Chapter 1
Bec
Much to my disappointment, not a single femme fatale, man in an unironic fedora, or older fat guy in a white suit ever walked into the office of Masel Investigations.
I’d applied for the part-time job as front office staff on a whim. I didn’t need the money but I did need to get out of the condo occasionally. I didn’t want to lose my social skills while studying for the California bar.
When I got this job I thought my life would become interesting. However, after working here for three weeks, not even one dangerous man had come in to tell my boss to “back off or else!”
It was absolutely discouraging!
I know, movies, especially film noir, aren’t realistic depictions of private investigators, but still, the only exciting thing that happened was when Jim Masel’s wife visited with the familydog. The dog was friendly and adorable, but nothing compared to anything in all the stories.
I’d resettled in San Diego to find some excitement, determined to leave my old self behind and have some fun and adventures. Working for Jim was part of that, but it was turning out to be boring. Summer school levels of boring.
I’d read spreadsheets more entertaining than this job.
My phone buzzed with a notification from PixUs, my new favorite social media site. It helped me know what was going on back in South Dakota as well as learning about my new friends here in San Diego.
I opened the app expecting to see someone had posted, but it was a direct message from an account named GreenScales1520. I opened the DM even though we didn’t follow each other to see a picture of a baby llama! The image was crooked and a little out of focus, but the llama was still adorable.
Then another picture came through. And another one. Finally, a selfie of a familiar face standing next to the baby.
This had to be Danzig. I couldn’t see his twin, Marduk, doing something like this. Marduk struck me as someone who would meticulously set up the picture, take it, then edit it on his phone to make sure it was aesthetically pleasing before sending it.
The two might look alike, but they had very different personalities!
Text appeared under the last picture.
GreenScales1520
It’s so cute I want to bring it home, but the owner said she can’t be separated from her mama yet.
I couldn’t help but respond.
TheNewMe888
What would you do with a baby llama?
His reply was swift.
GreenScales1520
I would buy a baby camel to keep her company, and raise them together as best friends. When they were trained and ready, we’d all go out on hikes together.
The mental picture of Danzig hiking with a camel and a llama was ridiculous enough to make me snort. Another DM came through.
GreenScales1520
Would you hike with us?
I didn’t answer that. Instead, I asked a question.
TheNewMe888
Where are you that you can hang out with baby llamas?
Another picture of the baby nursing from her mama llama popped up. Then more text.
