“You still on that ship?”
“Yeah.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m doing good. Have you seen Mom?” I ask.
“Mom has said she is doing okay. Missing you, of course.”
Guilt fills me. I should be around for her. “Listen, man, I need a favour.”
“What?”
“I met this chick—”
“No, I can’t fuck her. I’m taken,” he interrupts.
I laugh. “She wouldn’t have you anyway, you fat prick.”
“Anyway.” He laughs. “Go on.”
“Something is not adding up. Can you run a background check on her for me?” I hold her licence up and read the details.
“Yeah, no worries. What’s the name?”
“Roshelle Myers.”
“How do you spell it?”
“R.O.S.H.E.L.L.E,” I spell out. “M.Y.E.R.S.”
“Date of Birth?”
“14th of October 1993.” Her birthday is in four weeks. I do the maths. She’s 24 turning 25.
“Address?”
I read her address out.
“So what’s the deal with this chick?” he asks.
“I hooked up with her a couple of months ago and we have been chatting online, but I get the feeling she is not who she says she is. I just want to check everything before we go on vacation together to save myself some hassle later.”
“You think she’s married?”
I screw up my face. “Yeah, maybe.” I try to think what else I need. “I want all the details. Job, current and past relationships, convictions. Memberships, stuff like that.”
“I’m on it. I will put it through now but it takes about 24 hours to come back.”
“So if I ring you tomorrow night you should have it?”
“Yep.” He pauses. “It’s good to hear from you, man.”
I smile sadly, I wish things could go back to the way they were. “You, too. Take care of that beautiful girl of yours.”
“Any luck she will be pregnant and horny this time next year.”
I laugh and rub my eyes with my hand. “Oh God. I can’t even imagine your poor kid dealing with you as a dad. Poor fucker.”