3. Chapter 2
Chapter 2
AJ
A fter the officers released me, I drove to work. Great, now I’m fucking late . Resisting the urge to speed, I drove exactly five over the speed limit. I'd never been late before and hated that the first time was because of something out of my control. I typed the code to the security gate too fast and missed a digit. Swearing, I punched in the code slower, but with more force. If anyone was looking at the video feed, I’d never hear the end of it.
I grabbed my bag and forced myself to walk calmly to the door. No point in running now.
I didn’t make it three steps into the lobby before I got called out.
“You’re late, Janerek.” John’s voice boomed across the lobby. John Sheppard, the patriarch portion of Sheppard but only John intimidated me.
“Sorry, sir,” I said as I worked up the nerve to tell him why. Should I tell him everything? Maybe he won’t ask .
“Care to tell me why?” he asked, his tone not changing, his face an emotionless mask.
Of course, he asked. I relaxed against the wall, swallowed my pride and said, “It’s kind of a funny story. I’d just pulled out of the convenience store when I noticed Weatherford’s finest, lights flashing, pulling up behind me. Another squad approached from the front.” By now, Jamie, Jack, and Doug had come into the lobby to listen. Might as well make it worth their time. Hamming it up, I drawled, “Now, I’m no idiot-”
“Who told you that?” Jaden, the youngest Sheppard and newest addition to SSI, asked as he joined us.
I squinted at him and continued, “So, I pulled over, got out, and put my hands on my head.” I wouldn’t usually do that, but they gave the command over the squad PA.
“Why were your hands on your head?” Maxwell, our only female PI, asked as she joined the group.
Ignoring her question, I continued.
Meg, Jack’s wife and SSI receptionist, bent over with one hand covering her mouth. At least someone thinks I’m funny .
“Luckily, one of the officers recognized me.” I pretended I didn’t hear the choked laughter in the room. “Apparently, some college chick called the cops and reported a scary guy with a gun, and gave them my plate number. Who does that?” I raised my hands in disbelief.
Seriously, this is fucking Texas. Who freaks out when they see a holstered gun?
“Oh my God.” Jack said as he bent over, holding his gut. Jaden, who everyone called Jay, was openly cackling while he pointed at me. Jamie and Doug were more reserved, but no less entertained. Maxwell shook her head and rolled her eyes, her laugh more a huff.
The left side of John’s lip lifted as his amber eyes sparkled.
He knew. What the fuck! If he knew, why the show?
He punked me? Never in a million years would I have expected that.
“I got a call from Officer Sanders, he wanted me to know one of my guys was terrorizing tourists.”
Terrorizing ? “What the fuck?” I half laughed, half barked. It wasn’t bad enough it had happened, but Weatherford PD called John? The price I paid for moving to a small town where everyone knows everyone. Hell, John and Jamie had both been local cops before starting SSI.
“That explains why she called the cops. No Texan would have,” Jamie said.
“Dude, what’d you do to scare her?” Jay asked.
I bought some fucking batteries. I didn’t have time to answer before Meg piped up, her attempt to hold in her laughter a complete failure, “It’s okay AJ, it could’ve happened to anyone.”
“It’s never happened to me, and I lived in Chicago.” Doug said, making everyone bust out laughing again. Except Maxwell, she just shook her head in disbelief. She was still getting used to the vibe here after working at the FBI for the last three years. We weren’t half as stiff or formal as her former co-workers.
“Not helpful, Sharpe.” I glared at him. I’ll never hear the end of this.
“Alright, that’s enough terrorizing AJ for the day,” John said, earning more laughs by emphasizing the word terrorizing. “Let’s get back to work.”
When did John get a sense of humor? That wasn’t accurate; I’d seen him tease Jamie, Jack, and Meg, but that made sense—they were family.
I poured a cup of coffee before following Jack to his office. He didn’t bother waiting until I sat to give me shit.
“Leave it to you to scare a tourist,” he said as he opened his laptop.
“Shit way to start the day.” I admitted.
“At least it’s Friday and you have the weekend off.”
“Amen to that, Brother.” I lifted my coffee mug. Weekends off were a luxury in our line of work. As private investigators who also provided personal protection details, we worked more weekends than not. I was single and loved my job, so I didn’t mind.
“Any fun plans?” Jack asked.
“I might see if Ashley’s free.”
Jack laughed.
“She’s not,” he looked up from his screen, “she’ll be with Meg and Emily.” Emily was Jamie’s fiancé. She and Ashley had been friends since grade school, and had welcomed Meg into their inner circle with open arms.
If Ashley and I were dating, I’d be worried about the potential for disaster given her relationship with Emily and Meg. But we weren’t. We hooked up once in a while; neither of us wanted anything more.
“Good to know. You busy?” I asked.
“I told Meg I’d paint the spare room this weekend. Want to help?”
“Sure. I’ll expect my usual fee.”
“Beer and pizza?”
“Beer and pizza.”
“You’re still a cheap date, Janerek.”
“Maybe, but I won’t put out for anything less than lobster and champagne.”
“Get back to work,” he ordered with a laugh.
“Yes, sir.” I saluted him as I walked out. You’d think it’d be weird working for my best friend, but thankfully, it wasn’t an issue.