Andy
I’LL ADMIT. I’ve been in my feelings since meeting Michael in person. He left me unsettled for a number of reasons. When someone like that feels they own you, they never want to let go. I could see the possessiveness in his eyes, which has led me here to Mitch’s security office.
I’m standing before a stony-faced Mitch. My brother isn’t happy. As I flip through the pages in the file he’s handed me, I can see why. I feel like someone has poured salt down my throat. I roll my tongue around in my mouth, trying to get rid of the nasty taste that’s there.
“How do you know this guy, Andy?” Mitch says.
“He knows a friend of mine,” I murmur, not looking up from the pages.
“This bastard is bad news,” he says tightly.
“Yeah, I can see that.”
“Do ya? I mean, he’s an entitled prick, a real ratten chancer. The Fairchild’s have done a lot of good for a lot of people in their past, but I think that family did a disservice to everyone adopting that fucker. He has a chip on his shoulder and feels the world owes him something.
“That file is jammers with shit that’s way fucked-up. I don’t like him, and I don’t like the type of power he has. People like that never use it for any good. He’s a chancer, he is. Dodgy as can be. I want ya to stay far away from him,” Mitch warns.
“I’m not the one pursuing him. I think I may have caught his attention, though,” I say, tossing the file back on Mitch’s desk. “Thanks for doing this for me.”
“Ya ask me to look into someone, I’m going to do it. I just don’t like the drobes yer feeding me,” he replies and shrugs.
You can take the detective off the force but never the detective out of the man. Mitch was all over digging into Michael Fairchild when I asked him to. I’m not so sure I should have now.
“I know it’s killing you,” I tease. “Thanks anyway.”
“Ya take the piss out of me now, but I want to see ya laughing when this muppet shows his ass. Ya do know I’ll feed a body to the wolves for ya?” he says, lifting a brow at me.
I grin at my big brother. I know he would. I’m just not asking him to. I wanted to know what I’m dealing with. I didn’t come to Mitch to take care of my bullies for me.
“Aye, I know.”
“Listen. This guy has a history of destroying careers for something as simple as disagreeing with him in a courtroom. The list of ex-boyfriends that have been blackballed and/or ruined after breaking up with him is insane. I’m still looking into a few things that don’t look right. His ass should be disbarred for some of the shit in that file. If yer in some shit with him, ya tell me now. I’ll run interference. Ya know it’s what I do,” Mitch offers.
“I won’t be needing your expertise at the moment. I’ll let you and the boys know if it comes to that,” I reply.
“No, this one ya keep close. That motherfucker.” He points to the file. “I’m serious about making him disappear. That’s the only way to handle his kind.”
“Aye, I hear ya,” I mutter and frown, my own accent surfacing stronger. I ponder my brother’s words and how on-target they are. I feel my own frustration rising. I start to think aloud. “But he’s had a hard life. I think I just need to handle this right.”
“What is this all about, And? Talk to me,” Mitch says with concern lacing his voice.
“It’s fine, Mitch. I just wanted to know a little more about him,” I try to reassure him.
He shakes his head.
“No. You take that with ya and read it closely. Ya don’t handle a guy like that. He handles you. Ya watch ya back. Deep pockets and a family that spoils just because they can makes a man like that dangerous. Dodgy as fuck he is. He was in the clink twice before he was eighteen, Andy. They sealed that shit away like it never happened.”
“I’m not even going to ask how you got your hands on those sealed records, but yeah. I hear you,” I say, pushing a hand through the front of my hair.
“I sure as fuck hope ya do. I don’t want ya doin’ a number on Ma. Ya make sure this isn’t a problem,” Mitch warns.
“Yeah, thanks,” I reply, snatching the file and making my way out of his office.