The Merger – 18

By the end of the week, Mike had found the proof he needed that pointed to one of Mr. Allen's employees as the thief and passed the information on to him.

"It's kind of sad," Mike said when he told Josh the results of his investigation. "Not that it excuses the theft, but the poor guy is swimming in debt because his wife had just given birth to their first child and they only had the bare minimum of insurance, which didn't come close to paying the hospital bills. Apparently, he decided that taking the rings then pawning them would help. At least, that's my conclusion. Hopefully, rather than calling the police, Mr. Allen will take my advice and talk to the fellow so they can come up with some sort of repayment plan, since the theft wasn't done out of pure greed."

"Let's hope so."

They both moved on to what was next on their agendas for the day, which in Mike's case were the too-often-requested background checks for regular clients—in this case, a woman who was opening a new branch of her business within the month.

"I need to have my head examined," Mike grumbled when Josh came into his office just before closing time. "Or my eyes." He rubbed them then shut down his computer before looking up at Josh. "What are you doing tonight?"

Josh shrugged. "Nothing planned. Why?"

"Something like three weeks ago, I think, you suggested we should try dancing the next time we went to Thirty-One Twelve. Right now I'm ready to do anything that does not involve staring at a computer screen."

"Even taking to the dance floor with me?" Josh asked, grinning.

"Even that." Mike winked. "I don't think it'll be much of a hardship.

"We'll find out. I'll meet you there around eight?"

"Sounds good. I'll see you then." Mike waited for Josh and Rosie to leave before he activated the security system, locked up, and headed home to shower and eat supper.

He was glad Josh had agreed with his idea. They hadn't spent any personal time together since Josh's revelation about his brother. In part, it was because Josh had been pulled into a job the first weekend after that, as one of the bodyguards for a political candidate, who was doubling down on campaigning—the result of an upcoming special election. The election had been called for because the incumbent was retiring for health reasons, creating an unexpected vacancy.

The second weekend, Josh had been working again as a bodyguard for the candidate, and Mike had been on a stakeout. He'd been hired to find out where a client's teenage son had been spending his time when he'd claimed to be at the fast-food place where he worked—or had worked, as it had turned out. The client had discovered his son had been let go and hadn't bothered to tell him. After following the young man for two nights, Mike was able to report to his father that his son had found another job.

"Why the hell didn't he tell me?" the client asked.

"Best guess? He didn't think you'd approve of him working as a parking lot attendant in one of the rougher areas of the city and was afraid you'd be upset that he'd lost the other job."

"He's right," the man blustered. "He's better than that." He sighed. "I'll have a talk with him. Maybe we can find him something a bit safer."

Mike was tempted to tell him not to fly off the handle with the kid when they talked but knew it wasn't his place to say so.

Finally, we both have a relatively free weekend. Mike definitely liked the idea. The more he saw of Josh, even though it was only at work, the more he was attracted to him. Not that he'd said anything—so far. Maybe, tonight? I guess I could—if I think he might have any interest in me beyond friendship. 

When he arrived at Thirty-One Twelve just before eight, he saw Josh come around the corner from the side street. Mike waved, getting a wave in return, and smiled when Josh joined him.