Page 54 of Trucker
“What was he doing before the cadet program?” I waned to know.
“He applied to become a sheriff’s deputy.” Lennox replied. “They voted against hiring him. No one explained why they went with someone else. Rumours—ever quiet rumours—is that he didn’t pass the psych eval.”
“That’s not a good section to fail.” I murmured.
“They thought he might snap and merc a few people.” Lennox glanced around then back at me. “You’re damned right that’s not a good part to fail. There’s no coming back from that. It’s on your file?—”
“For-evah!” Andi whispered hoarsely.
I chuckled at her fake Jamaican accent.
“The kid is just scurvy.” Andi shrugged. “He’s one of those people you look at sideways—you don’t know why, but your gut just tells you to back away slowly and not to engage.”
I understood that sentiment.
“Listen, boss. I have to head out.” Andi told me. “It’s getting kind of late, and I wanted to do the report test online before I go to bed.”
“Me too—I’ll give you a ride, Andi.” Lennox nodded. “Keep your eyes on him, boss.”
Nodding, I bumped a fist to Andi’s then to Lennox’s and watched them leave. Andi paused to look back at me, a worried expression on her face.
Smiling, I offered her a small wave which she returned with a brief nod then ran to catch up to her friend.
Alone, I waved to the waitress who hurried over.
Ordering a meal to go, I asked her for the bill. I ensured I dropped her a large tip for putting up with a bunch of starving firefighters she wasn’t prepared for, I lingered for a moment longer, my brain going a million miles in fifty different directions.
When eventually left, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Andi and Lennox had told me about Ryan.
There had to be something there, something about Ryan to have both of them warn me to be careful. He hadn’t really done anything to me, but my spirit didn’t like him.
But the world didn’t work like that.
The moment I met the man, he gave me a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.
To make matters worse, I didn’t think he was cut out for the job. He failed two teamwork challenges which was impossible to do—twice.
The first time, maybe he was tired.
A second time—why was he even there?
He was either the dumbest idiot on the planet or he just didn’t care to work on a team.
As a firefighter, that was not a good attribute.
Leaving a team member on their own could cost lives.
Getting back to the house early, Taji was in the living room doing Zumba. The music was so loud, she probably hadn’t heard me pull into the driveway.
Smiling, I placed the food in the kitchen, then leaned my shoulder to the door frame, watching the way her body move to the music.
“Damn girl.” I growled. “I didn’t know you had moves like that.”
She gasped and whirled around.
Quickly, she grabbed the remote and turned off the big screen.
“Um—Trucker—hi.” She panted.
