Nick had already hung his good jacket in the chopper and was working through the pre-flight when he heard Jerry whistle from the office. Nick smiled, knowing that Cody had arrived, and he wondered what kind of case was on tap for today.
Before Cody, Nick had always looked at lawyers as bottom-feeding scum-suckers, but he had quickly revised that opinion. Except for helicopters, Cody was an easy-going risk-taker who could charm a pig into a barbeque. On several occasions, he'd convinced Nick to try one thing or another that was completely out of left field. Sometimes the plan worked, sometimes not; but the attempt was always memorable…and usually a pretty good time. Nick had to admit he had a lot of fun putting one over on these big time, smart-ass lawyers.
Nick generally saw himself as a grab-the-bull-by-the-horns kind of guy. If something needed saying, needed doing, needed fixing, Nick did his best to get it done. He'd gotten in hot water on many occasions for not being more diplomatic, but around Cody, he was beginning to see that sometimes a different approach might work just as well. And according to his friend, Nick had helped Cody secure some justice for the clients of Thayer, Sargent, and Winslow. That sat pretty good with Nick's well developed sense of right and wrong. Of course, he wasn't sure what would happen if he ever disagreed with Cody's side of a case. If Cody's client was less than savory. He really didn't want to think about that because…
Well…because Cody had settled in a place in Nick's heart that was reserved for pretty special people. Deke Martin from high school. A guy in Vietnam who'd been killed about a month before Nick shipped home…and he didn't think about that anymore. It took a long time before Nick was able to let anyone else get close, and the guy that finally managed it was Doug Skinner who he'd met here at Mugu Charters. Doug had retired last year, and Nick had finally gotten a decent apartment, so he wasn't sleeping on Doug's sofa much anymore. But the guy was still aces, and the closest thing Nick had to a father figure.
And now there was Cody Allen. Nick had never imagined his best friend would be a rich kid from back east. Who was a lawyer. On the surface, they had less than nothing in common, but often Nick only needed a glance from Cody to know what he was thinking and act accordingly. Or vice versa. They had pulled off some very sweet scams on opposing attorneys and their clients as a result. Nick likened it to the exhilaration of soloing for the first time.
And that it had happened so quickly and effortlessly was the amazing part of the whole deal. Right from the start, Cody had been able to talk Nick into almost anything, even pretending to be a lawyer. And Nick was pretty sure that what they were doing was technically illegal. Of course, he wasn't practicing law, but still. And then there was the way Cody would just throw himself out there…and expect Nick to catch him. It was a little terrifying and a hell of a ride. Anyway…
Nick finished up what he could of the preflight and headed to the office. He opened the door, expecting to see Cody's wide grin…and instead found his friend looking grim, surrounded by three stuffed shirts who seemed both impatient and demanding.
Nick quickly sized up the situation and put his professional face on. "Mr. Allen, welcome back. You've brought company today."
Cody nodded briefly, looking a little nervous and conflicted but trying to hide it.
Jerry was behind the desk. "Nick, I need to talk to you."
"Sure." He nodded at the four men, "Excuse me."
But Jerry spoke so everyone could hear. "I was just explaining to these gentlemen that, based on the reservation that was called in yesterday, we were expecting just Mr. Allen. We only have the 206 available today, right?"
Nick ran through the open birds in his head. Something was wrong with that 205 again. Whatever Lou had done to fix her hadn't worked for very long, and she was running rough again. From Jerry's face, he could see that's what the boss was asking; should they chance her?
Nick smiled inwardly at the only other chopper available: his own personal ride. "The Sikorsky's running pretty good."
"No."
"Really, she's fine."
"No."
Nick sighed, "Then the 206 is all we have. Everything else is out or grounded today."
Jerry shook his head wryly at Nick's suggestion, but he turned back to their clients. "If you all insist on going, it's going to be pretty tight in the back seat, but this is the only helicopter we have available. If you'd given us a little more warning about the increased number in your party…"
A chubby, medium tall man with wavy brown hair and a paisley tie folded his arms, clearly displeased. "One would think you would keep more than one helicopter around for emergencies."
Jerry's smile was fake, but it was still a smile. Sort of. "One: a chopper on the ground isn't making me any money. And two: this isn't an emergency." And to Nick's utter astonishment, Jerry continued, "Perhaps you'd like to see Mr. Ryder's Sikorsky? It just might fill your requirements."
Paisley tie nodded smugly in satisfaction. "Yes. Please."
Nick smiled happily at the idea of taking his baby instead of the boring little Bell, and led them out of the office. They walked through the hangar and out the other side (because Jerry wouldn't let him keep it where the customers might see her.) Once they got through the door, Nick looked proudly at his grand old lady, The Screaming Mimi.
He turned back to his four passengers who wore looks ranging from consternation to outright horror. Cody looked just as bad as he had on that very first day. Jerry was standing back, his hand not quite covering his amusement at their reactions.
Paisley tie was trying to cover dismay and still look large and in charge. "Uh, well, I would imagine that a…helicopter?…of this size would…uh…cost significantly more than the smaller one. Right?" He looked desperately back at Jerry.
Jerry took a second, making the loudmouth jerk squirm, but he finally conceded the point. "It is a heavier craft, so yes, it is a more expensive flight."
Paisley looked relieved. "Ah, well, we don't have permission for that, so—"
Jerry looked innocent, "We can call your office to check if they'd allow the extra charge."
"No, no! We'll squeeze in the smaller craft."
Jerry nodded and directed them back into the hangar. Nick blew out a breath of disappointment.
Cody continued to stare at Mimi. "Does that thing actually get off the ground?"
Nick huffed indignantly, "Of course, she does!"
Cody glanced at him, baffled, "Really?"
Nick worked very hard at keeping his temper. "Yes, really." He looked back fondly at his baby, "She's a classic, just like my 'Vette."
"Yeah, but I'm not afraid that your car might kill me."
Nick forcibly turned Cody around and shoved him back toward the door.
"You really fly that thing? Crazier than I thought."
Nick shot him a look that promised payback, but even he had to admit that Mimi didn't look like much. People might think he was nuts to trust a machine that old and bruised to lift him off the ground and return him safely to Earth, but he accepted all her faults and scars because that's what love did to a guy. And he loved that chopper.
As they trailed Jerry and the Slimebags (as Nick was starting to think of the rest of the lawyers collectively), Cody shook his head, "I'm sorry about these guys. They just showed up at my office door this morning, saying they were coming with me. That they wanted to see me in action and learn my secrets."
"Don't guess we can introduce 'em to Ned Newton."
"Yeah, then I'd be fired and disbarred." He sounded discouraged.
Nick reached up to squeeze Cody's shoulder. "Don't sweat it; I'm just window dressing, man. Today, you're flying solo, and I'll be sitting on the roof bored to death."
"I guess I'll just have an off day."
"C'mon, buddy, you're a great lawyer. Show 'em how it's done."
Cody shook his head, "I'm a decent lawyer. It's just easier with you there."
Nick felt a little flame of warmth tickle his insides. He looked over and found Cody smiling at him without any tease. He couldn't help his return grin, "I enjoy it, too."
They had come back to the main door of the hangar, and Jerry and The Slimebags were standing by the Bell. Cody sighed, "Well, this has turned into a rotten day. Let's just get it over with."