The Merger – 2

 

Josh cocked his head. "What makes you think I haven't?" he asked while taking in Mike's short brown hair, gray-blue eyes above a classically straight nose, and his fairly muscular body.

After taking a drink of his beer, Mike set the bottle down again. "So you've broken into places? Or stolen a car? Or robbed a bank? Or…murdered someone?"

"Two out of four."

"I hope murder's not one of them," Mike said with a dry smile.

"Nope. Neither is robbing a bank. You need a gun for that and I detest them."

Leaning back, Mike asked, "If you're not a criminal—and I'm taking your word for it, for now—why break in somewhere or steal a car?"

Josh smiled. "As you said, you have to practice what you've learned. It's difficult to protect someone if you don't know how a potential attacker might get into their home or place of business—and how to defend against that happening."

"You're telling me that's what you do?" Mike looked as if he thought Josh was pulling his leg.

"Yes. I run a one-man protection service, primarily installing security for businesses, sometimes acting as a bodyguard for a client."

"You have got to be… Wait a minute. If you hate guns, how can you be a bodyguard?"

"There are a lot of other ways to fend off an attacker without shooting them," Josh replied.

"True." Mike nodded slowly, again studying him.

"What?" Josh asked when Mike's scrutiny went on too long without him saying anything.

"I was just thinking how coincidental this is." Mike tapped a finger on the bar.

"Oh? Why?"

"I came in here to unwind after a much-too-busy day. I see a man I figure is a college student sitting at the other end of the bar and wonder why he's studying here rather than at home where it's quieter."

"And your inquisitive gene kicks in, so you decide to find out. That still doesn't tell me why you think this is coincidental."

"My busy day," Mike replied, "involved trying to locate a runaway, doing background checks for a client, and following a man who's suing a shopkeeper because he fell and injured himself on a wet floor—or so he claims."

"You think he's pulling a scam?" Josh asked, his interest piqued.

"I know he is after watching him grocery shopping, loading a fifty-pound bag of dog food into his car, and later in the day, wrestling with his dog in the backyard of his house. A very large dog, by the way."

"So, you're telling me you're a private investigator."

"Yep. See the coincidence?"

Josh waggled his hand. "Sort of. I don't do any investigating. Do you do any security work?"

"Like setting it up? Nope. Not my field of expertise. I have done some bodyguard work, on rare occasions."

Josh nodded. "Do you have your own agency or do you work for someone?"

"Like you, I'm flying solo, except for my receptionist. You ought to stop by sometime to check it out."

"Should I expect a dingy, two-room suite in a run-down building in a bad area of town, like in the movies?" Josh asked with a grin.

Mike laughed. "Not that bad. I'm downtown in a newer building and my office is quite presentable, thanks. No dirty walls, no cobwebs in the corners, and an up-to-date computer system."

"I might have to stop by, if I knew where you are and who you are, other than Mike something."

Mike took a card from his wallet then handed it to Josh.

"Michael Harte Investigations," Josh read aloud. "I'm Joshua Aston, though if you call me Joshua, I'll ignore you."

"Family name?" Mike asked.

Josh rolled his eyes. "Yeah, after my father and grandfather. Thank God, we all have different middle names so I'm not a Third." He shuddered.

Mike chuckled, pointing to Josh's nearly empty bottle. "Want another?"

"No thanks. I should get out of here. I have an early morning job for a new client."

"It's only…" Mike glanced at the clock on the wall across from the bar. "Okay. It's later than I thought. It's been nice talking with you, Josh. I meant it. Stop by sometime, if you get the chance."

"Maybe I will." Josh marked his place and closed the book then swallowed the last of his drink before getting up. "Do you come here often?"

"Fairly often. You don't—or at least not that I've seen."

"No. I've walked past here more than once but never stopped in until tonight. I wasn't in the mood to go home at that point."

"You live in the neighborhood?"

"Yes." Josh left it at that before walking to the door. I bet that if I do visit his office, he's going to suggest we merge our agencies. He had a look in his eye that said he was thinking about it, which is strange since he doesn't know me. Not that I'd agree to it, if he did. I like "flying solo," as he put it. No one to answer to but me…and my clients, of course.

*****

Mike watched as Josh crossed the room then left Thirty-One Twelve. An interesting man, I think. He chuckled softly. Based on one brief meeting. I wonder if he will stop by my office. If he doesn't, oh well. But if it happens… Will I really suggest we could go into business together, or was that just a fleeting idea because I was surprised by what he does? It could work well for both of us if he were willing, which he probably wouldn't be. I've got the feeling he's pretty much of a loner.

With those thoughts in mind, Mike finished his beer then decided it would be a good idea if he went home, as well. So I can face a new day with a working brain.