Page 66 of Just Trouble

“Of course. Right on time for our call.” My dad reaches for his phone before indicating that I should shut his office door behind me.

Why is Luke in jail? What did he do?

When did he do it? Is this the reason he’s been AWOL all weekend? Or am I making excuses for him? Why would he call the office instead of my cell phone?

I’m in my car before I realize that Luke could have called his mom for help. She’s right in Havelock. Should I be flattered that he called me instead?

No. His mom isn’t a lawyer. I’m moreuseful.

And of course, he’d want to protect her from this truth.

Breaking and entering.At the Foreman place, against every expectation. Why there? It’s been empty for years. Also, Patrick is the owner of the building. Did that contribute to Luke’s decision?

To the cop on the other side of the desk, it’s not complicated. A neighbour saw suspicious activity around an empty building and called the cops. They arrived, found Luke where he shouldn’t have been, and arrested him.

But there are no damages and nothing missing. To my amazement, the property owner doesn’t want to press charges. That seems out of character for Patrick, but I’m not going to complain. Even the neighbour doesn’t care anymore.

I do tell the officer which Luke Jones he is, and it turns out that Luke has fans in Havelock.

We agree that it’s mischief, that it won’t happen again, and that if it does, the repercussions will be more serious.

A big cop walks me down to the cell, I think maybe because he wants an autograph. The Havelock police station isn’t huge and it’s not stuffed to the rafters with dangerous criminals. There are a couple of holding cells, one of which is empty on this Monday morning.

I don’t expect Luke to be contrite. I’m not even surprised that he’s unrepentant.

I did not expect the jubilation.

But there’s no denying that Luke Jones is over the moon. He’s pacing back and forth, humming to himself and singing snatches of a song I don’t know.

Ivan Ross, Empire’s amiable town drunk, is propped up in the corner of the bottom bunk, watching Luke. Ivan looks rougher than the last time I saw him—a little puffier, a little paler, considerably less clean. You’d think the amount of time he spends in jail would loosen the clutch of his habit, but no luck so far.

“What do think, Ivan? This finale or the other one?” Luke hums something, his back to me as he waits for Ivan’s verdict.

“I like the other one,” Ivan says. “It sounds happier.”

“But it’s a ballad, Ivan. It’s supposed to sound romantic, not happy.”

“Ah.” Ivan straightens at the sight of me, and runs a trembling hand over his stained shirt as if that will make a difference. “Mz. Bradshaw! Come to spring me?”

Luke spins to face me and his eyes light. “Daph!” My heart goes skippity-bump with such predictability that I frown. Luke’s probably patented that expression of delight because it works so well on susceptible females. For all I know, it works on guys, too.

Ivaniswatching him with a measure of adoration.

“Not today, Ivan,” I say, very aware of the cop who has escorted me. I look back and he murmurs something. “I understand that a counsellor from social services is on the way.” Ivan looks unhappy about this, but I’m relieved. I set that up for him the last time he was busted for singing in the middle of the night on Queen Street. He’s mostly harmless, but that doesn’t mean his addiction should continue untreated.

The cop remains behind me, his arms folded across his chest. I speak crisply, willing Luke to behave. It’s a long shot. “Good morning, Mr. Jones.”

He smiles just a little—yes,thatsmile—his gaze sliding to the watchful cop. “Good morning, Ms. Bradshaw. I apologize for interrupting your morning.”

“All in a day’s work, Mr. Jones.”

“I wasn’t sure you sprang felons free.”

“Small town.” I tick items off on my fingers. “I do divorces, real estate closures, power of attorney agreements, wills, bail hearings, court appearances, custody agreements, and whatever else the job demands. No criminal cases, though, so one day, you might be out of luck.”

He’s undaunted. “But today?”

“Breaking and entering downgraded to a public nuisance charge, which can be resolved by payment of a fee.”

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