Mako (The Mako Saga: Book 1) (3 page)

Taking a quick pass through the forms to make sure everything was in order, Lee tossed them onto the desktop and sank back into the chair, which let out an eerie creak with his shifting weight. Now and forever, it was officially over.

“I’m a cowboy…
on a steel horse I ride,
” Jon Bon Jovi’s muffled voice wailed from Lee’s jeans, snapping him from his reflective trance. “And I’m wanted…
wanted
… dead or alive!”

Retrieving the phone from his pocket, Lee slid his finger straight to the “answer” button, without so much as a glance at the Caller ID.

“What’s up, Dic?”

“Oh look, a cop joke,” Danny Tucker moaned at the other end of the line. “How wonderfully original.”

“If the gumshoe fits,” Lee cackled again.

“Wow, you’re just full of zingers today, aren’t you?”

Lee shook his head and smiled. “How ya doin’, Danny?”

“Just another gorgeous day in food stamp paradise, bro. How about you?”

“‘Bout the same,” Lee muttered back. “How’s the job search goin’, anyway?”

“It’s going,” Danny balked. “Not nearly as fast as I’d like, but it’s going.”

“Any new leads?”

“Maybe. I got a line on some stuff down south earlier this week, but it’ll be a while before I know anything. Also, a buddy of mine at Atlanta PD says he might know of some stuff up there, but beyond that… nada.”

“How about the feds thing?”

“Which one?” Danny asked.

“The one in Quantico,” said Lee. “You told me about it a few weeks back.”

“Eh, we’ll see,” Danny huffed. “I’m supposed to hear something later this week, but I’m not exactly holding my breath.”

“Yeah well, fingers crossed anyway,” said Lee. “In the meantime, any chance you could pick up some reserve duty hours with the Sheriff’s Office in Tally? I mean, you got let go because of budget cuts, so it’s not like you left there on bad terms or anything. Tell ‘em you’ll work the State Fair, for cryin’ out loud. Everybody hates that detail, right?”

“My old sergeant is keeping his ear to the ground for me, but there’s just no money, man. Everybody’s tightening their belts right now and there’s barely enough money to pay the guys they’ve got, much less bring on anyone else—reserve hours or otherwise. As for off-duty details, those are being snapped up like hotcakes by the people on staff, whether they want to work them or not, simply because opportunities to make a few extra bucks are so few and far between these days, especially with Christmas right around the corner and most of those guys having families.” Danny sighed hard. “I’d be screwed right now if it weren’t for my unemployment benefits, and those run out in March. I kid you not, bro, it sucks up here right now.”

“Well, I’ve got a futon that’s all yours if you decide you need a change of scenery. Just say the word.”

This drew a chuckle from Danny. “As much as I appreciate the offer, amigo, I’ve been shot at before, and frankly… it kinda sucks.”

“Oh, gimme a break; it ain’t that bad.”

“Not that bad? Lee, I’ve got friends at Jax SO who work that zone, and you know what the guys on shift call your neighborhood? The Demilitarized Zone!”

“Whatever,” Lee scoffed. “It’s a two-bedroom place for five-fifty a month, and on what I make, I’ll take it—lights and sirens or not.”

“Anyway,” Danny shifted. “Speaking of the money front, you manage to pick up any extra hours this semester?”

“No,” Lee grumbled. “I’ve got four other adjuncts to contend with for classes, all of us scratchin’ and clawin’ to get everything we can. So with me still bein’ the new guy, I get trumped every time.”

“And nothing on the full-time radar?”

“Nope. I put in for an associate’s position at North Carolina State a while back, but got the
thanks for playin’
letter three weeks ago, and that was the first legit possibility I’ve seen in months. The fact is, full-time instructors just aren’t in high demand right now, which makes sense, I guess. I mean, when your history department is borderline broke as it is… why hire a full-time prof—with all those retirement and healthcare expenses—when you can just hire an adjunct for pennies on the dollar to help cover the courseload? But…” Lee paused—his tone turning morose. “It goes beyond the money, ya know? Danny, I chose this field because I love history and I wanted to study it in the field, doin’ research on military bases or in war museums, and learnin’ about it from the people who were there. Instead, I’m hangin’ out in decrepit old classrooms, talkin’ to a bunch of hung-over freshmen about the Civil War and extra credit! Hell man, I’ve got a naval base right down the road from me in Mayport, plus a slew of stuff in Brunswick, Canaveral, and Orlando, but I don’t have the funding, much less the time to work with any of it because I stay so bogged down with administrative crap!” Lee ruffled his hair in frustration. “This ain’t what I signed up for, brother, and what’s worse? The longer I waste away in this program, not publishing, the further away I get from that career—from that life.”

“Hey, I get it,” Danny admitted. “Believe me, I didn’t put myself through the academy to work in a mall, and yet I’d take a rental cop gig today if they’d give it to me. That said,” he added, “and I know this doesn’t come as any consolation, but be thankful you have a job at this point. Yeah, it sucks for now, but at least you’ve got the option to float it out until you can find something better.”

“Somethin’ better,” Lee huffed indignantly. “I’m in debt up to my eyeballs with student loans because I believed in somethin’ better, and boy, didn’t
that
turn out great.”

“I know,” Danny conceded. “Anyway, as much as I wouldn’t mind hanging out on a beach with you and all the impressionable young minds of tomorrow, I’m gonna stick it out for now and see what breaks loose. If the new year rolls around and I’m still in limbo, I might take you up on that ghetto-fabulous futon of yours.”

“Yeah, yeah. Offer stands,” Lee grunted.

“So enough about our respective tales of financial woe,” Danny shifted again. “What else is up with you?”

Lee was silent as his gaze returned to the envelope.

“That can’t be good,” Danny noted.

“It’s nothin’ Danny, don’t worry about it.”

“No, no, pal. There is ‘quiet’ with you and then there’s ‘silent.’ The second generally means something’s up; so dish… What? You get caught in a broom closet with a sorority girl or something?”

Lee snorted. “No moron. Just because I’m single doesn’t mean I’m supposed to tap everything with a pulse… unlike some people I know.”

Danny snickered at this. “C’mon, bro. Gimme at least a little credit. I’m kinda picky… sometimes.”

“Danny, we’ve been friends for almost 20 years, so I think I’m pretty qualified to say this… there are fat kids at all-you-can-eat chocolate buffets who are pickier than you.”

“My boy Lee Summerston,” he laughed, “always the hopeless romantic. You’re a man of a different era, my friend.”

“Yeah, well the papers on my desk say I’m a failure of a husband and a human being, but what can ya do?”

Danny’s jovial tone vanished. “Whoa, they finally came?”

“In my box when I got in today.”

“Good grief, took ‘em long enough.”

“That was my thought,” Lee agreed.

“So,” Danny treaded. “How do you feel about that?”

Lee fell silent again. “Mixed, I guess. Don’t get me wrong, it was officially over months ago but now… finally havin’ these…” His voice trailed off. “I dunno, Danny, I guess it just makes it all real, ya know? Final.”

Danny gave an audible grunt. “Newsflash bro, that whole thing was over long before she ever went in front of a judge. Hell, if she hadn’t been such a raving, sadistic lunatic about everything and tried to take the shirt off your back, it would’ve ended a lot sooner than it did. That alone oughta tell you you’re better off without her.”

“I know, Danny. It just sucks… the whole thing.”

“Tell me about it,” he cackled. “Face it, Lee, nobody, and I mean nobody, gets to be as cynical as I am about relationships without having gone through ‘The Big D’ at least once in their life. But regardless of how clean-cut these decisions can sometimes be—and let’s face it, your case was about as no-brainer as they come—they’re never easy. That’s why I ask the question… You okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m just…. glad it’s all over.”

“Damn straight,” declared Danny. “Remember, she’s the one who stepped out of bounds, not you. Don’t you ever forget that… and just so we’re clear, there was no going back once she crossed that line. I know how hard that call was for you to make, but you made the right one, and no amount of counseling or marital head-shrinking would’ve ever changed what happened. Screw anyone who says otherwise.”

“Thanks Danny, seriously. Were it not for you guys, I doubt I’d have survived that whole thing—not with any amount of sanity anyway.”

“Sure you would’ve, bro,” he said, a hint of sarcasm resurfacing. “You might’ve come out of it with a slight drinking problem and a massive inferiority complex, but you’d have made it.”

Lee grinned and slid back in his chair—happy to not have the drinking problem, anyway.

“Okay, so back to the matter at hand,” Danny continued. “How are we standing for tonight? I’ve already talked to Hamish, Link and Mac and they’re all set to go, which just leaves you, professor. You’re not gonna bail on us for your snooty-pretentious, high-society crowd again, are you?”

Lee frowned. “Yeah, sorry again about that; but when the head of your department throws a faculty party at her house, you’re kinda diggin’ your own professional grave if you don’t at least make an appearance.”

“Excuses, excuses,” Danny moaned.

“Ah, relax, Danny,” Lee chided, twirling a pen between his fingers. “We blew through E-37 a lot easier than we figured, which put us right back on track to 42. Besides, it ain’t like you’ve got any shortage of things to do with your free time. I’m sure Gloria was more than thrilled for a chance to,” he coughed, “serve and protect with you on an impromptu mid-week evening.”

“Who?” Danny asked, not following.

“You know, Gloria… that college-girl waitress from Lavene’s you were seein’ the last time I was back home? The brunette.”

“Dude, that was Kelly. She graduated and moved back to West Palm… like… six months ago.”

“Then who was Gloria? The bank teller?”

“No, that was Charlene.”

“Wait, I thought Charlene was the aerobics instructor from Philly?”

“Close, but no. That was Darlene.”

“Good Lord, son,” he groaned. “I mean, do you keep this stuff in some kinda evil black Rolodex or what? If Charlene was the bank teller, and Darlene was the girl from Philly, then who the hell was Gloria?”

“Lee, I swear to you. Never, in all my life, have I ever dated anyone by that name. Honestly, I haven’t… But now that you mention it, I’ll have to get right on that.”

“Wow, you’re an ass!” Lee said dryly, drawing another snicker from the other half of the conversation.

“Alright, so tonight,” Danny recovered. “Eight o’clock, sharp.
Be there!
”

“Hey, nobody wants to finish this thing more than I do,” said Lee. “Rumor has it the first clan to beat it gets a look at the beta for
MA 2.0
, and that’s not due out for another year, minimum. Supposedly they’re givin’ the 13 a serious upgrade too, and I want a peek at her while she’s still in prototype.” The excitement was building in his voice now.

“You and your fighters,” Danny mocked. “You know there are actual, real-life girls out there who are a lot sexier, not to mention a lot more fun to spend your Friday nights with than some digital friggin’ space jet, right? Don’t get me wrong. I want the title too, but let’s keep some perspective here.”

“Sorry pal, but you’ll forgive me if I’m not exactly ready for the broom closet just yet.”

“And no one is saying you should be, Lee,” Danny added, his tone flashing serious. “But you’ve heard the old axiom about ‘getting back on the horse’? Well my man, the ink on those papers is officially dry now, and while nobody thinks you oughta saddle up for the Kentucky Derby—me included—it doesn’t hurt to take a quick stroll by the stables from time to time either. Know what I mean? After all, it’s not like dinner and drinks ever killed anyone.”

“Appreciate the friendly advice there, Dr. Feelgood,” Lee smirked, “and how much do you pay in alimony, again?”

“
Dude!
” Danny griped. “That was so below the belt, I might be sterile… Besides, if those beach girls down there in J-ville aren’t doing it for you, flights from Jax to Athens aren’t exactly expensive, and we all know there’s one up there who never minds seeing your ugly face.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Lee brushed off the remark. “Man, how long has she been stuck up there now? A year? Eighteen months?”

“Pretty close,” Danny said. “Her parents are hellbent on making that second location work up there at UGA. All jokes aside Lee, you know she’d love—”

A light tap rattled through the office door glass and Lee looked up to see the blurred silhouette of a female student with a backpack on the other side.

“Gotta jet, Danny,” Lee said, grateful to cut this particular conversation short. “There’s a young lady here who needs to see me.”

“Awesome timing,” Danny chuckled. “I’ll talk to you at eight, and remember… stables, bro, stables.”

“Whatever,” Lee grumbled, and snapped the phone shut with a not-so-subtle clack.

****

Lee Summerston and Daniel Tucker met during their sophomore year in high school when Danny’s father (a world-renowned psychologist and
New York Times
bestselling author) had broken from his partners in Miami and relocated the family to Lee’s hometown of Tampa to launch his own practice. Both having a huge love for music, they enrolled in a beginner’s guitar class, and after being paired up for a project during the first week, the duo instantly hit it off to become fast friends.

After graduation, Lee wasted no time applying for colleges before ultimately being accepted at FSU while Danny—having been hammered with his father’s “I did this all for you” speech since childhood—stayed behind in Tampa for junior college and a gofer position with the family business. That decision would be short-lived as, a year later—having nowhere near the grades for pre-med and all but bombed out of the job—Danny packed a suitcase, filed his Pell grant application, and headed north to join his best friend in Tallahassee. Needless to say, the move thrilled Lee, who hadn’t yet found his way into any particular circle of friends.