“So where is this target?” I asked. “I don’t remember you saying.”
“Somewhere up near Denver, Colorado.”
“Oh, my God! You have to ridethat far?” I asked. “Why didn’t you fly?”
“Nah, cheap as fuck in gas on the bikes and saves a lot of hassle keeping our guns with airport security and all,” he said.
“Oh, right. I didn’t think of that,” I said.
He laughed lightly and said, “You think of plenty. You don’t have to think of everything – that’s our job.”
“Hmm,” I hummed and smiled. “I guess I should just be happy you’re just a little bit closer.”
“I know I am,” he said. “But still, so close yet so far away.”
I nodded, realized he couldn’t see it, and said, “Yeah.”
“Don’t sound like that,” he said softly, his voice slightly chiding but still full of understanding.
“Like what?” I asked.
“Like all is lost,” he said. “Because, baby, you’ve only just been found.”
I chuckled. “It’s only been a week and it feels like a year, ah God, how am I supposed to do this?” I asked.
“One step, one day at a time,” he said, and I nodded.
“Yeah. Makes sense.
“It’s getting late,” he said, and I nodded.
“Not as late as where you are,” I told him.
“Right, which is how I know it’s getting late there…”
“You telling me to go to bed?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he answered. “You sound tired, babe and I need you to take care of yourself. No burning the candle at both ends for you anymore.”
“I could say the same about you,” I said.
“I know.” He sighed. “I know, and I’m trying. I promise.”
“I know you are.”
“Get some sleep, baby.”
“I will, I promise. You do the same.”
“Okay.”
“Okay, goodnight.”
“G’night.”
I ended the call and sighed.
My house didn’t feel like a home. It hadn’t since the nights of terror… it felt hollow, and broken, and as I looked around, I realized – I couldn’t stand it here, but I was trapped by debt and my credit score sucked, so here I would stay until I could fix it.