Page 116 of I'm Watching You

Greenland relaxed when he saw the bill. He sure as hell could use the money. ‘Sure, why not?’

Behind the horn-rimmed glasses, blue eyes glistened. ‘Great. My van is over here.’

Greenland snagged a beer from the six-pack and popped it open. He took a long drink, savoring the cool liquid on his throat. It would take at least the six-pack to get even a mild buzz. ‘You’ll bring me back to my car?’

‘Absolutely. I’ll have you back in less than an hour.’

Greenland followed the man to a simple white van. The vehicle looked nicked up and well used. ‘I figured you for a Volvo or a minivan kind of guy.’

The man pulled keys from his pocket. ‘This is a rental. The trunk of my Audi is big but not big enough for a piano.’

Greenland was impressed. He liked nice cars. ‘An Audi. A-6?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Good car. It hugs the corners real well.’ He sipped his beer. ‘I used to sell cars.’

‘That so? What kind?’

They’d been used cars. ‘Lexuses mostly.’

‘Nice.’

The stranger slid behind the wheel as Greenland climbed in the passenger side. With a hundred bucks, he could buy his boys that new video game and maybe a nice bottle of bourbon.

Thinking about the boys made him sad. The last time he’d seen the kids, he’d hit Jamal, because the kid wouldn’t stop talking. The boy had fallen to the ground hard. Damien had cried and cowered. He had tried to console Damien, but the child had only wailed. That had pissed Greenland off. He’d smacked the kid until he’d shut up.

Now, guilt gnawed at him. As their father, he wanted the boys to respect him, but he also wanted them to love him. That video game would make it up to them.

The stranger fired the ignition. Greenland settled back in his seat. ‘Want a beer?’

‘No thanks. The wife doesn’t like it when I drink.’

No matter how rich you were a wife could bring you down. ‘Is she a real ballbuster?’

The stranger’s hands tightened on the steering wheel as he smiled. ‘You could say that.’ He pulled out onto the main road and quickly merged onto the interstate. They headed west toward farmland bathed in the setting sun’s amber light.

Greenland took a long draft from the beer. The alcohol loosened him up. ‘My old lady busted my chops everytime I had a drink too many.’ Just thinking about Aisha pissed him off. He killed the first beer and opened a second. ‘My wife is a bitch. And full of lip. And now she’s taken my kids –my sons– and run off. It isn’t right that a man can’t see his own flesh and blood. I have a right to them.’

The man frowned. ‘Family is about the most important thing there is.’

‘Damn straight. Once I get me a real job, I intend on getting mine back.’

‘You said you sold cars?’

‘Did. Now it’s construction mostly. I’m also licensed to drive trucks.’

‘Well, then you should have no trouble getting work. Construction is booming.’

He couldn’t seem to hold a job. ‘Not so easy. All the outfits are run by pricks. That’s what I say.’

The stranger kept his gaze on the road. ‘Hey, don’t I know you from somewhere?’ He snapped his fingers. ‘You played college football for Tech.’

Greenland grinned. ‘That’s right.’

‘Heard you went to the pros.’

‘Did for a while. Then I busted my right knee.’

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