Chapter 108: Fishing
*Everybody has a job to do, and you just know that every day you have to what it takes to get there. – J. J. Watt*
Marnie and Ella sat at the back of the sanctuary and for once they did not argue or whine. And when Ella began to cry, as she was prone to do, Marnie hugged her close without a deep sigh or complaint. They had only met Mary a few times and were there more for Reese than anything else.
“That poor baby.” Ella whispered as Dean spoke about her mother.
Marnie kissed the top of her head and agreed. The blonde little rested her head on the brat’s shoulder and Marnie knew that Ella was fighting to not suck her thumb. When she was emotional, her little personality ruled her. And this, watching a child say goodbye to her mother, was emotional.
They were some of the first ones to leave the church and get in their car.
“I know you don’t feel like a big girl, but you did really good.” Marnie told the younger woman.
“Thank you.” Ella whispered as her thumb went into her mouth.
Marnie started the car and turned the heater up to get rid of the chill in the air. Ella reached over and turned the radio to her Taylor Swift playlist. At least it wasn’t the kid’s playlist. Looking around, Marnie wondered where Steve was. She knew that he would be close by because she had seen the other man.
Henry Fargo.
He kept his coat collar up and Fedora pulled down low. But she had seen lots of pictures of him recently. As soon as she saw him, she messaged Steve.
*You’re being such a good girl. Take care of my Little and I’ll have a gift for you later.*
Steve sat in his own current rental car watching everyone file out of the church. Henry walked across the street to the shopping center parking lot. He left before the procession formed.
“Chunk?” Steve said into the two-way radio piece around his neck, hidden under his collar.
“I’ve got him.” Came the reply.
Steve followed on a parallel road and when Henry turned towards him, they traded. Henry went to his house and Steve pulled into the driveway next door. He had rented the house in early December on a month-to-month lease. As he got out of the car, he held his phone up to his ear.
“I don’t care!” Steve said into his dead phone, taking on the persona that he had created for this job. “He’s my son and you’re not going to keep me away from him.”
“Don’t lay it on too thick, Bossman.” Chunk advised.
‘I know. Seven tomorrow night or I will call my lawyer again.”
That seemed to be the words that were needed, Henry waved at the other man as he walked across the dying yard. There were a few patches of grass that were still hanging on for dear life. But after the latest dip in temperatures, even they were losing the fight.
With a frustrated growl, Steve ended the nonexistent call. “Women.”
“Don’t I know it.” Henry agreed. “My son is going through a nasty divorce. I know all about it.”
“Yeah?” Steve asked. “How’s it going for him?”
“She’s being a bitch and won’t even talk to him or try to work it out.”
“I wonder why.” Chunk said dryly in Steve’s ear.
“Yeah, my ex is trying to keep my boy from me. Don’t think we’ve met, I’m Steve Nash.” He learned a long time ago that it’s easier to keep a cover if it was close to your own.
“Henry Fargo. My wife and son are on a retreat but should be back next week.” He said shaking the other man’s hand.
“Damn, I ain’t ever heard jail called that before.” Chunk laughed.
“But you stayed?” Steve asked, trying to sound curious and not laugh at the voice in his ear.
“Work.” Henry shrugged in his black suit.
Steve nodded, “I understand.”
“There’s another man that I see…”
“My business partner, Chunk.”
“Why’d you have to bring me into this?” Chunk complained in his ear.
“Chunk?” Henry asked.
“Like from the Goonies.”
“Really?” Chunk complained. “I hate that movie.”
“It was his favorite movie growing up.” Steve continued. "You know the Chunk Shuffle.”
Chunk groaned. He had received the nickname in high school as a linebacker. He was the big chunk of the line. Everyone assumed it was the movie. He was constantly asked to do the Chunk Shuffle.
Steve, being a good boss and even better friend, antagonized his employee and friend as often as possible.
“I see you two around a lot.”
“We work from home.” Steve said. “Well, his home. I have an apartment.”
Chunk scoffed in his ear about his two-story six-bedroom house being called an apartment.
“We do internet security and investigations.” Steve grinned. “Along with *other* things.”
“Oh?” Henry grinned. “Can you do background checks on people?”
“That shits easy.” Stee grinned.
“Cast that line and see if we can catch us a big fish.” Chunk laughed.
Steve pulled out a card for the business that they always used as a cover and handed it over. “It’s making stuff disappear and adding history that takes more skill. Everything leaves a trace; you have to eliminate the trace of the information and the trace of your work.”
“Maybe you can help my son.”
“Reel him in, Bossman!”
“Sure.” Steve looked at his watch. “I can show you some of the stuff I did to my ex. But I’ve got a meeting in about ten minutes. I’m free around three if that works?”
“Three works for me.” Henry grinned.
They shook hands again and each headed into their respective houses. As soon as he was in the professionally decorated house, Steve sent two messages. The first was to Reese.
*We’re in*
And the second was to his younger sister.
*I need to borrow my nephew. And when you drop him off at Chunk’s temporary rental, can you act like a vindictive bitch? Love you*
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