Page 11 of A Soldier's Pledge
“In the office? Everyone has access to some of the things, there are separate logins for each of the agents. The MLS is built into the system, and everyone has access to that.”
“What’s the MLS?”
“Multiple Listing Service. It’s basically a huge database of all available homes, usually with pictures. It also gives information about upcoming open houses, caravans, and listing agents.”
“Caravans?”
She rolled her eyes. “No, not what you’re thinking. A caravan is a once-a-month occurrence when a bunch of real estate agents travel from one new listing to another to get a feel for all of the homes, etc. before they start showing them to their clients.”
“Gotcha. All of your agents have access to that?”
“Yes, but not just mine. Any licensed real estate agent can get access to the realtor side, and then there is the public side.”
“The public has the same access?”
“No. But the can see a listing of all of the homes for sale and the realtors to contract for more information to see the house.”
“Fuck. I was hoping it would be easier to narrow it down.”
“It might be. Let me get the laptop.”
“While you’re doing that I’ll make more coffee.”
“Perfect.”
After starting the coffee, he called Steele to see if he’d heard anything new.
“Fuck, seriously dude? I don’t get enough of you while we’re at work?” Steele said and laughed. “I guess I should be happy I didn’t hear from you last night. I figured after the LT called you’d be sending me a text to meet you at the scene.”
“I thought about it, but I was at Anna’s, and I was cooking.”
“No way. It’s about fucking time. I thought I was going to have to lock you two in a room until you could work out your shit.”
“There was nothing to work out. I told you we were going slow.”
“Bro, there’s slow, and then there’s fucked up. Do you need me to tell you which it was?”
Ethan laughed. He and Steele had hit it off in the academy and were lucky enough to get assigned as partners after they both made detective. He’d been his first friend outside of the Air Force and appreciated his blunt style, even if most people didn’t.
“Just shut the fuck up already. I called for a reason, not an ass-reaming.”
“Yeah, yeah. What’s up?”
“I’ve been talking to Anna about the case, and we’re going over her listings. Can you grab the files from the station and bring them over? We’ve got leftovers from last night’s dinner, so I’ll make it worth your while.”
“Yeah, no problem. Did you check with your ball n’ chain to see if it’s okay?”
“Again, shut the fuck up. And you’d better be on your best behavior when you’re here, or I’ll toss you in the pool.”
“I’m just busting you.”
“I know that but Anna won’t. She hasn’t been around you like I have. You only met her the one time, and since it was at the station, you were sort of on your better behavior. I don’t think you ever have a ‘best’ behavior.”
“Fuck you. But yeah, you got it. I’ll be a boy scout.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it. Oh, can you bring a t-shirt too?”
“I’m not even going to ask, but yeah. See you in about an hour.”
