A solution for Keith
In the end events came to a rather unexpected head as we discovered on arrival at Brin’s garage.
“Mr Parker, Pete,” Brin greeted us. “What can I do for you gents?”
Sensing that he looked tired and worried, I asked, “What’s up, Brin? You look like you haven’t slept for a week.”
“Feels like it too. You’ve heard that Reg is leaving the force?” He gave a shrug. “And Keith’s on all the gossip tongues again …”
I’d picked up the fact Keith had caused some upset in the town, but not that Reg, our local policeman was involved, or that he was leaving his job. “Heard something about Keith, but I seldom pay much attention to gossip, Brin. What’s it this time?”
He sat down, waving us to chairs in the office. “Silly buggers got caught kissing at the Police House. Some damned old busybody saw Keith go in, and decided to see what he was there for.” He wiped a hand across his eyes. “I’ve told them both many times to be careful, but …”
Light dawned, but before I could say anything, Mike chuckled. “Seems what I was wanting to see you about is coming just at the right moment!” He took my hand and squeezed. “Pete here has told me a little about Keith and how tricky it’s been for him, so I was wanting to talk to you about giving him the chance to move away and get some qualifications. Sounds like it could be just the solution for Keith, you and Reg!”
Brin stared. “What sort of work? What sort of qualifications? Keith is a bright kid, but he has trouble studying … Reg is getting a lot of trouble from his bosses — they found he and Keith have built quite a playroom …”
Mike nodded. “Okay, sounds as if I better move fast then. Look, I own several companies, and Pete here has his own line as well. We can let Keith and Reg decide where they fit in if they want to. Where are they now?”
“Keith’s upstairs, Reg is getting his stuff cleared out of the house. He’s been suspended, but they’ll accept his resignation — if he doesn’t make fuss or cause any more trouble.”
Mike nodded. “Can you contact Reg and ask him to meet us here? And if I can have a chat to Keith?”
“I’ll contact Reg. Give me a moment and I’ll fetch Keith down.” Brin shook his head. “I’m planning to sell up anyway, so it might as well be now.” He disappeared into the workshop, returning several minutes later with a reluctant Keith. “I’ll give Reg a call on his mobile. You can use my office.”
Keith sat on the edge of a chair, clearly not sure what to expect as Mike launched into his proposal. Gradually the young man relaxed, his expression changing to hope as Mike asked, “What do you really want to do, Keith?”
“Art!” The answer was firm and unequivocal. “I want to develop my digital painting skills, I want to work with someone on graphic art — maybe do comic illustration.” He grinned. “I love some of the erotica in that line …”
Mike laughed. “Well I’m damned. Pete, it sounds like your field is just the right thing here.”
Keith looked confused as I grinned. “Sounds like it. Keith, I do a lot of work in that field. Have you got something to show me? Some of your artwork for instance?”
He blushed. “Yeah, but it’s …” He hesitated, then went for it. “Have you ever seen anything by Connor O’Malley?”
Mike burst out laughing as I nodded. “I guess we have,” he grinned. “You see I happen to know him rather well.” He nudged me. “Intimately in fact.”
Playfully I punched Mike. “Let me see your examples, Keith. I think we’re going to be able to help you with this — maybe even sort out something for Reg as well.”
Glancing from Mike to me, Keith frowned. “I’ll get my laptop. But …?” He paused. “You know Connor O’Malley?”
“Let me introduce you,” Mike’s grin would have put the Cheshire Cat to shame. “Connor O’Malley, aka Pete Wilson, may I present Keith Morris?”
Keith’s face was a study. “You’re Connor O’Malley?” He gasped. “Oh my God … “ He blushed crimson.
Gently I took his hand. “Afraid so, Keith. My deep, dark secret. The main reason I prefer to keep myself out of the town, but,” I glanced at Mike, “I think my secret is about to become public, and so is my relationship to Mike, here.” I kissed, Mike’s cheek. “Fetch that laptop, or better still, if you’ll invite me up to the flat, we can look at your art there, and talk. I think we’ve a lot to discuss.”
Keith was good. Damned good, and I knew instinctively that he was the perfect person to take over some of the work I did as Connor O’Malley, and perhaps another lesser known alias.
“You know, Keith, I can offer you some work. I am pretty sure we can even thrash out something more than that. But a lot will depend on what you want — and what Reg wants if you two are going to stay together.”
“I think I’m dreaming!” Keith’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I love Reg, and I don’t want to leave him, and I want to take your offer, but Reg … well, he can’t get work here, and I can’t leave Dad, and …”
I patted his hand. “Then let’s go and see if Reg has turned up, and what Mike suggests. I think we can probably solve both problems, but it needs all of us I think.”
He wiped his eyes. “Oh, Mr Wilson — Connor — do you think so?”
“I think so, Keith. Come on, let’s go and see what we can sort out for you all.” Leading the way down to the office I found Reg already there, and deep in conversation with Mike and Brin. The way his face lit up when he saw Keith told me everything I wanted to know. “Mike, Keith’s artwork is fabulous, just what I am looking for I think.” I smiled at Reg. “Should I congratulate you, or commiserate? What has Mike suggested?”
Reg grinned. “Bit of both, but Mr Parker has a couple of suggestions, and so does Brin.” He took Keith’s hand and drew him into an embrace. “But it depends on Keith.”
“Nope, it depends on you, goof.” Keith grinned. “Did you know that Connor O’Malley was living in Peter’s Ford? And you never told me?”
“Connor ..?" Reg looked at me. “No, I didn’t … Oh fuck. You’re Connor O’Malley?” He shook with laughter. “Half the fucking town drools over your stories, and think they’re the only ones … Right, I think I’m hauling my collection up to your place for some serious autographing!”
I grinned. “Well, if you two choose it, you could be living with the next Connor O’Malley. I think Keith has the potential, and the imagination. Oh, and there’ll be a vacant studio — with house and playroom attached — available soon, if Mike and I set ourselves up in Barr’s Harbour as we plan to!”
Reg laughed. “Damn, that gives me a real set of choices! Mr Parker suggested I could come and work for his boat company looking after the engines side of things, and Brin suggested I could take over the garage here if Keith didn’t want to move, but then I’d have to find a place for us …”
Mike stepped in. “Well, looking at you two, and you, Brin, I’d say you’ve some talking to do. Either way, we can set you both up, and Brin can retire as well — I’ve made him an offer for the business, and offered him whichever post you don’t take, Reg.” He glanced at the trio. “I’m going to take Pete off to lunch, and Brin or one of you can tell us the decisions when we get back.”
Mike and I enjoyed a leisurely lunch, then went back to Brin’s garage. He greeted us at the door. “I was just wondering if I should send Keith to tell you we’ve decided what we want to do.”
“Great,” I replied. “I hope it’s what I’m hoping it is.”
Reg stepped out of the office as we approached, Keith hard on his heels.
“From the smiles, it looks like you’re all happy with your decision,” Mike commented. “Come on, out with it then, what do you want to do?”
“Keith, fetch us all some tea,” Brin ordered. “We’ve decided, I’m going to Barr’s Harbour to look after the motors in those boats, Mr Parker, and Reg is going to stay on here looking after the garage, if that’s okay. He’s a qualified mechanic; did his apprenticeship before he joined the Force.”
Mike nodded. “And Keith?”
Brin laughed. “He’ll be at Pete’s door ready to start first thing in the morning.”
Keith arrived as he said this, carrying a tray of teacups. “If that’s alright, Mr Wilson?” He gave me the puppy eyes. “I can’t wait to get started.”
I grinned. “Okay, but remember, it’s strictly work — oh, and Reg, I’d appreciate it if you two moved into the house. I don’t want to sell it, and Mike and I might want to come back here sometime.” I took Mike’s hand. “Mike and I are going to live in Barr’s Harbour as soon as I can get my stuff moved down there. You’d better both come up tomorrow morning so we can show you what’s where and how it all works.”
