Page 33 of Stone Deep
Slade was across the way looking at drinks in a refrigerator. He’d yanked a black cap on over his thick, light brown hair and he was wearing a tight tank shirt that showed his well-inked arms to their best advantage. His appearance could shift from hardcore badass to male model with just a flash of his white smile. Two teenage girls who had walked in with their parents made no effort to conceal the fact that they were following him around the store.
“Best banana date shake I’ve ever had,” I said enthusiastically. “Of course, it’s also the first I’ve ever had, but I’m sure there can’t be any better ones out there. So I feel pretty confident about my proclamation.”
Slade sucked on his straw and the last few drops vibrated in the cup. He sighed with satisfaction. “Got to say, it really hits the spot. Only now I’m thirsty. I’ll get some waters for the road.” We’d decided to drive back part way tonight andhead the rest of the way home tomorrow. I had to be back at work on Wednesday. The road trip was coming to its final, dramatic conclusion. The entire purpose for the trip had been for me to meet up with Damon, to confront him. But I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted to say to him.
I picked out some snacks, and Slade grabbed waters. The television over the counter was on a news channel. A red ribbon rolled across the screen warning of the potential of a flash flood. I glanced out the window of the shop and looked back at the cashier, an older man with a gray goatee and a gold hoop in his ear.
“Flash flood? The sky is solid blue,” I said.
He smiled. “Guess you’re not from around here. Thunder clouds roll in fast, and when you least expect it. And when the rain falls, it comes down in sheets, so be careful out on the road. I’ve seen half-ton trucks get picked up and carried off by the floodwaters.”
“We’ll keep an eye out for clouds.” Slade opened his water bottle. “Thanks.”
It was late afternoon, but the sun was scorching hot. I stomped along feeling as if I was walking through tar instead of clear, hot air. “Whoa, feels like Earth got pushed closer to the sun. I don’t think I could survive in the desert.”
“That’s because you’re adapted to living in enchanted forests.”
I looked sideways at him. “That whole fairy thing still has you entertained, doesn’t it?”
“Yep, I’ve got to admit, it does. But only because you are the cutest fucking Tinkerbell in the world.”
“I’m pretty sure the real Tinkerbell might argue thatpoint.”
Slade finished his first water bottle before we even reached the car. We climbed inside.
He put the key in the ignition but could only hook a finger on the steering wheel. “Fuck, now I know what a pizza feels like when it gets shoved into one of those pizza ovens. I’m surprised the inside of the car isn’t one big melted blob of plastic and vinyl.” He looked at the clock on the car dash. “It’s five o’clock. Guess it’s time to go stake out the pool company.” He looked over at me. “How are you doing, Tink? You ready for this?”
I pressed my arm against my stomach, wishing that I hadn’t downed the entire shake. “To be honest, I’m nervous as hell. Damon and I weren’t exactly friends. In fact, it’s safe to say that we hated each other. It put kind of a strain on my relationship with Perris, but she knew he was an asshole.” I reached for his hand. “Having you with me gives me courage though. Thank you for being here. Hopefully, I’ll get a clearer picture of what happened to my sister. I know this sounds crazy, but my intuition keeps telling me there was more to the story.”
Slade leaned over and kissed me quickly. The air conditioner had cooled the car enough for him to be able to touch the steering wheel and stick shift. He pulled out onto the highway.
“Of course, there’s always a chance that Damon won’t even show up at the office.” There was a sliver of hope in my tone for that much simpler outcome.
“Yep, that’s possible.”
After the months I’d spent trying to figure out where the jerk had disappeared to and then chasing down his brotherto the far-out edge of insanity where I’d pulled a fake gun on him, I was feeling less than confident. I’d played and replayed the scenario where I faced Damon and asked him how the hell this had happened. But now I had images of myself asking politely for her things, grabbing the box and skulking out the door.
Slade pulled up in front of the window installation business next to the pool company. “I’ll have to keep the car running, otherwise we’ll be cooked alive. I’ve got to say, I’ve grown a newfound respect for stalkers. This shit isn’t easy.”
The first work truck pulled into the lot in front of the pool office. Several men climbed out. “None of those guys are him,” I said.
A few minutes later, another truck pulled in. My heart sped up as I immediately recognized Damon’s face in the front passenger seat.
Slade sensed my silent reaction. He watched as the men climbed out of the truck. “Let me guess, the tall guy with the black ponytail?”
I nodded and pressed my arm against my stomach again. “Really wish I hadn’t drank that shake.”
Slade reached over and took hold of my chin. He turned my face toward him. “If you want, we can turn this car around right now and head out of town. Aside from the incident with my buddy Bradley’s elbow, I’ve had a fucking blast on this trip. Either way, it makes no difference to me. But, Britton, if this is going to keep eating at you, then you should face this guy.”
We looked through the front windshield. Damon was climbing into a jeep. I’d forgotten the arrogantway he always carried himself, a posture that let anyone around him know that he was a complete asshole.
Slade picked up on it right away. “That guy looks like he should have douchebag tattooed across his back.”
“You, Mr. Stone, have an incredible sense of intuition when it comes to judging people. Except when it comes to me. If you’d realized, earlier on, just what a basket case I was, then we wouldn’t be sitting here sweltering on the desert highway.”
“No, it didn’t take me too long to know you were a little off balance.” He put the car in gear and looked at me before pulling away from the curb. “Or did you forget our first meeting?”
“I didn’t forget, and again, I can’t figure out why you didn’t run the opposite direction.”
