Alexandra & Shea

It was a calm and chilly night as Alex drove the half hour to Grandma’s house. She wasn’t Alex’s real grandmother, everybody just called her that. She lived in a older well-to-do neighborhood in an ancient house she refused to let anyone tear down. Instead she kept it in impeccable condition, a feat which seemed unimaginable given her age and the fact she accomplished this on her own. Several of her neighbors had even set up a fund to have her house declared a national historic treasure after she died. There wasn’t a single person in the neighborhood who didn’t at least know of Grandma, and there were quite a few who respected and admired her.

Grandma’s notoriety came from her habit of taking on strays. Not animals, but runaway kids. She would house them, clean them up, and if their parents could not be reasoned with, take them under her wing and guide them. Alex had been one of her toughest cases, having been abandoned as a child, abused by her adoptive parents and purged of the capacity to trust anyone. By the time Grandma got involved, Alex had already gained a significant street education and had convinced everyone she was a boy. She learned how to fight, how to shoot, how to lay low and fall off the radar. She also learned who the players were, how to spot a phony, how to smell money and the value of the most precious commodity of all: information. It took a year for Grandma to gain her trust; it wasn’t until Alex learned that she knew her true gender, and had kept the secret to herself, that she started to win Alex over.

Alex channeled her experience and talent into a career as a private detective. She couldn’t certify until she was eighteen, but she had run through all the coursework, many times over, and had taken unofficial work from certain clients already. Her reputation and success rate ensured she’d have a steady stream of clients once she had her license. Her reputation blossomed further after rumors spread of a confrontation between her and a group of gang members in an abandoned warehouse. The thugs survived despite broken wrists and gunshot wounds reportedly caused by Alex shooting guns and knives out of their hands, old-west style.

She emerged with barely a scratch.

She hadn’t seen Grandma in several weeks, so she wasn’t entirely surprised when the summons came. Grandma only summoned her when  she was worried about her, or when something big had happened. Things were pretty quiet, so Alex figured it was just a social call. She parked her car in the long driveway, walked up and rang the doorbell.

“Come in, Alex,” Grandma’s friendly voice called.

Alex went in and gave Grandma a hug. In the ten or so years she had known her, Grandma hadn’t changed. It was as if time had stopped for her, refusing to let her get any older. She had made Alex’s favorite cookies, macadamia nut, and poured out milk to go with them. They sat in front of the fire, as they always did, to have a chat.

“You’re gonna have to make a decision soon, young woman,” Grandma started.

“What do you mean?”

“You remember Chuck, the detective you did the work for last month?”

“Yeah…?”

“He knows.”

Grandma sipped her milk while Alex pondered her meaning.

“He knows what?”

Grandma rolled her eyes. “That you ain’t no boy! He’s no idiot street thug, Alex. He’s seen the gambit before. What, you think you’re the first wise-ass girl to think of it?”

Alex chewed her cookie. “So he knows. So what?”

“If he knows, then others have surely noticed. You’ve filled out in the last year, girl. You know you can’t keep up this ruse forever.”

Alex didn’t answer.

“You’re gonna have to make a decision. Soon. People are going to start asking questions, and I can’t deny the obvious. You’ve been able to protect yourself for a long time now. Why keep lying to people?”

Alex took a long drink of her milk. “I don’t get hit on by every stupid boy who thinks they’re entitled to a piece of me, ya know?”

Grandma laughed. “That’s rich. After the warehouse, no one will challenge you. You really think they’d try to put a move on you?”

“Yes.”

Grandma sighed. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

They looked at each other, and laughed.

“One of these days, girl, you’re gonna wish someone had met you as a girl. You mark my words.”

Alex heaved a sigh. “If you say so.”

Grandma waved her hand dismissively. “Anyway, I have news.”

When Grandma had news, I was always important. Alex perked up. “Oh?”

Grandma nodded. “You know Jake?”

Alex blinked. “Jake Garret?”

Grandma nodded.

“Everybody knows Jake Garret. He’s a legend!”

Grandma smiled. “Well, you can tell him that when you see him. He’s heard about you and wants to take you on as an apprentice.”

Alex’s smooth composure wrinkled for a moment, but just for a moment. “He does? Why?”

Grandma sat back. “Us old timers remember Jake when he was a boy. He was like you in many ways. He wasn’t as hot with a pistol, but he has a sharp mind. Nearly got himself killed in a hustle gone bad. He turned legit and became a private eye, ya know? He sees a lot of himself in you, so he wants you to see what you’re getting into. There’s a lot goes on in the business you ain’t seen yet; he’ll teach you the safe way.”

Alex gave Grandma a sudden hard look. “You sure he isn’t just trying to get in good with me?”

Grandma’s face turned very sad, and Alex felt ashamed. “Nah, girl. You gotta understand, he’s far beyond that now.”

Alex knew better than to push the issue. “So how does this work?”

“You show up Monday at his office, sign some paperwork, he gives you stuff to do, you do it. Time comes, you work the beat with him, listen what he tells you, ask him smart questions. You work as an apprentice until you get your license, then you work as as investigator.”

Alex mulled this over for a minute. “What’s the catch?”

“You go in Monday wearing woman’s jeans and a bra.”

“WHAT?”

Alex composed herself as she realized Grandma was studying her eyes.

“And sunglasses,” Grandma added.

“You’re serious,” Alex said in horror.

“He won’t take you on otherwise.”

Alex looked at her empty milk glass. “Damn.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought you’d say.”

“Why’s he making me do this?”

“It’s a matter of trust, girl. He’s gonna let you in on things he ain’t told no other soul, things he ain’t proud of, things going on it the world. You have to be real with him, Alex, or you cain’t work together. Going in as something you’re not ain’t the best way to start.”

Alex looked out the window at nothing in particular and sighed. “I thought I’d have more time.”

Grandma shook her head. “I know a place that’ll do you up right. We’ll go tomorrow. Best to get it over with.”

Alex looked at Grandma and allowed herself a smile. “Thanks, Grandma. I appreciate that.”

Grandma waved her hand dismissively. “Now, girl, you go on. Lots to think about and do, and it’s past my bedtime.”

Alex got up, walked over and gave Grandma a kiss on the forehead before she left. Now alone, Grandma picked up the phone and dialed a number.

“How’d he take it?” a gruff voice asked.

“She, Mr. Garret, she. And she took it quite well. Her career is more important that maintaining her cover. She’s ready.”

“I have to admit I’m still having a hard time believing the hero of the Crouger incident is a teenage girl,” Mr. Garret admitted.

“You’ve interviewed everyone remotely involved in that mess. You will meet her on Monday. After that there will be no doubt.”

“I get the feeling I’m taking on trouble, Grandma.”

“Were you any different, Little Jake?”

The was no reply.

“Her heart is in the right place. She has a well-developed sense of justice. She needs guidance. Who better to provide that than you?”

After a pause, Mr. Garret said, “I have come to rely on your insight and Judgement, Grandma. I trust you. Just don’t expect me to go easy on him. Her! Her.”

“You better not. Anything happens to her, and you will answer to me. You train her right!”

“I will, Grandma. I promise.”