Catch Your Breath

Chapter 1-1

1

Jimmy O’Malley sat in the commander’s office, knowing that one day, he’d move into the space. Today, however, he was waiting to hear why he’d been summoned. He hadn’t been a detective long enough to screw up, so the reason eluded him. He’d been working doggedly on some property crimes that went nowhere. Most of the detectives from his class had gone on to investigate violent crimes. He’d been relegated to burglary and vandalism.

Commander Elks hung up the receiver and stood. “I hear good things about you, O’Malley.”

“Thanks, sir.”

“I’ve been contacted by the mayor about a special assignment.”

Jimmy tried not to get excited. “Special” could mean anything from initiating a new task force or babysitting a dog. He really hoped for the former.

Elks sat on the front edge of the desk. “You’ll be going undercover to gather information.”

Undercover sounded good. “Information on what?”

“A possible theft.”

“Possible?”

Elks shook his head and crossed his arms. Jimmy realized the commander wasn’t happy about this assignment.

“The mayor has a friend who was burglarized. He wants us to quietly look into it.”

“Did he file a report?”

Elks shook his head. “Like I said, it’s a special assignment.”

A sinking feeling hit him. Not the good kind of special.

“Here’s the deal, O’Malley. The mayor’s buddy was robbed, but he didn’t report it. I’m still not clear as to why, but the mayor thinks his friend is not the only victim.”

Jimmy shifted. “He thinks?”

“These people are high society. They have something stolen, they just replace it, I guess. I don’t know. I told the mayor that without a formal report, we couldn’t do much. What I did promise was that if he provided access, I would provide a detective to investigate. If you come up with other victims, we’ll form a task force. If he’s right and someone is targeting the city’s wealthy, it could be a career-making case.”

“And if he’s wrong?”

Elks shrugged. “We lose some man hours. You get to rub elbows with the upper echelon of the city and attend some fancy parties.”

Fuck. Getting dressed up to hang out with a bunch of snobs was not his idea of a great career move.

Elks reached around, picked up an envelope from his desk, and handed it to Jimmy. “You’ll be attending a gala tomorrow night. It’s black tie, so get a tux. You’re going in as James Buchanan, a friend of Mayor Park. You’ve just moved to the city, and he’s extended his societal pull to you. He’ll be there to introduce you around.”

Jimmy looked at the invitation, which felt more like fabric than paper. The script was fancy calligraphy. Elks went back to his side of the desk and Jimmy stood.

Before leaving, he had to know. “Sir, if you don’t mind my asking, why me?”

“You’re a low man in the ranks and no one knows you. I can’t afford to pull a detective off a homicide to make the mayor happy.”

Disappointment stung. Part of him had hoped that the extra hours he’d put in on going nowhere cases had made an impact, that people higher on the ladder had noticed. Instead, he could’ve been a total i***t and still been chosen for this assignment.

At least he’d get face time with the mayor. That couldn’t possibly be a bad thing. Make a positive impression there and he’d have pull down the line when he’d need it.

Jimmy went back to meet up with his partner, Gabby. She’d been reinterviewing a witness to one of the burglaries they were trying to solve.

When he found her, she sat at her desk, staring at a file.

“Hey.”

“So what’d Elks want?”

“I got a new assignment.” He explained the details and her mouth opened.

“And he chose you? What the hell, man? I wouldn’t mind attending a party. Although the heels would probably be a killer. But the champagne and caviar? Might be worth suffering through heels and a dress.”

He shook his head at her. “I’m there to get information, not to get drunk.”

“Lighten up, O’Malley. There’s no rule against enjoying your job. If you don’t find some spark, you’ll burn out inside five years.” She closed the file in front of her. “At least your case will get me out of here.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“I get to be your backup.”

Jimmy walked through the front door of his childhood home and tripped on a hockey skate. What the f**k? His brothers weren’t twelve anymore. You’d think they could manage to pick up their s**t. He went straight to his bedroom upstairs to hang up the tuxedo. If his brothers caught sight of it, they’d never stop ribbing him. They’d assume he had a date.

Not that he’d waste dressing up on any of the women he’d been with lately. His life plan was right on track, except for that one part. Finding the right woman had not been working out.

“Hey, Jimmy. You home?” his baby brother Tommy screamed from the kitchen.

Rather than yell back, Jimmy walked back downstairs. “What’s up?”

“Your turn for dinner.”

Shit. He’d forgotten. He eyed the phone and wanted to call for pizza, but he knew his dad had probably eaten crap all day, so he’d have to cook. His brothers cheated enough on their days. “Where’s Dad?”

Tommy pulled a beer from the fridge and shrugged. “I just got home a little while ago. He wasn’t here.”

“Sean around?”

Another shrug. “Haven’t seen him.”

Jimmy checked the contents of the fridge. He didn’t have the energy to go shopping. If their dad wasn’t home anyway, pizza would be fine. The old man’s diet would be shot for the day. Jimmy just hoped he was smart enough to check his blood sugar while he was out. He tossed thirty bucks on the table and grabbed a beer for himself. “Call for a pizza. No anchovies.”

Tommy snickered. He was the only one in the house who ate anchovies, so when given the chance, he ordered them on pizza so he wouldn’t have to share. Sometimes Jimmy let him get away with it. The kid was on the scrawny side. Always had been.

Jimmy took his beer back upstairs. After his brothers had moved out, he turned the two attic bedrooms into an apartment for himself. If he had to be stuck living at home with his dad, he might as well be comfortable. He hadn’t counted on two of his three brothers moving back in.

They’d moved into the basement. At least they had a separate entrance, so it gave the appearance of an apartment. Until you walked into the unfinished basement anyway. Neither Tommy nor Sean did a damn thing to improve the space. They lived in a concrete dungeon, and it didn’t seem to bother them a bit.

After a quick shower, he sat at his computer to research Mayor Park’s friends and the charity event he had to attend. He didn’t go into any situation unarmed.