The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The First Collection by Frost, J (great novels .txt) 📕

“She could have gotten a credit card in the fake name.”

“Mmm, not that easy for the average civvy. She can’t just borrow an older friend’s driver’s license like an underage kid trying to buy booze. Getting fake ID that stands up to bank checks? It’s expensive. And slow. It’d take a lot of planning. If she’d paid in Bitcoin or something, I’d say the name’s a dead end, but PayPal? I’m betting that’s her real name.”

I nod, and make a mental note to get Max on the name, but that’s not a thought I share with Theo, because I don’t want to bring my favorite hacker to the attention of the police.

As we’re crossing the Queensboro Bridge, my phone goes. After checking the caller, I put it on speaker and set it between me and Theo.

“Jiro,” I say. “I’m here with Theo D’Andrea. He’s a detective with the NYPD. He’s investigating Rick Errol’s stalking. He’s hoping to have a chance to speak with Laurel while you’re here over the weekend.”

Jiro’s silent for a long moment. “For what reason?” he asks finally.

“I want to ensure that Laurel consented to what happened at the Fire Island party,” Theo answers.

“Why are the police involved?” Jiro asks.

“There are allegations online,” Theo responds.

“And the NYPD investigates every internet rumor?” Jiro scoffs. “I find that difficult to believe, Detective.”

“No, we don’t,” Theo says. “But I’m taking this seriously. If Laurel didn’t consent to what happened at that party, I’m looking to charge Rick Errol with aggravated assault and rape.”

Jiro’s silent again. “Logan, would you take me off speaker, please? I’d like to ask a personal question.”

“Sure.” I pick up the phone and tap off the speaker. “Go ahead.”

“Do you trust Detective D’Andrea?” Jiro asks.

“I do. I can’t tell you why without his agreement, but, yes, I do.”

“I see.” Jiro’s silent again and I can feel him thinking. “Does he understand our lifestyle?”

“Yes, he does.”

“I see,” he repeats. I hope he does, because if his next question is whether Theo practices our lifestyle, I don’t know how I’m going to answer. “Very well. You can put me back on speaker.”

“Thanks.” I tap the phone again and set it on the seat.

“Detective, I will permit Laurel to speak with you. I can assure you that she consented, but I understand that you would prefer to hear it from her.”

“I would,” Theo confirms. “But thank you for that. Logan’s also been squirmy about telling me what happened after the party that ended Laurel’s threesomes with Damon Tiger and Dovie Donegan. Would you care to shed some light on that?”

“Laurel experienced an epiphany about the risks of the way she was living. She decided to change her behavior. Ending her liaison with Mr. Tiger and Ms. Donegan was a part of that change,” Jiro says smoothly.

Theo’s too experienced a detective to buy what Jiro’s selling.

“What led to the epiphany?” Theo asks, glancing away from the evening traffic to narrow his eyes at the phone.

“Eyes on the road,” I grumble.

“Sorry,” he grunts.

“I don’t wish to distract you when you’re driving, Detective,” Jiro says. “I would be happy to discuss this when we meet. However, I will request that you not press Laurel for details of what happened. It is unrelated to the events of the party or Mr. Errol’s actions, and it is a subject of some distress for Laurel.”

“Jiro, would you be okay with me explaining to Theo?” I ask. “I’ll keep it to the broadest terms. I think once Theo knows what happened, he won’t need details.”

Jiro sighs audibly. “Yes, that might be best. Recounting the details is still traumatic for Laurel.”

“We don’t want to trigger her,” I assure him. “Theo understands what that is.”

“Very well. You have my permission. While I have you, Logan, we’re flying up early. Laurel wants to do some sightseeing.”

“When are you coming in?” I ask.

“Tomorrow afternoon. I don’t expect you to play host. We’ll take a hotel room for Thursday night and meet you Friday as planned.”

“Hey, it’s not an imposition. It’ll give us a chance to have a low-key night on Thursday before the party. Emily and I will show you around the City, as long as you don’t mind a visit to the Natural History Museum. Emily can’t show anyone around New York without introducing them to the T-Rexes.”

Jiro chuckles. “Laurel would like that.”

“Text me your flight details and I’ll arrange for someone to pick you up. Are you coming in to JFK or LaGuardia?”

“JFK. Flight lands at twelve-fifteen.”

“Great. Plenty of time for Central Park and the Museum. Is Laurel a shopper?”

“Oh, yes, and I promised to take her to Saks.”

“No problem. Fifth Avenue’s just across the park.” Then it occurs to me that Emily may not be up for too much walking tomorrow. The club has a couple of wheelchairs for moving subs when they can’t walk on their own. Maybe I can borrow one. “Emily may have to skip the shopping. She’s, um, recovering.”

A deeper chuckle from Jiro. “From pain or pleasure?”

“Pain. She’s had a punishment today.”

“Ah, naughty girl. That’s okay. Laurel’s moving a little gingerly herself. She’ll be happy to take it easy.”

“Great. See you tomorrow.”

After I hang up with Jiro, Theo shoots me a dark glance.

“You’re awfully pally with some random Dom from DC,” he says.

“Jiro and I could be friends from way back,” I say. “Don’t they teach you never to make assumptions in detective school?”

Theo snorts. “Yeah, that’s exactly what they taught us. Lemme guess, you never went to detective school?”

I did, actually. I got pulled into an NCIS investigation during my third year in the Navy. I hit it off with the investigating officer and he recommended that I take the two NCIS basic training programs at Glynco. I was just starting polygraph training when the Maersk Alabama was hijacked. That was the end of my Naval investigative aspirations and the beginning of four years in the hell that is the Gulf of Aden.

When I don’t answer him,