Page 89 of Shades of Henry
“Aw, man!” The two boys were disappointed as well, but Jackson told them to enjoy the pool and they could have hot dogs and cake when they got out.
“Cake?” Rhonda—his brother’s wife—asked. She arched a shaped eyebrow at him, and he seemed to melt. Rhonda was gorgeous, model-quality stunning, with skin a rich earthy bronze and an elegant oval face, but it was more than that. Jackson’s family, however they had come to be, seemed to be the one thing that could ground him.
“Ellery had a bakery just sort of go to town,” Jackson admitted. “I mean, my idea of a barbecue and his are very different.”
Rhonda’s laugh was deep and layered. She knew this man, and she was as worried as the rest of the world. “You let him plan all this? Good boy. Make sure you eat some of that cake.”
Jackson winked at her and then walked over to where Reg, Bobby, and John were treading water.
“Did Ellery and Galen talk to you?” John asked, flicking Henry an inscrutable glance before turning back to Jackson.
Jackson rolled his eyes. “Yes and yes. Are you kidding me? Seriously, you waited until now because you knew he’d be less stiff-necked about it, didn’t you.”
John gave him a toothy grin and neatly bopped the ball as it came his way from Reg, who hadn’t picked up yet that he was talking. “You give us too much credit,” John said. “We just wanted Henry to feel like he had a reason to stay in the area.”
Henry frowned. “I wasn’t planning on leaving!”
Jackson looked at him from across the pool and then moved closer. “That’s the point, Junior. Staying.”
Henry blinked at him. “I’ve got nothing.”
Jackson laughed, the sound breathy but true. “Galen has just asked to be Ellery’s first partner. Which means they are both paying rent in that office, which means we have some money freed up.” He grimaced. “Ellery’s mother has come up with some sort of scholarship scam for AJ—” He looked over his shoulder, because Henry had been sure he’d seen the quiet, almost timid gopher and friend hanging in a corner of Ellery’s living room with his boyfriend. “It’s a chance for him to go back to school, study electronics and surveillance and basically that end of the business.”
“Something that’ll keep him out of danger,” Henry said baldly.
Jackson shrugged. “Some of us are more comfortable with it than others. How about you, kid? You want to join the firm? Be their information gatherer while I’m laid up? Help when I get back on my feet? You’ll have flexible hours when school starts, and of course, you’ll be Galen’s driver because hey, he’s part of the firm, but….” Jackson’s eyes twinkled, reminding Henry of Jackson’s perpetually horny friend who had offered him a job cleaning houses. “It beats working for Hurricane Joey—”
“And his nine-inch dick,” Henry filled in wickedly.
“Right?” They shared a memory, Henry realized. A good one, of an exciting day. Jackson had almost died that day, but Henry had been cleared of murder.
And they had both lived to tell the tale.
“So, I can tell people I’m…?” Because he didn’t have a license, not yet.
“A PI in training,” Jackson said, winking. “Are you?”
Henry grinned. “Yep.”
“Good,” Kane said without even turning from watching Frances. “I’ll be by next week to help you move.”
“No need,” Lance said. “I’m buying all new furniture and having it delivered. Are you kidding? Do you know how excited I’ll be tonotsleep on something that’s been in that apartment?”
Kane actually turned and nodded at the both of them. “That is probably the better choice,” he said sagely. “You guys come by afterwards. We’ll make you dinner.”
Jackson extended his hand and Henry took it. “See you Monday morning,” he said. “Galen already confirmed. You and me—we’re gonna have to work together without killing each other.”
“That’ll be a challenge,” Henry said. “I can’t wait.”
Tiny Demons
LANCE WASnever sure how John did it. Did he know the person who owned the complex? Did he have blackmail material on someone? Lance knew some of the guys rented out for spare change—had sexual favors been exchanged? Lance had no clue.
But whatever his evil powers, he really did get Lance and Henry an apartment to lease in the same building. Downstairs and to the right, apartment 126B.
Two bedrooms, one bath, new carpet, and it smelled like new paint and not old jizz.
The guys in the flophouse were ecstatic.
