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

“Do you like it?” She asked.

“Yes, how does it look?”

Velma grinned. “It makes you look like a tough guy.”

Chris sent her a wink.

“Thanks doll,”

D
allas, Texas, 1884

Jake sat at a table inside Sullivan’s restaurant and waited for Eva to finish working. She told him that there was no need to wait there all day for her, but Jake insisted that he was not leaving until he could escort her home.

Business picked up a bit after the noon hour, followed by an afternoon lull, but when evening arrived, the place filled up and Jake knew, that as the main cook, that Eva must be working hard.

The businesses up and down the avenue began closing for the day and soon the sounds of raucous laughter, mixed with the occasional drunken shout, carried from the many bars in town.

She came to him at ten, carrying two plates of food and smiling wide, as the restaurant closed up for the night.

“I’ve got fried chicken for you Jacob; I hope it’s still your favorite?”

“It is, but I’d eat shoe leather just to have you sittin’ across from me.”

Eva grinned at him.

“I can’t believe you’re really here, you don’t know how often I prayed that—”

Gunfire!

It was close and the sound came from more than one gun. Jake told Eva and the man who was mopping the floor to get down low. Afterward, he went about dousing all the lights as a voice boomed in the night.

“Sheriff Carter, we know you got Bo Clayton in there, and we also know that your alone. Let him out and there won’t be no more trouble. You got one minute, then we’re coming in.”

Jake peeked out a corner of the wide front window and counted four armed men, each one was on horseback and bent over low, with a pistol in their hand, and all four wore black hoods.

Jack whispered to Eva. “Is there a back door?”

“Yes, it’s the door to the left of the pantry, but Jacob, you can’t go out there; it’s too dangerous.”

“Who’s Bo Clayton?”

“He’s the leader of a gang that robbed the bank in Mesquite, but he was the only one they caught.”

“Looks like his friends have come to get him. What’s the sheriff like?”

The man who had been mopping the floor answered, Jake remembered that Eva had called him Tally.

“Sheriff Carter is as brave as they come, but he’s no spring chicken.”

“I’ll be back soon.” Jake said, as he headed toward the rear door.

Eva sent forth a cry of protest, but Jake was already entering the kitchen and a few moments later, he had slipped outside and moved silently until he reached a corner of the building. Across the way, faces peered out from darkened windows and at the bar across the street, men were piled up inside the doorway, their necks craned and eyes wide, waiting to see what would happen next.

The man shouted again.

“We’re coming in sheriff!”

“You boys might wanna reconsider that,” Jake said, as he unholstered his gun.

All four men jerked their heads around and stared at him.

“Who the hell are you mister?” Asked the man who had been shouting.

“That don’t matter none, what does matter is that I’ll shoot anyone who doesn’t leave right now.”

The man let out a hoarse laugh.

“You must be drunk; it’s four against one,”

“That’s four against two,”

The voice came from the jail. It was the sheriff. He had slipped outside, was half-concealed behind a post and had a Winchester in his hands,

A moment later, the four men did an almost comical double-take as they tried to keep an eye on both Jake, who was behind them, and the sheriff in front of them.

Their leader soon let out a curse, before shouting, “Let’s go!” and then the men fled into the night as fast as they could.

As the sounds of their departure faded, the sheriff called over to Jake.

“What’s your name, son?”

“I’m Jake Caliber, sheriff,”

“I think you just saved my life, much obliged to you.”

Eva came running out of the restaurant and into Jake’s arms.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine honey; those cowards didn’t want anything to do with a fair fight, even if it was still four against two.”

The sheriff walked over and shook Jake’s hand. As Tally had said, he was no spring chicken, and yet, despite the wrinkles and graying hair, the sheriff looked like a man who would handle himself well in a fight.

“I’m Sheriff Bob Carter, Jake, and I see you’re a friend of Eva’s?”

“Yes sir, Eva and I grew up together.”

“Well listen, why don’t we all go inside and talk a spell.”

“What about your prisoner?”

“He’s locked up tight and them fellers won’t be back, at least not tonight.”

***

T
hey went into the restaurant and Eva told Jake that she would warm their food and also bring the sheriff a plate.

The sheriff thanked her and after Eva had gone into the kitchen, he asked Jake a question.

“What sort of work do ya do?”

“I don’t rightly know sheriff. I just got out of the army and I plan to start lookin’ for something tomorrow. Do you know any ranches that could use a hand?”

The sheriff nodded as he reached into a vest pocket and brought out a silver star.

“Ranchin’s fine work, but have you ever thought of becomin’ a lawman?”

Jake reached over and took the star from Carter’s hand, then watched as the light sparkled off its shiny surface, and like all young men looking for work, he had only one question.

“What’s it pay?”

***

N
ew York City, Present day,

Velma was in the office with Chris and Jake 3 and Jake 5, as she liked to think of them.

Chris had been on the job for little over a week, and his brother and grandfather had made sure that he had his own desk, just as they had done for Velma. The room was large enough that it didn’t seem cramped, but Velma noticed that the two Jakes seemed a bit edgy at times.

She empathized; things had been slow ever since Deke Stoddard’s failed attempt at revenge and a little action would free all of them from the growing sense of boredom.

There was a knock on the door and then Kelli stuck her head in.

The old man smiled at her. “What’s up doll?”

“I just received a call from downstairs; they think they have something that might be a Red Case.”

“They think?”

“It’s a bit odd they say, but they’re sending the client up now.”

Jake the fifth walked over to her.

“Please bring him in when he arrives.”

“They say it’s a she,”

“Even better,” Jake said, and Kelli sent him a disapproving look before closing the door behind her.

She was gone barely a minute before returning with a young woman. The woman was petite, with dark, curly hair and large blue eyes, and the dress she wore displayed her shapely legs well. When she spotted Chris, she sent him a shy smile before taking the offered seat before the old man’s desk.

Kelli made the introductions and told them that the woman’s name was Mira Asher, and then she excused herself and went back to her desk in the outer office.

“How can we help you, young lady?” The old man said.

“Oh, well I explained everything downstairs, didn’t they tell you?”

“We’d like to hear it for ourselves.”

She grinned at him.

“Can I just say sir, that it’s an honor to meet you. You’re one of my heroes. The History Station shows that footage of you leaping in front of the President all the time. It’s so brave how you took that bullet for him.”

“I didn’t leap; I tripped.”

“What?”

“I tripped. I’d forgotten to tie my shoes that day.”

Mira Asher looked aghast.

“Really?”

Jake spoke up.

“I’m sorry Ms. Asher, but my grandfather likes to kid.”

“Oh, oh, that was naughty of you Mr. Caliber.”

The old man looked her over, including a lingering look at her legs.

“Yes, at times I can be naughty,”

“Um, Ms. Asher,” Velma said. “Please, tell us your story.”

“It’s Reuben, my ex-husband, he’s been terrorizing me.”

“In what way?”

“He follows me, I never see him but I know he’s there. Plus, every time I go on a date, the men, they’ve all been mugged afterward. The last one was beaten so badly that he had to be hospitalized.”

“How many men are we talking about?”

“Three of them, I’ve reported it to the police, but they say that there’s no proof that Reuben is behind the muggings, and so they can’t arrest him.”

“Have they questioned him?” Velma asked.

“Yes, and they say he denies everything.”

The old man rubbed his chin for a moment before speaking.

“We can help you. I’ll have one of my grandsons pretend to be your date, while we follow your ex. When he makes his move, we’ve got him.”

Jake walked over to Mira.

“We’ll go out tonight, while Velma and Chris follow your ex around. Do you like Italian?”

“Chris will be her date, Jakey, not you.” The old man said.

“Why’s that?”

“You’ve got more experience at tailing suspects.”

Chris walked over and smiled down at Mira Asher.

“I hope you don’t mind the substitution?”

Mira smiled, “I don’t mind at all Mr. Caliber.”

“Call me Chris,” He said, and then he and Mira gazed at each other.

Velma broke the spell.

“Ms. Asher!”

“Yes?”

“Your ex-husband, Reuben, please tell us everything you know about him.”

And for the next half-hour, Mira Asher did just that.

***

R
euben Smith, Mira’s ex, turned out to be a personal trainer. Jake and Velma began surveilling him as he ate at a restaurant in Queens. Smith was easy to keep an eye on, because the restaurant had huge glass windows facing the street. He was alone now at the bar, but when he had arrived, he met with another man. The two of them had drinks, mixed with what looked like a heated conversation, but then the other man left the restaurant and Smith ordered dinner.

Jake returned to the car and handed Velma a coffee he had just gotten from a corner bistro.

“That’s good coffee, thanks,”

“You’re welcome, did I miss anything?”

“He got a phone call just as his meal arrived. It must have disturbed him; he hasn’t touched his food yet.”

“So tell me something Velma, what’s the story with you and Chris?”

“Story?”

“My kid brother has a thing for you, but you don’t give him the time of day, why not?”

“I like to keep things professional with the people I work with.”

“Nah, I ain’t buying it. You almost looked jealous today when Mira was making goo goo eyes at him.”

“I was not jealous. I was simply—”

“Hold that thought; Smith is on the move.”

“But he hasn’t even eaten yet, something’s up.”

They watched as Smith rushed from the restaurant and into the parking garage next door. After he handed his ticket to the parking agent, he paced back and forth.

Velma’s phone beeped and she checked it.

“It’s a text from Chris, he picked Mira up from her dress shop and now they’ve just arrived at her apartment; maybe someone in the building is keeping tabs on her for Smith and just let him know that another date has arrived.”

“Something’s up.” Jake said. “He seems frantic to get his car back.”

Reuben Smith finally retrieved his car and began driving toward Mira Asher’s apartment in a hurry.

***

T
he apartment was in a ten-story building on the upper west side of Manhattan, near 68th.

As Mira placed her key in the lock, the door across the hall opened and a young man looked out.

“Oh, hi Mira, how have you been?”

“I’m good Sammy, and say hi to Chris; he’s a friend of mine.”

Sammy looked Chris over from top to bottom.

“I wish he was a friend of mine.”

“He’s not your type honey, bye bye,”

“Bye bye, and it was nice meeting you Chris,”

“Same here Sammy,” Chris said.

Mira closed the door and leaned back against it.

“He can talk your ear off if you let him.”

“I think I’ll talk to him soon and find out if he’s seen your ex hanging around.”

Mira smiled up at him.

“How about some coffee?”

“Sounds good,”

They drank their coffee in the living room, as Chris sat in a chair facing the front door, and Mira sat across from him on the sofa.

“I saw you on the news Chris, it was amazing the way you stopped that robbery.”

“Thank you, but I was just at the right place at the right time.”

“Can I see it?”

Chris hesitated a moment before he said. “See what?”

“Your gun,”

“I don’t have one yet. I still have to finish my training, and then there’s the matter of getting a carry permit.”

Mira looked surprised.

“You don’t have a gun? How will you protect yourself when Reuben tries to attack you?”

“Don’t worry; my brother will stop him before anything happens.”

He had his phone set on vibrate, and after it purred against his hip, he took it from the holster on his belt and answered it; in the background, he could hear traffic noises.

“Hi, hold on a second.” He held up his coffee cup to Mira. “Could I get more coffee, please?”

Mira smiled at him as she took his cup. “Of course,”

After she left the room, Chris continued his conversation.

“What’s up, Velma?”

“Hi, listen, Reuben Smith is headed your way in a big hurry and he’s nearly there. Wait ten minutes and then leave the building with Mira and begin your fake date.”

“What if he wants to come up here?”

“If he rushes upstairs, we’ll follow, but Ms. Asher said that all three men were assaulted after the date ended, so if he holds to pattern, he should follow you home tonight, and when he tries to assault you, we’ll have him.”

“And in the meantime I get to enjoy a nice Italian dinner in the company of a beautiful woman; I knew I was right to take this job.”

“Just remember that it’s only a pretend date and that she’s a client.”