Chapter 21
Investigating
~~Drakos~~
We lost the next game in Colorado. We’re down three to two. We play tonight at home. If we win, the final game is played in Colorado.
Kirby is unusually dejected. He’s blaming himself as he was the defender on the last goal and missed blocking the shot. He’s been despondent ever since the team plane landed yesterday. This morning he shuffles out of his room and slumps onto the couch, staring at the wall. I sit next to him.
“You okay?” The irony of me asking Kirby if he’s okay isn’t lost on me. Kirby’s the one who’s always offering advice and lecturing us on the power of positivity. It’s time I gave some of his advice back to him.
“We had that one, and I let the team down.”
He didn’t let the team down. We all let one another down.
After all, we are a team. We led two to zero three minutes into the third quarter and Colorado caught us slacking off.
They came back with three unanswered points.
The last one happened to be on Kirby’s watch, but the rest of us fucked up too and contributed.
“It was a team effort. We’re all responsible for that loss. We’ll get them tonight.”
“Yeah, we will.” He doesn’t sound convinced.
“File that one away as history. Can’t change the outcome, but we can affect our next game. We just have to believe and not play the blame game.”
“You’re throwing my words back at me.”
“Damn straight.” My answer draws a chuckle from Kirby.
We’re both quiet for a long moment. Kirby gives me one of those appraising looks that make me nervous. “I heard you and Aria made out in the hallway at the Pizza Zone a few nights ago.”
“We didn’t make out.” I’m going to strangle Banger for spreading a rumor like that.
“Then what do you call it when your tongues are down each other’s throats?”
“Hey, you know me. I’m a horndog. She’s an attractive woman. Since when don’t I jump on an opportunity when it’s presented to me?”
He’s thoughtful for a moment before he shakes his head. “It’s more than that. You’ve developed an interest in her nephew.”
“I’ve helped out kids before. Nothing unusual.”
“Not like this. You have a personal interest. That’s not normal behavior for you.”
“You’ve only known me two years. How do you know what’s normal?”
Kirby sits back and rubs his chin, something he does when he’s carefully considering what words to use. “I see things.”
“I know,” I say wryly, and resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“There’s a connection between you and the boy that goes beyond your normal interactions with others, especially kids.”
“How so?” I’m intrigued to hear his response because I can’t explain what’s going on in my head. Maybe someone on the outside looking in sees things more clearly.
“You never let your guard down. Never open yourself up to getting close. Yet you’re doing both with that boy and his aunt.”
“I am not.”
“Oh, you are. Trust me, you are.” Kirby snorts.
His accusation crawls under my skin and festers like an infected wound.
I’m torn because on some level I know he’s right.
I’m showing an unusual interest in those two, especially considering all Aria has done to me.
I should wash my hands of them both, but I can’t.
If anything, I’m finding excuses to be around them.
“I feel sorry for a kid without parents. I know what that feels like.”
“And what does that feel like?” Kirby presses, well aware I don’t talk about my private life. I’m a mystery when it comes to my life beyond this country.
“My entire family was wiped out when our house was bombed in the Ukrainian war. My parents, grandparents, and sister—all gone.”
Kirby stares in utter shock. For all his perceptive abilities, he doesn’t expect this. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. You hide your grief well.”
“Yeah, sometimes too well.”
He scrutinizes me in that way only he has. “I didn’t pick up on it.” I suspect he’s disturbed by his lack of perception when it comes to my family. “How long ago?”
“A few years.”
“I’m humbled that you chose to tell me about such a traumatic part of your life.”
I shrug.
“Your interest in Noah is starting to make more sense. There’s something about that boy and you…I can’t put my finger on it, but I will.” Kirby’s lost in thought as if trying to work out what’s troubling him about Noah.
“I wish to hell I knew because I feel the same way.”
“What’re you going to do about it?”
“I’m meeting with Michella after morning skate.”
“You’re going to investigate Aria and Noah?” Kirby incorrectly guesses.
“No, Aria’s sister. I want to know who Noah’s father is.”
“Why? Why get involved more than you are? Aria won’t appreciate your meddling.”
“Tell me about it. I have to do this—for Noah.”
“Tread lightly. You may not like what you find out.”
I grimace and manage a wry smile. He could be right.
A few hours later, I pull into a parking spot outside of Gone Missing Detective Agency.
I’ve contemplated hiring them for days now, and I’m going to do it.
There’s something going on that I don’t completely understand, but I’m determined to dredge up Aria’s secrets, even if I don’t like the results.
My instincts aren’t honed like Kirby’s, but I know she’s hiding something.
I enter the office, which is in an old building in downtown Portland. Michella greets me.
“Drakos, what brings you here?”
“I need you to research something for me, but it has to be kept quiet.”
“Who?” Carla enters the conversation. I’ve piqued her curiosity.
“Aria Reed. But more specifically her sister Anna and her sister’s son.”
“Noah?” Michella eyes me suspiciously, but I haven’t a clue what I’ve said that makes her suspicious.
“Yeah, Noah.”
“Why are you interested in them?” Carla asks. She frowns with disapproval, which concerns me. What’s her problem?
“I’m only trying to help her.”
“In what way?” Carla’s a PI, and she’s definitely working on deciphering my motives. I can’t blame her. Digging up info on an adult is one thing, but a child is different.
“To be honest, I want to find his deadbeat dad and force him to pay child support. Aria and Noah shouldn’t suffer financially while he walks away from all responsibility.”
Michella and Carla exchange glances. I stay quiet, fearing they’ll turn me down, which means I’m on my own.
Michella finally speaks. “She’s not getting child support?”
“Nothing.”
“Does Aria know who the father is?”
“I think so but not sure.”
“Why doesn’t she go after him?”
I shrug. I can’t answer that one any more than I can answer why an aunt rather than a father has custody of him.
“Aria’s working with Gardenia on investigating her father’s death, and so are we. This might be a conflict of interests.” Michella exchanges a glance with Carla.
“Are you paying her?”
“No, Gardenia is.” Carla’s reluctance to get involved is obvious.
“Then I don’t see the conflict.” I’m pushing them, but I don’t have a choice.
“This really isn’t any of your business, unless—” Michella lets that sentence hang.
“It’s not like that between us,” I rush to clarify.
“Then how is it?”
“I’m fond of the kid, and I want the best for him. If Aria won’t go after the dad, I will.”
“I don’t think it’s wise. You should mind your own business. That being said. If you’re sure you want to investigate them, I’ll do it,” Michella says. “If you don’t have a problem, Carla? You’re doing the bulk of the work on Gardenia’s case anyway.”
“I don’t like it, but what you do in your spare time is up to you.”
“Then you’ll help me?” I smile at Michella, and she nods.
I know she doesn’t like Aria much. No one associated with the team does except Gardenia.
She’s probably salivating at finding dirt on Aria considering all the mud she’s slung at the team these past two seasons.
I know Aria went hard at Briggs when she first came to Portland.
“I will. I’ll need all the info you have.”
“I already compiled it.” I produce a folder with what little I know about Aria, her sister, and Noah, which is minimal.
She skims the single sheet of notes. “This isn’t much to go on.”
“I know,” I say apologetically.
“I’ll do what I can.”
Carla stands as a hint for me to leave, and I do so.
I drive away from Gone Missing and arrive early at the arena.
I clear my mind of thoughts of Aria and Noah and concentrate on the game.
We can’t lose this one. I’m not ready to end the season, but then, what hockey player is?
We’ve come further than anyone outside of Portland dreamed possible.
The pundits all predicted we’d lose in four straight games.
That’s how certain they were of the lack of talent on our team.
What we lack in superstars, we make up for in sheer grit and teamwork.
We’re playing as a team. No show boaters or guys thinking only of their stats.
Even our most selfish players are playing for the team not themselves.