The Merger – 14

 

They continued the game for a few more minutes, stopping when the bartender came over to ask if they wanted seconds—which they did. The drinks arrived at the same time that a table opened up. They grabbed it before someone else could, grinning at the pair they'd beaten out.

As Mike watched the dance floor, he thought briefly about asking Josh if he wanted to dance. He decided that probably wasn't his brightest idea. We're business partners now, and friends, but it's much too soon to do anything that might make him think I've got more in mind. Not that I do, but he might think otherwise. Mike wondered if he was being honest with himself. I do find him interesting, but as he said at one point, getting involved with someone you're working closely with is not a good idea. If it doesn't work out… Yeah. Better keep any ideas about finding out if we could be compatible on a more personal level on the back shelf.

"Where are you at?" Josh asked, tapping Mike's arm to get his attention.

"Thinking about…a surveillance job I have to do next week."

"A night job?"

"Yeah." Mike grimaced. "Aren't they always? Okay, not always, but most of the time."

Josh took a drink, obviously, in Mike's opinion, wanting to ask something. A moment later, he did. "When you do that, do you carry?"

"Depends on the job. If the client wants me to find out who's coming back after closing time to steal something, I watch, take photos, give them to the client, and let him take it from there."

"That's benign enough."

"Yep. On the other hand, if a business is being vandalized, for instance, or someone's being stalked, I want to stop whoever's doing it. Then, things can become iffy, so I make certain I'm prepared, just in case."

"You could use a Taser. That would do the job. It's what I do."

"I'd have to get close enough before they realize I'm around."

"If you can't and they tried to run, you'd shoot them?" Josh looked appalled at the idea.

"I'd let them know I had a gun and wasn't afraid to use it. That usually stops them in their tracks."

"Unless they're armed, too. Then you could have a gun battle on your hands." The frown that had deepened on Josh's face as they talked said he did not like what they were discussing in the least.

"That hasn't happened—yet." Mike leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Why are you so anti-gun?" he said quietly. "I've asked you before and you've avoided answering."

"They kill," Josh replied tightly.

"That is the idea, when it becomes a necessity. There's more to it than that though, right?"

Taking a deep breath, Josh said, "I'll tell you, but not here. Let's take a walk."

Uncertain what to expect, Mike followed as Josh left the bar. Josh looked around, then pointed to what Mike could barely discern was a pocket park a block away. They walked in silence until they were there. It was empty except for a man walking his dog. Avoiding him, Josh made his way to a bench under a tree and sat, gesturing for Mike to do the same.

"This… I haven't talked about this in years," Josh began softly. "Thought about it, yes, almost every day, but that's it."

"Josh, if you'd rather not…"

Josh brushed his words away with a wave of his hand, staring for a moment at something only he could see before continuing.