Blood Ties (NaNoWriMo 2015)

Five

Two hours later I slammed the book down onto the table. "I am done!" I shouted victoriously into the empty apartment. "Now food," I said aloud as my stomach rumbled.

I rummaged through the fridge and fixed myself a quick bologna sandwich.

I was halfway through eating it along with a glass of milk when my cell went off. If this is that same fucking caller I'm going to hit something. I thought, my vision almost red as I looked at my caller ID Mom, what a relief.

"Hello?"

"Ember," she said. "Can you come and get me? My car is acting up again."

"Sure thing," I stuffed the rest of my supper into my mouth. "See you in fifteen minutes. Ten if I drive fast."

"Don't you dare speed," she warned and I laughed. As the daughter of a traffic cop, (and later a wife of one) Mom was a stickler about following the laws of the road.

I didn't carry that view. Maybe it was because Gramps bit the dust before I was born or because Dad was killed while on duty a few years later but I had a "lead foot" according to her. I had yet to get a speeding ticket or in an accident past hydroplaning into a ditch (which only happened once) but Mom seemed determined to smash that bad habit out of me before I left for college.

I understood her point but driving sixty    on a fifty-five was not terrible. "See you soon," and I hung up, grabbed my keys keys and purse off the table and headed out the door.

Mom worked in Saint Thomas Care Center over in Johnsonvile, about fifteen minutes from here, I'd be there in no time at all.

***

Halfway on the road to Johnsonvile I was eating my words. My stupid car had a flat tire. Knowing I would not be able to reach Saint Thomas, I pulled over and braced myself to change the tire. I'd done it a few times before and I considered myself pretty slick with it. The prospect of changing the tire didn't worry me at all, but I still was annoyed. This problem just appeared out of bloody freaking no where.

This did not exist this morning when I left for school. I grabbed my cell and dialed Mom's cell. I got voicemail and sighed. "Hey Mom, I'm gonna be a little late, minor car trouble. Just have to change a tire. Love you." I unbuckled and hung up the phone. Time to go to work. I grabbed my can of pepper spray out of my purse, slipped it into my jacket pocket and popped my trunk.

I didn't think anyone creepy would be out on this road, both Johnsonvile and Sunview weren't that big. Large enough to have a decent sized population and more than one gas station, but crime rates were fairly low. Assault attacks were rare in the area. However, I didn't want to be careless, hence the pepper spray. Better to be safe than to be sorry.

I turned my little flashlight on and began shifting items in my trunk to find my tire iron.

I'd barely moved an extra jacket when I heard the rumble of a motor and a voice shout. "Hey you alright?" I stopped cold and turned my body half away from my car, close enough to keep looking if I wanted to, far enough that I could keep my eyes on the newcomer.

A shiny, old-school Chevy pulled over opposite me and a man stepped out. He was tall with buzz cut hair and dressed in a suit. Maybe he was on his way home from the cities, but I didn't know that. He was a stranger and that instantly put me on guard. Looking for my iron was no longer an option at the moment, again, better safe than sorry. I did not want to give this guy a chance to blitz me from behind.

"Need a hand?" He asked coming closer to me as though to get a closer look at what was going on.

"I'm good," my voice was steady as I answered. "Just a tire change is all. I've already called someone." I added that bit in for good measure. I didn't know if he was a creeper or just some Good Samaritan trying to help but in the event he was the first, if he thought I had someone coming might be off putting enough to send him on his way. "Should be here soon," I lied. "The two of us can handle it. Thanks though."