Nathan was offering him a job. A job that might just be the perfect thing.

      “I’m interested.”

      CHAPTER TWO

      JAY SAVAGE WAS INFINITELY more comfortable traveling above the ground than below it. As the subway car swayed to the right, his body swayed left, knocking his legs into the knees of the seated lady beside him. She glared.

      “Sorry.” He’d given up his place for the old gal. Some gratitude.

      He glanced at his nephew beside him. Eric moved with the rhythm of the train, as if they were part of the same entity—much like a cowboy on a horse. He waited for Eric to acknowledge his presence, but Eric’s gaze was unmoving and unseeing.

      Presumably his attention was all on the music playing on his iPod. The wires of his headphones led from his backpack and disappeared under the black wool of the hat he wore pulled over his embarrassing blond curls. At least Jay assumed Eric found those curls embarrassing, since he wore his hat almost all the time.

      The train stopped at Cathedral Parkway, and as Eric swung forward, Jay tapped his shoulder. “Have a good day at school.”

      Eric just ignored him, disappearing amid a herd of other middle-school-aged kids. Jay waited for the rush to end before slipping out and catching the next train headed south.

      He didn’t know why he bothered to ride the subway with Eric every morning. His nephew never talked to him. He supposed he just wanted to make sure he really was going to school. When Tracy was fourteen she’d skipped more days of school than she’d actually attended. He didn’t want her son making the same mistake.

      Jay exited the subway at the stop for the Museum of Natural History. The offices of Fox & Fisher were just a few blocks west. He was looking forward to finding out more about this job Nathan had promised him. He’d been dreading finding a new career, but this one sounded like it could be interesting, and he’d be glad to be working with Nathan, whom he both СКАЧАТЬ