A Soldier's Return. Judy Christenberry
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car? We could follow you and pick you up.”
“No, thanks,” Jim said, “I’ll keep it until I buy a car.”
“I’m just trying to save you some money,” Will explained.
“I never said I was penniless,” Jim protested.
Carrie stepped closer to the two men. “I think Jim can handle his personal life. Shall we go to the office?”
“Yeah,” Will said. “Sorry, Jim. I’m used to— I try to take care of the family.”
“I appreciate that, Will, but I’m pretty independent.”
“Well, we’ll see you at the office. You can follow us if you want. Or better yet, Carrie can ride with you and show you how to find the office.”
“I managed to find it yesterday, Will,” Jim pointed out.
“Ride with him, Carrie,” Will said, and walked off.
Chapter Four
“I’m sorry,” Carrie said softly as they watched Will walk away.
“For what?”
“For Will forcing you to take me in your car. It was obvious you didn’t want to.”
Jim stared straight ahead, his jaw squared. “I never said that.”
Carrie shrugged her shoulders. “You said it, just not in words. I know enough about people to read their body language.”
“Is that so?”
He didn’t sound impressed with her claim.
“Yes, but I won’t bother to apologize again.”
They got in his car and drove in silence.
Finally Jim spoke. “So, you like working for Will?”
“I work with Will,” she said, leaving him in no doubt that she considered the partnership a reality.
“So you bought in?”
She stared at him. “Why did you ask that like you didn’t believe my buying in was a possibility?”
“I didn’t mean to. I asked that question because I was wondering how much money I’d need if I wanted to buy in, assuming the week goes well.”
“Oh.” Carrie turned to stare out the window.
“So you’re not going to tell me?”
“I’m a junior partner, not a full partner. You’d have to discuss that with Will.” She kept her face averted. She didn’t want him to see the hope in her eyes. It might scare him away.
“Okay. I’ll wait until the week is up before I talk to Will.”
“Yes. That’s a good idea.”
“Okay. Why did Will try to get me to move in with him and Vivian?”
“Because Vivian really does think all Vanessa’s siblings should have been part of their family. She wants the best for all of you.”
“I’m an adult, not an orphan,” Will protested. “That’s not necessary.”
Carrie shrugged again. “There’s a spirit in Vivian that draws you to her. And she never sees the flaws. She acts like a mother to everyone. I appreciate her even more now since my mother is gone. I don’t have any real family. But I have Will, Vivian and Vanessa and everyone that comes in contact with them.”
“I don’t need to be mothered,” Jim said tightly.
“Don’t hurt Vivian’s feelings. That’s the best advice I can give you.”
“I don’t look for ways to hurt people, Carrie. But I’m not used to being…involved in a family.”
“I think you’re not used to being loved,” she replied.
His jaw clenched again. “It doesn’t pay to love me! Ask Wally! Ask my parents! Ask my sisters! Ask Lani!”
“Who is Lani?” Carrie asked at once.
“Never mind.” He wheeled the car into a parking space beside the office building where Greenfield and Associates was located. He threw the gearshift into Park and stepped out of the car as soon as Will pulled up next to them.
Clearly Jim was through talking.
“IS THAT IT?” Jim asked, frowning as he looked over Carrie’s shoulder. After he’d met with Will, she’d taken a couple of hours to teach him how to use the computer to track down information.
“Yes,” she explained, “but we redo many of our cases to determine activity. For example, if a man with back injuries that require him to be in a wheelchair buys a boat, we might want to revisit the subject.”
“Are people that dumb?”
“They have to spend their ill-gotten gains somehow. And frequently, we’ll find they collected on other insurance policies earlier. Repeat criminals.”
“I gather they’re not happy to be discovered.”
“Right, but it’s not our job to try the case. Just to provide evidence.” She stood, forcing Jim to take a step back.
“This digital camera is as important a tool as the computer. We get photos that prove the subject isn’t injured, and we send them over the Internet to the insurance company.”
“All right. Now, how about I go with you this afternoon, to see how you operate?” Jim’s voice was casual, as was his stance. But his eyes gave him away.
“No, thank you,” Carrie said coolly. “I work best alone.”
Jim took a couple of steps back, then he called to Will. “Will? Carrie doesn’t want me to go with her. She thinks she’ll be better alone.”
Carrie knew what Will’s response would be. She gathered her courage to resist his preference.
Sure enough, Will came out of his office. “Carrie, I think it would be a good idea for Jim to go with you.”
“Especially since I’m checking up on Richard Riley?” Carrie said, staring at Will.
“Well, it wouldn’t hurt to have someone with you,” Will said reasonably.
“Will, if you don’t think I can do my job, I’ll have my resignation on your desk tomorrow.” She drew a deep breath. “After I check on Richard Riley today!”
She picked up her files and headed for the door.
“Wait!” Will called.
Carrie didn’t want to stop, But it was Will. “Yes?” she asked, turning around.
“Jim will promise to stay in the car. In fact, I insist he do so, since he’s not licensed to carry a gun yet.”
“You know we don’t use guns to do our job,” Carrie insisted.
“I know. But I like you to have one for emergencies.” Will cleared his throat. “Just take Jim with you. Explain your approach and show him the files. He can read them while you’re contacting our suspect. That’s all, Carrie. You don’t mind, do you?”
Carrie minded. Not because she thought Jim was going along to protect her. But because she wouldn’t be at her best with the big man beside her. She was too conscious of him, too interested in his response.
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