Page 38 of Finding Storm

Christ almighty, Beck.

All I have is a guy with a car somewhere on Main Street.

As Gran would say, he’s about as useful as a fork in a sugar bowl.

I yank my rubber glove off, leaving it in the sink, and I wash my hands.

Scooping up my phone, I jog downstairs.

After I slip on my canvas flats, I write a quick note, telling Gran where I’ve gone, and leave it on the reception desk for her to see when she gets home.

Leaving the B&B, I don’t lock the front door because I know Gran didn’t take her keys with her. The town we live in is a safe place. It has a low crime rate. It’s the kind of place where you can leave your doors unlocked.

I walk the ten minutes to Dad’s garage. The tow truck is in the forecourt where it always sits.

I pop my head inside the door and grab the keys off the hook on the wall by the door.

“It’s me, just getting the tow truck keys,” I call out.

Dad’s legs are poking out from underneath Mr. Peterson’s truck. Beck’s under the hood.

“Okay, baby girl.” Dad’s voice echoes out from under the truck. “Be careful.”

“Will do.”

“You got your cell with you?”

“Yep.”

“Pepper spray’s in the glove compartment. Put it in your pocket.”

At least my dad cares about safety. Can’t say the same for my brother. Which reminds me …

“Beck, any clue on what the car I’m towing looks like?”

“Uh …”

“Christ’s sake, Beck!”

“I’m kidding!” He laughs. “Dude said it’s a Maserati. Said you’ll spot it, no problem.”

That stops me. Maserati. “Bit fancy for round here, isn’t it?”

Not that we live in a shithole. But not many people, if any, around here would drive a car like that.

“Probably just passing through,” Beck says.

“Yeah,” I muse. “Okay, back soon.”

“Pepper spray!” Dad hollers.

“Okay, Dad.” I chuckle.

I head to the tow truck. Climb up inside and turn the engine on, letting it rumble to life.

While the engine’s warming up, I get the pepper spray out, shove it in my pocket, and rifle through the CDs in there.

I pull out Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album and pop the CD in the stereo. I skip to track two, and “Dreams” starts to play.