Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“I think it’s at the point where you will need to question if it’s worth what it’s gonna cost to fix it. All new windows, new tires, some body work…”
“I love that truck,” Traveler said, looking down at her food, seeming to suddenly lose her appetite.
With her head down, I caught Aurelio’s gaze, tapping my chest. He knew me well enough to know what I was saying. Get it fixed. I’ll pay for it.
To that, he nodded.
“I would have driven past your place to scope that out,” Aurelio said. “But I don’t have your address.”
“I’m hoping they don’t either,” Traveler said, taking a small bite of her bagel. “I’ve never seen anyone following me home before. I mean, I guess that kind of thing is public record, but who knows if they’re invested enough yet to look into that.”
“Hopefully we get there before they do,” I said. “Grab anything valuable or sentimental. Board shit up if we need to. You got a house or apartment?”
“I’m on one side of a duplex,” she said. “With an elderly neighbor on the other side. He’s nosy. He would call the cops if he saw anything suspicious. But…”
“But what?” I asked when she trailed off.
“But I don’t know what the situation is with my father and the rest of the police force,” she said, shrugging. “Or with the organizations and the force for that matter. If they would even come if they knew it was my place. That kind of thing. I’m gonna go get dressed,” she said after trying to eat one more bite, but giving up.
Aurelio reached for the bagel and re-wrapped it.
“There were a lot of fucking eyes on us at the shop,” Aurelio said. “Not a single set of ‘em seeming purely curious.”
“Great,” I said, sighing. “This is a clusterfuck.”
“Let’s hope her old man wakes up. Sounds like he’s the one with enough power and pull to fix this and reinstate order.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, making a mental note to have Traveler call and ask about him if she didn’t want to go and visit again. “Anything on the news about him today?”
“No,” Aurelio said. “They’re keeping it under wraps.”
“I guess that works in our favor. I want to get done with her place early. Figure her out there anywhere visible is a bad idea right now.”
“Yeah. She’s better off here,” Aurelio agreed. “But we’re going to need to hit the streets and get a feel for what’s going on around here.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Hopefully, she can recognize the guys from the cameras and make our job easier.”
Traveler emerged as Aurelio and I were finishing our food, wearing the same outfit as yesterday, sans the apron.
“If you want to shower, it’s all yours,” she said to me as she went to the coffee machine for a refill.
Half an hour later, we were all in my car, heading out.
Traveler lived on the very edge of town, in an area slightly less rough than where her shop was located, but not by much.
The corner lot duplex was enclosed by a crooked chainlink fence with multiple No trespassing and Beware of dog signs.
At my raised brow, Traveler shook her head.
“Ethan, my neighbor, he has a dog. It’s a half-blind, overweight Shih Tzu, but he has a dog,” she explained. “You have to park on the street,” she told me, pointing toward the road along the side of the property.
The house itself was in better shape than most on the street, likely thanks to the fact that it was made from red brick that didn’t require much maintenance. But the yard was mown and the flowerbeds were weeded and full of various flowers and bushes I wouldn’t pretend to know the names of. Even though my Ma was a pretty avid gardener, and I probably should have known that shit.
There was a large front porch to each side of the steps. One set up with two old wooden rockers, likely belonging to the old man Ethan. The other had a newer-looking swing with colorful cushions, a bunch of plants, strings of fairy lights, and several different hummingbird feeders.
It had Traveler written all over it.
“Got a thing for hummingbirds, huh?” I asked as we all made our way up the front steps.
“I try to feed all the pollinators. Hence the flower beds. There’s more out back too. All native flowers.”
“Of course,” I agreed.
“What?” she asked, giving me small eyes again.
“Nothing. Just… that makes sense for who you are.”
“Someone who cares about the planet?” she asked, turning fully to face me, arms crossing.
“Alright, kids,” Aurelio said, coming up behind us. “Let’s keep shit civil.”
Traveler rolled her eyes at me, but said nothing as she turned and made her way up the steps, pausing to unlock her door, then moving inside.
I was expecting it to be similar to her shop.