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

They continued walking with the dog prancing ahead of them. As they did, Joe felt a sense of peace that was very foreign to him, and he said as much to Derek. “It’s like, for the first time in forever I can believe that I have a future. Something to look forward to other than where I can scrounge my next meal or find a safe place to crash. You made it happen.” Impulsively he gave Derek a fast hug before pulling back.


Derek stopped where he was, catching Joe’s hand to keep him from moving on. “We both did, so don’t lay it all on my shoulders. I offered, but if you hadn’t trusted me enough to accept, you’d still be on the streets.”


“You’ve offered a lot. A place to stay, a job, and the most important thing, you trusted me, too. For all you knew I could have been a punk who took off the next day with anything of value at the house.”


Chapter 18