Page 14
Saverin watched Tanya kneel down and hug the ratty animal.
“Do you suppose that critter has a thing for you?”
“He always knows where to find me,” Tanya mumbled, ruffling a hand through the animal’s flea-ridden fur.
“Like Colton?”
The truth spilled out of Tanya in a rush. “Saverin, Colton was at my place the other night.”
“ What ?”
“I saw him standing at my door through my bedroom window. I was such a coward I didn’t do anything– and he could have killed us both. He could have killed you and it would have been all my fault because I just— I just pretended I never saw him! How could I do that?”
“You should have told me,” Saverin said angrily. “Didn’t you think to call the police? Anybody?”
Tanya laughed bitterly. “The police might be your friends but they damn sure ain’t mine.”
Given how the detective had behaved over Amari, Saverin couldn’t exactly blame her.
“That’s why I asked to spend the night at your place. I didn’t know what to do,” Tanya admitted. “I’m sorry, Saverin.”
“Don’t be sorry. Everything’s gonna be better tomorrow,” he said, though if he had known the man was after Tanya like that he would have taken more measures to protect her. Strong measures. They’d come inches from death and getting murked by a jealous ex boyfriend was not how Saverin envisioned cashing it in.
He didn’t want to die at all.
“What if Colton had something to do with Amari’s kidnapping?” Tanya rubbed her forehead. “I just feel like it’s all related, but I don’t know how.”
“We won’t know for certain yet,” said Saverin.But he would know for certain — tomorrow.
Tanya hung her head. “Can you take me to my friend’s house? I’m guessing I can’t stay here tonight.”
“You can come to my house, Tanya, you know that.”
She touched his cheek. “I need to ask her if she’s got one of those pills.”
He took her hand and pressed it. “You know, Tanya. I meant every word I said. I would never hurt you, and I’d never abandon you.”
“So are we doing this for real?” Tanya whispered.
“For real, darlin’, if you’ll have me.”
“Then let me take care of my business,” Tanya said. “And then I’m all yours.”
The dog followed Tanya to the truck and while Saverin turned to get his keys, jumped in the bed and settled down for a bumpy drive to Gwendolyn’s.
Gwen lived on the other side of Florin in a crumbling trailer park. It seemed to Tanya that as they approached Saverin grew angrier and more tense. When Tanya tried to get out of the truck he locked the doors.
“What are you doing? She lives here!”
“This is Snatch Hill turf,” Saverin said grimly.
“What the hell is a Snatch Hill?”
“Remember the bastards that pulled up on me the night we met?”
Tanya looked around uneasily. “They live here ?”
“Many of ‘em do. I can’t leave you here; let’s go back to mines.”
Tanya sprang the lock. “She’s right there in that trailer facing the road, see? Nobody will see me go in.”
“Hell, Tanya, don’t argue with me.”
“Nobody is arguing. Come on.”
He followed her warily to the trailer with his head on a swivel. The Kimber was out of bullets so if any of Hiram’s men saw him the fat would surely be in the fire. To make it worse the yellow dog had apparently stowed away and was now rushing up to him like he owed it another treat.
“Tanya, how did that mangy cur get here?”
“What?” Tanya knocked on the door and turned. “Oh my God. You know Saverin, I ain’t so sure that dog is really a dog.”
“What the hell else could it be?”
“A man trapped in a dog’s body.”
“More like a cat. I never seen such indiscriminate begging from an animal.” Well, Fang was kind of like that as a puppy. Saverin found another treat and fed it to the dog.
“Damn, where is my phone?” Tanya muttered, patting her pockets.
Saverin leaned over her shoulder and knocked on the door again with considerably more force. “I don’t feel comfortable leaving you here alone,” he growled.
“Gwen is alright and I’m sure nobody around here knows me.”
“They might, if they saw you at the Turnkey.”
“Well — ”
Tanya never got to finish. The door swung open to a kid Saverin had last seen picking his nose at Sam’s high school graduation.
“Tanya?” said Rory. His jaw literally fell open and then he noticed Saverin and it unhinged some more. “Uh– Mister B- Bailey . Howdy.”
“Hello Rory,” said Saverin shortly. “How’s your Ma?”
“Her hip’s still poorly,” said Rory. “But she’s mending. Tanya, you’ll never— you’re never gonna believe—”
“Does ‘Gwendolyn’ live here?” Saverin interrupted.
His answer came in the form of Gwendolyn herself. A scrawny girl with too many piercings shoved her way forward. She was trembling like a leaf and she threw her arms around Tanya, nearly knocking her off the trailer step back onto her ass.
“T-Tanya,” Gwen shrieked. “You need to get in here right now .”
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Get in ! Everybody, inside!”
Saverin followed Tanya into the trailer, which smelled of popcorn and socks. Christmas lights were strung up everywhere and plugged into a nest of extension cords that made a definite fire hazard. Saverin would need to have a talk with little Gwendolyn if he ever was to let Tanya sleep here.
Rory Green Tree shut the door behind them and locked it firmly before racing to the kitchen, and racing back with a freezing cold Bud Light for Saverin.
“Mister Bailey, you’re never— you’re never gonna believe—” The boy could hardly talk. He took air in deep gulps, then unexpectedly burst into tears.
“Jesus Christ,” said Saverin awkwardly.
“I– I never expected—”
Tanya and Gwen were talking in the other room. The word “Ticket” kept getting thrown around. Tanya’s voice rose louder and louder, and Gwen started shouting too, until joyous screams made Saverin finally wrench open the door.
“Just what the hell...” Was all he managed to get out before being enveloped by Tanya’s hysterical, happy laughter.
TO BE CONTINUED…
JULY 2025