Tomorrow

Chapter 14

Call me paranoid, but something doesn't feel right.

"You're being cautious, Riker. I appreciate that, but Detective James is going to take me to my dad. Everything will be okay," Chevy says, trying to calm me down.

It doesn't help.

Why did he want us to meet him in a parking lot? Why couldn't he tell me where her father is and let me drive her there?

Chevy can't sit still. She bounces all over the house putting things together in a bag.

Stopping dead in her tracks, her face drains of color. "What about the puppy?"

"Um..." I look at the ankle-biter sitting on the floor surrounded by fur.

I will never admit it out loud but he is cute. He starts wagging his tail like he knows I'm thinking about him.

"I guess he can stay here until you get situated and can come back to get him."

"Thanks, I know you don't care for him..."

"It's not that I don't care for him, it's that he is a menace who gets into everything. I caught him eating my sock the other day, and this morning he ran off with a pair of my boxers."

Chevy covers the grin on her face with her hand, "He likes you."

"Right, all my friends who like me eat my socks and underwear," I mumble.

"In all seriousness, I don't know where to begin to thank you and your family," Chevy starts. "You saved my life. How am I supposed to repay you for that?"

My face grow hot and glance away. I didn't do anything special, I did what any decent human being would do.

"No payment required. I'm happy you're getting back together with your father."

I sit down on the couch and the puppy immediately comes over to chew on my converse. I pick him up and stroke his soft fur.

"What are you thinking?" Chevy asks, coming over and sitting next to me. "You look worried."

I hesitate before I respond," I can't help but wonder if this is the right thing to do."

"Why?"

"I don't know. It's just a feeling... I mean, Detective James hasn't given you any personal information. You would think that he would tell you stuff to jog your memory, but he hasn't, why is that?"

"I found it a little odd too...," she starts. "But he's being extra cautious. He didn't want to say anything on the phone."

"I don't know," I shake my head. "It bothers me a lot that he didn't even tell us your name."

Chevy put her hand on my arm. "It'll be okay."

"I hope so," I mumble, leaning back on the couch, with the puppy gnawing on my hand. "Because I can keep up with this thing!"

I pick up the pup by his belly and hold him up. His little legs hang off the back of my hand. He continues to chew on my thumb.

Chevy laughs.

"He thinks you're a big chew toy!"

"He better find another better toy."

"I'm going to shower," Chevy announces standing up.

"Okay." I watch her leave the room.

Setting the puppy down next to me, I pull my phone out of my pocket to text Ryland.

What's up, bro?

We're going to meet Detective James tomorrow. What kind of gadgets do you have for us to use?

I have a couple, I'll bring them over.

Thanks, man.

Turning off my phone I set it on the couch.

The puppy crawls up my chest and looks me in the eyes.

"What?"

He licks my face.

"Ew! Don't do that!" I run my hand down his back petting him. "It's going to be all right. We'll have Ryland's toys and be ready for anything. I won't let anything bad happen to her."

I look at the pup and he's sound asleep on me.

***

We pull up to the corner twenty minutes early and park.

Detective James isn't there yet, but we stay in the car to be safe.

"Are you nervous?" Chevy asks, unbuckling her seatbelt and turning towards me.

"A little," I admit.

"Me too."

"Why did you get stuff from Ry?"

"Just in case," I say.

Chevy has a wire on so I can hear her. One block over, Ross, Ryland, and Rocky sit waiting and listening to everything we say. I want to make sure everything goes okay.

If it doesn't I told them to call 911 immediately. I figure if this went south quick at least 911 would send police to help us. They all couldn't be bad, right?

Detective James pulls up and parks across the street. He waves, acknowledging us, and starts to get out of his car.

"Ready?"

"Yes," She replies. "Thanks for everything."

"Don't thank me yet," I mutter, getting out of my car.

Detective James meets us as we get out of the car.

"I'm glad you two made it. Are you ready?" He asks Chevy, ignoring me.

"Yes..."

"Let's go. Riker thank you for your service. We'll be in touch when it's safe." He takes Chevy by the elbow.

"Wait!" I say. "Can you tell me her name? What happened? Who's she running from or what will happen now?"

"No." He says, staring me in the eyes. "You have to trust me."

"I'll call you when I get to my dad," she says.

"Okay," I reply.

Chevy pulls out of the detective's hold and throws her arms around me.

"Thank you!" She whispers.

"We have to go," he says, looking up and down the street.

Chevy lets go of me and start towards the detective's car.

I lean against my car, crossing my arms over my chest, and watch them get into Detective James's car. He starts the engine and pulls away. It isn't until he stops at the stop sign that I see his license plate is from a different state.

Why would he be driving a car from a different state? Didn't he say he's been with the LAPD for ten years?