Katie raised her eyebrows. “That’s another problem. A big one. Our neighbor, Sarah, across the street… she has a newborn that needs formula. The baby is starving. Tucker’s going door to door to talk to anyone who’s not here right now and see if they have any. Do you need him?”
Jake shook his head. “Not really. I just wanted to see if he’d walk over to Doc’s house with us. He knows him better than I do, and we need some help. Grayson has a helluva toothache.” He motioned toward his brother-in-law.
Katie cringed. “Uh oh. Doc’s not here. He and his family were gone when the grid went down and they’re not back yet.”
Grayson and Jake exchanged rueful glances.
Suddenly, Tucker stalked into view, his face a scowl.
Jake threw up a hand to his old friend as he headed their way.
Tucker briskly nodded in greeting. “Where’s my four-wheeler?”
Jake’s face burned once again. “Someone stole it, man. I’m so sorry. How can I make it right? You can have anything I’ve got at the house.”
Grayson elbowed him, and mumbled, “Other than the food. We need that ourselves.”
Tucker shook his head in frustration, ignoring Grayson, who he’d met several times, but didn’t know well. “Do you have any baby formula by chance?”
“No. Can’t say I do, friend. Katie told us about Sarah. I guess you didn’t find any, huh?”
Tucker looked over to the tables, examining each neighbor one by one. “Nope. No one keeps formula for anything. Sarah has the only baby in the ‘hood.”
“And Katie says Doc isn’t here? That’s too bad. Maybe he’d have known of something to help.”
Ruby, Jake’s truck, caught Tucker’s eye. “I see you got Ruby running again. How about you give me a ride into town to look for formula? Then we’ll call it even on the four-wheeler—for now.”
Jake and Grayson exchanged glances. They’d already discussed attempting a town run to get more supplies in light of Olivia’s stunt, but they’d decided against it. Too crazy out there. And it had only been days ago that both Jake and Grayson had been to town, and at that time there wasn’t much left, other than trouble. The situation had to be much worse now.
Dangerous.
Jake couldn’t meet Tucker’s eyes. “Yeah, I don’t know, man. It’s the wild wild west out there. I don’t think you’re going to find any formula—or anything else.”
Tucker grabbed Jake’s T-shirt, fisting it with both hands and pulling him close. “You’re taking me. That baby is going to die if you don’t.”
Grayson lurched forward, sending his arm down between them and breaking Tucker’s hold on Jake. “What the hell, man? Stand back!” he yelled. He stepped up to Tucker, nose to nose. “You don’t order us around.”
Tucker stood on his toes, eager to meet Grayson’s challenge. “I’d go myself if I had my four-wheeler, now wouldn’t I?” he screamed back, seconds away from throwing a punch.
Jake stepped between them, putting a hand on each man’s chest and pushing them away from each other. “Woah, y’all. Look, Tucker, I get it. You don’t have to go all Billy BadAss on me. Thought we were friends, yo?”
Tucker dropped his head and blew out a loud breath. “I’m sorry, Jake.” He looked at Grayson. “You too. I… I just don’t know what else to do. Sarah’s depending on me.”
Grayson and Jake exchanged looks again, and Grayson put a hand on Tucker’s shoulder. “Look, buddy, we’ve got just enough gas to get to town, check out one or two places, and get you back here and still get home. We’ll do it, but you need to provide some more cover. We don’t leave here without more men.” He looked over his shoulder, catching the glance that passed between Tina and Tarra. “No offense, ladies.”
Tina smiled wryly. “No offense taken, as long as the men you choose can handle a gun.”
19
Edith stared at the photograph of Gabby and Olivia, posing in front of the red Chevy truck. She was afraid to meet Trunk’s eyes for fear he would see right through her. The girls hadn’t mentioned the name ‘Trunk’ when they’d told their story of what had happened, but there was no doubt in her mind that these were the bad men that had harassed those girls.
After all, how many people dressed a pig in a skirt?
Her mind raced.
You are the dirty bird that abused poor Mei.
It’s your gang that chased those sweet sisters.
But how did you know the girls had been here?
Trunk put one finger under Edith’s chin, and gently lifted her face up. He spoke very slowly. “One… more… time. Have… you… seen… these… women?”
His tone was friendly—too friendly. The smile he wore was a façade. Edith could see right through it. This man was dangerous. He must never know Elmer had taken the girls home.
The only question was, did Trunk already know? Somehow, he’d arrived here, right behind the girls. Maybe he already knew everything.
Trunk raised an eyebrow and leaned in, moving even further into Edith’s personal space. He was waiting for an answer.
She felt a chill run down her spine.
Lie or truth?
She inhaled and exhaled. Her liver-spotted hands shook, so she shoved them in the pockets of her apron. “No.”
Trunk slapped his hand down on the counter, the sudden noise splitting the air like a shotgun blast.
Edith jumped and yelped.
“Liar,” he whispered, and inch from her nose.
He knew.
Edith shook like a leaf, grabbing the fabric inside her pockets and squeezing with all her might.
Trunk manically laughed and backed away, turning to eat more of Elmer’s dinner. His tone changed when he said, “So your friend, Rose—you mentioned her when you opened the door—she’s a good cook, too.”
He shoved a glob of biscuit into his mouth and turned back to Edith, smiling like the cat that ate the canary.
“Wha-what did you d-d-d-o with Rose?”
“Do with her?” Truck nearly doubled over laughing. “Nothing. She’s older than you, grandma. I don’t do old ladies… no offense.”
Thank you, Jesus, Edith prayed.
She cleared her throat. “Did you hurt her?”
“Now, why would I hurt a sweet lady like Rose?”
“You hurt Mei,” Edith whispered, feeling a tiny spark of bravery. “She was a sweet girl, too.”
Trunk rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Noooo,” he said, drawing out the word. “I gave Mei exactly what she asked for. We had a bargain, me and Mei. But, thanks to one of your little friends, she broke our deal and ran. They cost me a lot of points, and I aim to get them back. And, I have a special lesson to teach the twin that saved her.” He made air quotes with his fingers when he said the word ‘saved.’
“Points?” Edith had no idea what he was talking about. The girls never mentioned points. But Gabby had said it was Olivia that saved Mei, insisting they take her with them.
“Oh, they didn’t tell you that part? They cost me points. Points right now mean the difference between life and death in this new gig. Points are the best food, the most beer, the hardest liquor, and all the smokes I can toke. Points are the difference between being alive and living…” Trunk pulled a folded-up piece of paper out of his front pocket, unfolded it, and spread it out on the bar. He tapped it with one finger. “And I intend to do some living.”