Page 14 of Tucker
Icook and we eat dinner together, usually in front of the evening news. We runthrough the wooded trail in the evenings, still trying to best the other,though we seem to be pretty evenly matched.
Atnight, we sometimes watch a movie and other times I read or write while hewatches some mob show on TV I’m not fond of. I get payback on Thursday nightswhen he has to sit through one of my medical dramas, although he usually endsup going to his room or out to the garage.
Exceptfor Saturdays. On Saturday he leaves early and gets home late, always in asomber or irritable mood. After getting my head bitten off a few times when Itry to get him to talk, I’ve learned to avoid him on those nights.
Itdoesn’t take me long to realize I’m too socially isolated out here. I’m used togoing to school or working, so I do some research and find a place to volunteera few hours per week. A local recycling plant sponsors some of the highways andparks which means they’re responsible for keeping them clean. They getvolunteers and prisoners from the local jail to help pick up the trash. Theyalso have little get togethers for the volunteers, so I sign up to help out onSaturdays.
I’vemade a few friends between my volunteering and the days I spend at the library.Without really realizing I was doing it, I’ve built a little life here and I’mhappy.
Chapter Four
Tucker
Ipull into the driveway of a house a little more than an hour away from me anddouble check the address. There’s really no need, since I see Devon, one ofStriking Back’s bodyguards, heading my direction. Mason called me this morningto see if I could work today. Devon has been guarding a woman and her twoschool aged children for a few days and needs a break so I agreed.
Itseems like an easy assignment with little risk, not that I’m afraid of a littledanger. It would liven up my boring little life.
“Hey,thanks for relieving me,” Devon says, shaking my hand. “Mason fill you in onthe details?”
“Abusiveex-husband. Active no contact order. No violent priors,” I rattle off.
“Thatabout covers it. He’s a drunk. He’s not a big guy, but he was abusive to herand the kids. He has also showed up at their school trying to bully his wayinside, so it’s not unlikely he’d try here again.”
That’sthe reason Striking Back likes to relocate the family, but the woman refused.She doesn’t want to uproot her kids, and I understand. Why should they havetheir lives interrupted by some asshole who can’t take no for an answer? IfMason had seen any real chance of a violent outcome here, he would’ve insisted,but the only felonies on this guy’s record are DUI charges.
“Ifhe does, I’ll take him down and call the cops.”
“Damnstraight,” Devon replies, heading to his car. “You can go on in. The lady’sname is Robin. She’s expecting you.”
“Thanks.”A thin woman with dark skin and darker eyes gives me a cautious grin as Iapproach her door.
“Robin?I’m Tucker. I’ll be keeping an eye on things for the night.”
“Thankyou,” she replies, showing me inside. I take a quick look around the place,assuring myself everything is locked up tight.
“It’sbeen a few days since I heard from him and he hasn’t shown up at the school oranything,” she says. “I think he may have finally gotten the message.”
“Ihope so.” I don’t want to disagree, but that’s not usually how it works. He’sprobably backing off for a bit and trying to think of another way to skirt therestrictions. These entitled assholes never give up.
Shepeeks over my shoulder. “The school bus should be here any minute.”
Nodding,I accompany her outside.
It’sgetting colder by the day now that we’ve moved into November, and an icy windrakes across my face. A large school bus turns the corner and stops right infront of the house. I’m sure Mason has made arrangements for them to bedelivered to their door instead of a nearby bus stop.
Aboy who looks around seven and girl in her early teens climb off and start forthe door. “Really, Mama? More security?” the girl scoffs, flipping her hair offher shoulder. “Daddy isn’t going to do anything.”
Ignoringthe girl’s attitude, her mother nods to me. “This is Tucker. He’s here for thenight until Devon returns tomorrow.”
“Peachy,”she mutters, slamming through the front door.
Robinlooks at me. “Sorry, this has been hard on Daysha.”
“Wow,you’re big. Do you have a gun? Can I see it?” her boy asks.
Robinputs her hands on his shoulders and he steps back against her. “This is Kevin.Who knows better than to ask to see your gun.” She looks down at him. “Didn’tMr. Devon talk to you about guns?”
“Yes,”he mumbles, looking disappointed.
