Chapter 1
Rylie hawker looked into the mirror. She has a round face, outlined by her shoulder length brown hair. She had a mark on her cheek, something to distract one’s eyes from the otherwise pale skin. It seemed to add distinctiveness and only seemed to contrast against her skin, adding to her beauty. She was brushing her hair, getting the knots out from sleep.
In the other room she heard the sudden noise of Andrew waking up in the next room. She rolled her eyes and glanced at her watch. He had managed to sleep an extra 5 minutes without her next to him. She knew he had had insomnia for the longest time. The only way he could sleep for more than 4 hours is by having her next to him. She thought it was adorable.
She heard him get up and approach the bathroom door. She stopped glaring suspiciously at the door. Sometimes Andrew would try to get in and kiss her. Something she had a pet peeve against. The bathroom was one use at a time. That was that.
He surprised her, however, when he knocked.
“You alive baby doll? Or are you lying on the ground bleeding out?”
“Im alive baby.” she responded with a chuckle.
“Thank Dracula.” he said.
“Dracula?” she asked. She popped the door open a crack, to see his arrogant smile.
“Got your attention, didn’t it?” he said.
She rolled her eyes and closed the door. Despite herself she couldn’t help but smile. He had been awake for 30 seconds and had already made her day a little better. She was happy.
She finished her business in the bathroom, and came out presentable in her opinion. She smelled coffee from the kitchen and shook her head. She walked in and saw to her delight Andrew had filled her mug with coffee. She knew he didn’t drink coffee himself, but he had learned exactly how she liked it made.
She picked it up and sipped. She smiled and listened for him. They lived in a small house. Just the two of them for now. They liked it there. Simple lives with each other and she was happy. They had inherited her father’s security clinic. Andrew had gotten a degree in Marketing and business degree, mostly because he had no idea what he actually wanted to do throughout college, and that seemed the most open ended. It had worked. He was able to run and expand her father’s company.
Rylie herself had gotten a criminal justice degree. Right out of college she had gotten a job for the best security she could manage. At the mall of america. Andrew had often teased her that it took four years for her to become a mall cop, but they both knew that the mall was the starting ground for all kinds of security benefits. FBI recruiters often went there, and the experience was good for her when her dad finally decided to retire and give her a piece of the pie to inherit.
Rylie was 29 years old. Andrew was 28. They had been married for 3 years. Two years ago Andrew had ended his term with the national guard. A maturing and good experience, but after his first deployment they both agreed that he was needed at home. So they waited for his term to end and when it did he didn’t reenlist. He left under good circumstances and left it at that.
Rylie heard Andrew downstairs, working out. He was clearly trying to get an early start. She went down to see him. He was doing push ups. Despite not still being in the military he believed in physical fitness, she thought it was just so he had abs for her. He had been working intensely and had started to break sweat across his forehead. She openly checked him out in the doorway. He noticed and laughed.
“Enjoying the view?”
“Maybe.” she replied. “You’re getting an early start got something planned?”
“I’ve got to catch up on paperwork. Jack says our newest trainee is finished with his requirements. I’ve got to get his employment papers finished and start working on assigning him somewhere.” Andrew had the habit of not stopping when he was talking.
“What did Jack say about him?” she asked.
“He said that he was probably going to relapse into laziness and forget everything hes been working on for the last 3 months.” Andrew was starting to struggle so he switched to situps to give his arms a break.
“Well they can’t all be gems.” she said. “Anything else today?”
“Meeting with a client.” he said. “They still aren’t convinced that we’re better than what they got.”
“What brilliant plan are you planning on?”
He shrugged. “Minor felony? Break in leaving a note so they know how vulnerable they are.”
“Please don’t.” Rylie knew he was joking. “I don’t want to bail you out of jail.”
He smiled at her as he resumed push ups. “Yes ma’am. What will you be doing?”
“I’ll be doing some surprise inspections. That old church where my dad started maybe.” she said.
“Be sure you bring Cassius” Andrew said.
Cassius was a large German shepherd. Andrew, being paranoid but sweet, had Cassius trained to be an attack dog. Something he insisted Rylie took with her whenever she went out. She didn’t mind. She liked having a bad ass dog that growls at any threat.
Rylie called for Cassius, who came and was looking goofier than a cartoon character.
“Hey babe.” Andrew stopped doing sit ups and stood up.
“Yeah?”
He kissed her. “I love you babe. Have a wonderful day, I’ll see you tonight.”
She loved him. She only had one thing to settle. Then she’d be ready.
Jackson Tideland was tired. His wife, Elizabeth, had woken him up early by accident as she got ready for her job. Jack hadn’t been able to fall back asleep so he had to resolve for an early rise. He had made sure his daughter had some actual breakfast before leaving for school and then he had headed for work.
Jack taught karate at his dad’s old dojo. He taught Brazilian jiu jitsu and shotokan karate. The same that his dad had taught him throughout his childhood. His dad had set up his own dojo and never looked back. It had succeeded for years until he retired and Jack, being the oldest child, was given the option to take over the business. It had been only recently that his dad had fully retired. He liked to keep things where he could influence it, but finally admitted it was time to let go.
When Jack had begun taking a more active role in the business, his best friend, Andrew, was just taking over a security firm clinic with his newly wed wife Rylie. They had come up with an agreement that had helped push the dojo into an even more profitable standing. Andrew would send trainees there for 3 months, which he paid for. The steady flow of customers allowed Jackson to give Andrew a generous discount, which they both agreed on. Often, the trainees would continue to train at his dojo out of their own pocket afterwards.
The drive to the dojo was unspectacular. When he arrived at the dojo he opened the doors and went over to fuse box. Taped labeled showing which fuses shut down the building but kept the security system on, also complimentary of Andrew.
Jack flicked the switches and the TV in his office turned on. The afternoon teacher must’ve been using it when he left. The afternoons between classes were quiet, they had an open mat and gym, all the teacher really had to do was make sure nobody was hurting themselves. He allowed them to watch TV to help pass the time.
The TV was immediately turned to the news channel.
“-last night at around 2 am neighbors reportedly heard a loud explosion from the Comelo apartments parking lot. Police were called and found a car on fire, police have not confirmed if there is a body, however owner of Comelo apartments confirmed that the car belonged to a John Greenback, who is reportedly missing this morning. The fire department was also called to a local fire not far downtown to an automobile garage, also owned by John Greenback.”
“And the police are still refusing to comment on who is responsible for the heinous crime?”
“The police are not commenting on whether or not this was murder at all, as the case is still new and-”
Jack was distracted as the chime of the door went off and he heard a familiar bark behind him. Jack turned off the TV and turned to see Rylie there. When she and Andrew had started dating she had become like family to him, for all their differences.
“Rylie! I wasn’t expecting you. I’m afraid I don’t have any coffee.”
“No need Jack. I know you don’t drink it.” she held up a mug before taking a sip.
“What brings you by? That trainee won’t be here for at least 6 hours.”
“I wanted to talk to you. Preferably before everyone shows up.” Rylie took the guest chair in his office, and jack sat down.
“You’ve known Andrew all you life right?” she said.
“Since we were eight years old. I believe.” he smiled. “Andrew hated me because I stole his scooter.”
“You made up.” she smiled.
“Indeed. Anyway what is it your wondering?”
“Well. me and Andrew are pretty well situated and it seems we’re in a good place. And I’ve been wondering-”
“If it’s time to have a kid?” Jack said.
“How did you know?” she demanded.
“Andrew had a similar talk with me, wondering when you were going to be ready.”
“Pfff.” she said. “So what do you think? Do you think Andrews ready?”
“I think he’s still as much of a child as the day I met him.” Jack said. “He’s always making jokes, acting on impulses, and living life. But he’s also one of the toughest guys I know. He’s done so much, dealt with so much stress you and me would have crumbled. But he’s always come out the same man as before. I believe underneath his smiling face lies a mature, tough and intelligent man.”
“So he’s ready?”
“I’m saying he’s been ready for a long time.” Jack said. “And that both of you, you included, will make great parents.”
Rylie smiled. “Thank you Jack. I think I just needed someone to say it.”
“No problem. You ever going to take lessons? Or are you going to drag that man eater with you everywhere you go?” Jack nuzzled Cassius’s snout, and the dog visibly relaxed as his tongue lolled out the side of his mouth.
“What do you think?” she said with a laugh. She stood up and Cassius turned back into the trained killer he was. Jack stood up and gave her a hug.
“Thank you Jack. You’ve always been good to us.”
“Thank you. Andrew needed someone like you to smack him into focus.”
Soon afterwards Rylie left. Leaving jack to contemplate what he just said. Were they ready for parenthood? There really wasn’t any way to tell. When he and his wife had their first child both of them weren’t ready, but they endured and became ready as the process went on.
The door chimed again. He checked the clock. Ah yes. One of his students, Brian, liked to come in early before the morning classes for some open gym. He turned around but instead was greeted with an old lady.
“Can I help you?”
“Yes. are you Mr.Tideland?”
“That’s me.”
“I’m just here to cancel my son’s membership. Brian?”
“Cancel?” that was a surprise. He knew Brian was struggling financially but it seemed he really enjoyed the classes. He was a good kid, and he hated to see good kids go to waste. “Can you tell me why?”
“Brian no longer needs it.” as she spoke she started breaking down crying. “He died last night.”
“Died?” Jack was shocked. “What happened.”
“I’m not supposed to say anything.” she said, turning to leave.
“Hold on, who said that? the police?”
“No Brian’s friends.” she looked at jack weird. “You don’t know?”
“Don’t know what?”
“Never mind forget I said anything.” she seemed to visibly clam up.
“Hold on. You shouldn’t be just listening to these ‘friends’-”
“Mr.Tideland I understand there was a deposit down on my son’s behalf for lessons over the next 6 months? I’m going to have to ask for a refund. My family is in a sticky financial situation and with my sons death I’m afraid we need all the help we can get.”
“Of course. I understand.”
After giver her refund for her son, quite a hefty amount, she refused to say anything more on the topic. She then left leaving Jack with more questions with answers.
Mystery
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