smuggling drugs by sewing them into the soles of women’s shoes?” he asked. “I was on the task force that busted that case wide open.”
“I remember that case.” I nodded. “I almost came down for a shoot, as part of an interview team with one of the women caught up in that mess. She apparently had a closet full of the stuff and had no idea until you guys left a message on her answering machine. Anyway, I got sidetracked and ended up going to a shoot in China instead. Something about a huge brand and underpaid labor. You know how it goes.”
“Weird.” Austin hummed. “That means we could’ve met each other a lot earlier, huh? If you would’ve made it to the shoot.”
“Yeah. If I would’ve made it to the shoot,” I agreed.
“I… would say that’s a pity, but I don’t think we’re there yet.” Austin smiled.
I returned the expression as I asked, “So, is that why you’re so bored here, Austin? Because you’re used to the fast-paced life of a detective in a big city?”
“Again, it’s not the boredom,” Austin clarified. “It’s just… back in the city, when I was on the force, I had a sense of purpose. I knew where I belonged, and I knew what I was supposed to be doing. Always. But here?” Austin let out a heavy breath before he continued with his thoughts. “Eddie doesn’t need me. Parker really doesn’t need me. Iris tolerates me when I try to help out, at least, but I know she doesn’t need me, either. And honestly, the longer I stick around, the more I’m worried that it’s too late for me to find my place with the rest of the family. It’s like everyone already has their assigned roles, and no one knows what to do with me. I don’t… I don’t even know what to do with myself.”
“Don’t worry,” I replied with a confident tone. “You’ll figure it out.”
“I’ll figure it out?” Austin’s words were lined with suspicion. “What makes you think that?”
“Because you’re young,” I answered. “Which means, you have time to figure it out.”
“I’m thirty.”
“Right. That’s what I said. You’re young.” I grinned. “And please don’t start with the whole thirty is old nonsense, all right? Because at forty-five, hearing that might make me want to jump right into the lake.”
“Oh. You’re forty-five?” Austin seemed taken aback by the revelation.
“Why? Do I seem fifty-five to you?” I joked.
Austin quietly shook his head. “I just thought you were… you just seem a lot younger than that.”
“Hmm. Flattery gets you everywhere, Austin Williams.” I laughed before I playfully tapped alongside his fishing rod. “Now, are you ready to fish? Or do you need me to show you the knot again?”
Austin then silently stared at me for a moment before a question came out a little underneath his breath. “Is he the reason you left?”
“What?” I was puzzled by Austin’s non-sequitur. “Is who the reason I left what?”
“Is your dad the reason you left Park City?” Austin continued. “Or I guess, I mean, is he the reason you didn’t come back, until now? Because you didn’t want to run into him?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “He is. He was. Although, to be fair, Harold kept me away from a lot of places, not just Park City. I went from being able to be in a room with him to being unable to stomach even being in the same zip code. And… I think the feeling was mutual.”
“I’m sorry,” Austin murmured. “I don’t even know why I brought that up. I just… I was just thinking that I’m only in Park City because of my father, too. That I never would’ve come here, at all, if my dad hadn’t… died. And here you are, for the same reasons. It’s just kind of—”
Austin stopped himself short, suddenly going quiet.
I quirked an eyebrow in his direction as I pressed, “It’s just kind of what?”
“I don’t know.” Austin shrugged with a light smile. “It just kind of feels like… we were always going to end up meeting each other, right? If not on a case or a photoshoot, then here, in Park City. That’s kind of funny, isn’t it? In a karmic sort of way.”
“Yeah. I guess that is kind of funny.” I grinned. “In a karmic sort of way.”
4
Austin
We didn’t catch any fish. Not once, during the whole afternoon.
But it didn’t really matter.
The longer I stayed out on that pier with Jack, the more I understood, or at least thought