Page 21 of Gem Warfare

“Called out,” I told them as they dropped into the seats at their cluttered desks and began unwrapping their rolls.

Delgado followed with, “Are you off the warehouse surveillance case?”

“As of today. The youths causing all the trouble got arrested and the warehouse is officially open for business. They’ve got a clean-up crew in there today making it right before they move their people in next week. Plus, they hired a team from us for 24-hour security until they get their own guys hired. We’re helping them vet the applicants,” explained Flaherty. He stretched out his leg, rubbed his hip and grunted.

“Pain?” I asked.

“Both of us,” said Flaherty, thumbing in his partner’s direction. “It’s all that sitting in the car, not moving beyond reaching for snacks or binoculars. We’re a pair of stiff, old dudes.”

“Didn’t stop you bigging up your duty wounds to the waitress,” said Fletcher with a snort. “I thought you were going to pull out a medal.”

“I’m saving that for next time,” said Flaherty. “Can’t wow her with all my stuff in one go.”

Since both men had been injured in the call of duty — Fletcher taking bullets in his CIA days while busting a drug cartel, Flaherty in his former life as a police detective — I saw no reason for them not to be proud of their service. Plus, I’d noticed both had been moving sorely over the past weeks, and since Fletcher had been even more stony-faced than usual, it was nice to see them joking around.

“Did you hear about that body found last night in West Montgomery?” asked Flaherty. “Some guy got a fright digging up a body in his yard.”

“It happened on my parents’ street,” I said. “Solomon and I talked to the homeowners.”

“Your mom called Serena late last night and now she wants your parents to move to our neighborhood,” said Delgado. “I’m not against that per se but it seems an overreaction. She’s already sent your parents several listings in the area.”

“Don’t tell her about granny suites,” I said and Delgado paled.

“Did we get hired?” asked Fletcher. “I gotta admit, I’d like to take a crack at a case like that. It’s like those cold cases on TV or that new-fangled radio thing everyone keeps talking about.”

“Radio thing?”

“Podblasts.”

“Podcasts?” I asked.

“That’s right. Some journalist or snoopy citizen goes investigating a cold case no one can remember and unveils the story. There’s some wild stuff and they make crazy money. We should do one.”

“I’m not sure anyone would listen to two guys like us talking about cracking cases,” said Flaherty.

“Who said anything about it being you and me? I was thinking me and Lexi,” said Fletcher.

Flaherty stopped chewing. “Why Lexi?”

“She brings in the sexy. She brings in the pep. People want to listen to that,” said Fletcher with a shrug.

“It’s true,” I said. “I do bring the sexy.”

“She brings in the crazy,” said Flaherty.

Delgado snorted and turned back to his laptop. I wasn’t sure which bit he was responding to and if I wanted to know.

“Did you not see the way the counter girl looked at me?” asked Flaherty.

“She wanted a big tip,” said Fletcher. “What’dya say, Lexi? You want to collaborate on a cold case podblast-thing and then tell the public all about it for money?”

I was saved from answering that by answering the deskphone, and cut from their view as Delgado got up and walked past.

“It’s Jim,” said the doorman, as if I wouldn’t know. He’d worked in the building for years and I was half convinced he lived here too. “I’ve got a Mr. and Dr. Dugan here asking to speak with you. They say they don’t have an appointment but that you know them.”

“I do,” I said. “Send them up to the interview rooms and I’ll meet them there.”

“You got it,” said Jim and hung up.

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