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

The snowstorm ended early Monday evening. By Tuesday morning the sun was out, the streets had been plowed down the centers, making them passable, and most of the homeowners in the neighborhood, including Derek, had shoveled their walks.


When he came back inside, leaving the shovel in the garage, Derek wondered if Joe would be more relaxed than he had been after their intense conversation Monday afternoon. Sure he talked afterward, while they cooked, and even joked some as they ate and then watched TV before going to bed, but he had avoided saying anything that could remotely be construed as personal.


So far this morning, the younger man hadn’t put in an appearance which surprised Derek. From the beginning Joe had always jumped in to help with the chores, including clearing the walks. The moment he came into the kitchen he knew why.


Chapter 38