Chapter 82
“How is Bobby doing?” Evan asked. He and Katherine sat across a desk from Detective Abrams. They had been asked to the station to give their report of what happened on the bridge.
“Oh, you know Short. Give him a few more weeks and he’ll be in here wearing his scars like trophies.”
“I’ll try to stay out of his way,” Evan said with the hint of a grin.
Abrams shuffled some papers. “I tell you, it’s going to be the dickens keeping your story out of the Gazette.”
“Let’s admit to each other that we’ve seen some things that would be very hard to explain to other people.”
Abrams pointed a pencil eraser at Evan. “You got that right.” He found the paper he was looking for. “Okay, then, all I need from you is a signature here, here, and here.” Evan obliged. “And then, the same from you, Mrs. Gold.” Katherine took the pen from Evan and signed the sheet. Abrams looked at the signatures as if he were evaluating a Picasso. “Seems to be all in order then.” He stood. The Golds followed suit.
Reaching out his plump hand, Detective Abrams said, “Try to keep your nose clean, Evan. Though I have to say, if you ever wanted to get back into the private eye racket,” he nodded and pointed a finger at Katherine, “it seems like you have a pretty good partner here.” Katherine blushed and shook the officer’s hand.
Stepping out into the sunlight, Katherine let out a big sigh of relief. “And that’s how you give the police a statement,” Evan said. “You’re a pro now.” Katherine grabbed Evan’s hand and they began making their way north. “Now that that’s over,” she said, “I need something to take my mind off it. I’ve never had to work so hard to tell the truth without telling the truth in my life.”
“What do you want to do?” Evan asked.
Katherine squinted down Commercial, wrinkled her nose, and said, “Let’s start with window shopping and see where that leads.”
Evan chuckled.
They slowed past the windows at J. C. Penny’s and Woolworth’s before coming to a stop at Stanley Jewelry. “See anything you like?” Evan asked. Katherine gave him a mischievous smirk. “What do you think of what Abrams said back there?”
“Which thing?” Katherine asked, taking particular account of the rows of delicate watches wrapped on white satin mounts.
“About you and me being partners.”
“I thought that might have tickled your ears.”
“What do you say?”
Katherine turned away from the jewels to face her husband. “What did I just say?”
“Refresh my memory,” Evan said, “I’m not as young as I once was.”
“I said it was a lot of work telling the truth while not telling the whole truth. It’s exhausting. Don’t you find it exhausting?”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“Yes, it does,” Katherine hooked her arm around Evan’s elbow, and they began walking again. “I’d be an anxious mess trying to keep all my stories straight.”
Evan laughed. “I doubt that. You’re sharper than a tack. Seriously, give me one good reason. Many people in this town could use our help. I want to help them. If I go back to being a handyman, or really if I go back to anything else, I think I might as well dry up and be blown away.” Evan stopped them and took her hands in his. “I’m asking you to be my partner.”
“Your partner in crime?”
“Not the way everyone else would hear that, but yes.”
Katherine looked a long time into Evan’s eyes. They had been through so much, but they had grown so much, too. She reasoned that nothing Athens would throw at her would be more complicated than spying in an interdimensional war and fighting a vengeful alien. And she would get to be Evan’s partner; his partner-partner. Partner in every aspect of life. She felt her heart melting.
“Would I still get to wear dresses, or do I have to get a suit and gumshoes like you?”
The broadest smile Katherine had ever seen spread out on Evan’s face. “Sweetheart, you can wear whatever you like.”
A few months later, Evan and Katherine Gold’s home took on a newer, brighter air. It was like the first breezy days of Spring, when every window is pushed up, every door propped open, and the heavy, stale air of winter is pushed out. Everything seemed lighter and vibrant.
With Evan’s skills with tools and Katherine’s taste for decor, their home quickly turned into a delightful haven for them and their frequent guests. Their showpiece was the living room, complete with a cozy fire in the hearth, a floral print davenport, two wingback chairs, and an oval coffee table. On this particular day, Evan was doing his best to entertain Skip and Janet Evans, telling them stories of all the improvements Katherine had made to the place.
As if on cue, Katherine entered carrying a tray of coffee and gingerbread cookies. She set the tray down and smiled at the guests. “Sorry to keep you waiting. The cookies are still warm.”
“Homemade?” Skip asked.
Katherine smiled back. “Coffee?”
After refreshments had been passed around, Evan said, “I’m so sorry to hear about your brother.” Skip looked to Janet for support. Janet grabbed his hand.
“The police have given up, and we don’t know what else to do.”
“We don’t know why he would go missing,” Janet said.
Katherine’s face warmed with concern, and she said, “Well, we will see what we can do about that.” Then she turned to Evan and gave him a wink as he nodded to her and scooted forward in his chair. “Tell us, when was the last time you saw your brother?” Katherine pulled a notepad from the side table and began to take notes. The Gold Detective Agency was on the case.
