An Adrien English Mystery: The Dark Tide by Josh Lanyon

be the first to admit that.
    I dealt with the litter box, fed the cat, decided I'd opt for a snack later, considered having a drink, reconsidered, and returned to the sofa, where I stared at the ceiling for a time.
    What the hell was my problem?
    If I'd wanted company, why hadn't I stayed at Lisa's?

    An Adrien English Mystery: The Dark Tide

    41

    I listened to the distant street sounds as this part of town began to roll up the sidewalks for the evening. I listened to the building settling in for the long evening, stretching out wooden joints, cracking its knuckles.
    “Oh, what the hell,” I said.
    Tomkins briefly abandoned his pursuit of an ailing fly to throw me a curious look as I rose and went to the phone.
    “He's probably not even home,” I told him.
    Tomkins offered no opinion. He sat down to watch, as though my dialing a phone was one of the most fascinating things he'd ever witnessed in his brief life.
    The phone rang on the other end.
    Once.
    Twice.
    I closed my eyes, trying to decide if I was going to leave a message.
    “Riordan.”
    I opened my eyes. Funny how the sound of his voice could still make my heart speed up.
    You'd have thought I'd be over it by now. You'd have thought wrong.
    “Hi.”
    “Hey.” One syllable, but his voice warmed perceptibly. “How are you doing?”
    “Okay.” I wondered how long it would be before that statement was true.
    “Yeah?”
    I didn't think there was any telltale note in my voice, yet his single questioning word held instant and complete discernment. Sometimes I thought Jake, ironically, knew me better than about anyone on the planet.
    “Not really,” I admitted. “Did you hear about yesterday?”
    “The skeleton in the wall? I heard.”
    You could take the boy out of the police force, but you couldn't take the police force out of the boy.
    “We had another break-in too. That's why I'm calling.”
    His voice didn't cool exactly, though it lost warmth. “Yes?”
    “How's the PI biz?”
    He said colorlessly, “I got my first case yesterday. A woman wants me to follow her ex.”
    “He's already her ex?”
    “Yeah.”
    No wonder his voice sounded flat. “Are you going to take it?”
    “Yes.” And clearly it was not up for discussion.
    “Do you think you'd have time for another case?”
    He sounded almost wary as he asked, “What case? Who's the client?”
    “Me,” I said. “I want to hire you.”

    42
    Josh Lanyon

    Chapter Five

    Since Jake's key no longer worked following rekeying the building, I had to go downstairs to the side entrance to let him in. I opened the door.
    He was wearing jeans and a black T-shirt. The dying rays of the sun gilded his close-cropped blond hair. His hazel eyes seemed lighter than usual in his tanned face. There was something else different about him; I told myself it was the Thai food. He held up a brown paper sack of takeout from Saladong Song.
    I quoted, “To know things in the same way a duck does.”
    “That's what I always say.”
    “It's a Thai proverb. I've never understood what it means.”
    “Maybe it'll become clear after dinner.”
    I turned and led the way upstairs, conscious of Jake behind me on the staircase, the quiet, measured tread of his feet. He'd been here the night before last, so I wasn't sure why it felt like a lifetime.
    We went inside the flat. He still remembered where everything was in the kitchen. I considered that while he got out plates and silverware. Was it a commentary on him or me? I wasn't sure.
    “What made you think I hadn't eaten dinner?” I inquired, folding my arms and leaning back against the counter.
    “Nothing. I was going by the fact I hadn't eaten yet.” His eyes met mine, and I could feel my mouth twitching into a smile. He never ate tom yum goong soup.
    All at once, for the first time in weeks, I was starving. I got him a beer out of the fridge and a bottle of mineral water for myself.
    We carried our plates into the living room and settled side by side on the