Garret's Gambit by Dale Mayer (book club books .TXT) 📗

“Yes,” he said. “I get that. It’s hard though, isn’t it?”

She nodded in agreement and said, “It is hard to watch somebody you love going through a situation like that.”

“Why do I get the impression that you have loved him for a very long time?” he asked.

“Because I have. Ever since Amy brought Garret home that very first time. I knew it was wrong and that I couldn’t do anything about it, so I just buried myself in my work.” She laughed. “It actually turned out to be a good thing because we’ve helped put a lot of criminals behind bars and have found a lot of children and young women, releasing them from the purgatory they suffered in. I’m good at what I do, but I would definitely like to see life open to include Garret in some way.”

“No reason it can’t. You both need to understand that the kind of work you do is dark, definitely dangerous, and profoundly unpleasant. Even if it’s not physically dangerous, it’s dangerous in the sense of your mental health. So, as much as you’ll have to deal with what he comes home with, he will also have to deal with what you bring home.”

She gave Charles a smile and said, “Then neither of us are a good bet.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “So long as you’re betting on each other, you’ll be fine.”

She chuckled at that. “Well, we’re a long way from anything like that.”

“Not as long as you may think,” he said, then motioned out the car window. “Look. They’re already coming out.”

She stared in surprise. “Oh, that means Gregg’s not here, damn it,” she said, as both of the men slipped into the car.

“The house is empty,” Garret said.

“I’m tracking his vehicle,” Charles said, holding up his phone. “It’s parked outside another pub,” he added, then quickly gave them the address.

“Do you think the courier’s still alive?” Astra asked anybody in the car.

“I don’t know,” Garret said, “but what I do know is that my brother’s not being held here.”

“So the courier guy’s got another place,” she said. “Maybe we’d be better off staking out Maggie’s house, until they move Gregg.”

“Check the pub first,” Charles said. “Let’s make sure this gopher guy is even still alive, and then we’ll have to set up a stakeout at Maggie’s.”

“Not much fun,” she said.

“None of it is fun,” Garret said, “but it’s what we have to do. We’re close, really close, so let’s not screw it up now.”

“No,” she murmured. “I get it.” Just then her phone rang, and it was her sister. “No, I don’t know anything yet, and we are getting closer, yes.”

“Where are you?” Amy said, in tears. “I don’t want to be here alone.”

“Maybe not, but you’re safe there,” she said to her sister. At that, Amy started to cry again. “Look. We’ll be home soon,” she said, desperately trying to ward off a big scene. At that, her sister hung up. Astra sagged back in her seat and said, “I sure hope we find him soon.”

“I do too,” Garret said. “But did you ever consider that finding him may not result in the return of somebody who she thinks she wants?”

“Meaning, that he may not want to go back? Is that what you mean?” Astra asked.

“It’s definitely something we have to consider.”

“Well, I’ll consider it, if and when it happens,” she said. “When we find him, and he tells me that he’ll walk away from his responsibilities.”

“That’s not what I’m saying,” Garret replied. “He’ll end up being part of the child’s life. I can’t see him doing anything but that. However, that’s no guarantee he wants to have a life with Amy.”

“And I think that would be devastating for her,” she murmured.

“Maybe so,” he said, “but it’s something we have to consider.”

“I hope not,” she said. “I’m not sure she could handle that.”

“We can handle far more than we’re aware of,” Charles said, with a smile.

“Maybe,” Astra said, “but my sister isn’t terribly willing to try. She wants the white picket fence, attentive husband, and three perfect kids.”

“And maybe she’ll get it,” Charles said. “We still have to believe in hope, in romance.”

“I’d like to just believe in happy,” she said, with half a smile. Before she realized it, they were pulling up to the second pub. “Are we going in to have another pint?” she asked Charles.

He looked at her and smiled. “Would you like one?”

“Oh, yes,” she said. “I’d love another one. Besides, these two guys aren’t dressed for it. We can go in and see if he’s there, at least.”

“I’ll go check out his vehicle,” Garret said.

They all got out and proceeded with their various assignments. When Astra and Charles were seated at the bar, each with a tall pint in front of them, she looked at hers and smiled. “I have to say that I really love the color.”

“These are both particularly pale ambers,” he said. “I usually prefer a good stout myself.”

She chuckled. “Not me,” she said. “I’m glad that you ordered a pale amber too. Don’t worry. If you can’t drink that, I will.”

His gaze widened, and she nodded, smiling. “I know. Most women don’t like beer, but that’s crap. I really enjoy a good beer myself.”

“Glad to hear it,” he said, as he pushed his over to her. “Because I won’t enjoy this one.”

She smiled, and, as soon as she had hers gone, she picked up his and turned to look around. “Have we heard from them?”

“No,” he said. “Not yet.”

She nodded. “Oh, that’s too bad.”

“What is?” he asked.

“They’re at the door, waving at us. And I’ve got this beautiful beer here.”

His gaze twinkled. She looked at him, looked at the beer, and said, “What the hell.” With that, she picked it up and threw it back. When she slammed down the glass, she gave him a grin and said, “Let’s roll.”

“Next stop?”

“Let’s hope it’s another pub,” she said, giggling.

Laughing and thoroughly