“Isn’t she the girlfriend of the guy you won the car from?” He questions before the sound of the freshly opened beer bottle follows.
“Yeah. I don’t think they are together anymore.”
“So how did she end up bailing you out?”
I chuckle; I guess we are going straight to the point.
“She was also there, something about a fight.”
He nods in understanding as he moves back to the living room and into his previous seat. I glare at the beer bottle in his hand, as I havealready finished mine. Aaron gives me a warning look, and I throw my hands into the air in a surrender signal.
“Fine, big baby, I won’t steal this one from you. Relax.” I chuckle.
“So we have a small issue with Chad.”
He begins to say, but I am not interested in talking about problems currently, so I change the subject back to the pink-haired beauty.
“Her name is Nova Lopez. Can you find her address? I would love to return the money to her.”
I say casually, and it’s not a lie; I do want to return the money. I also want to see her again, but I choose not to share this particular information with him at the moment.
“Sure, but before I do, let me tell you about Chad.” He tries again, and I change the subject again.
“Yeah, yeah, you told me already; Chad is aproblem.” I say and continue. “So, Nova has a sister; her name is Isabelle if you can’t find her, find her sister.”
“I will, but I need to talk to you about Chad.”After you find my girl buddy, priorities and all that.
“Also, see if you can find the dickhead we got the car from, and if they are still together.”
“Got it. Stalk the girl and her boyfriend, and probably her whole family. Now let me tell you about Chad.” He spits back, almost as if he is screaming at me.
“What? What is so important about that asshole that can’t wait?”
I finally yell back just as a Molotov cocktail bomb breaks our window. I push Aaron to the floor to take cover as our living room bursts into flames.
“What the hell?”
I question as I try to get back on my feet,pulling him with me.
“Chad’s friends were not that happy that I torched their house.” He says with a smile.
“I can see that!” I yell at him. "Why is my living room on fire, Aaron?”
He shrugs his shoulders, turning to look at the fire that is now spreading to the kitchen. I pull out my phone and call the fire department as I pull him to the front door.
“Come on, Joker, let’s go before you start smelling like barbecue.”
I call for my dog, and he follows us out of the house. We walk to the middle of the street and toward Aaron’s car. His annoying habit of parking outside finally comes in handy. I open the door, let my dog inside the car, and crack a window before I close the door. This will keep him safe until I can figure out where we are going tonight. The house isobviously no longer an option.
“Joker, stay.” Joker lets out a little whine but quickly settles in the backseat.
“So they are running a similar business to ours, but instead of stealing the cars the right way, they pretend to buy them and then steal them.”
Aaron explains now that he has my full attention.Okay, sure, that makes sense, but why are they bombing our house?
Another explosion echoes into the night, this time from our garage. I suppose that was the cabinet where we keep gasoline for situations like burning down a house full of criminals. You know, before they return the favor.
“Your little interaction with Chad and their house being torched started an investigation to the legitimacy of their business.”
