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Properly maintained vehicles were key when John and his team were on a mission. Their lives depended on it. Wren’s wasn’t safe simply driving down the road, much less in wet conditions. However, Wren was a prime example ofif it weren’t for bad luck, she’d have no luck at all. Every day, she was livin’ on a prayer.
Her car door wasn’t locked, not that anyone would want to steal it. He popped the hood. “Please get me a paper towel or rag,” he requested while she stood there watching.
Wren went inside, then came back and handed him a paper towel. He wiped the oil stick clean, then dipped it back in the reservoir. “How long has the check oil light been on?”
“I don’t remember. A while.”
“Like two weeks a while or two months?”
“Longer.”
He inspected the smear of black oil on the stick. “You’re on the verge of destroying your engine, which will cost a fortune to fix or replace.”
“I had to refill my meds. I’ll get a jug to add after I get paid next week.”
“Pick up three quarts of motor oil and an oil filter, and I’ll change it for you. I won’t charge for the labor. We’ll take it out in trade.” Her eyebrows dipped as she eyed him. “You give Boss his next bath, and we’ll call it even.” He’d thought about asking Ariana, only she was too scared of the big lug.
“How much will that all cost?”
“Less than thirty bucks.”
“Any way you can spot me that until next week? I was supposed to go out with my friends tomorrow night.”
He shook his head instead. “It’s your decision. Go out with your friends, or get your car taken care of. I can do it Saturday, but I’m tied up next weekend.”
She huffed a sigh. “What kind of oil?”
“Might want to write it down or make a note in your phone,” he suggested before reading it off the reservoir cap. When she took the oil-stained paper towel inside, he checked the size of her tires.
He was tossing a tennis ball for Boss when Ariana and Elizabeth strolled up from the wooded path. Ariana’s eyes were red and puffy, but a more peaceful countenance showed in her tentative smile. She even stroked Boss’s neck when he went to stand in front of Elizabeth and tried to give her an intimate nuzzle. Couldn’t blame the dog for trying. Funny that Boss only did that with Elizabeth.
“Let me show you how the camera operates.” After tossing the tennis ball as far as he could to send Boss off in chase, he led Ariana around Hope Harbor to her vehicle. He fished her keys from his pocket and had her climb in.
“I can’t reach the pedals,” she fussed, sliding the driver’s seat forward.
“Sorry. I had to get out.” Which wasn’t happening if he’d returned it to her driving position. He moved the passenger seat all the way back before climbing in next to her and giving her a complete run-through on how to operate the camera and flip it in the event she was followed.
“Now, if anyone messes with your car, we’ll have evidence to give the cops,” he said and got out of the car.
Ariana thanked him and went inside.
John’s attention shifted to Elizabeth as Boss trotted back with the ball that she’d been tossing to keep him occupied.
She caught John staring. “I’ll bring you dinner in about thirty minutes,” she said as she walked his way.
“You serious?”
She nodded. “Unless you have other plans. I still owe you from paying for dinner at Mi Casita.”
“Nope. I didn’t get to pick anything up after work, then came straight here with Ariana. You’re not uninviting me to the Friday night dinner, are you?”
“No. I had a pan of lasagna in the freezer, and I really appreciate you leaving work to help Ariana out.”
“No problem. We were close to wrapping up for the day.”
“Still, not many men would drop everything to help a friend.”
“Really, it wasn’t a big deal. It’s not like you’re asking me to stake out a Taliban stronghold for a week.” That had turned into two weeks: surviving on two MREs a day and knowing that if one of the forty Taliban fighters found his team, they’d love nothing more than to slice off their heads. That wasn’t even their most dangerous mission.
