Page 18 of Reckless Curves
Chapter Seven
“Give that back!”
Tank, Zip’s large Amstaff, had stolen his socket wrench, which Tom had just been about to use. Tom struggled against the huge dog’s grip in vain. The brindle beast growled playfully and shook his head back and forth.
“Tank, drop!” Tom said.
His authoritative tone got through to the dog and Tank released the tool. He grumbled and then barked at Tom in disapproval. The booming sound blocked out the whine of air compressors and idling engines.
“Bad dog,” Tom said, laughing. “You can’t have my tools. You have plenty of toys. Play with them. Go get your chewy.”
Tanks ears pricked forward at the word “chewy”. He gave another woof and trotted off. Tom grinned as he wiped dog slobber off the socket wrench and leaned over the engine of the Maserati he was working on. A loud clanging reverberated throughout the garage, announcing the ringing of the pit area phone.
He set the wrench down, strode to the bench, and picked up the wall phone. “Catherine, can you take a message? I’m busy here.”
“It’s for you,” and Catherine hung up.
“Tom Lorde, speaking.” Silence met his greeting.
“Hello? Anyone there?”
“Hi, Tom. Is Marcus there? Please tell me he’s there.”
Tom’s aggravation from the previous evening warred with concern over Kendra’s slightly panicked tone. “He’s not here, Kendra. He hasn’t come in yet this morning. What’s going on?”
“It’s all right. I’ll figure something out.”
Tom’s hand tightened on the phone. “Wait! Kendra, what’s wrong?”
Connor started crying in the background.
Kendra’s voice wavered a little. “I have a flat and I can’t get Marcus on his cellphone. I’ve been out here for almost half an hour now. Connor is hungry and I have no more animal crackers or juice to give him. It’s hot and—”
Concern overrode Tom’s anger. “Why don’t you change the tire?”
“I can’t get the nuts undone. They’re screwed on too tight.”
“What?” Tom ran a hand over his face in frustration. Why hadn’t Marcus loosened them? “Never mind. Where are you? I’ll come get you guys.”
“It’s okay. I’ll eventually get a hold of him,” Kendra replied.
“Goddamn it, Kendra!” Tom forced himself to lower his voice. “Tell me where you are and I’ll be right there.”
Connor let loose with a squall and he heard Kendra sigh. “Okay. We’re out on Route 12, about three miles past the Dream Cinema.”
Tom was familiar with the old-fashioned drive-in movie theater. “What are you doing all the way out there?”
“I went to pick up a new keyboard that I’ve been making small payments on. The studio paid me yesterday, so I could pay it off,” she said.
“Oh, I see.” Tom grabbed his keys from the hook on the wall by the counter. “I’ll be there in fifteen. Hang tight.”
“Thanks, Tom.”
“No problem. See ya soon.”
Tom hung up. “Sully! Where are you?”
“Back here, boss!”
