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

continued to rant about our varied cases as I mulled over the different tactics I could use to ask her the question. 
    We got to the car and Galveston placed Jane’s bags in the trunk.  I opened the front door for her before I heard Galveston change to a slightly different subject of conversation.
    “ So, Jane,” he began as he shut the trunk.  “I have a proposal for you.  Actually, we have a proposal for you.”
    The words barely got out of his mouth when I realized what subject he was bringing up.  I moved to break up the conversation, but it was too late.  Galveston was going to pose the question for me.  I guess that’s what friends are for.
    “ We want to move to Nashville, and we want you to move to Nashville.”
    I had no idea what Jane’s reaction would be, and a look of shock crossed my face that he had brought it up so soon.
    Jane looked at Galveston and then at me.  “Okay,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.  She then further shocked me by her next statement.  “Sounds good,” Jane smiled and nodded her head. 
    She moved past me, with the smile still etched on her face, got in the passenger front seat of the car, and closed the door.  Galveston gave me a goofy grin and opened the back door.
    “ Alright, buddy.  Let’s go grab a bite,” he said nonchalantly, as if nothing had transpired.
    He closed his door, and I stood by it in a stupor.  Was I in a parallel universe?  I slowly walked to the driver’s side and got in.
    “ I’m in the mood for some Italian food.  Would that be okay, Roger?” Jane asked politely.
    “ Sure, sure,” I responded.  “We can find some Italian—somewhere.”  I was still in a state of shock over her answer.
    Jane and Galveston were quiet during the drive to our unknown eating establishment.  I finally couldn’t hold my thoughts any further.  I had to know what these two were thinking. 
    “ Okay, what the heck is going on?” I blurted.
    “ Whatever do you mean, Roger,” Galveston asked with a bit of sarcasm.
    “ You know exactly what I mean,” I replied quickly.  “Did you guys take some drugs or something?”  I turned to Jane while almost running off the road.  “You heard his question, right?”
    “ Of course I did.  He asked me if I wanted to move to Nashville, and I said yes.  No big deal.”
    By this point my head was spinning.  I was glad Jane was on board in our decision, but this was weird.  Then I slowly began to realize—I had been duped.  I had forgotten who my partner was, and unfortunately, he was rubbing off on Jane.
    “ So how long did you have this planned?” I asked Galveston as I peered at him in the rearview mirror.
    “ I would say about ten miles outside Salt Lake City.  I was wondering when you were going to catch on.  You’re losing your touch in noticing my unique ability in spreading cow manure,” Galveston replied.
    “ Yes, you do have a quite a gift.  How long did it take him to convince you, Jane?”
    “ About twenty miles out of Salt Lake City.  He’s very good you know.”
    “ Yes, I know.  I sometimes feel I need to go behind him with a shovel to clean up.”
    Galveston had pulled one over on me.  He had been talking to Jane the entire time.  Our trip hadn’t been happenstance.  Galveston planned for us to end up in Nashville the entire time.  My heart rate stabilized since I didn’t have to stress over asking Jane the question.
    Over our Italian dinner, Jane explained why she was so quick to agree to the move.  Unbeknownst to me, Jane’s acting career in San Diego was leaving her unfulfilled.  Many of her friends had moved and life just wasn’t the same.  But the primary reason for her decision for moving, was of course, me.  She knew Galveston would convince me into the plan, just like he had done before with so many other situations.  Jane wanted to go back to teaching drama, something she had done earlier in her career.  I gave Galveston the task in helping her