Jack Nolan PI

Jack Nolan P. I.

Jack

Jack Nolan, a tall, muscular man, had dark eyes, clean fingernails, and wore a Fedora cocked to one side. He liked nice things and took pleasure in the ease with which his Hummer roared to a start. After hitting speed dial, Ed answered on the first ring. "Hello."

"It's me, Jack Nolan. I have good news."

"Great, I could use some. Tell me about it."

"My connection at the VA said a Robert Allen Gardner had some dental work done in a suburb of Detroit. I have his last known address."

"That's wonderful. What's our next move?"

"I'll be on the next plane heading that way. I'm reasonably confident he's the one you're looking for." He gunned the engine, then put it in gear as flurries danced in the headlights. "I'll get there tonight and see what I can turn up in the morning."

"Thanks. Let me hear from you as soon as you know something. We appreciate all your doing."

***

After a night at a supposed five-star hotel, Jack stood before a dirty white, two-story block building, checked the address, and muttered. "This can't be right." A weathered sign over the door read, 'CHARLIE'S BAR.'

Jack took in a deep breath and let out a sigh as he strolled into the darkness passed an intoxicated couple who held each other upright under the guise of a slow dance. A few wasted lives sat at the bar and drank away their misery in a cloud of gray cigarette smoke.

He stroked his chin and scowled. Man, what a dump.

The bartender weighed a little shy of a heart attack and emptied ashtrays with his back turned. Jack stepped up and slapped his hand on the bar, which caused the huge man to revolve.

"Hey, what'll it be?"

If I don't order something, he won't give me the time of day. "I'll have a Club soda."

The bartender opened a can and trickled the drink over a glass of ice. "Anything to go with this friend?"

"That's it." The bartender put the glass on a napkin and slid it forward. "You a cop?"

I guess this guy hasn't seen many Giorgio Armani Herringbone business suits in this place. "Nope."

"So, a politician then, right?"

"Wrong, the name is Jack Nolan, I'm a private investigator."

"Same as a cop," mumbled the bartender while wiping his hands on a dishcloth.

Jack grew impatient with the nonproductive interrogation and being on the wrong side of it. "I need to locate Mr. Robert Allen Gardner. This is supposed to be his last known address. Do you know recognize this man?" He handed the bartender a grainy, old photo he dug up from Bob's military days. "Here's how he was fourteen years ago."

Charlie barely glanced at the photo of a clean-cut young man in his twenties. "My name's Charlie Russel. I stay upstairs, and no one but me has lived here for years. This Gardner fellow." Charlie handed the photograph back. "Any reward money on him?"

"Jesus, God forbid anyone would do anything out of the goodness of their hearts."

Charlie tossed the empty soda can into the trash. "You know what they say. Money talks. But it doesn't matter to me because I've never laid eyes on the man."

Jack reached for his gold-plated business card case. "It's an important family matter, and time is of the essence. I'll cough up fifty bucks for anyone who can lead me to him."

"Wish I knew the man. I could sure use the dough."

Jack wrote, 'In search of Robert Allen Gardner' on the back of his card. "Here, hold on to this, and contact me if the guy happens to show up. From what I understand, he's quite fond of his hard spirits."

Charlie studied the card. "Not many folks give me their names, and I don't ask." He opened the register and pitched the card inside. "But for fifty bucks, I'll keep my eyes peeled."

Jack threw a five-dollar bill beside the untouched drink. "Keep the change." Outside, he put on his sunglasses and headed off to turn over a few more rocks. Disappointed when nothing crawled from underneath them, he called Ed and reached his machine. "Ed, I'm sorry. I hit a dead end. I'll hang around the rest of the day and check out the jail, the morgue, and a few other places. I'm sorry for getting your hopes up. I thought I had him for sure."