Pieces Part 1

Need a Hand?

An hour later, after packing all of Tina's belongings, Amber asked our boss if she could personally take everything to Tina's parents. She said she wanted to send them the mementos with condolences.

The boss shrugged, "Yeah, whatever." He summoned two coworkers to the back office.

"Rob, Kevin! Go with Amber."

"Okay, yes, sir." They replied before even asking what in the world they were going with her for.

They started moving everything into a U-Haul. Amber meticulously rolled me up in a rug bound shut with nothing but pure luck. I prayed to God they wouldn't carry me the wrong way, I mused anxiously.

Kevin and Rob dispersed to pick up me—the rug—by either extremity. "Hey, are rugs always this heavy nowadays?" Kevin breathed. This rug was sewn out of thick material, so my weight must've only made transporting it ten times worse.

Rob, the more muscular of the two, snorted, "Bro. You need to stop lifting cheeseburgers and pick up some weights."

Amber interrupted, "Hurry up pipsqueaks! Put the stuff in the truck."

They loaded the rest of the office furniture into the truck and got driving.

15 minutes later, the engine lulled to silence as they parked, I presumed, at our destination.

The truck's back shutters began to creak as they flew to the ceiling. I could hear Rob and Kevin stepping inside.

"Bring everything into my house via the backyard," Amber instructed.

Kevin whistled, "Whew, this is your house? How the hell?" That's what I was thinking!

"Mind your own business and stick to lifting," Amber shot plainly. Gee, she wasn't up for much conversation anymore.

A sense of relief washed over me as the movers hoisted me from the truck. I'm almost in the clear. This plan worked.

That was until I heard an unfamiliar voice speak from a distance.

It got closer and closer. All I could pick up was a man asking, "Hey, are you Amber Hnazant? Coworker of Moe and Tina Richardson?"

Amber replied, "Well, it depends on who is talking." Her voice didn't waver one bit.

"I'm Detective Walker; nice to meet you." Guessing by the silence that followed, he attempted to offer a handshake. I was curious to know if Amber reciprocated. "I'd like to ask a couple of questions."

Kevin snickered, "Oooh, Amber, you are in trouble!"

Rob snapped, "Pay attention, you are about to drop the rug." Seconds later, I felt my head hit the ground—I was inches away from slipping out headfirst. Close call, I thought as my chest pounded loudly.

The detective continued, "From my information, you were the last to be seen with Moe and Tina together. Can you tell me your account of last night?"

Amber told the detective, "Sorry, but I don't talk to the police without my lawyer."

The detective responded, "You are not under arrest."

"Neither am I being detained." As she turned around, the detective was speechless. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my stomach.

"It seems like you need some help; I don't mind helping you." Said an unfamiliar voice. Rob and Kevin stuttered as if they were puzzled, too.

"The name is Jimmy," the unfamiliar voice said. "Now, where are we taking this to?"

Rob and Kevin chirped, "The backyard!"

Amber hooked her own arms under the rug for support.

"I think we're good," she said to the detectives.

Jimmy countered, "But I insist, why don't you leave this to the men?"

"I'll leave your lawsuit to my lawyer now back off." Amber snarked.

Feet could be heard traveling away from my body. Looks like there's one less person in the rug-carrying party. "Yeah, you definitely have his genes in 'ya, I've seen enough—let's go, Jimmy."

The other detective followed his lead, and they were soon a fragment in the distance.

"Ah, I'm relieved. Woot! Some help. That's exactly what the doctor ordered." Kevin quipped.

Amber told him and Kevin, "Alright, guys, you've had your break; put the rug in the house. Gently!" She then walked away.

Kevin and Rob lugged me into the house and dropped me on the floor. Ouch—I swore I must've felt a bone splinter in my ribs.

"You can come out now," Amber crooned once the helpers left the room. "Another plan successfully executed!" She boasted. She stared blankly at my rug-encased self, expecting praise. "Hey, I know you hear me." She growled. "Hey!" She unrolled the rug, and to her surprise, I was fast asleep.

Baffled, she dove to shake my body and yell in my ear. Nothing woke me up.

"Really, Moe???...." She hissed. Seconds later, the rumble of a car engine echoed through the walls.

She tapped her chin for a second before going pale. "Wait a minute...is he home already???"

Again, she rushed to try and wake me up. She screamed, "Moe!" and kicked my back to no avail. Eventually, she slumped beside me on the floor.

"Great...what am I supposed to do now..."