Page 7 of The Burnt
“You could set a desk up over there,” Declan said, indicating the area just outside his door. “You’d be facing out toward the main room. That would give you privacy and let you keep an eyeon whatever’s happening. You’d have space for a bookcase and filing cabinets behind you along the wall. During the day there’s plenty of natural light.”
Charlie felt a rush of excitement.
Declan continued. “And then, when the bank accounts are a little healthier, we can have someone throw up a wall with a door. I can see the name plate on it—Charlie Watts, Private Investigator.”
“You mean it? Really?”
“You bet. You’ll need privacy.”
Charlie lunged at Declan, throwing his arms around him, toppling them both back to the floor. The moment was interrupted by the chirp of the alarm system on the ground-level door. It was a little late for someone to just drop by for a visit. There was the sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs. They both got to their feet and Charlie instinctively slid around behind Declan as the door opened. A large hulk of a man entered the room.
“Sergeant Hunt,” Charlie said.
“Dad,” Declan said.
Declan took several deep breaths, something Charlie noticed he did whenever his father came through the door.
Something was wrong. The Sarge didn’t just drop around for the hell of it. Charlie gently put a hand on Declan’s back.
“Declan,” the cop started, “you remember Archie Whitcher?”
Charlie could feel the broad muscles in Declan’s back tense.
“Freddy Whitcher’s father,” Declan replied.
“Yeah. Well, I thought you’d want to know that someone killed the son of a bitch late this morning. I got a call from your old partner Gary Sawchuck. He was on the scene.”
“Oh.”
Declan’s voice was emotionless.
“A neighbour called it in. Sawchuck said he’d been beaten, then shot.”
Declan said nothing.
“Sawchuck arrived just before Archie took his last breath.”
“Thanks for letting me know,” Declan said.
“There was one other thing. Just before Archie died, Sawchuck heard him say something that sounded to him like, ‘Tell Hunt it was Milo.’ That mean anything to you?”
“Nope.”
“Anyway, Sawchuck’s tied up with the paperwork, so I said I’d let you know. He thought you’d want to hear it in person. If you think of anything, get in touch with him.”
The two men stood in silence. Charlie wondered how long this stalemate would last before someone blinked first. It was The Sarge.
“Well, I should get going.”
Declan nodded and the sergeant turned, walked out of the office then down the stairs.
Charlie thought of the picture of Freddy Whitcher that Declan kept in his office. He was the kid who had run away from his father’s beatings when his dad had found out he was gay.
“Are you okay?” Charlie asked.
“Yup.”
Charlie knew Declan wasn’t okay. “You think you’ll still be up for dinner with Carrie tonight? She’s really looking forward to getting to know you better, and it might help take your mind off…things.”
