The Ex (The Corny Myers Series)

The Ex

The Corny Myers Series

Sharon Kleve

The Ex

A Books to Go Now Publication

Copyright
©
Sharon Kleve
2013

Books to Go Now

For information on the cover illustration and design, contact [email protected]

First eBook Edition –May 2013

Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.

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Look for Other Stories by Sharon Kleve

Flamingo Blues

Be Mine

Klutzy Love

Josey’s Christmas Cookie

Valentine Special Delivery

Dedication

“An author cannot grow without both constructive criticism and encouragement.”

My critique partners give me both and make me a better author for it.

Thank you for your support and unfailing encouragement!

CHAPTER ONE

Have you told Steve about the jury summons? You need to tell him how to take care of me in case you get sequestered.
Pete grabbed his tail with his tiny paws and chewed on the tip, a sure sign he was agitated.

“How do you know I didn’t tell him already?” I asked.

I knew what his answer would be, because his answer was always the same.

I have excellent hearing,
Pete chattered.

My name’s Corny Myers and I have a unique psychic ability—I can communicate with animals. My parents told me my gift was handed down from Great Aunt Harriet on my mother’s side.

It only seemed natural to open a pet detective agency and use my skills. From day one, Green Hornet Investigations thrived and nobody seemed to care how I got the job done.

“No. You’re a little spying devil,” I said.

That’s the only way I know what’s going on around here,
Pete said and then pouted.

“I promise to tell Steve. You have nothing to worry about. I’ll have to go through the jury selection process. If I do
get selected for a case the chances of me being sequestered are slim. You’ll be fine.”

You better be right.
He scurried down the hall.

Steve’s an aggressive, tough, Seattle narcotics cop and he looked sexy as hell in his faded jeans, Mariners T-shirt, sneakers and 9mm gun hooked to his belt. He grabbed a leather jacket out of the bedroom closet and flung the heavy material over his shoulder.

“Hey Steve, can you check on Pete real quick? I might’ve hurt the little guy’s feelings.”

“Sure. What am I looking for? Will he be blowing his nose or wiping his eyes with a tissue?” Steve asked and smirked.

“Very funny.”

Pete’s beady eyes appeared around the door before Steve could move.

Tell Steve, I’m sensitive and need special care.

Pete didn’t seem upset; he cleaned his face with his tan paws.

“Like I told you earlier, you have nothing to be worried about. Please stop spying on us. You’re being creepy.”

Hey, I was eating my breakfast and minding my own business.

He sat back on tiny hind legs and looked indignant.

“Your kibbles are in the spare bathroom. If you were minding your own business, how come you know what we were talking about?”

Steve cleared his throat, “I hate to interrupt your conversation, but I have to get going.”

“Wait. Pete reminded me I haven’t told you my exciting news. Can you spare a couple of minutes?” Pete sat down and listened. I assumed he wanted to make sure I didn’t leave anything out.

“Sure. I can spare a couple minutes for you. I guess this is a good time to tell you my news too.”

Steve acted hesitant to tell me, which made me anxious to hear what he had to say.

“Sit down and I’ll pour us another cup of coffee,” I offered.

We sat down at the kitchen table and I said, “Okay, you go first.”

Steve took a sip from his cup and hesitated.

“I received an invitation to attend a seminar held by the FBI on new drug detection techniques.”

“Steve, that’s great,” I said.

“Yeah… incredible, actually. I found out that only a few detectives from Washington have been asked to attend. The rest will be coming in from other states.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, because I know you’re a great cop and all, but how did
you
get selected?” I asked.

“I’m sure my old girlfriend Celeste, arranged for my invite.”

“Why would your old girlfriend do something like that?”

“She works for the FBI, and she’ll be teaching the class,” Steve said.

“Oh…? You’ve never mentioned her before. When did you two date?”

His old girlfriend would teach the class? They’d be taking breaks together or maybe even go out to lunch together, while I could be tied up in jury duty. Jury duty didn’t sound that great after all.

“We broke up about six months before I met you. She was offered a great job in D.C. and I didn’t want to give up my career here. And, I never considered a long distance relationship with her.”

What did she look like? Was she prettier than me? Taller...thinner…smarter? I’d drive myself crazy with these kinds of thoughts. Steve interrupted my inner turmoil.

“I knew there was a reason I didn’t want to leave Seattle,” Steve said.

I fluttered my eyelashes. “Really? What’s that?” Hey, my ego needed to be stroked.

“Because I met you here,” he replied.

“I’m glad you stayed too. Is she married or does she have a boyfriend?” I hoped she was pregnant with triplets.

“No. When I talked to her yesterday she told me her latest relationship ended badly and she didn’t want to talk about the breakup. She did mention wanting to get together to reminisce about old times. The funny thing is; our old times weren’t that great.”

Alarm bells went off in my head. This chick wanted Steve back.

“How’d she take the news that you’re not available any longer?”

“I think okay. She asked what you did for a living, and how long we’d been together. When I told her we were living together, she told me she can’t wait to meet you. She seemed happy for me. Maybe she’s changed.”

“Changed? What do you mean?” Hey, who wouldn’t want to meet me? I was cute, funny and I could talk to animals.

“First, I want to say that Celeste is brilliant at her job, but her personal life has been a disaster. She has a history of wanting what’s not available to her. She assumed I’d follow her when she left for D.C. When I didn’t, she went through a rough emotional period. She’d call me in the middle of the night, calm and rational one minute, but when I wouldn’t agree to whatever she had on her mind, she’d fly into a fit of rage. Because I cared about her, I felt obligated to report her behavior to my superior, who reported the incident to her superior. For obvious reasons, she was angry with me the last time we spoke, over a year and a half ago.”

“Okay, your old girlfriend is a whacko; I’ve had a few wacko relationships myself. When is she flying in?” I tried to sound supportive.

“Celeste lived in Seattle for ten years and has lots of friends here.”

“Steve, when is she arriving?”

“She flies in this Tuesday afternoon. She’s coming a week early. She wants to catch up with her friends.”

“Meaning you, right?” Great, she’ll be in town the whole week I might be on jury duty.

“Corny, I’m sure she’s not flying in early to spend time with me.”

“So… what does Celeste look like?”

“Why?” he asked with suspicion in his voice.

“Come on… she’s your old girlfriend; that’s reason enough.”

“I’m going to be late for work. Can we talk about this later?”

“You’re avoiding my question. What does she look like?” Steve was a straight shooter, but he avoided my question. What was she—super model gorgeous?

“Celeste is tall, thin, with long blonde hair and blue eyes,” he said. “Oh, and she has a heart-shaped mole above her right eyebrow.”

“She sounds pretty.” I banged my forehead on the table.

Steve kissed me and laughed.

“I was kidding about the mole. Don’t worry about Celeste; she’s got nothing on you.”

I wasn’t jealous—just curious. With my shoulders back and stomach sucked in, I’m five-feet-eight inches tall and weigh about one-hundred-twenty-five pounds. A monster hot dog and a side of cheesy fries would put me above that in a heartbeat though. To be on the safe side, I’d eat only salads for lunch and skip the syrup in my lattes.

If I wanted
my
ex back, I’d arrive early, hang out, flirt, get him drunk and seduce him. I was sure Celeste fibbed—she didn’t want to meet me anymore than I wanted to meet her. “You said she always wants ‘what’s not available to her’. You realize that’s you, don’t you?”

“She didn’t go into a fit of rage when I told her about you. I’m sure the FBI got her the emotional help she needed or they wouldn’t keep her employed.”

“I’m sure you’re right. Where will the seminar be held?” Probably her hotel room.

“The class will be held in the FBI building, downtown. The class starts in two weeks, Monday through Friday. Come on, tell me your news,” Steve insisted.

“I received a jury summons. I’ll be reporting to the Seattle Municipal Court first thing Tuesday morning. I guess they don’t care that I’m boinking a cop because I marked ‘yes’ on the questionnaire when they asked, ‘are you related or a close friend of any law enforcement officer?’”

“They don’t care as long as the defendant isn’t a cop. There’s no reason to exclude you.”

“Good. I’ve been called, and questioned, but never chosen.” I was torn—why did Steve’s ex have to show up now?

Steve placed his coffee cup in the dishwasher and said, “See you tonight, honey.”

“Yeah… okay. I’ll see you tonight.”

“One more thing...you might want to keep your conversations with Pete to a minimum—especially if Celeste is around. I’m used to your conversations with animals, but not everyone would understand. I don’t want her to haul you off in a straitjacket,” he said.

“Let her try.”

“Bye, Corny.”

He didn’t look happy when he left. Pete scurried over and sat next to my foot and I accidently stepped on his tail. In the process, I lost my balance and my shoulder slammed into the wall. “Owe. That hurt,” I said as I rubbed my arm.

Hey, I think you flattened my tail,
Pete chattered.

“Geez! You scared me. See? That’s what you get for sneaking around.”

Why are you in a nasty mood?

“I’m not. How’s your tail?”

If you throw me a Scooby snack I’ll heal faster.

“Here you go.” Scooby snacks are a different flavor than his regular food. He thinks they’re extra special— he doesn’t need to know any different.

What’s the deal with this Celeste person?

“Steve’s old girlfriend is trying to worm her way back into his life.” If she wasn’t careful I’d rip every perfect blonde hair out of her head.

Hey, remember how much fun we had with Ralph at Langfield Laboratories? If Steve brings me into class with him, I could put tacks on her chair.

“No! I have a feeling Celeste would eat you alive. You will absolutely have no contact with her. Understood?”

Cross my heart and hope to get a girlfriend.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. You want a girlfriend?”

I’m just saying; it’d be nice…