Page 117 of His Wounded Heart

“Point taken,” I reply.

“And this is why I’m single,” Renzo quips. I know he’s horning in to cut through the tension in the truck.

“Do you have anything else to give us?” I ask Dex.

“That about does it. Call if there’s anything else you need me to run down.”

“Will do.”

When we walk back inside, I see that Bella, Zarek, Slayer and Chloe are back inside. Bella is lying on the floor poking her fingers through the cage to get her gerbil’s attention. Evie motions the three of us over.

“Bad news, Larry has rented the Chalet out. I think the best course of action is to get Trenda and Bella over to our house,” she says looking up at Aiden.

I shake my head. “No.” I stand by what I said earlier. “That can be traced back to an Avery.” A lightbulb flashes. “I’m going to call Bernie.”

“Your cabin is too small,” Evie says.

“No, his cabin. He has a good-sized A-frame that we might be able to borrow if he’s still in the hospital. I checked on him a few days ago. His place isn’t the easiest to find, and it’ll be large enough for Trenda, Bella, and I to hang until we get shit sorted.”

“What are we doing?” Trenda asks as she walks up to our little huddle.

“We’re trying to think of a place for us to go until things blow over. Maybe Bernie’s place,” I explain.

She nods. “Sounds good. I’m going to start packing.”

“I’ll help,” Maddie says.

“So will I,” Zoe and Chloe say in unison. I look at them and stare. They see my stare and giggle.

Trenda looks at me and pats my shoulder. “You’ll get used to hearing them talk in stereo,” she smiles. “This way, ladies.”

They all go down the hall.

I call Bernie.

“Hi Mr. Bernie, have you met Gerry?” Bella runs to the sliding glass door to show off her gerbil, Slayer running right behind her. He lets out some ferocious barking. She turns around and points her finger at him.

“Down!”

Slayer immediately stops barking and sits down. She goes over and pets him. “Mr. Bernie is a friend.”

I go over and pet Slayer. “Go. Lie down.” I point over at the oversized pet bed that Zarek had given us to take for Slayer. He ambles over and drops on his side, happy as a clam. Simon is in the hallway watching everything.

“Damn, that’s one heck of a dog, you got there. I’m not sure that I need to show Simon the contents of my safe.”

“I think you do,” I disagree.

Simon ambles over and shakes Bernie’s hand. “It’s great to see you out of the hospital. Are you following the doctor’s orders?”

“Don’t have no choice. My lady friend is forcing me too.”

“Tell me about your lady friend,” Trenda invites.

“How about I bring Mora around some time, and you can meet her for yourself?”

“That’d be great.”

“Now, let’s go see about that safe,” Bernie smiles at Simon.