“She doesn’t beg,” Linc observes.
“Well, I fed her earlier and, aside from that, I don’t think she’s had the kind of life where she was ever treated to any table scraps,” I offer by way of explanation.
Tessa grabs her cell phone off the charger when a ping announces an incoming text.
“Sorry, I’ve been waiting for this,” she announces, opening the message.
“So this is your last year, right?”I ask Linc as I grab another slice.“Any plans for after?”
“College, playing football.”
I chuckle, because it’s such a typical jock answer.Never mind education, as long as there are sports.
I was never much of a jock myself; although I did enjoy playing different sports, it was nothing more than a fun activity.The only thing I ever aspired to was to become a mechanic, like my dad.I didn’t go to college at all, opting to go straight into the workforce as a mechanic’s apprentice.
Some might tout the value of getting a proper education, but in my humble opinion, it’s just as important to follow a passion if that passion is strong enough.
“Are you that good?”I ask the boy, who straightens his shoulders instantly.
“You bet I am,” he states confidently.
“Guess I should come and watch you play some time.”
“Playing Colville next week.Our biggest rivals,” he informs me with his mouth full of pizza.
“Linc, manners,” Tessa reminds him distractedly.
“I’ll be there,” I tell the boy.
His eyes flash my way for a brief moment, as if he’s making sure I’m serious.Then he shrugs his shoulders and declares, “Cool.”
His mother seems frustrated as she grunts and drops her phone to the counter.
“Bad news?”I inquire.
“No.It’s just…I’ve been staring at this video clip and I’m convinced I know this guy from somewhere, but I can’t seem to place him.”
“Let me see,” Linc pipes up, grabbing her phone and hitting play on the video.
He seems surprised.
“Why do you have a video of Mr.B?”
Tessa’s face instantly lights up as she slaps her forehead.
“Of course!”
Clearly mother and son have been enlightened, but I’m still in the dark.
Who the fuck is Mr.B?
Chapter22
Tessa
“Three different schoolsin the past four years.”
Rick Althof is updating Hugo and myself in Hugo’s office on his task force meeting in Spokane this morning.
