“Wow. Amazing. It works.” She turns the water on and off.
“Okay, smart ass. I could-” My words are smothered in kisses.
When she stops, her eyes are merry. “Just kidding. I love it. I really do. And… now that you’re done… Do you want to do some detective work?”
I’d much rather go upstairs, make love, and fall asleep with her in my arms but again, she’s right. We should make a few bucks and pay a few bills.
I place my large pipe wrench out of the way then wash my hands. “Who’re we spying on?”
“Mr. Nardo.”
“I’ll drive.”
Much later, we sit in my SUV in front of a cheap hotel, while whores and their johns come and go. The place must rent by the hour.
“There he is.” Sam points out a balding man with a big beer belly.
I focus my telephoto lens and take a few shots of the cheating husband. Nardo’s got his arm around a woman. She’s about his age but dressed in a miniskirt and high boots.
Sam leans back into her seat and yawns. “We probably should get a few pictures of them leaving, as well.”
“Agreed.” After a bit, I glance over and broach the subject bothering me since Christmas. “Do you think you might like to come south with me? Meet my parents?”
“Of course! Why wouldn’t I?” She beams as if I asked her to Disneyland which is all kinds of wrong.
“It might not be all that… ah… shit, sugar. It’s complicated.”
“How so?” She holds my hand in the dark while I try to find the right words.
“Hmm… I guess I told you how my mom fooled around. Then, there was the divorce, my father left the service, and he wanted me to have a stable home. For a while, it was only my sister, him and me. Those were the good days. Then, he met my stepmom.” At the thought of her, my mouth purses as if biting into a big ol’ lemon.
“She can’t be all bad.” Sam squeezes my hand.
I shake my head. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you and whatever you do, stay clear of any religious discussions.”
“I could say I was a devil worshipper.”
“Same as being Catholic in her mind.” She thinks I’m kidding but I’m not. “Whatever you do, don’t agree to go to church with them.”
“Noted.” Her brows raise, still laughing and damned if I can make her understand I’m being serious.
“If we’re going to be family, you should be aware of what you’re getting into.”
She snickers. “It can’t be any worse than my uncle Vinny.” Yawning, she puts her head on my shoulder and I give up trying to explain my fucked up family.
“I’ll keep watch if you want to take a nap.”
“Maybe in a minute. I forgot to tell you. Dana Springfield sent us a check. We officially have another client.”
“He should’ve known better than to marry her. I’ll never watch that show again.”
“Nice to know. Otherwise I might need to divorce you.”
“We’re not married.”
“I could kidnap you, fly you to Las Vegas, marry you, andthendivorce you.”
She snickers. “Duly noted. Anyhow, I logged into his wife’s phone and my electronics almost melted at the heat. Too bad sexting is not proof of infidelity. She’d be toast.”
