Making His Baby(202)
***
“You sure know how to pick a bar,” Eric jokes, taking in our surroundings. The bar is rowdy and teeming with people who just escaped a long day’s work.
With a grin, I flag down the scantily clad bartender and order two whiskeys, neat.
“I knew you would fit in here,” I tease. “Underdressed women, cheap beer and plenty of lowlifes. Right up your alley.”
Then I clap Eric on the back before we dive into a bit of small talk, catching up.
Eric Mendoza and I were bunkmates during basic training over a decade ago and our sense of kinship had led us to become great friends. The sense of loyalty that grew from friendship had been fostered by our time as SEALs. No matter our differences, we always presented a united front.
“So, tell me why I’m here again,” Eric cuts to the chase.
“I need you to look into a guy for me. Real name is Brian Masner but most people call him Brick. All I know is that he sells life insurance in Ravenwood.”
Eric takes another sip of his beer and eyes me suspiciously.
“Why do you need me? Can’t you do this on your own?” he asks, knowing we have similar backgrounds in investigative work.
“Because he hired me a couple weeks ago.”
“Why are you investigating your client?” he wants to know.
“I need to know if he’s shady.”
Eric laughs, obnoxious and loud.
“Since when has that ever mattered to you? You’re the fucking king of shady.”
I’m irritated by his words, but only because I know he’s right.
Before Grace, I would have completed this assignment three weeks ahead of schedule. I should be kissing a fat bonus check right now for my swift turnaround, but instead I’m here.
“I’ve met the target a few times and something feels off. I wouldn’t feel comfortable turning her over to this guy unless I have solid proof to implicate her.”
Mendoza’s eyes triple in size as soon as I finish the word her. And I know what’s coming before he even opens his mouth.
“Holy shit, you’re trying to protect the target.”
I don’t think about denying it. He’s not entirely wrong. I want to protect Grace until I know for sure. No matter my current field, my predatory instincts always took a backseat to protect those I believed were innocent.
And this case has brought out the protector within me that I often try to conceal.
It’s just not making sense. Grace doesn’t seem like the type to pack up her life and start over without good reason. She’s not exactly living a glamorous life in Holly Hill.
If anything, I think she’s here because it’s safe and she can easily fly under the radar.
“Are you going to help me out on this?” I ask pointedly.
I’m none too thrilled to be asking for help on this, especially since it means admitting that Grace has successfully derailed my original plans. I’m not supposed to care about doing the right thing, that’s Mendoza’s role.
Between the two of us, I’m the bad guy in contrast to his good guy persona. He also has a P.I. firm but everything is on the up and up and it’s a much larger operation than my one-man show. We know our respective lanes and we stay in them without it tainting our friendship or mutual respect.
Mendoza is the only person I trust to be discreet yet thorough about this. He won’t leave any stone unturned and I need that.
“Sure,” he shrugs. “But I’d like to meet this chick. She’s done the impossible.”
“What the fuck are you going on about?” I ask glaring in his direction.
He’s unfazed by my anger and sporting a knowing smile.
“I want to meet the woman who was able to break you.”
“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” I say flagging down the waitress for another round of drinks.
Mendoza leaves the bar an hour later to head home but we agree to meet up next week and discuss his findings.
I’m still at the bar, drinking and dealing with the realization of what I could be sacrificing for Grace.
If I abandon this assignment, I know without a doubt Brick will just hire someone else like me to finish the job and possibly come after me.
“Can I get you another drink, sweetheart?” the bartender’s husky voice breaks up my thoughts and I look at her over the rim of my glass.
She’s been annoyingly attentive all evening and it’s only gotten worse since Mendoza left.
I admire her slim build and simple features. She’s not unattractive. But she isn’t Grace, either.
Ms. Bartender’s tits are average sized, large enough to palm. And her lips are tinted with red lipstick, while her blonde hair is cut to frame her face.