Nineteen-year-old Joe has been living on the streets since escaping from a sex-trafficking ring. When a blizzard hits the city, he takes a chance, accepting Derek Clarke's offer of a place to stay for the night. It wouldn't have happened if Derek hadn't been doing a stake-out in the alley at just the right time and taken pity on Joe. The blizzard leaves the two men housebound for the next few days, and they begin to bond as Derek teaches Joe some of what being a private detective involves. Loath to let Joe return to the streets when the weather clears, Derek offers him a job as his apprentice, while allowing him to continue staying in his guestroom. Can their relationship grow from friendship to more, in spite of traumas in their pasts, or will Joe's fear of physical commitment ultimately drive them apart?

The Detective's Apprentice

He did, while Derek let Sherwat back inside, dried him off, and filled his food dishes. Then he put torn spinach and sliced tomatoes in a bowl, dousing them in Italian dressing. He checked the chicken, decided it was ready, and put the breasts on a serving plate which Joe took into the dining room.


“This is pretty good,” Joe said several minutes later after devouring one piece of chicken and taking a second one. “I’ll have to remember it, if I ever get a job that lasts long enough that I can rent a place to live.” He looked at Derek under lowered lashes as he said that.


Hinting, again? If I could afford it, I might take him up on it. He is right. It would free me up to take on a few more clients. It occurred to him that if he did, the new clients would help cover the cost of paying Joe.


They finished supper, then without being asked Joe cleared the table and did the dishes.


Chapter 10