Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
“I’m fine, doc, you said so yourself. I’ll take it easy the rest of the night, but I have to go in at noon. If I don’t, my buddy Rob’s going to miss his niece’s christening.”
“Tell Rob to get someone else to cover. Someone who didn’t suck enough smoke to catch a ride with the paramedics,” the doctor advised.
“But—”
“Rory,” I said, a warning in my tone, “if you keep talking back, he can keep you overnight for observation. Would you like that better?”
“Listen to your nurse, go home and get some rest,” the doctor told him. “You were lucky tonight. Don’t take it for granted.” He left to see about the other patients and I was left with Rory.
“Jules, come on,” he said, “you know I’m tough. I’ll be fine.”
“You have not changed one bit,” I said rolling my eyes.
“You sure have, shortcake,” he said, looking me up and down. I was in purple scrubs, loose and comfy, but I still probably looked better than the last time he saw me. I handed him the discharge papers to sign.
“You better behave yourself. You can only be the hotshot hero if you’re not toe-up in the morgue. Drink some water, watch some ESPN highlights and take the day off.”
“I’ll be good. I swear. Scout’s honor,” he said, saluting.
“You were never a Boy Scout. They would’ve kicked you out for pranking everybody at camp,” I said.
“Fair enough,” he said, “Hey, you’re coming to Dad and Mom’s for the barbecue, right? Labor Day?”
“Kendall already invited me. If I’m not scheduled to work that day, I’ll drop by.”
“You should. It’s been way too long,” he said.
I wrapped up Rory’s paperwork and bid him a good day after repeating the doctor’s instructions. Once I confirmed that he was okay, my heart rate should have gone back to normal, but the sight of him sitting there with his shirt flayed open was doing things to me.
I quickly excused myself and got back to work.
2
DARREN
“He’d like you to join them in his office now,” my father’s secretary said. I nodded and went in.
The wood-paneled office was just as spacious and intimidating as when I was a kid, but it had been recently redecorated to resemble a gentleman’s hunting lodge rather than a 1990-era forest green fake library which was how I remembered it best. Now there were antlers on the wall.
My dad was an hour into a meeting with one of his elite clients, a man who was updating his portfolio. They were talking, about some fundraiser the guy had coming up. It took me a minute to place him—a state Senator I’d met a time or two through the firm.
“I’ve had some emails, my personal account you understand, not through the capital server. Threats, that sort of thing. Not just the usual extortion attempts, but threats of harm to my wife and myself. It’s unsettling to say the least. I retained a security firm at once, but with this high-profile event coming up…it was my wife’s suggestion. She remembers when your son got her out of the way when that crazy person drove into the church picnic last fall.”
The senator cleared his throat, “We’d feel safer if we could retain your son’s services for that evening.”
“Certainly. Darren, you remember Senator Donovan. He’s had some bother over a construction development proposal that’s up for a vote. Would you mind joining his family for the gala next, what was it? Tuesday evening?”
“I’d be glad to, Senator.”
“I appreciate it, and we’ll be happy to compensate you. Ruth has been skittish about public appearances ever since that picnic.”
“I’ll be there. Just have your office let us know the time and place,” I assured him.
“Ever since his time in the Marines, my boy here has been an expert at melting into the background. He’s the most observant man I’ve ever known, I’m proud to say. Nothing gets past Darren here,” my father said.
They chatted a few more minutes, but I knew my part was finished. I’d rent a tux, show up at some society affair, and stand around being bored shitless for three or four hours and then cash a check that most people would be glad to see for a month of work. When they were through, I shook hands with the senator and showed him out. Back in my dad’s office, he thanked me.
“I know you thought at first it was an unusual arrangement, hiring you as security to do per diem for select clients. But I can’t tell you what a help it’s been. The confidentiality inherent to investment advisement lends itself to being told personal difficulties, and in some cases, having an in-house security person is just the solution.”
“Good to hear,” I said, uncomfortable with the unnecessary praise. I excused myself to check if the encryption measures had finished updating on the mainframe. I handled the cybersecurity for the office as well, and still didn’t have enough to keep me halfway busy.