Free Nik Kane Alaska Mystery - 01 - Lost Angel by Mike Doogan Page B

looking pretty good.”
    Kane turned to face Charlie Simms. He was a big, balding fellow with a weightlifter’s body and a drinker’s complexion. Like Kane, he’d followed Jeffords through the ranks of the Anchorage Police Department. After Kane had gone to prison, Simms had finally made lieutenant and stalled behind a desk. He’d retired and gone to work for a private security outfit that, according to rumor, belonged to Jeffords.
    Kane had worked with Simms from time to time, and had come to the conclusion he was dedicated but plodding. He was also a big-time skirt chaser, but then a lot of cops were. They’d socialized some, too, often sitting across from each other at poker games Jeffords put together. He’d called it team building, but Kane knew the chief had organized the games as a way of assessing his subordinates.
    Simms had been at the Blue Fox that night, celebrating even though he’d been a sergeant in the running for the promotion, too. When Kane was on his way out, Simms had weaved over to shake his hand, then navigated his way back to a booth and put the hand up the skirt of a cop groupie.
    “You okay, Nik?” Simms asked, drawing him back to the present. “You look a little peaked.”
    Kane gave Simms a twisted smile.
    “Sorry, Charlie,” he said. “Memories.”
    “Yeah, I had some, too, when the chief told me you were coming,” Simms said. “Sorry about what happened.”
    “Wasn’t your fault,” Kane said. “You just did your job.”
    Simms closed the door, waved him to a chair, and went through the motions of hospitality. When those were out of the way, he said, “I’m surprised to see you, Nik.”
    “Why’s that, Charlie?” Kane said. “I thought you said Jeffords told you I was coming.”
    Simms sat quietly for what seemed like a long time. I suppose he’s thinking, Kane thought.
    “I guess it’s because the chief is involved,” Simms said. “I know you never thought he did right by you.”
    “How do you know that?” Kane said.
    Simms gave him a grin.
    “Your wife told my wife, Nik,” he said. “You know how that is.”
    Kane thought about telling Simms that he and Laurie were split up, but decided against it. Marriage trouble wasn’t something men talked about. And he didn’t really want to explain his attitude about Jeffords, either. On balance, he figured, the chief had helped him more than he’d not helped him. On a more practical level, Jeffords could still do him a lot of good or a lot of harm. And he found an odd kind of comfort in taking a case Jeffords gave him. It was an echo of his life before the fall.
    Besides, he thought, how much reason do I need when my only alternative is sitting in a ratty apartment thinking about all the ways I’ve fucked up?
    What he told Simms was, “That’s all water under the bridge, Charlie. I’m trying to make a new start.”
    That seemed to satisfy Simms.
    “I’m glad to see you, Nik,” he said. “I’m glad you’re doing okay. I’m glad that little bastard finally told the truth and that you’re out with a clean record. And I can use the help. There’s something bad coming. I can feel it.”
    “I’m not really here for you, Charlie,” Kane said. “The people over in Rejoice asked me to find a young woman for them.”
    “I know, Nik,” Simms said. “I’d just really appreciate it if you keep your eyes open while you’re going around. We produced three hundred fifty thousand ounces of gold last year, and that’s a mighty big temptation. That, and the payroll. We bring in about a quarter-million in cash every two weeks, more when the mine’s running full blast.”
    Kane whistled.
    “I can see why that might be attractive to certain parties,” he said, “but you’ve been operating for, what, eighteen months? Two years? Why so concerned now?”
    “You ever done any remote site work?” Simms said.
    Kane shook his head.
    “Well, here’s how it is,” Simms said. “Most of the workers here, maybe eighty