Page 51 of The Attercop
“You’ll see. We’ll have fun. Pick me up at Chuck’s Coffee House. Just Google Map it. You’ll find it.”
“What time can I pick you up?” Charlie asked.
“Meet me there at eight. I’ll be with a girlfriend of mine. Daddy’s friend’ll drive me over there.”
Charlie added it to the calendar on his phone. “Well, I think that’s everything for now.” He got up and walked Jules to the door of the office.
“See you tonight, Charlie-boy,” she said, kissing him on the cheek and walking down the stairs.
As Charlie walked back to his desk, a voice came from Declan’s office.
“Charlie-boy?”
Declan leaned in the doorway. He had a smirk on his face.
“This is what I’ve been dealing with all morning,” Charlie said.
“All morning?”
“No, not really. It started with our lawyer coming in to tell me that I’m being sued for endangering the life of a child.”
“What?”
“Although he thinks he can get me off, but it went downhill from there when Jules, the teenaged delinquent, came in for a meeting. And now I’ve got a date with her tonight.”
“A date?” Declan said.
“Maybe it would be easier just to let her mother take her.”
“Mmm. As tempting as that may sound, the mother’s not the one paying the bill. So, why are you going on a date?”
“She’s off to an undergrad mixer. I’m going as her ‘muscle’.”
Declan nodded. “Well, if you ask me, I think it’ll be good for you to go out and blow off a little steam.”
“But, what’ll you do to fill your time if I’m not here?” Charlie asked.
“Homework. I still have to put together a list of anyone who might hold a grudge against me.”
Charlie grinned. “Good luck with that one. Sure you don’t want me to stay out all day tomorrow, too?”
“Very funny. Well, I should get back to work. And Charlie…”
“Yes, boss?”
“When you’re out there with Jules tonight, try to remember the PI’s motto.”
“What’s that?” Charlie asked.
Declan grinned. “Don’t fuck up.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Ping.
Charlie’s cell phone chimed with a text. It was from Jules. He was impressed that she was on time.
Pineapple
