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Jake groaned and turned a mock look of weary acceptance at the others,
wordlessly beseeching them to support him.  Oh, boy. We ll never live this one down,
he groaned again.
Tigger put her fist on her hip and asked,  Okay, what s the second question? She
lifted an elegantly shaped eyebrow and waited with a sly smile on her face.
Cam pointed at her with an accusing air.  You know what I m going to ask, don t
you? He burst out laughing.
 I ll save you the trouble Cam. I won t tell you what my name is so forget about
it. Quigley stubbed out one cigarette and lit another. Two golden teeth gleamed in his
mouth when he spoke around a smile.  There s only three people in the world who know
my real name and two of  em are in this room. The other is my mama and she won t tell
you either so forget about it.
Cam threw himself back into his chair and crossed his arms, wincing at the pain in
his side.  Ah, bloody hell. It s eatin me alive wanting to know. He smiled back at
Quigley.  Well, I ll get it one way or another. Someday, Quig, someday, he threatened
with a laugh before turning to Tigger.  Okay, then. What s your real name? At least tell
me that much, he asked with a mock whine in his voice and a hound-dog look in his
eyes.
Quigley glanced up at Tigg s face, a grin in place and a questioning eyebrow
cocked.
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She patted him on the head and rolled her eyes before taking a deep sigh of
resignation.  Gladys. My name is Gladys May Weinmeyer but I hate the name so you
better call me Tigger, she threatened right back, wagging her finger at all of them.
A big belly laugh erupted from the direction of the door. When Jake turned his
head to look at Cletus, the big man was once again stoically gazing off into nothingness.
Jake shook his head in wonder at the relationship these two must have and glad that they
were on Jake s side instead of the wrong side of the law.
Suppressing a giggle herself, Marti issued her own challenge.  I d like to know
your name too, Quig. I m with Cam. One day, we ll figure it out. A challenge! she
crowed while Quigley beamed at her with affection.
 Fair enough. But, in the meantime, I say we all deserve a slap on the back and a
six pack of beer. We make a damned awesome team, Quigley shouted into the room
while holding up his empty cup in salute.
 Forget the beer, I want champagne, Marti joined in, laughing.
 Beer! Bring on the beer, Cam shouted in response.
 Oh shit, Jake groaned again, watching his dream team of super sleuths as they
all tried to rise and salute each other.  What a bunch of lame ducks, he said when he
pushed an annoyed Glock off his lap and struggled to join them with a smile.
 You know, we do make a hell of a great team at that, Quigley said before he got
up.  We do at that, he added and stood up to raise his cup, matching the others stance.
Jake lowered his cup and asked,  Our own consulting business maybe? An  A
Team, Dream Team, New Avengers, the super sleuths of the new millennium?
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Marti downed the rest of her coffee and eased back down into her chair.  Why
not? We proved we can do it. Besides, we each have some pretty spectacular skills if you
ask me. Tigg s got the computer skills, I ve got the profiling, Jake s got the FBI training,
Quigley has the street cop smarts, Cam can charm the pants off any witness, male or
female, and Cletus is an awesome bodyguard. Even Glock is a hero. What else do we
need?"
The memory of Brian darkened Jake's good mood and temporarily erased the
smile from hi s face. He remembered that Brian was at his house the night the killer wrote
on his door. Even if Toyboy did it, Brian had to know. His friend had betrayed him. It
hurt. Then he remembered Brian s relationship with Stephanie Benton and a new thought
emerged, lightening the burden of loss.
He was investigating his sister s attack. That has to be it; it must be what got him
killed.
The thought did make him feel better and the smile returned.
Unwilling to let the horrors of the past color his future again, Jake pushed Brian
and Pat out of his mind, determined to remember them as they were in happier days. Jake
also understood why those people in the room, even those who had been close to Brian,
couldn t bring themselves to even mention his name. Not yet; maybe never, but Jake
understood. He forced a smile and said, "Even if the only way we can solve crimes is to
all get shot up in the process." Then his laugh came naturally. "I agree. I think we do have
what it takes to be a top notch agency on our own.
Cam wrinkled his nose at the cup of tepid coffee he held before adding,  Me too. I
say go for it.
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 I thought you said you re going back to Queensland next week? Jake asked
while settling back into the chair and lifting his leg back up on the hassock.
 I am but that shouldn t stop you mate. You do make a great team and if I could
stay, I d be honored to be a part of the team. But, I gotta go back. Me visa s expiring
soon and my life is back there, Cam replied with a touch of regret in his voice.
Quigley raised his cup one more time.  Then, here s to the new dream team.
There s a new man in town and his name is Jake Daniels. Quigley downed the rest of his
coffee and grinned at Jake s stunned face when he lowered the cup.
 Why not? Jake asked, bemused by the idea.  Why the hell not? He too raised
his cup, downed the last of his cold coffee, and grinned at all of them in turn. His grin
broadened when Cletus silently stole up next to the chair and filled his cup to the brim
while whispering in his ear.  You may live to regret that decision, chum. The big man s
eyes twinkled when Jake stared up at him.
Jake s face split into a knowing smile when he answered,  I doubt that Cletus. I
truly do, and saluted his new business partners with a full cup of coffee.
THE END [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]