“What are they saying you did?”
“Worked out here with you and Hondo without getting prior authorization.”
I’ll tell them you were just tagging along. I mean, we didn’t pay you, so you weren’t really working.”
She shook her head, “Whoever did this has some juice, because they’re going hard at me, is what the Chief said. It’s a firing offense.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“I’ve got a flight out in three hours. I’m going by to see Hondo, then head for the airport. I’m sorry to leave you like this, but...”
“Hey, you do what you need to. If I can testify or anything, tell them they’re wrong, let me know or have them call me.”
She nodded, walked over, gave me a hug, and left before we both got emotional.
The office felt empty. Hondo was in the hospital and I’d gotten used to Hunter being here. Right then, if I’d had ten of those Tunguska Blasts I’d have popped them all down. I walked to the windows and looked at the full parking lot. Several people in gym clothes were beside Shamu looking at the bullet holes. One girl put her finger in the holes.
I looked past them and saw a Sheriff’s Department sedan pull into the lot. Vick Best got out and walked toward my office. When he was close, I opened the door. “Hello Vick.”
He walked past me into the office and plopped in a chair. He rubbed his head and sighed.
I closed the door and sat behind my desk. “Spit it out,” I said.
“Your Investigator’s license has been suspended. You’re no longer authorized to do private investigations in the state of California.”
“Suspended for what?”
“Ronny, it came down from high up, is all I can tell you. Some sort of ethics violation. They’re going to review it, give you a chance to respond, then make a final decision, but until then, you’re suspended.”
“Hondo too?” Vick nodded.
“You know who?”
“No.”
We sat there in silence, then Vick said, “Your permit to carry is suspended, too.”
I nodded. It figured.
He rose and put his hand on my shoulder, “It comes to it, I’ll testify in your behalf.”
“Thanks.”
“I gotta go, tell Hondo he’s in our thoughts.”
“I will.” Vick left and closed the door behind him.
What a day, I thought. I took off my shoulder holster and magnum and hung it in the closet, then moped around the office for the next hour but didn’t accomplish anything so I drove to the auto body shop and the body man came out, cleaning his hands on a red rag.
“Christ, Baca. You tell them where to shoot so they’d hit the only place hasn’t been repaired before? I’m gonna buy stock in Bond-O before I start this one. Price’ll go through the roof. Leave it and I’ll get to it soon.”
“You got a loaner?”
“Sure, take that one,” He pointed at a five year old mint green Yugo. It looked like something from Toys R Us. “Keys are in it,” he said.
“Do I wind it up or does it take batteries?”
“Ha-ha, funny guy. Gets a gazillion miles a gallon, so you won’t spend a fortune driving it this week.”