Advent Calendar Day 15

 

Yikes. Ten days until Christmas. TEN.

TEN. DAYS.

And then the New Year begins. 

Please let it be a better, healthier, happier year than 2023. Please let me do more writing and less...everything else.

Anyway! We've got another very special treat from one of our longtime talented and generous friends and contributors. MEG PERRY IS BACK IN TOWN. In a manner of speaking. ;-) 

Of All the People
 

“I don’t want to go.”

Adrien ignored him.

“I hate socializing.”

Adrien gave him side-eye.

“It’s a fucking waste of time. I should be working on the Adams case.”

Adrien cleared his throat. “Did or did not Mary ask you to attend in her place?”

“You know she did.”

“Does or does not Mary sign your paychecks?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. You’re starting to sound like a lawyer.”

“Just reminding you of the facts, sweetheart.” Adrien picked up his wallet and keys. “I have to go. Natalie and Angus are both working today, and someone has to be there to make them behave.”

Jake sighed. “Fine. I’ll see you tonight.”

Adrien kissed him. “Yes, you will. Try not to grump at everyone today.”

“Only if you promise to not work through lunch.”

“Deal.” Adrien was out the door with a wave.

Jake waved back then went to finish dressing, muttering to himself. “I fucking hate socializing.”

 

The Los Angeles District of the California Association of Licensed Investigators was holding its annual holiday mixer at the Radisson Hotel in Chatsworth. Jake would never have chosen to attend if his boss, Mary Brannigan, hadn’t essentially told him to go. He couldn’t imagine that it would be worth his time. Why the hell did PIs have to network? Weren’t they all in competition with each other?

Not to mention, he was well aware that several of the local PIs were LAPD alumni. He didn’t particularly want to interact with any of them, and he figured the feeling was mutual.

The only good thing about this event was that it was close to home.

He picked up his name badge at the door and entered the vast meeting room. The mixer seemed to be well under way. Tables were lined up along three sides of the room, with every sort of brunch-style food imaginable. There was a waffle station and an omelet station. Some of the attendees were seated at the round tables scattered through the center of the room; some were standing in groups and talking as they ate. Each table had a miniature Christmas tree as a centerpiece; the serving tables were strung with red and green plaid ribbon.

Jake got a cup of coffee and a donut and moved to the side, his back to the wall, surveying the scene. He didn’t see anyone he knew, which produced a mix of emotions. He was happy to stand here, eat a donut, then leave without having to explain himself to anyone he’d known in his previous life. But Mary would expect him to report back on who he’d met and what he’d learned.

He was mulling over his choices - who was he going to approach, and how - when he did see someone he knew.

Two someones.

His immediate thought was, What the hell are THEY doing here?

He supposed he’d better go find out. At least it would give him something to report back to Mary. He pushed away from the wall and headed for their table.

 

Rob Jones spotted Jake Riordan as soon as Jake leaned against the far wall. He’d heard that Jake had become a PI, after his complicated exit from the LAPD, but he’d never expected to see him again. Rob and Jake had briefly crossed paths a couple of times, while Rob was at Hollywood Division and Jake was at North Hollywood, and their interactions hadn’t been particularly pleasant.

He saw the moment that Jake noticed them then headed toward them. He thought, Shit. He said to Kevin Brodie, “Incoming, your three o’clock.”

Kevin glanced over and said, “Oh. Huh.”

Across from Kevin, Jamilah Daly said, “Who’s that?”

Jake was getting close enough to be within hearing distance. Rob said, “Tell you the whole story later.”

“Hm. Intriguing.”

The three of them stood up as Jake approached.

 

Jake wasn’t sure what kind of reception he’d get. He knew Rob Jones didn’t like him. Kevin Brodie was another matter altogether. He didn’t recognize the woman with them, a tall Black woman, probably in her forties, with short locs. Whoever she was, she’d definitely been a cop. She was studying him with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism, her arms crossed.

Rob, Kevin, and the woman were all wearing matching polo shirts. That detail was the last that Jake had time to process as he reached the table.

Kevin held out his hand to Jake. “Hi, Jake, good to see you again.”

Jake shook his hand. “You, too. It’s been about a year, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I saw you at that bookstore in Pasadena.” Kevin moved his head slightly toward Rob. “You remember Rob Jones.”

“I do.” Jake held out his hand. “Rob.”

Rob shook his hand. “Jake.”

Kevin said, “This is our partner, Jamilah Daly. Jamilah, this is Jake Riordan, formerly of LAPD Homicide.”

“Ah.” Jamilah shook his hand. She had a firm grip. “Good to meet you, Jake. Why don’t you join us?”

Jake hesitated for a second, then thought, Sit down, you coward. He pulled out the remaining chair and sat. “Kevin, I thought you were working for the DA’s office.”

“I was, until June. After we quit, Jamilah and I joined Rob to form a new PI agency. We opened the doors August first.”

Jake squinted at Kevin’s shirt. “Angeles Investigations? Where’s your office?”

“Brentwood.”

Jake blinked. “Nice.”

“We like it.”

“How’s it going?”

“We’re staying busy. We’ve solved two murders already.”

Jake gritted his teeth. He hadn’t solved a murder since Adrien “hired” him to figure out who killed Jay Stevens. He’d been a PI now for a year and a half and hadn’t gotten near a murder investigation. He didn’t expect he ever would again. And here were Kevin Brodie and Rob fucking Jones, the two best homicide detectives the LAPD had ever produced, with an office in Brentwood and two murders in five months. He said tightly, “Congratulations.”

Rob must have been smirking inside, but it didn’t show on his face. He said, “Thank you.”

Jake thought, Enough with the dick measuring. He asked Jamilah, “Were you with LAPD?”

“No, Irvine PD.”

“Ah. Who’s the chief down there now?”

“Drew Gilbert. Do you know him?”

“I don’t think so.” Jake took a second look at the thin ribbon of color beneath the Angeles Investigations logo on Jamilah’s polo shirt and realized what he was seeing. “Wait a minute. Are you advertising yourselves as an LGBTQ agency?”

Rob said mildly, “Yup. Except for Kevin, that’s what we are. He’s our token straight.”

Kevin and Jamilah both chuckled at that. Jake asked, “Does that mean… Is that working for you?”

Jamilah said, “It sure is. I think every infidelity case in the queer community is coming to us.”

Jake was stunned. All the years of hiding, all the lies, all the self-recrimination, still having to tiptoe around his employers and his own family - and here was Rob fucking Jones being out and proud and prospering as a result. He said weakly, “That’s great. Really.”

Kevin said, “There was a niche waiting to be filled.”

“Apparently.” Jake checked his watch. He didn’t think he could take too much more of this kind of chat. But he’d definitely learned something to take back to the office. “I need to go. Jamilah, I’m glad to meet you. Kevin, Rob, good luck for your continued success.”

Kevin said, “Thanks. If we can ever help you out, let us know.”

“I will.” Jake nodded goodbye and left. He made the effort to stroll casually, even though internally he wanted to flee.

He thought, Rob fucking Jones. Of all the people.

 

Jamilah watched Jake go then turned to Rob and Kevin. “Okay, let me guess. He was a self-loathing closet case while he was with the LAPD.”

Rob said, “Got it in one. While he was on the force, he made life particularly uncomfortable for gay suspects and victims. Then he dumped his wife, who was also a cop, for a man. The guy was a suspect in one of his cases whom he’d been seeing during the case. It blew up in his face and he quit the department.”

“That’s sad.”

Kevin said, “It is sad. He seems happier now, though.”

“Really? He didn’t seem particularly happy to me.”

Rob said, “He’d rather be working homicides again, and it didn’t thrill him to learn that we still are.”

Jamilah shrugged. “Most PIs don’t. He must know that.”

“I’m sure he does.” Rob pushed his plate back. “This is a mixer. You two ready to go mix?”

Jamilah hopped to her feet. “Yes. I want to meet the other women PIs that are here.”

Kevin said, “Absolutely. Let’s go.”

Rob followed them into the crowd, thinking, Jake fucking Riordan. Of all the people.