I don’t wait tosee what happens in the pub. Instead, I throw a ten-dollar bill onthe counter for my inedible slop and leave. Sitting in my truck, Itext Ed, “First case solved, kid found.” I actually feel proud ofmyself, not an emotion I’m used to. A part of me wants to callKatie and tell her the good news, but I can’t. I promised myselfthat I would let her go. I’ve got to stay the course on that. It’sfor her own good. Still, I can’t help wondering what she must befeeling? I haven’t responded to any of her attempts atcommunicating with me.
* * *
Dad is on thecouch when I get home, “Hi, kid. How’s your day so far?”
“Great.Yours?”
“Pretty great,too,” he says smiling.
“Why? What’s sogreat?” I ask.
“I got a jobtoday.”
“Really?” I sayexcitedly.
“Yep. It’s onlya few days a week, but it’s a job.”
“That’swonderful, Dad. Where will you be working?”
“Well, it’s notthe most sophisticated place, that’s for sure, but I’ve been hiredon at a bottle depot.”
“That’sawesome. You’ve just gotten out of the clink and you’re alreadyworking. I’d say you are kicking ass and taking names.”
He smiles. “So,what about you? You said you are having a great day too? Why isthat?”
“I solved myfirst case today.”
A look of prideradiates through his smile, as he stands up and hugs me, “That’s mytiger. I knew you had it in you.”
* * *
We take thepassenger ferry to Granville Island and spend the rest of theafternoon walking around the market and looking at the boats in themarina. It’s such a beautiful day.
“I wish Mom andAbby were here with us,” I say.
My dad smilesand says, “They are, sweetie. They are.”
In the market,we pass the meat counter. I’d love to buy us ribeye steaks fordinner, but my bank account is almost dry. We’ll have to settle forwhatever is in the cupboards at the apartment. I can tell by theway he’s checking out the food that Dad is thinking the same thing.“When I get my first pay cheque, Jules, we’re coming back here toload up on some primo grub.”
“Deal,” I say,winking.
* * *
After ourafternoon of bonding, we’re back home. I grab the remote and sitdown. I’m just about to turn on the TV when I get a text message.It’s Ed. “Congratulations on a job well done, Jules. Come by theoffice tomorrow morning to pick up your cheque.”
Very cool, myfirst pay as a P.I. I’m not expecting very much money, as I’m stilllearning the ropes. However, it would be nice to shoot Jason a fewbucks for letting me stay at the apartment, especially since I havemy dad here too. After watching a couple of movies and dining on KDfrom the cupboard, it’s bedtime. I’m not sure if it is because ofall that clean sea air I breathed in today or because of theemotional impact from wrapping up the case, but I’m so tired thatmy head barely hits the pillow before I fall asleep.
* * *
This morning,with Dad off to work, I jump in the truck and head to the office.When I arrive, Ed is on the phone, as usual. With a bit moreconfidence, I sit down across from him. I hear him tell the personon the other end of the phone that he will be sure to thank Julesfor them. When he hangs up, he smiles, “That was Amanda Caulfield.She said that her son is due to go into treatment for his cocaineaddiction tomorrow. She wanted me to extend her thanks to you.”
I nod, feelingproud.
Still lookingat me, he pulls open a desk drawer and then slides me a cheque.Please let it be worth at least a few hundred. I really need thecash, though, if I tally the hours that I worked on solving thecase, my hopes may be a little ambitious. Not wanting to seem tooeager, I fold the cheque without looking at it. Ed tells me thatthere’s no new cases in the books but something new should come upfast. It always does. “Just be ready,” he says. When his phonerings, I stand up, wave and walk out.
* * *
Back in thetruck, I unfold the cheque. When I see the amount, I freeze. Theremust be some mistake. Ed must have written the amount out wrong.Five thousand dollars? There’s no way I earned this much money injust a few short days. Maybe Ed is just yanking my chain, Imean…Jason has a great sense of humor, maybe his dad does too. I’msure this is some sort of initiation into the company joke. I pickup my phone and dial the office. Ed answers immediately.
“Ed, you’revery funny. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
“What are yougoing on about?” He says.
“Oh, come on,Ed. The cheque? I get the joke. As if you would hand me a chequefor five grand.”
He breaks intolaughter, “It’s no joke. The client paid well because they wantedfast results. It was a special case. You are right; it’s
