Page 134 of Don't Go Faking My Heart

Thanks, y'all. I just need to know where she is.

LOU

Home with Parker and me.

Good. Keep her there, will you? I'll do the rest.

I'm sitting in my truck in the parking lot while my phone reads me their texts. A knock on my window startles me. I roll down my window to see Patty.

"You okay?"

"Better now. Thanks, Patty. And sorry I've been a nightmare the last week."

"Being a trauma kid is hard. I don't hold it against you."

I nod. "I saw your dad behind the bar the other day. Looks like his arm crutches are working well."

"He's made a lot of progress in PT and insists he'll be back to work in no time so Sean and I can take a step back."

"How likely is that?"

"You know Danny. He doesn't know the meaning of the word quit. I still think we should shut down the bar, but he insists that a responsible bar that enforces safety is important for the community when there are plenty of bars that don't."

I don't know the right answer to that question. If it were up to me, I'd ban alcohol completely. But then Granny Belle always says Jesus drank wine, much to her son's chagrin. I'm not sure the answer to that one, either.

A text pops up, and a quick glance tells me it's time to go.

"I gotta run."

"You know I don't trust easy, but she's got a good heart. You two are gonna be okay."

Patty's never done me wrong and he's seen me through some dark times. His approval means a lot.

"Thanks, man."

"Go get her."

Fifteen minutes later, I'm stopped at the bridge that leads over the river to Ash and Duke's neighborhood. Traffic cones bar me from driving, and my buddy Walt is in uniform, redirecting traffic.

"Walt, what's going on here?"

"Some idiot heard that Chick Hanks blew up his gopher holes and tried to do the same thing, only it set fire to his yard. Fire department almost has it out, but we're rerouting traffic down river."

"But that'll take twenty minutes!"

Walt shrugs. "Sorry, pal."

I grumble but back up. I'm about to take the long way when my gaze falls on someone kayaking on the water.

Inspiration strikes.

I give Chick Allen a call.

"Hello?"

"Chick, this is Rusty. I'm in a bit of a bind and need to get across the river fast. Any chance I can borrow a fishing boat?"

"It's tied up at the dock. The code is Sugar Maple's birthday."

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