Caliber Detective Agency - Box Set - Case Files 1-6 (3 page)

“So?”

“Everything’s good; they have no idea that I’m really working for you.”

Gail stared across the desk at Velma Channing and grinned.

“Excellent,”

T
exas 1884

Jake Caliber rode into Fort Worth on a brilliant summer day and marveled at how much the town had grown since he last saw it. There were cattle and people bustling along and sitting out on the tracks was a huge locomotive that belched smoke into the air like a black, metal dragon.

Jake rode along at a slow pace, taking in the sights, and as he went through town, many an eye turned his way, particularly those belonging to women.

He dismounted in front of a saloon and, after securing his horse to a post near a watering trough, he ventured inside. As his eyes adjusted to the relative gloom, he walked over to the crowded bar and ordered a beer.

He downed the first drink quickly and had just ordered another, when he noticed the old man in the corner staring at him, or more precisely, at his hip, where his gun dangled from its custom-made holster. It was not unusual for strangers to take an interest in the weapon. Its bulk made it stand out and Jake was quite sure that there was not another like it.

His late father, Duncan Steele, had made it by hand and Jake had been its sole possessor ever since the attack that claimed his family.

The old man walked over and stood before him.

“That’s an unusual gun you have there, lad.”

The man spoke with a Scottish accent, a lyrical tone that Jake hadn’t heard since he was a boy.

“This gun is one of a kind.” Jake said.

The old man shook his head. “Not true, I’ve another like it, made for me by my brother. What I’m wondering, is how did you come to possess the other one?” Then he stared at Jake intently and after a moment, he reached up and took Jake’s hat off his head.

“I’ll be damned.” The old man whispered.

Jake grabbed his hat back. “What the hell’s wrong with you mister?”

“Jacob? You’re Jacob aren’t you, Jacob Steele?”

Jake squinted at the man, while giving him a good look, as somewhere in the back of his mind, a light of recognition flickered.

“Do I know you?”

The old man smiled a yellow-toothed grin that made him look years younger, and as he did, a name floated into Jake’s consciousness.

“Braden? You’re my Uncle Braden.”

The old man nodded, as tears began falling from his eyes.

***

“H
ow the hell did you get the name Caliber?” Braden Steele asked. They were seated at a small table in the saloon.

Jake talked to his uncle in quiet tones as he told the story of the Indian attack and of meeting Gunther Heimlich and his family.

“That’s some story lad; I guess you’re lucky the German didn’t start calling you Colt .45.”

“He was a good man; in fact, I lived with his family until I joined the army at sixteen. I didn’t care what I was called, everyone was dead, father, mother, my brothers.”

“When I came here years ago I heard about the slaughter that took place back then and prayed that you and your family weren’t among the dead, but when no one had ever heard of you or your family... I knew that fate had been cruel.”

“Well now we’re together, and what of Aunt Colina, is she here with you?”

“No Jacob, your darlin’ aunt passed a year ago, but your cousin Fergus is about, and he and his wife will be delighted to meet you, and they’ve room enough at their farm to take you in.”

“I’m sorry to hear about Aunt Colina, and I can’t wait to see Fergus again, but I won’t be staying; there’s someone I need to see in Dallas.”

They left the saloon and walked over to their horses.

As Jake mounted, his uncle held up a hand.

“Oh, I’ve had too many whiskies lad; wait for me a moment while I make a trip to the outhouse.”

Jake nodded. “I’ll be right here.”

As his uncle went off to relieve himself, Jake pulled a well-worn picture from his coin purse and stared at it, a picture of Eva Heimlich.

“I’ll be in Dallas tomorrow girl,” Jake whispered. “And I sure hope to heaven that you haven’t gotten yourself hitched.”

***

N
ew York City, Present Day

The old man walked down the hall from his apartment and entered the outer office of the Caliber Detective Agency, seated at a reception desk was Kelli Ross.

Kelli looked up from her laptop and smiled.

“Good morning Mr. Caliber.”

The old man just stared at her.

“Is something wrong sir?”

“No doll, it’s just that no one has sat at that desk since Velma moved downstairs years ago; I guess it’s gonna take me a while to get used to you sitting there.”

Kelli stood. “I don’t have to use her desk; I could work just as well from the sofa over there.”

The old man patted her on the arm.

“Use the desk, hell, Velma always said you were a good kid, she’d probably be happy to see you sitting there.”

“I miss her too, Mr. Caliber.”

“Is my grandson in?”

“Yes sir,”

“Thanks kid, I’ll see you later,”

The old man walked into the office and greeted Jake, and then grinned when he saw the coffee sitting on his desk. After settling in, he took the top off the paper cup and took a long sip.

“Ahh, that’s good,”

“I almost got you a decaf like the doctor ordered, but I figured you’d shoot me if I did.”

“You’re right, besides, this is the fifth doctor that’s told me to cut back on coffee, booze and cigars; I outlived the other four.”

“And you’ll outlive this one too,”

“I plan to, so, tell me, where’s our new Velma?”

“She called, something about getting a flat on the FDR drive, she’ll be here soon.”

The old man stared over his cup at him.

“What’s on your mind granddad?”

“What do we do here Jakey?”

“We’re detectives, we detect,”

“And have you detected anything lately?”

Jake grinned.

“As a matter of fact I have, I detected a coincidence.”

“Such as?”

“Such as the fact that our new Velma showed up here on the very day that my mother came back,”

Now it was the old man’s turn to grin.

“You don’t miss much, do you kid?”

“I had a good teacher.”

Jake’s phone rang and he took it out and looked at it.

“It’s the Sam Sloan Detective Agency in Vegas, returning my call.”

The old man toasted him with his coffee cup.

“That’s my boy,”

***

V
elma Channing cursed in frustration as she waited for the tow truck to appear. The rented car she leaned back upon had not one, but two flat tires.

Velma wore black jeans and black boots with a green knit top that revealed just a hint of cleavage. Her blonde hair floated about in a soft breeze, and her beautiful face bore just a touch of make-up.

A car pulled off the road and parked behind hers, another rental judging by the sticker on the front bumper. The man that emerged from the vehicle was tall, and slim, with stylishly cut dark brown hair and a clean-shaven face. He was wearing a three-piece business suit and Velma found her heart beating faster as she looked him over.

He was handsome, and something about his blue eyes and the way he held himself seemed familiar, but before she could recall why, the man walked over and smiled at her.

“Do you need help? I couldn’t change a tire to save my life, but I can call for a tow, or offer you a ride.”

“I’ve a tow truck coming, but thanks anyway,” Velma said.

“No problem.” The man said, and then he just stood there smiling at her, he was so good-looking that Velma couldn’t help but smile back.

A squeal of brakes sounded, announcing the arrival of the tow truck as the driver skidded to a halt in front of Velma’s rental.

“Well, it looks like your white knight has arrived, so I’ll be on my way.”

“Thank you anyway,” Velma said. “For stopping to help,”

The man sent her a wink and then walked back toward his car.

The tow truck driver turned out to be a middle-aged woman, and Velma asked her a question.

“Would it be possible for you to drop me in the city before you tow this car back to the rental facility?”

“Sorry hon, but we don’t do that.”

“Damn, then tell the rental office that I’ll be in later; right now I have to go.”

Velma ran for the other car, just as the man was preparing to merge into traffic.

“Hey! Can I still get a ride?”

“Absolutely, hop in,”

As they rode along, the man looked her over.

“Aren’t you afraid to take a ride from a stranger?”

Velma smiled.

“I’ve disabled bigger men than you.”

“I believe it; your smile alone nearly dropped me to my knees, so where are you headed?”

“The Caliber building, it’s on—”

“I know where it is, and I’ll have you there in no time.”

“Thank you, Mr...”

“Call me... Jacob, and you are?”

“I’m Velma, Velma Channing,”

“Velma? That’s an unusual name; in fact, I’ve only ever met one other.”

“I was named after my aunt, from what I’m told she was quite a woman.”

“It can be hard living up to a name, it’s probably better to make your own path.”

“And what path are you walking? Judging by that suit, I’d say you’re a stockbroker.”

“A wannabe lawyer actually, but if I do well at my interview today, I’ll be on my way.”

“Please tell me you’re not a defense attorney.”

Jacob laughed.

“There are people in my family that would disown me if I did that.”

‘Why, what are you from, a family of cops?”

“Something like that, so tell me, do you work at
Caliber
?”

“I just started, and already I’m late.”

“Have you met Jake Caliber?”

“Yes, both of them, the grandfather and the grandson,”

“What’s the old man like?”

Velma shook her head slightly.

“He’s a throwback, but in a good way. Think of every old private eye movie you’ve ever seen and then realize that this man has actually lived that life, and on top of that, he even stopped a presidential assassination. He really is a living legend.”

“The man who never missed,”

“What’s that?”

“That’s what they called the first Jake Caliber, the one that founded the agency, ‘The man who never missed.’”

“Right, and they say that the old man inherited his skill. I envy him. It takes me hours of practice every month to stay proficient. Have you ever gone target shooting, Jacob?”

“Me? No, hell I’ve never even held a gun.”

“It’s a difficult thing to do, to shoot well, and Jake Caliber is supposed to be the best.”

Jacob grinned.

“It’s probably just P.R., you know, to build up the old man’s legend, spin for the agency,”

“No. I’ve researched him; he’s the real deal. Jake Caliber the third stormed Omaha Beach as a sixteen-year-old marine and when he came back home he joined the family business by becoming a private eye. Over the years, he has dismantled six criminal organizations, solved an untold number of closed cases, many of them homicides, and even brought down an international drug cartel. While he was doing all this, he was shot over forty times, stabbed nearly a dozen more and even survived a car bombing. If he’s not the toughest man who ever lived, then I don’t know who is.”

“You almost sound like you’re in love with him?”

“Oh, believe me, if he were much younger I’d be in trouble; I’ve always had a thing for tough guys.”

“And here I sit in a wimpy three-piece suit, damn.” Jacob said, and then he pulled the car to the curb and pointed out the window.

“Here we are, the Caliber building,”

“Thank you for the ride and good luck with your interview.”

“You’re welcome Velma, and thanks,”

The two of them just sat there then, gazing at each other. A moment later, Velma roused herself and got out of the car.

Jacob called to her.

“Could I see you sometime, maybe just for coffee?”

“Jacob... I...”

He smiled. “I understand; I’m not your type.”

“No! It’s not that, it’s just that things are complicated for me right now.”

“Okay, but I’ll see you around.”

“Maybe, but it is a big city.”

“Oh I’ll see you around, count on it.” Jacob said, and then he watched her until she disappeared into the lobby.

After Velma entered the building, Jacob drove into a parking garage a half block away, when he exited on foot, he walked back to the Caliber building and slipped inside.

***

U
pstairs in the detective agency, the two Jakes had a visitor.

His name was Thomas Delaney. He was a fourth generation homicide detective and the grandson of Jake Caliber’s oldest friend. Delaney was a big man with short black hair and a trim moustache. He was married and the father of a boy and a girl. He sipped on a glass of whiskey as he shared a bit of news.

“Deke Stoddard gets released today.”

The younger Jake nodded his head.

“Thanks for the tip; I’ll keep an eye out for him.”

“Do that. Deke will come after you; he’s too stupid not to, it’s one of the reasons that he’s spent most of his life in prison.”

“Jakey?”

“Yes granddad?”

“If you see that punk, plant ‘im, otherwise you’ll spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder.”

“I’ll be fine, besides, I’ve got my own personal bodyguard now, remember?”

The two men shared a chuckle and Tom looked back and forth at them.

“What’s this about a bodyguard?”

“It’s a long story Tommy; I’ll tell you later over a beer.”

“No can do Jake; it’s parent/teacher night at the school, Jenny would kill me if I missed it.”

“All right, but how about the ball game on Sunday? A client sent me four tickets, so you can even bring Tommy Jr. along.”

Delaney stood and headed for the door.

“It sounds good, but right now I’d better get back to the station.”

Delaney opened the door and Velma rushed in.

“Mr. Caliber, I am so sorry I’m late, but my damn rental got two flats.”