“Four hours is not a big window.”
“You told me you have resources, so let’s go fuck up some shit,” Helen said, looking at Apple.
“You’re scary,” Apple said as she ended the call.
At the same time a tap came at the door, which Apple answered.He seemed to recognize the woman and man.A step to the side allowed them to enter.The man began to work on the kicked in door, and the woman began to take care of Pear.
Helen took her hand.“You know I’m going to find the one that did this to you and put a bullet in that bitch,” she said.
Pear teared up.“You are so loving.Thank you.Please, make it hurt.She punched me in my titties.What sort of woman does that to another woman?That is just rude.”
“No worries; we got you,” Helen said.“Description.”
“Standard Butch, tattoo on the right hand of a hammer, green eyes, dirty blond hair, shaven sides of the head, about five seven and ugly,” Pear said.
“Just the one?”
“The other went for the girl, drugged her, and tossed her over her shoulder like an old rug,” Pear said.
“Be back tomorrow,” Helen said, looking at Apple.“We’re rolling.”
Apple nodded, giving Pear a wink and following Helen to the car.She plugged the address into the GPS, and they were off and what he felt was a grand adventure.He prayed Oscar was having one as well.
****
OSCAR HELPED SET UPthe tent, but to him, it looked a little off.He was acting a bit squirrely and Mustang didn’t like it.He brought the cots inside the tent, along with the two chairs they would use for fishing.
“Talk to me,” Mustang said.
“I dunno.It feels weird,” Oscar said.
“Weird how?”
“These kids, all of ‘em are white.I’m the only brown boy here,” he said.“They have been doing this since they were little with their Dads, and this is my first time.They’re gonna know you aren’t my dad, and I don’t know what I’m doing.I’m gonna feel stupid.”
“Or you can take this as an opportunity to learn how to do these things,” Mustang said.“For all you know, you may not even like this kind of stuff, but you have to try and see if this is your vibe.”
“My vibe?”
“Yeah, you may only want to do this because I asked and you wanted another shot at showing me how you’d be a good son, knowing I like this stuff,” Mustang said.“Oscar, in order for us to have a good relationship or even a friendship, I will need to like you for who you are, not for what you’re doing to make me like you, for liking the things I enjoy doing.Does that make sense?”
“It does, but I do like making furniture and building stuff.I want to try canoeing because it looks cool, sitting in a boat, going by your own steam,” he said.“That I want to try.”
“We have some time before the sun sets if you want to put it in the water.They will start the fires for wiener roasting at five, so whaddya say?”
“I say let’s do it,” Oscar said, reaching for the smaller of the two life jackets.He could swim enough not to drown, but he wasn’t a strong swimmer.To him, he felt like a little fish in a pond much larger than he was accustomed to being in, floating about life, but everyone had to start somewhere.He was starting here.
****
HELEN MADE IT TO GROSSPointe Shores in a little under four hours.The drive had been silent, and Apple made no comments or offered any suggestions since he wanted to truly see how Cranberry’s mind worked.At the gate, the security guard stopped them, looking into the car and spotting Apple.
“Oh, aren’t you a big ole serving of yummy,” Apple said, laying it on thick.“I think while my Boss Lady is at the party.I may come out here and start a private one with you, Stud Monkey.”
“I’m on duty,” the man said.
“So is that boodie, which is why I’m shooting my shot, Big Man,” Apple said with a wink.
The guy flashed him a smile and waved them through.Helen looked over at him.“I’m telling Ricky,” she said.
