Acoustic Shadows

‘And, in another breaking story from Florida,’ she went on to report, ‘a six-year-old boy shot and killed his four-year-old brother last night, after finding one of his father’s loaded guns in the bedroom. The father, a former firefighter, owned sixteen guns. Police say all were loaded, and none had trigger locks. The six-year-old is in the custody of Florida’s Department of Family and Children’s Services as of this morning. Police officials say the father has been arrested and may be charged with manslaughter …’

Bullock pulled Thiery off to the side while the governor briefed his press secretary.

‘Justin, I know you don’t care for the man, but you’re smart enough to know who butters your bread. I’m almost out the door, but if you handle this case as well as I know you can, they might look at you to replace me.’

Thiery frowned at him. ‘That’s supposed to be some kind of incentive?’

Bullock shrugged his shoulders, sweat beginning to bead on his shining black scalp as he cooked under the sun. There were bags under his bulging eyes, and his jowls hung like leather satchels on a big, beefy Harley-Davidson.

‘I can’t be a politician like you, Jim. I still like being a cop too much.’

‘Thanks, man. Why don’t you just kick me in the balls?’ Bullock said, allowing a slight smile. ‘Well, if you don’t want my job, try to keep cool so you don’t lose yours.’

‘I’m sorry, Jim. You were a good cop, too, but you know how it is; I can’t stand someone up my ass.’

‘You knew there were going to be increased responsibilities when you came to work with me. Don’t blow it now. You can last a few more years, can’t you?’

Thiery looked at the ground, his hands in his pockets. ‘Sometimes, I think I can’t last another five minutes when I get around this governor.’

‘Oh, c’mon. Hang in there. Show him what you can do. Hell, at the rate he’s going, he won’t be in office another term.’

‘We can only hope. Okay. Sure. You know I’ll do my best.’

‘You going to be able to work with Logan again?’ asked Bullock.

Thiery chewed the inside of his cheek. ‘Working with her was never the problem.’

‘I know,’ said Bullock, his tone consolatory. ‘You had a tough enough time raising the boys after Adrienne left. Then, the shit you got from your own department … ’

‘You mean when my co-workers started gossiping that maybe I’d done away with my wife? Shit. Why would that bother anyone?’

‘I know, I know. You got the crappy end of the stick, for sure. I was just saying, you didn’t need Logan doing you dirty, too.’

‘It takes two to tango. I should’a known better. She was married. Still is, I think. It was a mistake made by a stupid guy feeling sorry for himself. My bad.’

There was nothing else to say as Thiery allowed to guilt to envelope him. After a moment, Bullock broke the silence.

‘All right, then. When I get back, you come over to the house. I’ll get Helen to make some of her fried chicken and collard greens,’ he offered, then added, ‘or some other redneck favourite of yours; friggin’ hillbilly.’

Thiery laughed. Bullock making fun of his southern accent was a joke they’d shared for years. Grinning ridiculously, Bullock squeezed his shoulder.

‘That’s better. Now, I gotta get going, too. I’ll see you in a few days. Okay?’

‘You bet,’ said Thiery, just as the governor came back.

‘Ready to go?’ asked Croll.

‘Absolutely,’ replied Thiery, and he managed to give Bullock a wink, unseen by the governor. ‘See you, boss.’

Once on the plane, Thiery sat quietly as the governor pored over documents. After a half-hour, he looked up at Thiery, his face taking on a countenance of supreme knowledge. As if just remembering something, he reached into his tailored and severely pressed slacks and pulled out a silver dollar. He handed it to him.

‘My father gave that to me when I started my first business. Said he wanted to give me my first dollar earned.’ He paused like a preacher considering the next words of his sermon. ‘I’ve always believed in that: a man earning what he wants.’

Thiery nodded and looked out the small window of the private jet. He guessed where Croll was steering the conversation, but he wasn’t taking the bait.

‘I went on to earn over a half-billion of those,’ Croll bragged. ‘I’m not bragging. Just wanted to let you know where I came from. What’s important to me.’

‘I know where you’re coming from, Governor,’ said Thiery.

He leaned forward, a slight smile on his face. He held out his hand, palm up, the coin flashing in the light through the cabin window. Thiery waved his other hand over the coin, once, then again. The coin vanished after the second pass.

‘Well, I’ll be damned, Agent Thiery. I didn’t know you knew magic! You should do that for my grandson sometime.’

Thiery nodded and went back to looking outside. He could see Croll staring at him in the reflection of the plane’s window, wanting his dollar back. He saw him blinking nervously, his Adam’s apple moving up and down, like a snake swallowing something, trying to figure out a way to ask for his money back without seeming as if he needed it.

‘I, er … uh …’ Croll mumbled. ‘That coin has some sentimental value.’

‘It’s in your top pocket,’ said Thiery, calmly.

Croll reached in – too quickly – and found it there. He beamed, but Thiery noted the sweat on his forehead.

Thiery physically had to bite his tongue as the governor’s words echoed through his head: Now you know where I’m coming from.

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