Caliber Detective Agency - June 2005 New York City
Jake Caliber the fourth held the door open for his wife, Gail, as they entered the Caliber building. The couple had spent the previous week in Texas, where they opened a new branch of Caliber Investigations.
Velma Harper greeted them as they approached the reception desk; she was a woman in her seventies who had worked at the agency for nearly fifty years, and someone unswervingly devoted to its other owner, the legendary Jake Caliber the third.
“Welcome back.”
“Thanks Velma, and how have things been here?”
“We’re all good, but let’s go upstairs and grab some coffee, and then you can tell me all about your trip.”
After a short elevator ride, the three of them settled into the manager’s office on the second floor of the three-story building. Jake Caliber the fourth resembled his famous father a great deal but was an inch taller than the old man and carried more muscle, despite inheriting his father’s looks, he had not received the legendary Caliber skill with a gun, but spent hours every month on a shooting range to stay proficient with a firearm.
His wife, Gail, had long brown hair and blue eyes, and her figure, even at forty, was the envy of many women, while the elderly Velma exuded grace and was still beautiful.
Jake crossed his legs and leaned back on the sofa.
“Fort Worth is going to be a money maker. My great-grandfather is still talked about there and the Caliber name hasn’t been forgotten.”
“Did you have time to say hello to Maggie and the girls?” Velma said.
“We sure did, and not only that, but little Blue is the newest member of Caliber. I hired her as an investigator. She starts training this week.”
Velma’s cup stopped halfway to her mouth.
“That little girl is going to be a P.I.?”
“That little girl is eighteen now and as pretty as they come; she’s also a hell of a shot.”
“My, the years do fly, don’t they? I remember changing that girl’s diaper during one visit, and it seems like only yesterday. But tell me, have you seen your father yet?”
“Oh yeah, Dad dropped the boys off last night, and then we all ate together.”
“He’s not here right now; he went out to the store for more cigars.”
Gail shook her head.
“Cigars, filthy habit, do you know I actually caught Jakey smoking one of those things.”
“I’m not surprised,” Velma said. “That boy is a lot like his grandfather, and he looks just like Jake did when he was much younger.”
“Well, he won’t live like him, I’ll see to that. That boy is not going to be a private detective; he’s meant for finer things.”
“Hey!” Jake said. “What kind of crack is that?”
His wife waved a hand at him.
“Oh, you were always a lost cause. You think your father can do no wrong, but four generations is enough. My sons will be lawyers, doctors, or at the very least, business executives. Jakey can grow up and run this company when we’re gone, and to do that, he doesn’t need to carry a gun.”
Jake patted his shoulder holster.
“I’d feel naked without it.”
There was a frantic knocking on the door, and when Jake got up to open it, he found one of the insurance investigators looking excited. He was a tall African-American man with a full afro and expressive eyes.
“Hey, Tony, what’s up?”
“The news is on in the break room, Jake, and they just mentioned your father. There was something about a bank robbery, but I didn’t catch it all.”
***
The three of them rushed into the break room behind Tony and stared up at the TV above the refrigerator, where a crowd of employees had gathered below it.
A commercial ended, then, on screen was a reporter broadcasting from a New York City street. Velma recognized one of the storefronts the man was standing in front of, and pointed up at the television.
“That’s the store where Jake buys his cigars.”
The reporter on the scene gestured to his right and the camera panned in that direction to reveal a bank building swathed in yellow crime scene tape, with police vehicles and personnel all about.
“Jake Caliber, the legendary private eye, was walking along this street as a deadly bank robbery was taking place inside, where a bank guard was murdered and two customers wounded. As you’ll see on the film we’re about to show you, Mr. Caliber hasn’t lost a step since the day he saved the President. However, be warned, this film is graphic.”
There was a slight gap between pictures, and then a film came on that showed a good-looking blonde smiling at a video camera, as the woman’s friend filmed her. The two were speaking a foreign language.
When gunshots and screams emanated from the bank, the camera jerked towards it and showed the back of a man wearing a trench coat and sporting a fedora, who appeared to have been in the process of lighting a cigar. The man was Jake Caliber the third.
A moment later, four men bolted from the bank with their weapons drawn. When one of the men spotted Jake and the women, he swung a sawed-off shotgun around towards them, but in a blur of motion, Jake unholstered his gun and shot the man in the chest, before shouting at the other men to, “Drop those weapons!”
The three remaining men raised their guns and he shot them all before they could get off a round. The getaway driver, who was parked at the curve, jumped from his vehicle while already firing away and Jake moved in front of the frightened women and fired back, hitting the man in the forehead, and ending his life.
With the five bank robbers lying dead or dying about him, Caliber bent down to retrieve his fallen cigar and calmly took a puff.
At that point, the film faded away and the TV returned to the studio, where a stunned midday anchorwoman and her male co-host sat with their mouths open.
“That was dramatic, and talk about cool under fire, huh, Bob?”
The co-host, an ex-male model, shook his head in wonder.
“Jake Caliber everyone, still the real deal... and we’ll be back after this.”
Jake the fourth laughed while pumping his fist in the air.
“Is my old man the best or what?”
Gail pointed up at the TV.
“Velma, get that sound bite. That’s pure gold for us.”
“What sound bite?”
“What that reporter just said, ‘Jake Caliber — Still the Real Deal.’ We’ll put that on coffee mugs and T-shirts and also add it to the print ads.”
Jake kissed his wife.
“You’re always thinking, honey,”
“If I didn’t, this business never would have grown past that dingy office upstairs.”
“That dingy office is the business.”
Everyone turned at the sound of those words and saw the old man standing in the doorway. His son ran to him and hugged him.
“Thank God you’re safe; we saw what happened at the bank.”
“You did? How?”
“It’s all over TV. Those tourists you saved filmed the whole thing.”
“Ah, they shouldn’t put something like that on TV.”
Gail joined them and looked her father-in-law over, as if searching him for injuries.
“Are you all right?”
“If you saw what happened, then you know I am.”
“You do realize that you’re not getting any younger.”
“Meaning what?”
“A second slower and those men might have hurt you.”
The old man smiled at her.
“You’re worried about me.”
“I am not. I learned a long time ago that you’re too stubborn to die, I just think that you should realize that you’re not a young man anymore.”
The elevator chimed and two women stepped off. They were both blonde and beautiful, and Gail realized that one of them looked familiar, and then she remembered where she knew her from.
“That woman on the right is the one from the
film of the bank robbery.”
One of the women called over in accented English.
“Jake, please hurry dear, Inga and I can’t wait to thank you properly.”
“I’ll be right there, doll,” the elder Jake called over, and then he grinned at his son. “Their names are Inga and Zelda and they’re here on vacation from Sweden. They’re taking me out to dinner to thank me for saving their lives, don’t wait up.”
As her husband punched his father on the arm in admiration, Gail’s mouth formed into an O.
“Jake Caliber, those women are half your age.”
After a puff on his cigar, Jake sent Gail a wink and joined the women, who each greeted him with a kiss on the lips.
Gail sighed.
“Why that dirty old man.”
Velma put an arm around her.
“It’s like they say, he’s still the real deal.”
***
At Coney Island Amusement Park in Brooklyn, Jake Caliber the fifth laughed along with his companions as they exited the Cyclone Roller Coaster. Jake was seventeen, and along with him at the amusement park were his best friend, Tommy Delaney, his younger brother, Christopher, and Christopher’s friend, a skinny, teen-aged neighbor named Kelli Ross.
“I must have ridden that thing a hundred times and it’s still cool,” Jake said.
“What do you wanna do next?”
“Ah, that’s enough for today, Tommy. Chris and I are going by the agency. I’m gonna hang out and see if any Red Cases come in.”
“Can I come too, Jake?” Kelli said.
“Sure, if you want,” Jake said, and Kelli sighed at his lack of enthusiasm. She’d had a crush on him forever, but he paid her no attention.
As they walked along the boardwalk, Tommy spotted a girl coming the other way. The girl was in her teens, blond, and wearing a red bikini.
Tommy elbowed Jake.
“Check that out.”
“I saw her the second she stepped off the beach,” Jake said.
The girl walked towards them and smiled at Jake as she passed. Jake changed direction immediately and caught up to her. After a short conversation, he rejoined his friends and brother.
Tommy grinned at him.
“Did you get it?”
Jake held out his left hand where a phone number was written in ink.
“Her name is Jenny.”
Tommy laughed.
“So that’s why you always carry a pen. Someday you have to tell me your secret, Jake. The chick never even looked at me.”
“It’s the Caliber charm, Tommy, the Caliber charm.”
Not far away, the girl in the bikini got into a car and kissed the driver on the mouth. He was a man in his thirties.
“How’d it go?”
“Just like you said, he asked for my number.”
“Yeah, I’ve been watching that kid for a while, he’s a real hound. I knew he wouldn’t let a tasty piece like you slip by.”
“He’s bigger than I thought he’d be. Is he really only seventeen?”
“He’ll be eighteen in a few weeks, and that kid brother of his is fifteen, but he must be the runt of the litter, he’s small for that age.”
“So, what’s next?”
“We go back and get ready, and then tomorrow we spring the trap.”
“And when we kidnapped them, no one gets hurt, right?”
The man smiled.
“I’m a lover, baby, not a killer. Now let’s go meet my men; we’ve got plans to make.”
* * * * * * * * *
THE PRESENT
Velma dropped her car keys for the third time and Chris bent down and scooped them up.
“I’ll drive.”
Velma looked at him with a face full of confusion, then nodded her approval. After opening the passenger door for her, Chris went around to the driver’s side and got in. When he put the key in the ignition, Velma reached over and placed her hand atop his.
“I can’t ask you to do this.”
“You’re not asking, I volunteered, and you’re in no shape to drive.”
“You’re right, and thank you.”
They rode in silence for the first minute but then Velma shattered it.
“I love you.”
“What?”
“I was so looking forward to finding out what we could be, but now... I just want you to know that you weren’t in love alone.”
“And what about your husband, do you still love him?”
No answer.
“Velma?”
“Yes, God help me, I love you both.”
“But he’s your husband.”
“Yes.”
Silence returned, and this time it remained unbroken as they raced through the city.
When they arrived at the VA hospital, they were kept waiting in the lobby. It was near midnight and the guard at the reception desk had no news on Velma’s husband, but a short time later, a doctor emerged from the elevator and walked their way.
“Dr. Rogers, how are you?”
“I’m good, Mrs. Channing, and I hear that you’ve been informed of your husband’s recovery?”
“Yes sir, how is he?”
The doctor began to speak, but then looked at Chris.
“I don’t believe we’ve met, Mr....?”
“Oh, Dr. Rodgers, this is Christopher Caliber, we work together.”
“I see, and it’s nice to meet you, sir, but perhaps you’ll allow Mrs. Channing and I a moment alone?”
“Of course,” Chris said, and began to move away, but Velma grabbed his wrist.
“Please stay, I could use a friend right now.”
The doctor gestured towards a set of lobby chairs.
“Why don’t we all sit? There are things I need to explain.”
Once they were settled, Velma stared at the doctor with an expectant gaze.
“Your husband, Michael, he is fully awake, responsive, and coherent, however, the injury to his brain has left his memory impaired.”
“To what extent? Will he still know me?”
The doctor sighed in exasperation.
“Why are you here Mrs. Channing, who informed you of your husband’s recovery?”
“It was one of his nurses, Maya.”
“I wish she hadn’t informed you so soon. Your husband only woke an hour ago and I’ve yet to evaluate him, in fact, I arrived here only minutes before you did.”
“So, you’re saying that you don’t yet know what he remembers?”
“Exactly, and I’ll need time to determine that. I know you must be dying to see him, but as his doctor, I cannot recommend it, not just yet. I need to determine the extent of his memory loss.”
Chris spoke up.
“If you haven’t had time to evaluate him, then why are you so certain that he has lost his memories?”
“Well, he’s lost the last few years, of course, due to being comatose from the wounds he suffered in 2012, however, I was able to speak to him briefly before you came and I asked him what year it was.”
“What did he say?” Velma asked.
“Michael told me it was 2010.”
***
When the doctor told them that his mental and physical evaluation of Michael would take hours, Chris and Velma went into hospital cafeteria to wait.
“Did you know Michael in 2010?”
Velma nodded.
“I’ve known him since college, he was a friend, but we only started dating in 2010.”
“When were you married?”
“Later that year, in November, right now I’m wondering if he’ll ever remember any of it.”
Chris reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
“Hey, he’s back, he’s awake and seemingly healthy, you’ve been given a miracle.”
Velma smiled.
“You’re absolutely right, and I began to think that this day would never come.”
“But it’s here,”
“Yes and I... I don’t know what to do a
bout us.”
Chris released her hand.
“I have never pressured you and I never will. I knew you were married when I went home with you tonight, and with this timing, well... maybe we were never meant to be.”
Velma wiped tears from her eyes.
“This is all so unfair to you. In some ways, I feel like I used you.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“I love you, Chris.”
“And I love you, Velma, but life’s not always kind.”
“No, and poor Michael was dealt the toughest hand of any of us.”
“He’s got one thing in his favor.”
“What’s that?”
“He’s got you for a wife.”
***
Hours passed, but then Velma was finally escorted into her husband’s room. Doctor Rodgers was with her, but Chris stayed behind in the doorway, looking in.
Michael Channing was blond, and his formally robust physique was wasted away by the years of inactivity caused by his injury.
When he spotted Velma, his handsome face broke into a smile.
“Velma, hi.”
“Hello Michael.”
“God, you look good, did you come here all the way from Vegas?”
“Oh, no, no Michael, I haven’t lived in Vegas in a while. I live here now, in New York.”
“Dr. Rodgers explained to me what happened. I can’t believe it’s 2016.”
“It must be a great shock, and he also explained to you... about us?”
“That we’re married, yes, I can’t say that I’m too surprised. I always had a thing for you, but... I’m sorry, I don’t remember marrying you. All I remember is a few dates, and even that is sketchy.”
Velma hugged him as tears streamed down her face.
“Oh God, I thought I’d lost you forever, but you’re back. I swear I’ll take good care of you.”
At the doorway, Chris hung his head, and a moment later, drifted away.
***
When Velma exited her husband’s room, she saw that Chris had left, and walked over to the nurses’ station.
“Hi, there was a man here waiting for me, would you happened to know if he went down to wait in the cafeteria?”
“Oh, he left you a note, here you go.”
Velma thanked the nurse as she took the folded piece of paper from her, but as she unfolded it, she saw only five words written upon it.
I’ll always be your friend!
Caliber Detective Agency Box Set 1 Page 13
