Page 50 of Jep

“Yeah, that’s one of them. He’s got a real talent for it, actually.”

“Is he getting his life together?”

“He’s getting there. If you knew where he started, you’d understand how far he’s come.”

“Where did he start? If it’s okay to ask.”

“He got kicked out of his home when he was fourteen because he wouldn’t let his uncle keep abusing him. Lived a very hard life on the streets for a couple of years until I found him.”

She shook her head. “There’s so much pain out there.”

“There is.”

“And you just take these guys in off the street?”

“I have rules and expectations. I’ve had to turn some of them away. Forcefully remove others. They’re rough diamonds, but if I can get through to them, give them a chance they never had, you never know what heights they’ll reach. I hope I can at least do some good.”

“Is this what you’ve been doing since you left the agency the first time?”

“Not at the start. I opened up this shop with the last of my savings for something to do, and the boys I didn’t run into out on the street turned up at my door. It got out of control, so I had to set some limits, and this whole thing kind of grew from there. I’ve got a couple of good guys that help me out, and I get donations of old cars and stuff for the boys to practice on.”

“That’s wonderful. I had no idea.”

Jep laughed. “Not many outside my circle do. I know what you first thought of me.”

“Then let me be the first to admit I was wrong. About a lot of things.”

“I appreciate you saying that.”

She picked up a fuel filter and looked it over. “So you’re happy here?”

“Happy? That’s a tricky question.” Best to change the subject. “You have a car that needs servicing?”

“I brought a work car. I think they have someone for that.”

“Wow. You confiscated a work car to come see me? How’d you manage that one? Or didn’t they know where you were headed?”

“Pearce organized it for me.”

“Pearce knew you were coming here, and he let you?”

“He’s the one who suggested it.”

“Oh.” It deflated him a little knowing it wasn’t her idea.

“I didn’t think you’d be interested in seeing me.”

“You’re one of the few people I’d be happy to see at my door anytime.”

“Even if I told you I’m here to convince you to come back?”

“You said this was Pearce’s idea?”

“He said he called you.”

“He did. But I find it hard to believe he’d let you within a mile of me. Doesn’t everyone at the office think my sole purpose in life is to get you killed?

“No one thinks that. And I came with Pearce’s blessing.”

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