Hard Choices, Pt. 5

As Dan pulled up to Gino’s warehouse and parked, a slight feeling of unease filled his gut. He wished Maddie could have come with him.

She’d been called last minute this morning about an event tomorrow, so it was all hands on deck for her and her crew.

Which meant he had to leave her alone. Well, she wasn’t technically alone… She was with her crew, but still… As long as she was involved with all this, it felt wrong to let her be outside his range of protection.

He chuckled sardonically.

How had Joshie’s snarky little sister broken down his defenses like this? Was it really just because she reminded him of his own sister?

With a small shake of his head, Dan decided not to pursue that avenue of thought any further.

He got out of the car and entered the warehouse, searching for Gino.

“Hey, hey, look who came back.” The familiar Bronx accent greeted him, followed by the man it belonged to.

After one of those handshake hug things that men do to show affection while still seeming somewhat masculine, Gino spoke up again.

“Where’s the doll? I was looking forward to seeing her again.” A playful wink accompanied his statement.

“I know you were,” Dan replied with a chuckle. “She had a last minute work thing, so she couldn’t make it. I’ll fill her in later.”

“Shame.”

Dan agreed with that completely, but didn’t say so.

“So, what’d you find out?”

Gino’s expression sobered as he looked Dan in the eye.

“More than you likely bargained for.”

***

As I began the long and tedious job of wrapping napkins around silverware for the place settings, my thoughts once again returned to Dan.

I wondered what Gino had to say. Had he found the information we need?

I knew Dan trusted him, but I wasn’t yet sure if I did… He seemed nice enough, but he lived in a warehouse, for heaven’s sake. That didn’t exactly scream dependable.

But perhaps that wasn’t his main residence, just where he hung out a lot.

Eh, either way, I supposed it wasn’t much my business. As long as he could give us what we need, then I guess his living situation didn’t matter all that much.

“Ms. Brooke?”

The voice of my new employee startled me out of my thoughts.

“Yes, Sara?”

The sixteen-year-old Sara Marshall had just joined our crew last week, and was still needing a lot of, well, to put it bluntly, babysitting.

“I finished vacuuming… What would you like me to do next?”

I took a look around the reception hall, considering her request. There was still a heck of a lot more work to do, but we had made considerable progress, under the circumstances.

A previous client was getting married tomorrow, and when the wedding was first being planned, her sister had wanted to do it, so she had let her.

I had made the mistake of telling her that if anything happened, and she needed me to do it after all, to let me know.

How was I supposed to know that the sister would get the flu yesterday, and the bride would be calling me at the crack of dawn this morning with an “emergency”?

It was insanity.

But… I was grateful for the work. I might need all of it that I can get if Randall decides to be less than generous when we oust him.

The thought of Randall threatened to take my mind down yet another rabbit trail…

Realizing that I still hadn’t answered Sara, I quickly refocused my thoughts and decided what I could have her do.

“Alright, go ahead and put all the chairs back that you moved in order to vacuum, and then work on steaming the tablecloths. After that, you can ask Marcia what the next thing is.”

I offered her a smile as she scurried away to do what was asked.

As I watched her from across the room, I realized that she reminded me very much of myself when I first started… Eager to learn and help and do everything she can.

Marcia walked up to her and began helping her with the chairs.

Marcia had been my saving grace from the moment my business started getting more popular… I can do a lot of things, but there is only so much that one mind can be in charge of in a business like this. It was wonderful having her as my business partner. She was perfect for the job.

And she’ll be a perfect replacement, too, when I leave.

The thought startled me.

Where did that come from?

Leave? Where would I go? I love this work. I mean, yes, she would be the perfect fit for the job if I were to… not be in charge anymore…

But why wouldn’t I be?

What was I thinking? All these questions were pointless.

I’d in fact been thinking about this since yesterday morning, when I realized how exhilarating this case was. I’d been considering how that sort of career choice could suit me.

But with a shake of my head, I dismissed that line of thought.

This was my job. And I loved it. I didn’t need anything else disrupting my life right now. When this case was over, it was over, and I would have to be fine with that.

I looked at the clock.

2:15 pm.

Dan had already finished the stakeout for the day, and he must still be talking with Gino.

***

Dan pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger, trying to ward off the headache that Gino’s news was beginning to cause and let out a low groan.

“Told ya you wouldn’t like it.” Gino remarked with grim sarcasm.

“I never expected to like it. I just wasn’t expecting this.” He spoke through gritted teeth. “And why do I feel like this is only the tip of the iceberg?”

“Because it probably is, Danno. Even Vinnie thinks there’s somethin’ fishy with it all.”

“And that’s saying something.”

Gino nodded.

“My baby bro hasn’t always been the best at spotting red flags, has he?”

They both chuckled.

“Remember that time when we were kids, and we snuck into my aunt’s bakery to see how many croissants we could eat without getting caught?” Dan smiled as he spoke. “And when she saw us, he lied through his teeth about us not being the ones.” He laughed.

“Oh goodness yes, and then your aunt was so amused by his attempt that we ended up getting out of it scot-free… With a stern warning, of course. Still didn’t stop us from doing it again. That was just the last time we got caught.”

The two men laughed heartily at the memory.

“Oh boy… Them were good times, weren’t they?” Dan said with a wistful smile.

“Yessiree, Danno, yessiree.”

Dan clapped a hand on Gino’s shoulder, and his expression sobered.

“Thank you, Gino. For everything. We’ve been friends for longer than I can remember.”

Gino put his hand on Dan’s shoulder in return.

“Anytime, brother.” He hesitated. “It’s unfortunate that life has taken me on the path that it has. You were smart. You avoided a lot of it. I can’t help but wonder sometimes how differently Vinnie and I could have turned out if we’d just listened to you when you told us that those kids were bad news. Because that was the beginning of the end for us. I got out when I went into the military, but… I don’t think Vinnie will ever make it out. Not without a miracle.”

Dan sighed.

“Gino… If there’s one thing life has taught me, it’s that we can’t change the past. We can only move forward and change our future.”

Gino nodded and dropped his hand.

“Yeah, Danno… You’re onto something with that one.” His signature cocky smirk returned. “But I can’t have you going all philosophical on me now.”

Dan chuckled.

“I should go… Maddie’s probably crawling out of her skin wondering what we’re talking about.”

“Maddie? I thought her name was Maddison, Danno…” He waggled his brows at his friend suggestively.

Dan shoved him playfully.

“It’s what her brother calls her. And her brother is a good friend, so don’t even.”

Gino laughed and began to walk away, shaking his head.

“Go get them, Danno!”

Dan gave a dismissive wave of his hand as he left the warehouse… But he couldn’t deny the smile that was on his face.