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“That’s very kind of you to offer, but I’ll be fine.”
He pulled into her driveway and cut the engine. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yes. I’m just tired. As you probably guessed, I’m not used to working on my feet all day.”
She managed a smile, but he still wasn’t buying it. There was tired, and then there was tired.
A flash in the rearview mirror jerked his eyes upward. A car slowly drove past and pulled to the side of the road almost directly across from Jane’s house. Not just any car either.
Calmly, he directed. “Jane, I need you to listen to me and do exactly what I say. Do you understand?”
“What?”
Careful to keep his tone low and controlled, he continued, “I don’t have time to explain. Open the glove box and carefully hand me what’s inside.”
“Dozer, what’s going on?” Concern was evident in her question.
He kept his eyes trained to the rearview mirror. He needed to know if they got out of the car or if they were waiting. “Just do it, Jane. Do it now.”
She huffed out a breath, but pushed the button to pop the lid. She gasped when she reached inside and pulled out his Glock. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Dozer. It’s a gun. You have a gun in your truck.”
He held his hand out, relieved when she held the gun between her thumb and index finger like a dead rat. “Hand it to me. Gently.”
Slowly she laid it in his palm. When his fist tightened around the butt, he felt calmer. “Now I need you to lock the door when I get out and stay in the truck, no matter what happens. I need you to stay locked inside the truck.”
“I don’t understand what’s happening.” Her worried tone hit him hard.
He took her hand and held it to his chest and moved his gaze to her frightened eyes. He touched her cheek and smiled, hoping to reassure her. “I know, baby, but I need you to stay safe. Get your phone out and if things go south, I need you call the cops.”
She straightened her spine and nodded.
He gave her hand a squeeze before he slowly opened his door.
“Dozer,” she whispered. “Where are you going?”
He looked back and grinned. “To have a conversation.”
“Most people I know don’t use a gun to talk with.”
“That’s where we’re different. Most of the people I know only listen when a gun does the talking. Sit tight. Remember, lock the doors.” He waited for her to nod her understanding.
“Travis,” she called out softly. “Please be safe.”
He nodded, closed the door quietly, and waited until he heard the click of the locks engage without correcting his name.
Putting his gun in the waistband of his jeans, he crouched and hid behind bushes as he navigated to the street without being made. He could see it was the same car and the tag was the same. There were two guys inside. Not even a struggle for him. But he wanted them alive. At least one of them, he compromised.
Crouching lower, he crept to the rear of the car and silently rounded to the passenger side, the side closest to the sidewalk. Jerking the door open, in one fluid motion he grasped the man’s wrist, twisted and jerked him out of the car putting his boot to his face and kicking the guy to the other side of the sidewalk. The man was out cold.
By this time, the other guy was out of the car and coming at him when he heard a shout.
“NO! Dozer, stop. Don’t hurt them! Stop!”
The approaching guy froze and took a step back.
“What the hell, Jane? I told you to stay in the fucking truck!”
She ran between him and the second guy while eying the unconscious man on the lawn. “Please, Dozer, don’t hurt them. I’ll explain.”
