Daniel Ganninger - Icarus Investigations 03 - Snow Cone Read Online Free

remainder of the day watching bad television programs, the kind that had no redeeming quality other than to make you feel depressed that you had spent the time watching.
    “ What do you think of Nashville?” Galveston asked during a commercial.
    “ It’s nice,” I answered.  “Why do you ask?”  Galveston moved into a sitting position on the edge of his bed.  “Uh-oh,” I thought. “What’s he up to?”
    “ I want to run something past you, and before you respond with a no, let me lay out some facts.”
    I hesitated before speaking.  Things never went well when he started a conversation this way.  I knew it was fruitless to argue, so I gave in and answered, “Okay.”
    “ I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the business and our direction.  I feel we’ve hit a tipping point.”
    “ Go on,” I said with trepidation.
    “ You know, as well as I, our business in California is dead.  We can’t run an effective operation there since all the news articles came out.  How can we effectively investigate when people know who we are?  I think we have to make a change, and by change I mean location.”
    “ I’m still listening.”  I couldn’t refute anything he had said.  Our business had been shattered since our popularity grew.  Too many people were wanting our services.  In any other business this would have been a godsend, for us it was a death sentence.  We were also on the radar of every government organization in the state. 
    “ I like Nashville.  It has possibilities.  We can find work on entertainment cases, industry is growing, and we can access the east coast easily,” he explained.
    I couldn’t argue against any of his points.  Nashville would be prime investigative real estate, and the cost of doing business would be significantly lower.
    “ What about Jane, and even Alex?” I inquired.
    “ I don’t know, what about Jane?  Maybe you need to convince her of the idea.  If you go back to San Diego, you could help Dave with his divorce cases.  I know you don’t want to do that.”
    “ And Alex?” I asked.
    Galveston set off with a laugh.  “Alex?  You know he’s not going anywhere.  We can fly him in when we need him, or he can do the work from the comfort of his pool patio.”
    He was right again.  Alex Judokowski, our resident computer expert, would never leave his cushy San Diego mansion.
    “ Nashville, huh?” I was beginning to thaw on the idea.  Maybe it was because my brain had been fried from all the terrible T.V. we had watched during the day, but Galveston had made many valid points.  I didn’t have a preference on where we lived.  I loved the coast but never had enough time to enjoy it.  I would have more opportunities to retire someday here in Tennessee than I would in California.  My rational mind knew it was the best choice, but my feelings for Jane outweighed everything else.
    “ I hear what you’re saying, and I—reluctantly agree.  If I can convince Jane, then maybe we could set up a satellite office.  We’ll continue with Dave running our office in San Diego.”
    “ I knew you would come over to my line of thinking,” Galveston said with a smile.
    “ Sorry to burst your bubble, but if Jane doesn’t agree with it, I’m not going with it.”
    “ Don’t you worry. I have a plan for Jane.  I just hope it works,” Galveston smirked.
    “ Whatever you say.” 
    I turned from Galveston and stared up at the ceiling.  We were moving to Nashville—with Jane’s blessing, of course. 
    “ Maybe I could buy that farm I’ve always dreamed about,” I thought.  I could get a couple of horses, maybe a chicken or two, then hire someone to take care of them since I had no clue how to run a farm.  Jane and I could settle down in the hills, away from the bustle of the city.  It all seemed romantic and new.  I enjoyed the thought of change.  I just hated the thought of what it would take to make it happen.

-Chapter 5-
     
    The alarm