Page 36 of Throttle Therapy

Taking a deep breath, Jenna nodded.

“All right.All right.I’ll take your word for it.”She turned to look out the front glass again.“I’m glad you came in when you did, I have a couple questions.”

“About what?”Papa Smurf propped his hands on his hips and watched her.

“First, this bill.”She moved back to the counter where she’d been working before.“I can’t find this part number in the catalog.”She motioned to the sheet and book where she’d been trying to find the cost for the part.

He bent down and looked at it for under three seconds before straightening.

“That’s because it’s not in there.I got that from another wholesaler.”He turned and went back into his office, reappearing a moment later with another large book.“It’s in this one.”

She stared at him with wide eyes.This had to be at least the fourth huge catalog.

“Um, wouldn’t it be easier to just look them up online?I’m sure it would be easier to order that way.”

“You’re right.I’ve been telling him that for years,” a voice she didn’t recognize said as someone came around the corner from the break room.

Jenna jumped.She hadn’t been aware anyone had been back there but Joker and Lacey, and this was neither.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.I came in the back door.”A new man appeared, a little shorter than many of the others.He had long dark hair and a beard that came down far enough to brush his chest if he wasn’t careful.He wore a denim vest over a hoodie, jeans and boots similar to what most of the men wore.

“You’re Jenna, right?”

She nodded slowly but didn’t bother to hide her confusion.How did he know her name?They hadn’t been in Papa Smurf’s office long enough for him to have gotten it out of Lacey.Besides, she hadn’t heard any voices from back there but Lacey and Joker.

“I talked to Roadkill.He told me about you and you’re sister.”He tilted his head toward the breakroom where she could hear the soft murmur of two voices.“But that’s not why I’m here.”He moved closer and swung a backpack off one shoulder to rest on the counter.

She frowned and wondered what was going on, but stayed quiet as he unzipped the bag and pulled out one laptop, then a second.

“I’m here to set up your computer and teach you how to use it.”

“And on that note, I’m out of here.I’ve got things to do in the shop.Yell out if you need anything, Mama,” Papa Smurf said before he ducked back out into the shop, and avoiding all computer talk.

Jenna eyed the laptop warily.Yeah, being able to look things up would be a lot easier but she wasn’t sure she wanted someone watching as she fumbled her way through it.

“I’m Cypher by the way.”

Jenna frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

She shook her head.“I just would have thought someone called Cypher would be good at math.Yet it’s Joker helping with algebra.”

“I’m not bad at math, but cipher is more code and encryption now.I’m a hacker.Coding, programing, that kind of thing, hence, Cypher.Besides.Joker has a soft spot for teenage girls.She couldn’t be safer with anyone.”

Jenna nodded.Her chest ached all over again as she remembered what Papa Smurf had told her about the other Warrior.

“All right,” Cypher said as he pulled a hand full of cords out of the bag, then set the backpack into one of the chairs in the waiting area.“How familiar are you with computers?”

She bobbed her head from side to side.

“I did okay in school, but I’ll be honest, it’s been a while.”

He turned and watched her with narrowed eyes.“You don’t have a computer?”

“Just this.”Jenna picked up her phone and held it up.“And Lacey’s school computer, but I don’t touch that.”

Cypher scrubbed one hand over his face.