“I’ll try not to, Chris.”
I walkinto the backyard and look around, squinting behind my sunglasses. My mind is in a million places, and none of them is this birthday party.
Jack Sanders, Nate Carson, and Ian Murray are really good friends of mine, and they run a security company here in Nashville called Nash Security. They’re a bunch of great guys, even if they’re the ones who forget I don’t practice criminal law anymore. I’ve received more than one call from them over the last few years, asking for my help.
I guess they don’t have to worry about you not practicing anymore.
Jack’s cousin is the one throwing the party for her husband, Tim. He’s a good guy, and we’ve played golf more than once, so I feel somewhat obligated to attend.
Normally, I would’ve canceled.
After chatting with a few people, including Tim and his wife, I grab a beer and join Jack and the other guys from Nash Security, along with their wives.
“Hey, Chris. How are ya? You ditched us the other night when we asked you to meet up for some drinks,” Nate, who’s one of the original owners of Nash with Jack, says with a scowl. His arm is wrapped around his wife, Olive.
I sigh. I can’t really remember why I didn’t go, but I’m sure I had a good reason. “Yeah, man. Shit’s been busy.”
Ian smirks. “I heard something this morning.”
While Jack and Nate started the company, Ian was their first employee. He’s busted his ass right alongside the two of them, and I was happy to hear they made him the third owner. His wife, Maggie, is by his side. Ian is kind of an asshole, but unfortunately, a likable one.
I should’ve known Carlos would snitch on me. But the speed at which he did is impressive. “You talk to Carlos?”
Ian nods, still smirking. “He said that you might be stepping back into defense work.”
I didn’t really want to discuss it yet. My jaw muscles tic. “I’m considering it.”
“Well, shit.” Ian laughs. “I guess the retainer I paid you won’t go to waste. Not that I ever doubted you’d come through if I needed you.”
“Wait,” Maggie pipes up. “Why would you need Chris? And when did you pay him a retainer?”
Ian hugs Maggie to his side and kisses the top of her head. “Don’t worry about it, Mags.”
Maggie tries to push away from him, arguing that he needs to tell her.
I take a sip of his beer and clear my expression. Ian sent me money a while back; for what, I have no idea. Nor do I really want to know.
“Well, this has been super fun catching up. I’ll see all of you later.” I start to turn, but stop and look at the youngest of the group and the guy I know the least—Jack’s cousin, Tyler. “Tyler, if you’re ever in trouble, don’t be like your friends here. Call someone else who isn’t me, got it?”
He stares at me in confusion. “Uh, okay. No problem.”
With that, I leave the party. I need to go see the one person who I can talk to about all of this.
It isn’t long before I’m seated in the sterile, nondescript room, waiting. I’m pulling the deck of cards out of my bagwhen the door opens. The guard gives me a nod before turning to the man entering the room behind him and unlocking the shackles.
My eyebrows pinch. “Is that really necessary, Barry?” I mutter, unable to hold back my annoyance.
Barry turns back to me and claps the prisoner on his shoulder with a grin. “Gotta make it look good. Have fun, guys. Text me when you’re done.” Barry leaves with the other guard who stayed in the hallway, and the door slams shut behind him.
Tom stares at the door before frowning back at me. “You know you could just come see me during normal visiting hours.”
I shrug as I start shuffling the cards, jutting my chin toward the chair across the table from me. “Those hours don’t work for me. And I don’t always like sitting in the common area with everyone else. Besides, they’ll kick me out if I stay too long.” I start dealing the cards for gin rummy, and Tom relents and drops into the seat.
“You could get in trouble.”
Tapping the cards, I straighten them before setting the pile on the table between us to draw from. “I won’t get in trouble. Those guards like my money a lot more than they do following the rules to a T.”
Tom sighs as he picks up his cards. “It’s good to see you, kid. Haven’t seen you in a week.”
