Page 19 of A Much Younger Man
Chapter Five
Beck stayed aroundto worry over the kittens while Travis, April, and I worked our way through the patients of the day.
As a bonus, at lunchtime Beck and Callie were available to retrieve some really good salads from a new bistro situated a few streets away. We even got Lena to sit and eat with us at the staff table like we were some kind of family. That was a first on a day we weren’t celebrating some holiday.
At least it kept Beck busy until Cooper showed up. He motioned me into my office to talk. “I called pawn shops and secondhand stores all morning. Glad we didn’t just drive around looking. We found Beck’s guitar at Secondhand Salinas. Tug sold it outright for a fraction of its value.”
I accepted the news unhappily. “Aren’t they required to see proof of ownership?”
“The kid had the receipt if you can believe it, and—here’s where it gets weird—he carries an ID in Beck’s name. I guess it looked legit enough. Guy said he wasn’t the first kid to sell a nice guitar for drug money.”
“Or even the hundredth, I’ll bet. Fucking Salinas? That’s two and a half hours away. Does it even make sense to go get it?”
“It’s pricey, so it’s probably pretty special to Beck. Finding it was the good news. The bad news is the guy who bought it paid a fourth of what it’s worth and he’s going to want to sell it for market price.”
“What’s that?”
Cooper winced. “Lots.”
“What’s Beck doing with an instrument like that?”
“It’s hard to put a price on something that feels like one of your limbs.” Cooper’s lips curved upwards slightly. If the gossip was true, Cooper had traveled all over the country on a motorcycle with his expensive violin strapped to his back. “My instrument is a part of me.”
“How much, then? What are we looking at?”
“Maybe two grand.”
“Yikes.” That wasn’t couch change. It also made Tug’s actions grand theft. “Beck needs to contact the police.”
“I can promise you he won’t do that.”
“Why is he that loyal to the dude who stole from him?”
“If he calls the police the instrument becomes evidence. Then there’s no telling when Beck gets it back.”
I let out a sigh. “Can’t we find him one to use in the meantime?”
“Probably.” Cooper didn’t look happy with that solution. “But a guitar like that? It’s precious to him. Nothing else will feel right.”
“Does it have to? Just for the time being, he—”
Cooper shook his head. “Beck’s not just some amateur. There’s real passion and skill and talent there. He could probably get into any music school in the country—even the one that starts with aJthat kicked my ass out for fucking around. His instrument is his voice.”
Ah, musicians and their mysterious touchy-feely ways.
Give me rational, talentless hacks any day.
“All right. Give me the address of this place. Are they at least open late, or do I have to clear my schedule?”
“Till six.”
“Aw, crap.” I checked my watch and sighed. Together, we went to reception. “Lena, what’s on the schedule for the rest of the day?”
“You don’t have anything until five. Mr. Giordino and Muffin for a checkup and vaccinations, then you’ve got an ear recheck, and you’re done.”
“Can you please call them and tell them I have to be out of the office? Reschedule them for tomorrow or the soonest available appointment. I have to take care of something urgently, and I won’t be back until late.”
“Really?” She stared at me like I’d gone mad. Well, I guessed I had if I was planning on driving to Salinas to pick up a guitar some tweaker pawned to the tune of two grand.
