Cutler's Bargain (#5) - paperback

Chapter 1

“I’d like your help.” Gillian Brewer rubbed her tanned upper arm as her eyes searched for something across the street.

“My help?”

Her gaze returned to me. “You do that sort of thing, don’t you?” Now, she seemed unsure. She glanced at the neighboring tables and scanned the faces of their occupants. When Gillian looked at me again, she asked, “You are John Cutler, right?”

“Yeah, sure,” I said.

She touched her sternum as if in relief. “Okay. For a second, I thought maybe I got the wrong guy.”

Moments before, she’d approached my table and introduced herself. Gillian was roughly forty, a year or two older than me. Her light brown hair fell beyond her shoulders. She wore a red spaghetti-strap cotton shirt, white shorts, and sandals. A slouchy purse hung over her left shoulder. Her skin shimmered as if she’d recently applied lotion.

“May I sit?” Gillian asked. Without waiting for my answer, she dropped her purse to the ground, pulled out a chair, and sat.

We were in the outside dining area of O’Doherty’s Irish Pub, and the nearby building protected us from the afternoon sun. Even in the shade, the temperature pushed into the mid-eighties. It was a comfortable August Sunday, and patrons filled every table.

Across Spokane Falls Boulevard, Riverfront Park teemed with summer activity. Kids ran through the spraying water fountain. Several small vendor booths were set up, and patrons lined them to examine their goods. At the park's edge, a guitarist with a portable amp and microphone performed a mangled rendition of the Beatles’ “Help.”

Gillian sat upright in her chair and looked over to the park.

“Expecting someone?” I asked.

Her eyes met mine, and she settled back into her seat. “No.”

“Worried then?”

“Not really.”

“Look,” I said and pushed my Guinness to the side. “If this is a boyfriend thing, I’m not your guy. I’ve done that before, and it didn’t work out so well.”

“This is not about a boyfriend.”

“Husband then?”

She shook her head. “It’s about my business.”

I rolled my lower lip down, nodded once, and pulled the beer back toward me.

A kid on a skateboard rode noisily by. The clattering of the hard rubber tires on the brick sidewalk drowned out the wailing guitarist in the park. Unfortunately, not much else could be heard. I waited until the skateboarder stopped at the corner before continuing. “What kind of business?”

“It’s hard to explain.”

“Because I won’t understand, or because we’re in public?”

Gillian opened her hands in a what-could-she-say gesture and tilted her head toward the neighbors only a few feet away.

“Start with this,” I said. “Is it legal?”

She straightened, and her attention returned to the park. Her eyes narrowed as if in concentration. Eventually, she said, “Mostly,” without looking in my direction.

“Isn’t that like being mostly pregnant?”

Her head turned toward me. “Does working in a gray area bother you?”

I sipped my beer. I’d done work related to sketchy things before and felt bad afterward. Those jobs more than paid the rent, but I liked feeling good about myself. The latter was a luxury and the former a necessity. Yet, I was flush due to a recent job, hence the day drinking. Luxuries were at the forefront of my thinking now.

“I prefer when things are black and white,” I said.

“I’d pay you, of course.”

“That’s good since I don’t run a charity.”

Gillian’s brow furrowed. “Have I offended you?”

I shook my head. “But you still haven’t said what you want.”

“You’re a private detective.”

“Who’s not in his office.” I saluted her with my beer. “Cut to the chase.”

She leaned forward. “You were a cop. Don’t look so shocked. I looked you up on the internet. It’s not exactly a secret since you’ve been in the paper.”

“I didn’t say it was a secret, but what’s my law enforcement history got to do with anything?”

“The gray area thing.”

“You haven’t said anything yet.”

“I need your help.”

“Most people do when they want to hire me.”

Gillian glanced around once more. I wondered if this behavior was a delay tactic or something she absently did while thinking. Maybe she just liked battered renditions of classic Beatles’ songs. The performer now butchered “Norwegian Wood.”

“Isn’t it good?” I said.

Her attention returned. “Huh?”

I leaned in. “How’d you know I was here?”

She shrugged. “Maybe I followed you.”

“You didn’t.”

“Maybe.”

Could I have missed someone trailing me? I tried to remember where my head was while walking from home to the bar. I felt pretty good due to my financial position, so perhaps I had zoned out and gone into the white zone—that place where people are completely clueless of their surroundings. I didn’t think I had done that, but it was possible.

A server named Cassie approached. She smiled and pointed at my beer. “Another?”

“Not yet. Gimme a couple minutes.”

Cassie thumbed over her shoulder. “It’s busy in there. I’ll have Alex start another.” She eyed Gillian. “Get you anything?”

“Just water. I’ll have something in a moment.”

When Cassie left, Gillian cocked her head. “She knows you. Is this your regular place?”

The idea of zoning out bothered me. It was a good forty-five-minute walk to the bar. Being in the white zone for any portion of it was a dangerous habit to develop. “You didn’t follow me,” I said with certainty. “I would have seen you.”

“Don’t get upset.” Gillian dismissively waved a hand. “I didn’t follow you.”

“Then why say it?”

“I don’t know.” She glanced at the park. “It was a joke. I’m nervous.”

“No, it wasn’t, and no, you aren’t. Who are you looking for?”

Her head slowly turned back to me. “Maybe I got lucky and found you here.”

“That didn’t happen, either.”

Another shrug, but this time she used a single shoulder. “I’m sorry I even said anything. Can we start over?”

“Why not come to my office?”

She stared at me for a moment, then turned toward the park again. Now, I was sure this wasn’t a delay tactic. She was searching for someone.

“I wanted our meeting to be in public,” she said without looking at me.

“Why?” I leaned to the side to catch her attention. “You knew I was here before you ever showed up, but you didn’t know what I looked like. I thought you said you looked me up on the internet.”

“Your picture wasn’t in the articles.”

“Who told you I was here?”

She cast a sideways glance in my direction but didn’t answer. It seemed she might be trying to formulate a response. I had mine ready.

“You got off on the wrong foot, lady. Not me.”

Gillian turned fully back to me. “I’m sorry. I—”

I interrupted her. “I’m not sure what’s with the runaround, but don’t apologize. Either get with the truth or take off.” I jerked my thumb toward Washington Street. “I don’t need the hassle. I was having a great day until you showed up.”

She remained quiet for several beats. I imagined she was deciding on a course of action. She pulled her shoulders back and defiantly lifted her chin when she did. “It’s Remo.”

“Remo?”

She nodded once. “That’s right.”

When I first arrived, I thought I saw someone standing at the edge of the park who looked like that slippery son of a bitch. It was only a momentary glimpse, but the guy I saw didn’t have long hair and was dressed differently than the man I remembered. When I looked again, the guy was gone. I convinced myself it was a trick of my mind, that it was just a lookalike, and I focused on relaxing. Had I seen Remo, I would have given chase and thumped the living hell out of him.

She continued. “If you’ll allow me to explain. Remo’s—”

I jumped to my feet, and my chair scraped across the concrete. I leaned against the small fence that enclosed the patio and scanned every face in the park.

The patrons at the other tables anxiously watched me.

When I couldn’t locate Remo, I turned to say something to Gillian, but she was also actively searching the crowded park. My face warmed, and I struggled to keep my voice calm. “Why?”

She faced me. Her voice was low and calm. “He said you would react this way.”

“Of course I would. He owes me.”

“He told me what happened, but trust me, Remo will make good on it.”

I barked a single laugh. “He’s not good for anything except lies.”

“Now, c’mon. That’s uncalled for. Remo’s a—”

“It’s been almost four months. I put my neck on the line for him. He got his money and took off. He didn’t pay what we agreed.”

Gillian lifted a hand to interrupt, but my righteous indignation wouldn’t let her.

I rested my hands on the metal table. It wobbled under my weight as I leaned toward her. “Remo sold me a bill of goods and skipped town without paying my fee. The rumor I heard is he went to Mexico. Is that true?”

“I don’t know.”

My face hardened. “Maybe you think you can do the same thing? Is that what he told you to do? Get me to do some dirty work and stiff me on the fee?”

She leaned back into her chair and patted the air with her hands. “Please, Mr. Cutler, sit down.”

“Guilt by association.” I straightened, snapped my fingers, and angrily pointed at her. “If you’re friends with that son of a bitch then we’ll never work together.”

“Please,” she said. “I’ll make it right.”

The customers at the neighboring tables watched us with a mixture of concern and excitement. I wanted to yell at them to mind their own damn business, but I kept enough of my anger under control. I averted my eyes and peered into the crowd again.

Across the street, the guitarist stopped with his Beatles tribute and now distorted the Monkees’ “Pleasant Valley Sunday.” At least he got the day right.

I slowly lowered into my seat.

Gillian rested her elbows on the edge of the table. She whispered, “What if I pay what Remo owes? You know, to reset the conversation.”

“When pigs fly.”

“I’m serious. Remo says you’re the guy to help. He was very complimentary of you, Mr. Cutler.”

“Oh, I’ll bet he was.” I clapped and laughed with mocking glee.

I didn’t care to get this woman’s business. As far as I was concerned, she could fall off the face of the earth. If she took Remo with her, so much the better.

She lifted her purse into her lap. “He said you were an honorable guy.”

“That’s rich. Remo steals from me and then calls me honorable. Classic. A chump is what he should have called me.”

“Don’t hold what’s happened against him. Remo’s sort of a messed-up soul. He had a tough upbringing. Occasionally, he needs a guiding hand, but he’s a person of goodwill.”

“Goodwill?”

“I firmly believe that.” She nodded.

“And you’re the guiding hand?”

“Not really, no. I’m just a friend.”

“But he stole from me.”

She opened her purse. “Not paying one’s bills is a far cry from stealing.”

“I disagree.”

“This is why I knew using him as a reference would cost me—especially with your history.”

That gave me pause. I pulled back slightly. “My history? He’s the one who stole.” I disliked the whine in my voice, but it was too late to stop it.

“I looked you up, remember? You read like a man not to be messed with.”

“Tell Remo that.”

“I did.” She lowered her gaze and stuck her hand into her purse.

“You’re serious?”

“Of course I am.”

Maybe she could hang around the earth a little bit longer. At least long enough to cover the fee Remo ran off with.

“No checks,” I said sullenly.

She nodded but kept her eyes focused on her purse. “Remo said he owed you twenty-four hundred.” She glanced up. “Does that sound right?”

I was amazed. First, Remo told her the correct amount. Second, I might see some of that money right now. Trying to hide my eagerness, I cleared my throat. “Yeah. Twenty-four.”

“Any interest?”

I shook my head.

Gillian’s eyes softened, and she smiled. It was a playful grin that bordered on a smirk. She didn’t seem the type to do that to someone she had just met.

“What?” I asked.

“You should charge interest on late amounts. The banks do it. Loan sharks do it.”

“You know a loan shark?”

She cocked her head, and her eyebrows lifted. “Some. Not too many, but the ones I know aren’t as bad as the Hollywood reputation makes them out to be. But not charging interest on late payments shows your inexperience as a business owner.”

My face hardened. “Twenty-four,” I said firmly. “No interest.”

“So be it.” She removed her hand from the purse and rested it on the table. Underneath was a wad of folded bills. I glanced around at the other patrons on the patio, and not one looked our way. I laid my hand over Gillian’s.

“Remo’s debt is now mine.” She pulled her hand from the table. “You don’t need to count it. It’s all there—interest-free.”

Her smile morphed into a smirk. There was no mistaking it now. I’d misjudged her.

I dropped my hand and flipped through the bills—twenty-four Benjamin Franklins stared up. I folded them over and tucked them into my pocket.

“We could have done this at my office,” I said. My gaze swept over the other patrons to ensure none had watched me count the money. As usual, they were more interested in their own lives.

“Better for this to happen in public.”

“Why’s that?” I looked up and followed Gillian’s gaze.

Remo Lightly stood at the edge of the park next to the guitar player. He wore khaki shorts and a light blue polo shirt. His once long hair was now cut short like an aging surfer’s. He looked almost respectable. Remo bent over and dropped something into the guitarist’s tip bucket. The musician stopped playing to nod his appreciation.

Remo then turned and looked in our direction. When he made eye contact with Gillian, he waved like a kid coming home from summer camp. It was then he realized I sat with her. His smile vanished, and his wave slowed. It became a timid acknowledgment of my existence.

I stood abruptly, and Remo stepped backward. He faded into a crowd heading toward the carousel.

“This help you’re asking for—” I pointed in the direction Remo had been. “It better not be for him.”

“It’s not,” she said.

“Because he burnt that bridge.”

She patted the air again, this time with a single hand. “I understand, but I needed to deal with Remo’s debt now so it wouldn’t be a thorn in our sides later. In case his name came up at another time.”

“A thorn.” I dropped into my chair. “I could come up with better ways to describe Remo.”

“I figured as much.”

Cassie returned from the bar with a glass of water and a beer. She set the Guinness near my hand and the water in front of Gillian. “Have you decided yet?”

Gillian raised her eyebrows. “Would you mind if we walked for a few minutes?”

I wanted to tell her no. That the earth could start spinning again, and she could fling herself and Remo off at any time. However, the twenty-four hundred in my pocket felt good. It was money I’d written off. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to hear what she wanted.

“Will you hold the table?” I asked Cassie. “Only for a couple minutes.”

“Of course.”