Page 91 of Perfect Pitch

“What does it involve?”

“I ask you a question and you’re only allowed to give me a one-word answer.”

I contemplate how much information can be learned about a person that way and agree with a caveat. “Only if I get to ask in return.”

“Deal.” She stares at me intently, lips pursed. I feel an itch between my shoulder blades when she fires out, “What’s your favorite kind of music?”

I should have known. I can’t prevent my lips from twitching when I reply solemnly, “Rock.”

She sighs, “Why am I not surprised?”

“Well, I couldn’t say Gregorian chants. That’s more than one word,” I fling back carelessly.

“The fact you know what a Gregorian chant is considered a bonus, Mitch.”

“Thanks. My turn.” I don’t even have to think. “What did you feel when you first moved to New York?”

“Scared.” My head whips to the side. Her lips curve exactly like Beckett’s do when he’s in a self-deprecating mood. The similarities shake me. How did I not notice them before?

Austyn’s voice brings me back into focus. “What? Just because I know I’m talented doesn’t mean I don’t have a healthy dose of realism. I fully expected to be a wedding DJ to pay the rent for a long time.”

I’m about to ask her another question when she wags her finger. “Nuh-uh. My turn.”

“This game sucks,” I arbitrarily declare.

She ignores me. “Did you expect to be doing the job you’re doing now when you were younger?”

“Hoped.” I catch her expression of frustration at not being able to break her own rules.

She expels a whoosh of air. “Fine, this game sucks. Explain.”

I do so without hesitation. “Uncle Charlie worked for the same company I do now. Knowing what he did, knowing the people whose lives he influenced, I was hungry for the same thing.”

“And being an officer didn’t feed that?”

I shake my head. “It’s different. You’re not as... close with the people who you’re in charge of protecting. On the force, I was burning out. Here, there are no two days that are the same.”

“That makes sense.”

I reach for her hand. “Does it? There are times when the fact you’re a great deal younger than me hits me hard, Austyn.”

That’s when her maturity strikes me in the heart with her next words. “You can be lost even in a room with just one other person, Mitch. Just like being found isn’t always about finding a physical place but availing yourself of unwanted emotion.”

“Who taught you that?”

“Even though your question is out of order, I’ll answer. School.”

My cell rings as I turn off I-684, before I can probe into that further. My voice must reflect my frustration when I answer. “Clifton.”

“How soon until you’re here?” Charlie barks out through the hands-free. I see Austyn jump slightly in my side vision.

Mildly, I remark, “I didn’t know there was a set arrival time.”

“There isn’t.” Charlie’s voice turns sheepish. “Kids are getting hungry and I wanted to know whether or not to throw the burgers on the grill.”

“If traffic holds, about twenty.”

“I’ll get started.” Charlie disconnects.

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