Chapter 4 #2
“Best reporter in town, because she had the inside scoop. I didn’t realize at first, thought it was coincidence or that she was just that good at her job. Then the coincidences got too frequent, and I noticed how she’d subtly needle me for details about cases.
“She was my girlfriend. I never thought I had to say ‘off the record’. When I called her on it, she didn’t even try to defend herself, just shrugged like it was no big deal, like I was overreacting.
It had gotten bad enough that IA was asking questions.
Everyone at the precinct already hated me. I had to quit.
“Steve tried talking me out of it, so did my dad, but I needed to live my life without a shadow hanging over me. Not Dad’s, not Steve’s, and not Liv’s. Not yours either, coz don’t think your career change helped any. I don’t need to be used by anyone else.”
Andrew hadn’t meant to get so visceral. He had needed relief the other day, and he’d planned to ask for more, but he had no illusions about how a tryst with Ford would end. Even if Ford’s business was on the level, he’d still use this team-up to get what he wanted from Andrew, and then leave again.
Ford remained serious, though, as he leaned toward him. “It’s not using if we both want and enjoy it. Unless you start liking me too much,” he finished with a grin.
He was impossible—because Andrew already liked him too much.
“Aren’t you two cozier than expected,” came a sharp voice that prompted Andrew to lurch away from Ford.
“Doctor Vallancourt,” he all but squeaked at the sight of her stepping out of the same shadows Ford had materialized from earlier. There had to be a door back there.
“Andrew,” she said, smiling congenially, “I have asked you repeatedly to call me ‘Eliza’.”
The tension faded; apparently, she did like him.
Eliza Vallancourt was a striking woman, with poise and strength of character, greying hair that was neatly bobbed, and fierce blue eyes almost as mesmerizing as Ford’s.
“You, however,” she shifted to Ford with frosty disapproval, “despite my respect for your son, may call me Doctor.”
Andrew snorted.
“I assume you’ll be informing your brother of this. We’ve had several chats since the break-in.”
“Uhh… I might leave out the team-up part. He isn’t a big fan of Ford’s and doesn’t know Dalton is his son. I’m glad you’re so understanding about his background though.”
“Understanding has nothing to do with it. I want to protect my investments, which includes Dalton. If you’re the man to help accomplish that, Mr. Ford,” she returned to him, the table the only barrier between their matching stares, “so be it. It would be unfortunate if you didn’t care about your son’s future here, but I get the impression that won’t be a problem. ”
“My firm is on the level,” Ford said, possibly contemplating how to push Vallancourt’s boundaries but thinking better of it, reminded that this was his son’s boss. “And I expect to be handsomely compensated for my time.”
“If you’re successful. Consultation is without pay, Mr. Ford. Bring me a proposal on how to update my security, and we’ll draw a contract. Help catch the thief, and I’ll make the deal more interesting. Andrew,” she concluded and headed out the way she’d come in.
At least they had the job if they could prove they were worth it.
“Does she know you’re the one who put me away?” Ford asked.
“Maybe. I don’t know her that well, but she doesn’t leave much to chance. When Dalton suggested us working together, she probably looked into it. Are you sure he hasn’t?”
“He promised he wouldn’t. Said he’d rather wear me down to tell him about my past myself.”
“So, why don’t you? He already knows you’re Artifice.”
“You never proved—”
“We could just tell him—”
“And explain why we lied in the beginning by admitting what? Unless you want him to find out about us fucking around, as you put it. Or would you really prefer that part ends?”
Andrew felt warm all over just from the power of Ford’s stare. He shouldn’t give in, not again, but he couldn’t stop wondering what that ‘next time’ might be like.
“That magnet is two-hundred times stronger than anything in a 100-mile radius.”
“No way!”
Andrew lurched backward far more swiftly than he had when Vallancourt came in, but before Dalton and Kevin could return fully, he subtly shook his head. He didn’t want it to end.
Ford grinned.
“Dude,” Kevin said good-naturedly when they reached the table, each carrying several documents and pieces of equipment, “the universe has almost made up for creating you,” he pointed at Ford, “by creating him. Kid Cunning is awesome!”
“Don’t call him that,” Ford growled.
“Artifice Junior then? I’m partial to Guile too.”
“Lopez—”
Andrew’s phone buzzed in his pocket.
A second later, Ford’s did too.
It was obvious they’d received similar messages once Andrew read his—one of his police notifications for anything related to his business.
Burglary in progress.
He and Ford eyed each other with a touch of their usual evasiveness.
“While working together, why don’t we agree on an honor system,” Andrew said. “We share everything we find out until this case is over. For Dalton.”
“Riley got an alert about a robbery,” Ford relented. “It seems the MO was like our mystery thief, but when they tried to leave, they tripped an alarm. After all these break-ins, they hit in the middle of the day and finally messed up.”
“All these break-ins?” Dalton repeated. “You mean this thief has struck before?”
So much for keeping it a secret. “Sorry, Dalton,” Andrew said, “The police have been keeping it under wraps, and Steve was being kind of a jerk about it yesterday. But it’s not my fault if you found out from someone else. The thief’s gone though, huh?” He turned to Ford.
“Just tripped the alarm, which means they could still be in the area.” That grin on Ford’s face was dangerous.
“The police—”
“Will take too long. We’re closer than the nearest precinct. The place that was hit is between here and my offices.”
“Are you suggesting…”
Ford shrugged when Andrew trailed off.
“Go! You might get a lead!” Dalton encouraged them.
They could beat the police. Andrew wasn’t an investigator anymore, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t dabble, as long as he didn’t get in their way. And it would be so satisfying to rub a win in Steven’s face.
“Go!” Kevin agreed. “I’ll stay with Dalton. We can figure out a time to meet later.”
If even Kevin was okay with this, Andrew wouldn’t wait for further deliberation.
He and Ford shared one more calculating look, and then bolted for the elevator.