BURDEN OF AN ANCIENT OATH by Joshua Brown (early reader books TXT) 📕

life, there were no surprises that she knew we had a thing for each other once. But it all erupted when we realized that work had to come before personal matters. In our line of work, a life often hung in the balance.

“Well, I’m guessing you’re not here for a personal chat. I’ll leave you two alone,” Lauren said, walking by me. I waited for her to step out and close the door before I continued.

Taking a seat opposite Jack, I couldn’t help but smirk at how he was looking at me. Dumbfounded and grinning like a fool.

“What’s got you so riled up?” I asked, kicking my feet up on the desk.

“Just this case I’ve been working,” Jack shrugged, giving a little more information. We were the same in that way, rarely keen to share or let the other know of our faults. I supposed that was another reason why our relationship was doomed to fail before it even began.

And that’s why it hit me so hard to be there that day.

“Let’s not focus on any of that, though,” Jack pulled himself up, walking over to a cabinet. From it, he pulled two glasses and a bottle of whiskey. “What brings you here?”

“Well, the same problem really. Just a case I’ve been working on,” a sigh escaped my lips. “You know I’m not the kind to ask for help, Jack, but I’m completely stumped on this one.”

“Is that right? I never thought I’d see the day Gwen Sullivan knocked on my door for help,” he gave me a smile, pouring the drinks. He reached over the table with mine, leaving the cap off the bottle, knowing we’d be here a while.

“It’s been days without any leads at all. It’s so cold at this point, I could swear it was made up.”

“I know the struggle,” Jack replied, bringing the glass to his lips.

I did the same.

“Look, I can’t promise I’m going to be able to help at all, but tell me what’s going on and we can see if something comes of it. We’re both pretty good at this detective thing; I can’t imagine neither of us can figure something out,” Jack said, leaning back in his chair. It squeaked under his weight.

“That’s the thing though, there’s not really much to say about it,” I replied, rooting through my shoulder bag and pulling out a stack of papers. “The family doesn’t have any idea of why they’re being targeted. They’re just…”

“Receiving anonymous yet threatening letters?” Jack finished my sentence.

Though he eyed the stack of notes in my hand, there was no way he could’ve known what I was going to say. Unless he was facing a very similar threat.

“Either your deduction has gotten keener, or you’re facing a very similar problem,” I cocked a brow.

“You wouldn’t believe it, but I guess destiny’s got other plans for us parting ways,” Jack shuffled inside one of his drawers before bringing a stack of his own papers out.

They were the same off-white paper, with a brown tinge to them. Folded with the same crease and a name scrawled atop one side.

“Now, ain’t that something,” I set my stack down on the table.

“I’m guessing the name is Marilyn Crossley?” Jack asked. “I wouldn’t put it by her to hire a couple of detectives to sort this out, rather than just one. She seems wise enough to get a second opinion.”

“Marilyn?” I sat on the name, long after Jack continued speaking. “No, the man who hired me is named Spencer Crossley. Or rather, Spencer Williamson, after his adoptive family.”

“Same thing happened here. Jane Dench is the target, but someone knows her name isn’t Jane, but Marilyn. I’m sorry to say, you’re shit out of luck asking me for help,” Jack downed his drink.

“It’s pretty clear what this means then, right? They’re siblings that got separated after their parents disappeared.”

“Disappeared?” Jack asked.

“I use the term vaguely. Spencer didn’t have much to say about his folks, and it doesn’t look like anyone else can tell him anything, either.”

“People don’t just disappear, especially not when two kids get put up for adoption. There has to be a reason for giving a kid up,” Jack steepled his fingers, leaning back once more. I could see him getting lost in thought, just like he used to.

“Could’ve been doorstep drop-offs,” I added. It happened from time to time, where parents just left the kids on the doorsteps of orphanages. It wasn’t completely unbelievable, especially when considering how easily the parents vanished.

“Sure, but that doesn’t give any reason for how their names don’t come up anywhere. By the looks of things, the Crossley family vanished off the face of the earth.”

“I know, I had someone look into the lineage, and there’s just nothing. It’s like they were never there to begin with.”

Jack shook his head, not speaking while he thought. After a while of internal deliberation, he shrugged his shoulders and let out a grim sigh. He looked up to me, shook his head, saying, “I do find it pretty peculiar that we somehow got the exact same case, only with two different people. What are the chances of something like that happening?”

The change of subject was almost welcomed.

“It’s crazy, right?” I replied. “I haven’t heard a word from you in half a decade, and now we’re brought together in these very odd circumstances. Must be fate trying to tell us something.”

I felt the smile tugging at the corner of my lips. I could see it happening to Jack, all the same.

“Well, it’s not much help right now, but why don’t we work on this one together?” Jack poured himself another glass of whiskey. “It’ll be like old times, the two of us kicking ass and taking names.”

“I should warn you, I’ve only gotten better since the last