It was the summer of 2016, but this day was dreary. For Julian, even if he wished today was a dream, it could only count as a nightmare. After taking a deep, calming breath, he still couldn’t tear his hand off the letter. He held it tightly in his shaking right hand. Three years of hard work and dedication had finally paid off. His eyes scanned the wording that he still couldn’t believe.
Dear Mr. Thomas,
Welcome to the FBI and congratulations on accepting a conditional job offer for employment. We judiciously seek employees with your expertise, character, and dedication to fulfill our mission to the nation. The FBI holds high expectations for each employee. We uphold and enforce the criminal laws of the United States. We also provide leadership and criminal justice services to various branches and agencies. Our spirit and integrity are unwavering and steadfast.
Julian read the rest of the letter. Gratitude contrasted with disappointment washed over him. For the first time in his life, he felt like he was drowning on dry land. How could the best day of his life hit him with such hesitance and sadness? Forgetting that he was inside a clothing store, the sound of a soft woman’s voice interrupted his trance.
He folded the letter quickly and stuffed it inside his blazer. He turned his attention back to the saleswoman who had been assisting him.
“Sir, I’m sorry it took me so long, but I knew we had the perfect tie in the back for the suit you picked out.”
As she held up the yellow and gray tie, he did his best to keep his composure. He felt like his knees would buckle at any moment.
“No worries. You didn’t have to go through all the trouble, but I’m glad you did.”
He took the tie from her and smiled. He knew his dad was going to look great with what he had picked out. His dad, Harold Thomas, was always his number one best friend. He always found a way to elevate everyone around him, especially Julian. Though, a difficult decision for layers of reasons, he knew what he had to do.
After leaving the clothing store, he went straight to Henry Ford Hospital. As he turned into the parking structure, his stomach was in knots. This was the same drive he had been taking for the past month, but today he felt sick to his stomach. A lot was changing around him. No matter how much he prepared for the changes, his mind tried to reject what was going to be his reality. His career was being born while the man who brought him into the world was slowly dying each day.
His dad was also his hero. Growing up, all his friends thought his dad was the coolest. After spending years as a Detroit Police Officer, Mr. Thomas opened his own practice and became a private investigator. He quickly took Julian under this wing and taught him everything he knew. Although he loved the fast pace and working with his dad, he always knew his calling was becoming an FBI agent.
As he walked through the halls in route to his dad’s room, the smell of sickness engulfed him. Under any other circumstances, he would have been elated to tell him his good news. But, this posed a completely different scenario. There was no way he was going to turn his back on the one person that had always had his. The FBI would have to wait.
“Hey pops.” He said as cheerfully as he could muster while walking into his room.
His dad’s once muscular frame had now yielded to nothing more than a whisper of what he once was. His trademark dimples where lost in his hollowed-out cheeks. His skin was dark and leathery.
“Julian. How are you doing son? What’s new today?” He said in a whisper. It was as loud as he could talk.
Julian felt his FBI offer letter gently creasing his shirt from his inside jacket pocket. He smiled. “Nothing dad, nothing new today. Well, I take that back. Mrs. Morrissey came by today. She said she was going to come and see you on Friday and bring you a special package. She brought me and Edith ours today.”
“Oh, I know all about that special package. That woman’s chocolate chip cookies should be illegal. I have never in my life had cookies so good.”
“Trust me dad, I know. Well, I didn’t want you to wait till Friday, so I brought you a couple of them.”
His dad smiled as wide as his mouth would allow him to.
“So, I’ve been thinking. The agency should stay Thomas and Associates. I don’t think it could be called anything else. There’s a lot of blood and sweat behind that name, right dad?”
“Keeping it in our name!? Wait, you’re going to…… Is this what you want?”
“Yes dad! It exactly what I want.”
The tears quickly built up in his dad’s eyes. He always hoped that Julian would take cover the practice from him when he retired. He didn’t expect things to change the way that it did with his health. He always knew Julian wanted to join the FBI. He hoped that he would find this work just as rewarding, and then some.
Julian’s eyes stung with tears as he kissed him on the forehead and prepared to spend as much time with him as he could. One day he wouldn’t have the same luxury.
4 days later
Harold Thomas passed away in his sleep on a sunny Friday afternoon. He had finished enjoying the special package of chocolate chip cookies delivered by Mrs. Morrissey. Julian was at his side as he took his last breath, losing his lengthy bout with Multiple Sclerosis. It seemed to rapidly debilitate him in a span of 6-8 months. The doctors had no explanation for his advancing state.
Julian was ready for his new world taking over the agency that his father built. It was one he was going to preserve and grow.
The Thomas and Associates agency was a small operation based out of Detroit, MI. The agency consisted of one person, his dad’s file clerk of nearly 20 years, Edith Gorman.
The agency had many old clients and relationships. Those that knew Harold Thomas were astonished at how much Julian had become his handsome carbon copy. Many have given him the compliment of looking like a young Billy Dee Williams. To be so young, he is conservative and refined. He graduated from Ohio State University, much to the chagrin of his dad, who graduated from Central Michigan University.
He grew up around lawyers, reporters, and of course, law enforcement. He started working closely with his dad when he turned 16, where he did mostly courier work. While attending college, he continued to help his dad as time permitted. After graduation, he started helping full-time.
At the agency, business was steady enough to keep him busy. The agency had built up a well-respected reputation over the past 25 years. He received many cases that would have otherwise gone to local law enforcement.
Most of these cases were for missing persons, with the occasional robbery tossed in. But, there would be a case that would change Julian and the agency…… forever.