“Great. Sure. No problem. Text me when you’re free.” I bet that text will come on the heels of Ne-to-the-ver. Riley didn’t seem that enthusiastic about me hanging around today.
I’m about to end the call when a commotion explodes in my ear.
“Where is it? Where’s my flabbergasting car?”
I hear Riley’s quick intake of breath and my protective instincts roar to life.
“Riles? Is everything okay?”
“Sir, please calm down. I’d like to clear up our misunderstanding.” Riley is speaking to whoever walked in.
“I don’t have nothing to say to you.”
Click.
The call ends.
I call back.
No answer.
Heart flogging my ribs, I start my car, slam on the gas pedal and yank the steering wheel. The tires scream as I pull a U-turn and burn rubber on my way to Riley’s garage.
What’s going on over there? Is Riley okay?
The goriest episodes ofDeathNoteflash before my eyes.
I drive faster, hoping and praying that I get to Riley in time.
Just before pulling up to the shop, another car shoots out of the garage in a dramatic, dare-devil showcase. The truck bounces in the air and lands hard on the sidewalk, creaking and groaning. The driver wastes no time speeding toward the highway, a long, black tube flapping on his front hood.
Is he trying to get himself killed?
I throw my truck into park and tear up the grassy knoll to the garage. “Riley!”
My head whips back and forth, searching for a familiar head of auburn hair. Where is she?
“Riley!”
“Nat?”
Riley is stepping away from a sink near the wall. She rinses her hands and flings them out at her sides.
I give her a frantic once-over.
Water is trickling from her nose to the collar of her jumper. Her eyes look a little red, but it’s hard to tell if that’s from the water or if she’s been crying.
On the bright side, her head looks un-bludgeoned and her neck un-slashed.
TheDeath Notescenes I imagined did not play out in reality.
“What happened? Why’d you hang up the phone?” The way my voice echoes back to me makes me pause. The bay is creepily empty. I twist my head around. “Where are all the other mechanics?”
“We had a situation and I wanted to talk to the customer alone.”
“Alone?Intentionally?” Does she not see how dangerous that is?
“It was fine.”
