I (Part II)

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"You're late," Patrick said as Miles walked into his office.

"What did you want me for?" Miles asked, giving him a glare.

"This..." Patrick said, throwing a newspaper with the same article about the murdered couple circled off.

"You want me to investigate that?" Miles asked. "But that's all the way in Grandville. I'd have to move with my family...again."

"Well, I'm sure they will adjust to the new surroundings, just like they did here."

"Pat, please, don't do this. Don't make me uproot my family again."

"Miles, Grandville PD asked for my best to come and investigate, and you are the man for the job."

"But..."

"It's already settled," Patrick said, waving him off. He dropped the case files in front of him. "Take this when you leave tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"So, when were you planning on starting the investigation?"

"Monday, at least!"

"That's out of the question. You leave tomorrow." He sat in the chair behind his wide desk. "Now, take those, go home, and look them over."

Miles scoffed as he collected the files and walked out of the office. There was no use fighting it. Either he did the work, or get fired. This was going to be tough news to break to his family.

When Miles got back home, Gina and the kids we watching a movie on their TV, on Netflix, in the dark. They were also eating popcorn.

He walked over and stepped in front of the TV screen, turning it off, and everyone groaned in annoyance.

"What gives, Dad?" Rebecca complained. "It was getting to the best part!"

Miles waved his hands and motioned her to calm down. He took a deep breath as he clutched the files in his left hand.

Gina, who had George between her legs, tapped him to move aside. She stood up and walked over to the light switch before coming back to stand next to Miles. She could see the look in his eyes - that look when he has some disappointing news.

"Miles, what's wrong?" she asked, now noticing the files in his hands. She knew. "Miles...no, we can't do this...not again."

"Gina, I'm sorry, but...I have to," he pleaded with her.

"Mom?" Rebecca said, standing up. "What's going on?"

"Honey..." Miles took a breath before he continued. "...I'm sorry." He took a step forward and reached out to touch her shoulder, but she pulled away.

"What's going on?" she asked more sternly.

Miles eyed his entire family before speaking. "We're moving again."

"Again?" Rebecca shrieked. "Just great. Now, I'm gonna be an outcast in yet another town. Thanks a lot, Dad!" She stormed off and headed upstairs towards her room and slammed the door.

Miles turned to his wife. "Gina, there really wasn't anything I could've done," he said.

"You could've said no - a simple two-letter word," she rolled her eyes.

"I did! But Pat was hell-bent on sending me to Grandville and I had no say in the matter."

"Really?" Gina crossed her arms over her chest. "You had no say in the matter yet you are the detective he's sending?" Miles didn't utter a word and broke his gaze away from her. She sighed. "Look, I'm happy with all the workload you've been getting but sometimes, I think you put that before your family."

Miles furrowed his brows and met her gaze once more. He took her hands in his. "You guys are more important to me than my work but how do you expect us to live if I don't work?"

"Miles, we have more than enough money to last us a good while," she said. "From all those cases you've solved, you've racked in more than I can make with one design of my clothing line."

"I know but they want the best detective, and who better than me can do this?" he said.

"Can't they call in, like, the CIA or something?" Gina asked.

"Well, I guess, but they asked for me specifically, and I can't back down from this now." Gina sighed, resting her head against his chest. "Look, I know you're not very fond of this moving about but I promise, this is my last case and then I'll take my leave."

"What about the kids, Miles. You'll be uprooting them from another school."

"New friends for me," George said, beaming.

Miles and Gina chuckled as their son ran up and hugged their legs, after which he ran upstairs to his room.

"One child seems to be in our favour," Miles said with a small smile.

"I'll try to talk to Rebecca," Gina said. She gave him a kiss before walking off to persuade her daughter to agree with the plans for moving again.

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◀ MARDAIS ▶

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