“LuAnn, this thing cost a lot of money.”
She waved him off. “I had some saved up. I hope you like it.”
“I love it, thank you.” He gave her a hug and then took one of Lisa’s dimpled fists in his. He gave it a gentle, formal shake. “And thank you, little lady. Excellent taste.”
“Well, try it on again. Make sure you still like it.”
He slid it over his head and checked himself out in the mirror.
“Slick, Charlie, real slick.”
He smiled. “Not bad, not bad.” He fussed with it a little until he caught the proper angle. Then he took it off and sat back down. “I’ve never gotten a gift from the people I’ve looked after. I’m usually only with them for a couple of days anyway, then Jackson takes over.”
LuAnn quickly picked up on the opening. “So how’d you come to be doing this kind of work?”
“I take it you’d like to hear my life story?”
“Sure. I’ve been bending your ear enough.”
Charlie settled back in the chair and assumed a comfortable look. He pointed to his face. “Bet you didn’t guess I used to ply my skills in the boxing ring.” He grinned. “Mostly, I was a sparring partner—a punching bag for up-and-comers. I was smart enough to get out while I still had my brains, at least some of them. After that, I took up semipro football. Let me tell you, that isn’t any easier on the body, but at least you get to wear helmets and pads. I’d always been athletic, though, and to tell you the truth I liked making my living that way.”
“You look like you’re in real good shape.”
Charlie slapped his hard stomach. “Not bad for being almost fifty-four. Anyway, after football, I coached a little, got married, floated around here and there, never finding anything that fit, you know?”
LuAnn said, “I know that feeling real good.”
“Then my career path took a big turn.” He paused to crush out his cigarette and immediately lit another.
LuAnn took the opportunity to put Lisa back in the baby carriage. “What’d you do?”
“I spent some time as a guest of the U.S. government.” LuAnn looked at him curiously, not getting his meaning. “I was in a federal prison, LuAnn.”
She looked astonished. “You don’t look the type, Charlie.”
He laughed. “I don’t know about that. Besides, there are lots of different types doing time, LuAnn, let me tell you.”
“So what’d you do?”
“Income tax evasion. Or fraud I guess they’d call it, at least the prosecutor did. And he was right. I guess I just got tired of paying it. Never seemed like there was enough to live on, let alone giving a chunk to the government.” He brushed his hair back. “That little mistake cost me three years and my marriage.”
“I’m sorry, Charlie.”
He shrugged. “Probably the best thing that ever happened to me, really. I was in a minimum security facility with a bunch of other white collar criminal types so I didn’t have to worry every minute about somebody cutting my head off. I took a bunch of classes, started thinking about what I wanted to do with my life. Really only one bad thing happened to me on the inside.” He held up the cigarette. “Never smoked until I got to prison. There, just about everybody did. When I got out I finally quit. For a long time. Took it back up about six months ago. What the hell. Anyway, when I got out, I went to work for my lawyer, sort of as an in-house investigator. He knew I was an honest, reliable sort, despite my little conviction. And I knew a lot of people up and down the socioeconomic scale, if you know what I mean. A lot of contacts. Plus I learned a lot while I was in the slammer. Talk about your education. I had professors in every subject from insurance scams to auto chop shops. That experience helped out a lot when I jumped to the law firm. It was a good gig, I enjoyed the work.”
“So how’d you hook up with Mr. Jackson?”