My eyes settled on a small picture of a pickup posted on the back of the cash register. I peered closer then started to smile. "Is this truck still for sale?"
The woman paused what she was doing and glanced at me. "Yes, Toby put it up yesterday."
"And he wants fifteen hundred for it?"
"Yes."
"Do you know what kind of condition it's in?" It wouldn't do me a whole lot of good to buy a vehicle that would break down at the town limits.
"It's not the best car around, but it'll get you where you're going."
Perfect.
"Do you know where I can find this Toby?"
"You looking to buy a car?"
"Beats walking."
The woman stared at me for a moment, almost as if she was trying to figure out if I was serious or not—or an axe murderer—then picked up the phone. "Toby, there's a young man out here who would like to talk to you about your truck."
An hour later, I was driving out of town with my new red nineteen-ninety-four Toyota quad cab pickup truck, four bottles of water, two sandwiches, and a candy bar.
I didn't know how long I'd have the truck, but I had thirty days to register it. In the meantime, it was registered to its former owner, which meant anyone trying to find me through the license plate number would be shit out of luck.
This was going to make getting to Ian's place so much easier.
* * * *
I liked Hank, and Ian was one of my best friends, but I don't think I'd ever been so grateful to see their house come into view as I was today. Tonight. It was already dark out. I'd been on the road all day.
I was so ready to not be sitting.
I swear, my ass had gone flat.
I pulled up into a spot right in front of Ian's place and turned off the engine. I opened the door and climbed out then stretched my arms over my head, bending one way then the other. Several vertebrae popped. It was painful when it first happened, but damned it felt good after that.
I walked around the front of the truck and started for Ian's house only to be brought up short when I saw the tall, imposing man standing on the porch with his arms crossed and a rather angry glower on his face.
I know I shouldn't have been surprised the man made it here before I did, but I kind of was. He must have driven at top speed. Kind of made me wonder just how many speeding tickets he had received.
"How was your drive, Jack?"
"Where in the hell have you been?" Jack snapped. "I've been searching for your ass all damn night long."
I slapped my ass as I strode up the steps and walked past him. "My ass has been right here."
I loved the low growl that came out of Jack. I think this was going to be my new favorite pastime, pissing off Corporal Jack McDermott. For some reason I couldn't fathom, it brought me a great deal of pleasure.
I had a pep in my step as I opened the front door and walked into Ian's house. "Honey, I'm home."
Ian walked out of his office, Hank coming out right behind him. "I'm glad you made it." Ian glanced toward the front door, his eyes narrowing. "Some people didn't think you would."
I grinned. I knew exactly who he was referring to. The angry man behind me.
Strangely enough, I felt no threat coming from Jack.
"So, why am I here?"
