Page 52 of I'm Watching You

When Jacob had first found Myers’s gym, he’d been twelve and his mother had been on a weeklong drunken binge. Angry and wanting to wreck something, Jacob had stolen a dozen eggs from the market and made a beeline for the gym, which was celebrating its grand opening. Jacob had covered the freshly painted exterior with yolk. It had been a real laugh until a pissed Myers had come looking for him. Jacob hadn’t figured the old man could run so damn fast or that he’d chase Jacob two blocks before catching him. The ex-boxer’s grip had been like iron.

Myers had dragged Jacob home, taken one look at Jacob’s drunken mother, and then called Social Services. Jacob’s mother hadn’t fought for her son, and within two weeks, Jacob was living in the small apartment above the gym with Pete. The two had clashed a lot in the beginning, but Pete had never given up on Jacob.

That was twenty years ago. And a day never passed when Jacob didn’t thank God for Pete. The old boxer had saved his life.

Pete tightened the laces. ‘So why are you here so early?’

‘I needed to break a sweat before work.’ Jacob hit thelong punching bag hanging from the ceiling, testing the laces.

Pete got behind the bag and steadied it. ‘Everything all right?’

‘Yeah. Kier and I have a homicide.’

‘Who died?’

‘Harold Turner. It was on the news last night.’

Pete snorted. ‘I saw that. Can’t say I’m too sorry. A dead attorney ain’t gonna make me miss sleep.’

Sweat dampened Jacob’s T-shirt as he pounded the bag. ‘Yeah, he wasn’t exactly a model citizen.’

‘You guys got a suspect?’

‘Not yet.’

‘You’re a smart kid. You’ll figure it out.’

Jacob hit the bag again. Normally, he didn’t talk about cases but Pete was family. ‘This case could be a little dicey. Kier’s wife is right in the middle of the investigation.’

‘Not good for Kier.’

‘Nothing is good when it comes to Kier. The guy is a disaster waiting to happen.’

Pete frowned. ‘Is he drinking again?’

‘No, so far I’ve not gotten a hint that he’s had a drop. But once a drunk always a drunk.’

‘Your partner ain’t your mother, kid. From what you’ve said over the last few months, Kier seems to be getting his shit together.’

‘We’ll see.’

Pete’s gaze grew serious. ‘So how long you going to make the guy jump through hoops before you cut him some slack?’

‘I’ll let you know when he reaches it.’

‘The department was smart to pair you up with Kier. You’ll keep him straight. He might even get you to lighten up.’

The old man’s confidence meant everything to Jacob. ‘I don’t want to baby-sit. And I sure as shit don’t need a friend. I want a partner I can count on.’

Pete nodded thoughtfully. ‘Until the guy screws up, cut him some slack.’

Jacob knew he couldn’t do that. ‘Sure.’

Pete understood some of his foster son’s scars ran deep. And he knew when to change the subject. ‘So when are you going to bring Sharon around the gym again? I liked her.’

A twinge of regret nagged Jacob. ‘Sharon and I are history.’

Pete shook his head. ‘Damn. The gal is built like a brick house and can cook. What the hell more do you want from a woman?’

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