The faintest of smiles pulls at his mouth.
“Is there a junkyard in Silence?”
“Not in Silence, but there’s a big one near Lutton, about fifteen miles north.I go there from time to time to find original parts for older model vehicles.I could have a look around next time I go up.”I glance over and catch him eyeing me.“Unless you’d wanna come yourself.I could let you know.”
“Yeah, sure.”
His response is far more casual than the excited expression on his face betrays.
Headlights shine in through the back window and I check my rearview mirror to see the kid’s mother drive up.She swerves around me and pulls into the driveway next to the Wrangler.
“I’d better get inside,” Remi states.
“Good idea,” I return when I see Tessa getting out of her SUV and turn around, her eyes narrowing on my truck.
Remi hops out, just as she starts coming down the driveway toward us.Rather than drive off, I watch as she exchanges a few words with her son before she continues this way, ignoring the rain pelting her.The boy runs inside the house with the pizza.
I lower the passenger side window as she approaches.
“What’s going on?”she demands, grabbing the edge of the window as she stands outside the door, drenched but uncaring.
Her momma bear is showing and I don’t blame her for being suspicious, there are some sick fucks out there, preying on young kids.
“What do you want with my son?”she follows up with.
“Nothing, other than to give him an opportunity.He’s a smart kid, he did good work today, and has a healthy interest in mechanics.Like I said earlier, I could use an extra pair of good hands.”
“Do you buy all your employees pizza and drive them home?”she sharply inquires.
“No, but they drive cars, and don’t try to ride a dinky little bike in a downpour, and the pizza was his pay for today.”
That reminds me, the kid’s bike is still in the back of the truck.
“Let me grab his bike from the back,” I announce, opening my door.
“Don’t bother, I’ll get it.”
Before I can even get out, she’s already reaching into the truck bed.
Man, she’s a tough nut.
She’s back at the window a moment later, the bike in her hand.
“Next time he needs a ride, tell him to call me.”
I give her a long, hard look, before I return, “You bet.And you’re welcome.”
Then I turn my wheel and pull into the street.When I’m halfway down the block I check my rearview mirror.
Tessa is still standing at the curb, bike in hand, looking like a drowned cat as she watches me drive off.
Chapter4
Tessa
“First thing Monday morning.”
I let out a deep sigh.
