decorated in death-metal posters and electronic gear. Three computers sat on makeshift tables along one wall, and another wall was given over to stereo equipment, including stacks of black concert-sized speakers. A lumpy brown sofa slouched against the far wall, but the center of the room was kept clear. By the scuff marks on the hardwood floor, Ryan guessed Kirk spent a lot of time being a one-man mosh pit.
Kirk offered coffee, but after one look into his grimy kitchen, Vic told him they’d already reached their caffeine limit.
“How you been, Vic? I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Same as usual, except I got a big surprise recently. I found out I have a, um, son. This is him. Ryan Mobley, meet Kirk Arnheim.”
Kirk held out a fist for Ryan to bump.
“I can see the resemblance,” he said to Vic.
“Yeah?”
“The eyes. He’s definitely your offspring.”
Ryan wasn’t sure what to say to that. Maybe he’d been better off when Vic didn’t introduce him to people.
Vic told Kirk he wanted to buy Ryan a full package of identity papers “as a gift.”
“That’s very forward-looking of you.” Kirk pushed up his thick glasses. “Normally, that would cost you a grand, but for your kid, only eight hundred.”
Vic smiled. “A bargain.”
“Because you touched me with your warm family story,” Kirk said.
“You’re a sentimental fool.”
Vic pulled a roll of money from his pants pocket and peeled off eight bills. He handed them to Kirk, who put them in his pocket.
“Come over here and we’ll take your picture.”
He stood Ryan in front of a blank white wall, then turned on a floodlight that was clamped to a beam on the low ceiling.
“Don’t squint,” Kirk said as he looked through the lens of an expensive-looking Nikon.
“I can’t help it. I feel like I’m staring at the sun.”
“Same lighting they use on the flashes at the motor vehicle department. It’s why nobody’s ever happy with their driver’s license photos.”
He fired off a few shots, then killed the floodlight. Ryan blinked as his eyes recovered.
Kirk set the camera on the computer desk. “Come see me in a couple of days. I’ll have ’em ready.”
“Excellent,” Vic said. “Thanks, Kirk.”
More fist bumps all around.
Once they were back out in the dazzling sunshine, Ryan said, “You know some interesting people, Vic.”
“Kirk’s one of a kind.”
As they got into the Cadillac, the music roared to life inside the house.
Ryan thanked Vic again for spending the money on him, then asked where they were going next.
“That’s everything on my to-do list,” Vic said. “How about I take you back to your motel?”
Ryan tried to keep his disappointment from showing.
“However,” Vic said, “I would like to take you and Miss Tina out to dinner tonight. My treat.”
“That would be nice, but you don’t always have to pick up the check.”
“Please. It’s my pleasure. What kind of restaurant would you like?”
Ryan smiled. “One where you don’t know everybody in the place.”
“That’s a tough one, but I’ll think of something.”
Chapter 24
Vic spent the afternoon at home, communing with his computer. Lucky Penny Bail Bonds had accounts with several search agencies and credit companies, paying good money for easy access to information. Credit reports, arrest records, court documents, banking histories, newspaper libraries—most anything was available for a price. Vic’s laptop was outfitted with a connection to the office computer system, so he got free access. Another perk of his rent-free apartment.
Doing the sort of research he normally left to Penny, Vic started with Harry Marino. He quickly learned:
—Marino was born in Philadelphia, but moved to Phoenix when he was in high school. He excelled on the swim team, which was mentioned in the brief news reports about his death. How did such a good swimmer drown in his own pool? The coroner was doing an autopsy.
—At an age when his
Kirk offered coffee, but after one look into his grimy kitchen, Vic told him they’d already reached their caffeine limit.
“How you been, Vic? I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Same as usual, except I got a big surprise recently. I found out I have a, um, son. This is him. Ryan Mobley, meet Kirk Arnheim.”
Kirk held out a fist for Ryan to bump.
“I can see the resemblance,” he said to Vic.
“Yeah?”
“The eyes. He’s definitely your offspring.”
Ryan wasn’t sure what to say to that. Maybe he’d been better off when Vic didn’t introduce him to people.
Vic told Kirk he wanted to buy Ryan a full package of identity papers “as a gift.”
“That’s very forward-looking of you.” Kirk pushed up his thick glasses. “Normally, that would cost you a grand, but for your kid, only eight hundred.”
Vic smiled. “A bargain.”
“Because you touched me with your warm family story,” Kirk said.
“You’re a sentimental fool.”
Vic pulled a roll of money from his pants pocket and peeled off eight bills. He handed them to Kirk, who put them in his pocket.
“Come over here and we’ll take your picture.”
He stood Ryan in front of a blank white wall, then turned on a floodlight that was clamped to a beam on the low ceiling.
“Don’t squint,” Kirk said as he looked through the lens of an expensive-looking Nikon.
“I can’t help it. I feel like I’m staring at the sun.”
“Same lighting they use on the flashes at the motor vehicle department. It’s why nobody’s ever happy with their driver’s license photos.”
He fired off a few shots, then killed the floodlight. Ryan blinked as his eyes recovered.
Kirk set the camera on the computer desk. “Come see me in a couple of days. I’ll have ’em ready.”
“Excellent,” Vic said. “Thanks, Kirk.”
More fist bumps all around.
Once they were back out in the dazzling sunshine, Ryan said, “You know some interesting people, Vic.”
“Kirk’s one of a kind.”
As they got into the Cadillac, the music roared to life inside the house.
Ryan thanked Vic again for spending the money on him, then asked where they were going next.
“That’s everything on my to-do list,” Vic said. “How about I take you back to your motel?”
Ryan tried to keep his disappointment from showing.
“However,” Vic said, “I would like to take you and Miss Tina out to dinner tonight. My treat.”
“That would be nice, but you don’t always have to pick up the check.”
“Please. It’s my pleasure. What kind of restaurant would you like?”
Ryan smiled. “One where you don’t know everybody in the place.”
“That’s a tough one, but I’ll think of something.”
Chapter 24
Vic spent the afternoon at home, communing with his computer. Lucky Penny Bail Bonds had accounts with several search agencies and credit companies, paying good money for easy access to information. Credit reports, arrest records, court documents, banking histories, newspaper libraries—most anything was available for a price. Vic’s laptop was outfitted with a connection to the office computer system, so he got free access. Another perk of his rent-free apartment.
Doing the sort of research he normally left to Penny, Vic started with Harry Marino. He quickly learned:
—Marino was born in Philadelphia, but moved to Phoenix when he was in high school. He excelled on the swim team, which was mentioned in the brief news reports about his death. How did such a good swimmer drown in his own pool? The coroner was doing an autopsy.
—At an age when his
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