by Donald Wells
“He is a boy in many ways, and so different from his brother and grandfather, thank God.”
“Does Jake know that you’re here?”
Gail rose from behind the desk.
“He knew I planned to visit, but he didn’t know when to expect me. I think I’ll go see him now. Tag along Kelli, it’s time I’ve let the old man know about your new position.”
“And Jake too,”
“Yes, this will give you another chance with my son, don’t blow it.”
Kelli grinned. “Oh, trust me, I won’t.”
***
Jake Caliber the fifth, leaned back in a wooden chair with his feet propped up on the desk. Across the room, his grandfather sat in the same position. Seated in front of the old man’s desk was a young woman.
The woman was in her late twenties, blonde, blue-eyed and beautiful. She was wearing a black skirt with a white silk blouse and a pair of red shoes. Her legs, shapely and tanned, had been eyed by both men more than her face, and her face was in danger of falling into third place behind her cleavage.
The office was lit only by the light shining in from the windows behind the old man’s desk. The plaster walls were painted a deep green and the hardwood floor shined, while the air, filled with tendrils of smoke, drifted about by the blades of a slowly rotating ceiling fan, as both men puffed on cigars. Only two things hung on the walls, one was a clock above the door; the other was a glass case containing a strange looking gun, the same gun used by the old man’s grandfather on the plains of Texas.
As they talked, the woman looked back and forth between the men and fought the impulse to smile. To her left sat Jake the fifth, he was about her age and as sexy a man as she had ever seen, with perhaps just a bit of roughness around the edges. He was six-foot-four, two hundred and twenty, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and black shoes. His tie hung loosely about his neck and he eyed her with interest that was just this side of lecherous. He had two days of dark brown stubble on his face and a faint scent of whiskey on his breath. To her right sat the old man, the legendary Jake Caliber, and whenever the woman turned her head to talk to him, it was as if the younger man had aged half a century. If not for the divide in age, she might have thought them twins.
At the sound of the elevator’s arrival, both men dropped their feet from their desks and stood looking at the doorway.
The woman also rose, and then asked a question.
“Were you expecting someone?”
The old man answered her. “It could be a Red Case.”
“What’s a ‘Red Case?”
“Well honey, downstairs they handle the White Cases, the easy stuff; insurance fraud, cheating spouses, day-to-day security, but up here, we get the hard ones, unsolved murders, death threats, extortion, that sort of thing.”
The woman smiled. “It sounds exciting.”
The old man smiled back, but a second later, Gail walked in from the outer office and the old man’s smile turned into a frown.
“Oh, it’s you,”
“That’s all you have to say? It has been ten years; I thought old age would have softened you up some?”
The old man blew smoke at her.
“Who you callin’ old, lady?”
Jake walked over and hugged his mother.
“Hello mother, it’s good to see you.”
Gail stretched up and kissed her son on the cheek, then, she left his arms and stood back a step.
“Let me look at you. Have you been taking care of yourself? You do realize that just because you’re related to this old fool that you don’t have to live like him? You could have a nice, easy job back with me in Los Angeles. You could supervise our insurance investigators; it would be much safer than the things you get involved with here.”
Jake laughed.
“I’d be bored to tears in a week in L.A. No mother, I belong here, and if I turn out half as good as granddad, then I’ll be doing all right.”
Gail let out a huff and then spotted the blonde.
“Who is she?”
“Yes,” Kelli said. “That’s what I was wondering.” She’d been eyeing the woman since entering the room.
The blonde walked over and offered Gail her hand.
“Hello Mrs. Caliber, I’m Velma Harper’s niece, actually, her great niece; my grandmother was her sister.”
Gail shook her hand.
“Oh, well, it’s a pleasure to meet you dear; I considered your aunt to be a good friend.”
The old man chuckled. “Is that why you didn’t come to her funeral?”
“It was the same day as Christopher’s graduation from law school, and so yes, I chose to be with my son.”
“How is Chris, mother?” Jake said.
“He’s excellent dear, and in fact, he’ll be joining me here soon.”
The old man smiled.
“My grandson is coming home? Please tell me that he’s coming back to stay.”
“He has an interview with the best firm in the city; if he gets the position, then yes, he’ll be living here.” Gail said, and then she spoke to the blonde again. “I’m sorry dear, but I didn’t catch your name.”
“I’m Velma, Velma Channing; I was named after my aunt.”
“That’s nice, and will you be staying in the city long?”
“I hope so; it’s why I’m here. I’ve come to apply for a job.”
Kelli stepped forward.
“We’re not hiring right now, but, since you’re Velma’s niece, I guess we could hire you on as a B-Girl.”
The old man waved a hand in the air, as if to disperse the very idea.
“No kin of Velma’s is starting at the bottom. Hell, why don’t we just give her Velma’s old job?”
“I’ve already got someone in mind for that position.” Gail said. “Also, as of today, Kelli here will be your assistant. It’s past time that this, ‘detective agency’ joined the rest of the business. You don’t even have a computer up here for God’s sake.”
“We deal with real crimes lady.” The old man said. “We don’t need computers to do that, just guts.”
Gail gave the old man a sour look and then spoke to Velma Channing.
“What sort of experience do you have?”
“I worked for the Sam Sloan detective agency in Vegas for eight years.”
“You worked for Sam?” The old man said. “Hell, he and I solved a case together back in the sixties, how is ol’ Sam?”
“Oh, well, I’m sorry to tell you sir, but Sam Sloan died about twenty years ago, I actually worked for his son, Jackson.”
“Sam’s dead? Christ, sometimes I feel like the last of my kind.”
“What sort of work did you do in Vegas?” Gail said.
Velma smiled at the old man.
“I think here you would call them, ‘Red Cases’. I don’t want my aunt’s job. I don’t want to shuffle papers or tempt cheating husbands. I’m a private detective, always have been, and I’ve come here to learn from the best, and that’s you Mr. Caliber.”
Gail began laughing and Kelli soon joined her.
“What are you two laughing at?” The old man growled.
“You, working with a woman? Why you’re the biggest chauvinist I know.”
“Chauvinist my ass, for your information her Aunt Velma worked her share of cases with me.”
Gail smirked. “Since when does bringing you coffee count as working on a case?”
“Velma did more than that. She and I had been working together before you were born, hell, she even saved my life a time or two.”
Velma Channing stood before the old man and stared up at him with hopeful eyes.
“Does that mean I’m hired? I promise you, I’m tougher than I look.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your looks honey, and yeah, you got the job.”
“What?” Jake Caliber said.
He had been sitting atop his desk, watching the show, now; he stands and walks over to his grandfather.
�
��What do you mean she’s hired? I don’t need a partner.”
“I had my Velma, now you got yours, but if she screws up, she’s out.”
“I won’t let you down Mr. Caliber.” Velma said.
Gail holds up a hand.
“Wait just a minute. When I teased you about being a chauvinist, I didn’t mean you should hire her. Good God, the last thing I want is for this anachronistic detective agency to grow. That’s why Kelli is moving up here, she was to phase you into the rest of the business.”
“Caliber Detective Agency is the business, Gail.”
“No Jake, Caliber is national. I made that happen. I took this rinky-dink gumshoe factory and turned it into a thriving business.”
“You built this business on the back of my blood, sweat and tears. When I saved the president, I became a household name. You parleyed that into something huge, I’ll give you that, but remember something, Caliber is mine, and I’ll hire whoever I want.”
“Fine, then she can have her aunt’s job, but not here, the things you do, the people you go after are too dangerous.”
“Too dangerous for a woman? Now who’s being a sexist?”
“You know what I mean. These ‘Red Cases’ of yours often end with someone getting hurt, or worse, are you really willing to put Velma’s niece in danger?”
“I’m highly trained and experienced Mrs. Caliber, I can handle myself.” Velma Channing said.
Gail sighed. “All right, but remember something, I am against this, and oh yes, Kelli will be working up here also, someone needs to keep an eye on you now that Velma’s passed on.”
The old man looked Kelli over and then sent her a wink.
“Kelli’s welcome any time.”
Gail shook her head. “You’re a dirty old man, do you know that?”
The old man chuckled.
“I’m a man, doll, ‘dirty’ comes with the job.”
***
That night, Gail Caliber sat alone in the manager’s office.
The elevator pinged its arrival on the second floor, and as the doors opened, a lone passenger walked off and made her way past the empty desks and cubicles, to enter the office, where she took a seat in front of the desk.
Gail greeted her visitor with a raised eyebrow.
“So?”
“Everything’s good; they have no idea that I’m really working for you.”
Gail stared across the desk at Velma Channing and grinned.
“Excellent,”
CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY – CASE FILE #2
Texas 1884
Jake Caliber rode into Fort Worth on a brilliant summer day and marveled at how much the town had grown since he last saw it. There were cattle and people bustling along and sitting out on the tracks was a huge locomotive that belched smoke into the air like a black, metal dragon.
Jake rode along at a slow pace, taking in the sights, and as he went through town, many an eye turned his way, particularly those belonging to women.
He dismounted in front of a saloon and, after securing his horse to a post near a watering trough, he ventured inside. As his eyes adjusted to the relative gloom, he walked over to the crowded bar and ordered a beer.
He downed the first drink quickly and had just ordered another, when he noticed the old man in the corner staring at him, or more precisely, at his hip, where his gun dangled from its custom-made holster. It was not unusual for strangers to take an interest in the weapon. Its bulk made it stand out and Jake was quite sure that there was not another like it.
His late father, Duncan Steele, had made it by hand and Jake had been its sole possessor ever since the attack that claimed his family.
The old man walked over and stood before him.
“That’s an unusual gun you have there, lad.”
The man spoke with a Scottish accent, a lyrical tone that Jake hadn’t heard since he was a boy.
“This gun is one of a kind.” Jake said.
The old man shook his head. “Not true, I’ve another like it, made for me by my brother. What I’m wondering, is how did you come to possess the other one?” Then he stared at Jake intently and after a moment, he reached up and took Jake’s hat off his head.
“I’ll be damned.” The old man whispered.
Jake grabbed his hat back. “What the hell’s wrong with you mister?”
“Jacob? You’re Jacob aren’t you, Jacob Steele?”
Jake squinted at the man, while giving him a good look, as somewhere in the back of his mind, a light of recognition flickered.
“Do I know you?”
The old man smiled a yellow-toothed grin that made him look years younger, and as he did, a name floated into Jake’s consciousness.
“Braden? You’re my Uncle Braden.”
The old man nodded, as tears began falling from his eyes.
***
“How the hell did you get the name Caliber?” Braden Steele asked. They were seated at a small table in the saloon.
Jake talked to his uncle in quiet tones as he told the story of the Indian attack and of meeting Gunther Heimlich and his family.
“That’s some story lad; I guess you’re lucky the German didn’t start calling you Colt .45.”
“He was a good man; in fact, I lived with his family until I joined the army at sixteen. I didn’t care what I was called, everyone was dead, father, mother, my brothers.”
“When I came here years ago I heard about the slaughter that took place back then and prayed that you and your family weren’t among the dead, but when no one had ever heard of you or your family... I knew that fate had been cruel.”
“Well now we’re together, and what of Aunt Colina, is she here with you?”
“No Jacob, your darlin’ aunt passed a year ago, but your cousin Fergus is about, and he and his wife will be delighted to meet you, and they’ve room enough at their farm to take you in.”
“I’m sorry to hear about Aunt Colina, and I can’t wait to see Fergus again, but I won’t be staying; there’s someone I need to see in Dallas.”
They left the saloon and walked over to their horses.
As Jake mounted, his uncle held up a hand.
“Oh, I’ve had too many whiskies lad; wait for me a moment while I make a trip to the outhouse.”
Jake nodded. “I’ll be right here.”
As his uncle went off to relieve himself, Jake pulled a well-worn picture from his coin purse and stared at it, a picture of Eva Heimlich.
“I’ll be in Dallas tomorrow girl,” Jake whispered. “And I sure hope to heaven that you haven’t gotten yourself hitched.”
***
New York City, Present Day
The old man walked down the hall from his apartment and entered the outer office of the Caliber Detective Agency, seated at a reception desk was Kelli Ross.
Kelli looked up from her laptop and smiled.
“Good morning Mr. Caliber.”
The old man just stared at her.
“Is something wrong sir?”
“No doll, it’s just that no one has sat at that desk since Velma moved downstairs years ago; I guess it’s gonna take me a while to get used to you sitting there.”
Kelli stood. “I don’t have to use her desk; I could work just as well from the sofa over there.”
The old man patted her on the arm.
“Use the desk, hell, Velma always said you were a good kid, she’d probably be happy to see you sitting there.”
“I miss her too, Mr. Caliber.”
“Is my grandson in?”
“Yes sir,”
“Thanks kid, I’ll see you later,”
The old man walked into the office and greeted Jake, and then grinned when he saw the coffee sitting on his desk. After settling in, he took the top off the paper cup and took a long sip.
“Ahh, that’s good,”
“I almost got you a decaf like the doctor ordered, but I figured you’d shoot me if I did.”
“You’re right, besides,
this is the fifth doctor that’s told me to cut back on coffee, booze and cigars; I outlived the other four.”
“And you’ll outlive this one too,”
“I plan to, so, tell me, where’s our new Velma?”
“She called, something about getting a flat on the FDR drive, she’ll be here soon.”
The old man stared over his cup at him.
“What’s on your mind granddad?”
“What do we do here Jakey?”
“We’re detectives, we detect,”
“And have you detected anything lately?”
Jake grinned.
“As a matter of fact I have, I detected a coincidence.”
“Such as?”
“Such as the fact that our new Velma showed up here on the very day that my mother came back,”
Now it was the old man’s turn to grin.
“You don’t miss much, do you kid?”
“I had a good teacher.”
Jake’s phone rang and he took it out and looked at it.
“It’s the Sam Sloan Detective Agency in Vegas, returning my call.”
The old man toasted him with his coffee cup.
“That’s my boy,”
***
Velma Channing cursed in frustration as she waited for the tow truck to appear. The rented car she leaned back upon had not one, but two flat tires.
Velma wore black jeans and black boots with a green knit top that revealed just a hint of cleavage. Her blonde hair floated about in a soft breeze, and her beautiful face bore just a touch of make-up.
A car pulled off the road and parked behind hers, another rental judging by the sticker on the front bumper. The man that emerged from the vehicle was tall, and slim, with stylishly cut dark brown hair and a clean-shaven face. He was wearing a three-piece business suit and Velma found her heart beating faster as she looked him over.
He was handsome, and something about his blue eyes and the way he held himself seemed familiar, but before she could recall why, the man walked over and smiled at her.
“Do you need help? I couldn’t change a tire to save my life, but I can call for a tow, or offer you a ride.”
“I’ve a tow truck coming, but thanks anyway,” Velma said.
“No problem.” The man said, and then he just stood there smiling at her, he was so good-looking that Velma couldn’t help but smile back.
