37 Brandon
Brandon
A few months later
Brandon isn’t quite sure how he got roped into this.
Sure, he still works the night shift, so his days are free, but Ian could have moved their hours around.
And it’s really unfair to leave Brandon unpacking Ollie’s new office alone so Ollie can keep his dog-walking job.
You can’t be a dog walker and a detective at the same time, right?
But apparently Ollie is trying it. He’s rented this little apartment at the bottom of a brownstone.
And Brandon, apparently, is his secretary, because he’s minding the office—for no pay—while Ollie is out walking the dogs.
It’s a ridiculous idea; he shouldn’t be encouraging Ollie, much less working for him for free—though maybe sitting at a desk and playing on his phone isn’t work exactly.
brANDON
Remind me again why I agreed to do this?
NICOLE
Because you’re a pushover
IAN
Are you crying again?
NICOLE
No
IAN
Then why are you on your phone?
NICOLE
I genuinely had to pee
OLLIE
You’re doing it because you love me!
Brandon minding my office I mean, not Nicole peeing
IAN
We assumed
OLLIE
I mean maybe you don’t want a UTI because you know I’d hate that for you
NICOLE
Can we stop talking about my bladder?
brANDON
What else should we talk about?
NICOLE
Your ex was on the news. Terrorism charges.
brANDON
Ugh, no I don’t want to talk about Jon
IAN
Connor
brANDON
Whatever
We can talk about why Ian has been getting home late recently
IAN
A girl should be allowed some secrets
OLLIE
Ooooh, a new boyfriend?
IAN
No
Shut up
NICOLE
Oh no, you really like him
IAN
I demand another topic change!
OLLIE
We should plan our next game night
brANDON
Oh yes and Ian can bring their new boyfriend
IAN
Absolutely not
But I’m okay with game night
As long as it’s just us
Let’s keep the chaos low
NICOLE
You think just us will keep the chaos low?
Brandon laughs. There’s a knock on the door. Brandon puts the phone down, staring at the door, which doesn’t open.
“Um, yes?” he asks.
“Is this the DW Agency?”
“Yes.” It was a terrible name, but Ollie thought it was funny—Dog Walker. “You can come in.”
Brandon leans back, trying to look professional. It would be wild if Ollie, unlicensed investigator—which it turns out is legal, somehow, according to Ollie’s mom—actually got a client.
“I need some help,” the voice says as the door opens.
And then a beautiful man walks in.