Chapter 1 Not-So-Accidental Encounter #2
He didn’t mention the security cameras dotting the walls and ceiling, which were a testament of modern technology.
A.J. was tempted to wave at them, certain that every breath he took was being recorded.
Directly in front of them stretched an old mahogany counter.
Once upon a time, post office clerks had manned each window.
Instead, they stood empty, serving merely as an elegant barrier between the entry foyer and the cubicle offices beyond it.
“You said we.” A.J. latched onto the word, wondering if it had been a slip of the tongue on the part of his tour guide. “Were you part of the construction crew, then?” He already knew that wasn’t the case, but he couldn’t resist teasing the guy.
“Close enough.” Decker smirked. “As one of the owners, I had to be on site nearly 24/7 for parts of the renovation. Believe me, I’ve done everything from mopping floors to scrubbing toilets.”
The only reason A.J. could think of for why the guy hadn’t revealed that detail sooner was that he was watching A.J. as closely as A.J. was watching him, probably to figure out how much A.J. already knew about him and his company.
He counted off the number of hats Decker Kingston wore, wondering what game he was up to.
“Councilman, tour guide, co-owner of a security company, and occasional janitor.” Plus, his wife owned and operated Modello’s.
Modello’s was a boutique located in the heart of the business district that showcased some surprisingly exclusive lines of clothing from Paris and Milan.
Surprising for such a small town, that is.
“Did I leave anything out, Mr. Kingston?”
“Just call me Decker.” Decker Kingston looked amused as he led A.J.
through the maze of cubicles. He jokingly referred to them as the bullpen, since they housed Lonestar’s team of bodyguards and security personnel—an unsmiling crew that watched A.J.
with the expressionless suspicion that came with the job.
“The only items you left out were dog owner and proud father of a toddler. Got another kid on the way, too,” he added proudly.
Wow! Must be nice. “Congratulations.” Envy stabbed A.J.
, widening the ache in his chest that he’d learned to live with.
He’d lost his wife to heart disease shortly after they were married.
Since they’d been unaware of her condition, her heart attack had come without warning, spelling out a lonely career for him in the military.
He’d never remarried, so he’d never gotten to experience the joys of fatherhood.
“Thank you.” Decker marched them down a long marble hallway behind the bullpen. They arrived at an enormous office, complete with its own coffee bar and conference table. Decker jovially waved A.J. toward it.
The guy lived like a king within the walls of the building, convincing A.J. more than ever that their encounter outside the food truck was no accident. He took a seat, still sipping on his coffee, as he waited for his host to reveal why he’d bothered tracking him down.
Decker moved to his desk to toss his Stetson onto it. Then he joined A.J. at the conference table, straddling the chair across from him. His features abruptly grew serious. “I’d like to hire you, A.J. May I call you that?”
Here we go. A.J. set his cup of coffee on the table and leaned closer to Decker.
“Yes, I answer to A.J., but I’ll pass on the job offer.
I’m retired.” He was interested, but he didn’t want to appear too eager.
The fact he was still seated was the only satisfaction he gave the guy to indicate he was still listening.
Decker didn’t look the least bit discouraged by his words. “I think we both know the only job you’re retired from is the military. As for my offer, it only makes sense for us to work together while you’re in town.” His voice took on a warning edge.
A.J. held back a chuckle. “Whatever you think you know about me—”
“I know you earned two Purple Hearts and nearly lost your life in service to your country,” Decker interrupted coolly. “Plus, you’re the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest award given by the United States Army.”
The way he stressed the word second grated on A.J.
’s nerves. It was a sore point with him.
Not that he cared about personal accolades, but a certain three-star general had campaigned hard against him behind closed doors to sabotage his chances of being awarded the Medal of Honor.
The aggrieved general was A.J.’s father-in-law, a man who’d wrongfully blamed A.J.
’s many absences from home as the main contributor to the loss of his wife.
It wasn’t true, but there was nothing A.J. could do about it.
He nodded grimly to acknowledge that Decker had done his homework.
“Like you said, I’ve earned my retirement.
” He pushed back his chair and scooped up his cup of coffee, suddenly longing for fresh air.
“Thanks for the tour.” It was a calculated risk, since he was ninety-nine percent sure the guy would stop him.
Getting on board a company like Lonestar Security would be crucial to the success of A.J.
’s investigation on the streets of Heart Lake.
“Just hear me out.” Decker stood.
A.J. paused in mid-pivot toward the door.
“A whole squad of fellow policemen had your back while you were in the service.” His prospective employer spread his hands.
“All I’m asking is that you let us have your back now, Colonel.
I think it’s safe to say you wouldn’t be in town if there wasn’t a pack of trouble brewing.
” It was the first time he’d used A.J.’s military title.
“And anytime there’s trouble brewing in Heart Lake, it’s my business.
Our business,” he corrected, waving vaguely at the walls to include the rest of his employees.
“Like you, Lonestar Security does contract work for the police. We even have a retired sheriff on staff. In fact, we’re the first place the local police department turns every time they need more hands on deck. ”
Now that was more like what A.J. had been hoping to hear.
He gave Decker a searching look as he lifted his cup to take another sip of coffee.
“Couple of days ago, I agreed to work one shift a week at the auto body shop down the street.” Like barbershops, auto body shops were a hotbed of local news—some true, some not true.
Spending time at places like that was crucial for a newcomer in town to keep a finger on the pulse of what was happening around them.
Decker’s shoulders relaxed. “We can work around that.”
“Plus, I’m already on a case.” It was another nonnegotiable item.
“Figured that.” Decker didn’t so much as blink.
“Fortunately, we have an attorney on staff. I’m sure you and he can work out the particulars of some sort of co-op between us and you involving your current case.
I’ve already given him the green light to compensate you at the highest rate we can afford. ”
A.J. mentally shrugged off the man’s offer of legal services.
An in-house attorney would only serve the interests of the house.
He preferred to use his own attorney for stuff like that.
“I’m sure we can work something out.” He honestly didn’t care what they paid him.
The only reason he demanded top dollar was to discourage the folks who shouldn’t be bothering him in the first place.
“Excellent!” Decker held out a hand.
A.J. shook his hand. “That’s the shortest interview I’ve ever sat through.”
Decker grinned. “And we’re no longer even sitting.”
A.J. cocked his head thoughtfully, watching the guy’s expression. “A job offer you made before knowing anything about the case I’m working on.”
“I have some ideas.” Decker rocked back on the heels of his boots, looking shrewd. “Technically, they weren’t my ideas. The sheriff of Heart Lake happens to be acquainted with the sheriff of Pinetop, and you know what they say about the way news travels in small towns.”
“Yep.” Apparently, news could travel just as quickly between small towns.
“He tipped us off that you were heading our way,” Decker continued, “and highly recommended we hire you.”
“So much for keeping a low profile, eh?” The sheriff of Pinetop had thoroughly blown A.J.’s cover. He’d be sure to call and thank the guy later.
“I know, right?” Grinning, Decker waved his hands to coax A.J.
back to the conference table. “Which begs another question. What are the odds that both the lead deputy and top private investigator on a jewel heist case in Pinetop would move to Heart Lake at the same time?” His gaze narrowed at A.J.
“When our sheriff asked about it, Sheriff Skelton wasn’t very forthcoming. ”
Bring us to the real reason for your job offer.
The police were bound by strict rules and regulations about the information they could and could not pass on about an ongoing investigation, but A.J.
was no longer bound by the same red tape.
That was why Decker had tracked him down.
Still, it wouldn’t be wise for A.J. to share everything he knew up front.
Since the deputy they were discussing had secured a position at the Heart Lake Police Department, A.J.
needed to first ensure the guy didn’t have allies embedded there.
One couldn’t be too careful when dealing with the chief suspect in one’s current investigation.
A.J. would also need to rule out the involvement of those employed by Lonestar Security, another benefit of coming to work for them. If A.J. had learned anything in his many years in law enforcement, it was to trust no one before properly vetting them.