“No. But we need to figure out who this guy really is.” I ran through my list of concerns and she nodded attentively. The furrow in her brow grew deeper as the list went on.
“I can find out everything. I just need to figure out a way to ask without it sounding like an interrogation.” She grabbed me and her luggage and we exited the room.
Damon was in the lobby, and when he saw us, he hurried over. I couldn’t help but notice that Delia was in his arms.
“Do you have any immediate plans? I’m going to another event and thought it could be fun to ride together.”
“That sounds like so much fun! My car is actually a rental, so let me take the car back and I’ll hop in your van.”
Damon laughed. “And I didn’t even have to offer you candy.”
“Wait, you at least have puppies in the back, right?” Tanis flirted. I wanted to gag but could only stare blankly ahead at the doll in his arms. Maybe I was lucky to have gotten trapped in a stuffed animal rather than a piece of plastic.
By afternoon, Tanis was tossing her suitcase in the back of his white rapist van and was sitting me next to Delia, who’d been seat belted down in a car seat. This guy was certified bonkers. Tanis climbed into the front and we started off to the next convention.
“So Damon, I feel like we never actually got to know the adult us. You do the toy circuit, but what about off season?” Tanis asked.
Damon turned to glance at her and chuckled. “Are you asking if I’m married with kids?”
She nodded.
“That’s fair. I suppose we didn’t do a whole lot of talking last night. No, I am single. Just me and Delia. You?”
“Nope. It’s just little old me. What do you do for work?”
“I run IT for old people. Mostly fixing their computers after they’ve given their information to scammers in far off countries. They lose 10k and then come in and I rob them of another 500 bucks to fix their devices.”
Oh, Tanis wasn’t going to like that.
“That sounds... wrong.” She frowned.
Damon shrugged. “I lost my heart years ago. Everyone has a sad story, and I got tired of trying to help everyone. I can’t tell you how much of a relief it was when I stopped recycling.”
Tanis gasped. “You don’t recycle!”
Damon roared with laughter. “You act like I just admitted to murder. No, I’m on the road so much, I just toss my plastic bottles out the window when I finish one.”
While I couldn’t see her clearly, I knew Tanis was growing revolted. She was on the verge of murdering him.
Don’t do it. Not yet. Please, wait.
Tanis leaned back and began taking deep breaths.
“I didn’t realize you were so perfect,” Damon muttered.
“I’m not. I’m just a concerned citizen. Are there any other crimes I should know about? Any felonies or warrants?”
“Jesus, Tanis. What’s with the third degree? It’s been less than twenty-four hours. Can’t we just have a little fun? What about the license plate game?”
Tanis sagged her shoulders and did a glance back at me. I winked, but Damon could see me through the rear-view mirror, so I didn’t risk any more movement. She smiled and turned around, agreeing to play his road trip game.
I relaxed as well, thankful she hadn’t dug into her purse, grabbed her knife, and stabbed him in the neck. I was settling into my seat, receding into my mind to handle the ride, when all of a sudden, Delia’s plastic mouth moved.
“This better be fucking worth it. She’s so damn annoying.”
