Since the only thing no one could mess with was me putting a witness into protective custody, I was cleared by the bureau “to proceed with the intake of my witness.” They were such nozzles. Redeker asked if I wanted to grab a late dinner with him and Callahan, and since I knew Josue was safe—and that the troopers would be ordering him room service—I took them up on their offer.
They took me to the Peppermill, right on the Strip. It was interesting, with all the neon inside and the big round fire pit and the mirrors and all the noise. The fact that it was loud was usually not something I liked, but I appreciated it since I wasn’t in the mood to talk much. I ordered a BLT with avocado and sweet potato fries and had water to drink because I really needed to hydrate. It felt like the dry heat was sucking the moisture right out of me.
Callahan got a porterhouse with sautéed mushrooms and water as well, while Redeker had wings, the pastrami burger and onion rings, and mozzarella sticks, all chased with a double screwdriver.
“You’re gonna have a heart attack and die,” I assured him as his food kept coming.
The portions on everything were enormous. There was no skimping on anything, including the alcohol.
“I keep telling him,” Callahan said, “between what he’s eating and what he’s drinking, he won’t make it to fifty.”
I snorted out a laugh. “Man, you would love Chicago.”
Redeker looked at me. “Why you say that?”
“Lots of good food there too.”
He nodded.
“Chicago?” Callahan ventured, looking back and forth between us.
“Yeah,” Redeker said with a cough. “Jones says his boss is looking for some more guys and thought maybe we’d like a change of climate.”
Callahan nearly choked on his water. “We?” he said when he could breathe.
Redeker shrugged. “Well, yeah. Why would I go without you?”
Callahan did a slow turn to look at me.
“What?”
“Thanks for the heads-up, Jones,” he said softly, like he really meant it.
I smiled at him, because I knew what it felt like to maybe have figured something out about your partner. I’d been there, after all.
THEY DROPPED me off at my hotel, and after I hugged Callahan and shook hands with Redeker, I headed toward the room. I was surprised to get a call from Josue halfway there.
“What? You’re only supposed to call in case of emergency,” I scolded him.
“I was worried about you.”
I grunted.
“I was! You were all banged up and bleeding. For a knight in shining armor, you get hurt awfully easy.”
“What are you talk—”
“The cards!” he reminded me.
“Oh yes, the cards.”
“Don’t use that tone about the Tarot.” He was clearly horrified; it was evident in his tone.
Heaven forbid. “Okay.”
“You scared me to death. I was just wondering where you are.”
“I’m almost there,” I said and hung up.
He called me right back.
“What?”
“You should answer the phone nicer. Like, hello, Josue darling, how are you?”
I sighed loud and long so he couldn’t miss the irritation.
“So you’re one of those guys who likes pain, huh?”
“What’re you talking about?”
“I mean like that love of pain in a minor way… like eating spicy foods or going on a roller coaster or watching a horror movie.”
“Who doesn’t like all that stuff?”
“Lots of people, and you have to make sure it doesn’t escalate to taking scary chances in life or on love.”
Oh, he was going to be a bundle of fun to play guardian angel for. “I think when we get to Chicago that I’m gonna give you to my friends Kohn and Kowalski. They don’t have any children at the moment.”
“I’m not a child,” he insisted petulantly.
He was a baby.
“And I refuse to be pawned off on anyone else. You’re my marshal, my knight.”
I chuckled.
“There now see, that was a yummy sound you just made. Have to love a man with a deep, warm laugh.”
He was going to be such a handful.
“Guess what?”
“I don’t—” I was too tired for twenty questions. “Just tell me.”
“I’ve been playing poker with the sheriff’s deputies—Kirkland, he was outside, came in—and I’m up twenty bucks!”
Cards? Why was he playing cards? Why wasn’t he cowering in the corner or sitting in the bathtub rocking back and forth? “Why aren’t you scared?”
“Of?” He asked like I hadn’t just shielded him with my body hours before.
“Getting shot, doofus.”
“But I told you already.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Yes I did.” I could imagine the eye roll with the weight of his exhale. “You’re taking me to my love. I saw that. All the signs point to me being happy and…. I’m not now, so… this is a season of change for me. I’m ready for my adventure.”
And I was ready to be his guide.
“You’re my marshal, but you’re also my knight, Miro Jones. I know I’m safe with you.”
He believed in me, and that was really kind of nice.