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A door at the top of the stairs opened into an attic haphazardly occupied by boxes and storage bins. The skitter and scratch of claws across the wood floors and plastic tops of the bins made Cody shiver.
“I think we found them,” Jugs said.
“And it’s hot as hell in there already,” Cody said.
“Let’s get the glamorous life started.”
It took them over an hour to find and capture all the squirrels using the standard peanut butter inside a live trap method. They were both drenched in sweat when they’d finished and tromped down the stairs to knock on the door at the bottom. After a few heart pounding moments, the man finally released the child lock and let them into the main level.
“All set?” the man asked.
“Got them all,” Jugs said. “Five little beauties.”
The children gathered in a clump around Cody, staring into the cage at the squirrels that stared back.
“Okay, say goodbye to the squirrels,” the man said as he looked around cluttered surfaces. “I have a wallet here somewhere. You take credit cards?”
“We do,” Jugs said.
“Bye, squirrels,” the children shouted, the pitch and volume of their voices like an arrow into Cody’s brain.
Cody left Jugs to the payment process and carried the cage to his truck. He peeled the sweaty coverall off and stuffed it in his old gym bag in the back of his truck he used for dirty gear. He’d just finished securing the cage with the squirrels in his truck bed when Jugs walked up, sweat running down his face.
“You look morning fresh,” Cody said.
“If that morning started in a waterfall of sweat,” Jugs grumbled.
“That’s a disgusting image.”
“You’re welcome.” Jugs tossed his clipboard into his truck, then shrugged out of the coveralls.
“What’s the next job?” Cody asked.
“Birds in an attic.” Jugs shook his head. “We don’t get enough basement jobs.”
“I agree.” Cody got into his truck and started the engine, leaving the door open. “I think I’ll leave the birds to you and take the squirrels out to the pond to release them.”
“Yeah, all right. You going to look for Demetrius out there?”
“Yeah, then I’ll go see Dieter after lunch. I’m assuming we’ll be at Margie’s around lunch time, if you want to meet up.”
“I’ll let you know. Good luck out there.”
“Thanks, you too.”
“Since you’re going to miss out on the birds, here’s one to send you on your way.” Jugs gave him the finger before walking to his own truck.
Cody laughed and closed the door. The AC felt good against his sweaty skin, and he savored it a moment. He felt different somehow, but he wasn’t quite able to identify in what way. His brow felt smooth, and his chest wasn’t tight with anxiety. Then he realized he felt overall lighter, like a weight had been lifted. He was feeling something he hadn’t felt for a while about his and Demmy’s situation: hope. With Demmy’s notes and Dieter’s legal experience, he thought they just might get out from under this civil case and be done with the Woleks once and for all.
With a smile, Cody switched on the radio and put his truck in gear. As the squirrels scrabbled around inside the cage, he headed for Route 118 and Parson’s Pond, singing along with the radio and tapping out the beat on the steering wheel.
* * *
Cody drove a little fast along Morley Trail, circling Parson’s Pond. The truck bounced over ruts and dips, and the squirrels in back squeaked and chattered as their cage rattled against the bungee restraints. Cody kept an eye out for anything furry keeping pace with him through the woods. He really didn’t want to deal with that damn raccoon yet again.
Bypassing his and Demmy’s usual pull off spots for critter releases, Cody circled the far end of the pond and headed back toward Route 118 along the trail on the opposite side. A foot path branched off from this part of the dirt road, and Cody saw Demmy’s truck pulled off to the side by the trailhead, Ollie’s metallic blue Ford EcoSport parked alongside. Some investigative reporter: look at me, snooping into your business inside my bright blue car!
Cody made a mental note to mention that observation to Ollie, and he pulled off the road near Demmy’s truck. He carried the squirrel-filled cage off into the woods several yards, then released the bushy-tailed marauders into the wild.
