Heart Strings

CHAPTER 4

Several weeks passed as Holly and Bucky fell into an easy routine. In the mornings during the week they would greet each other in the driveway as they prepared to head off to work. In the evenings Bucky would sit outside and listen to her practice, sometimes on her own, sometimes Jean or Eric would join her. Now and then she would come outside and cross the yard to sit with him on the stairs. They would talk about their day or the weather, maybe about something that had been on the news; for the most part, keeping the conversations to a light, friendly banter. On occasion, he would grab some kind of treat on his way home from work and he would knock on her door; asking if she would help him out with it. However, there was an unspoken agreement that kept them from expressing their ever increasing attraction for one another.

Bucky had taken a job down at the warehouse district. He had learned long ago that, with his strength and stamina places like that were always quick to hire him. It was good money and something to keep him busy, so everybody won. His first day there, Bucky arrived about 20 minutes early, partly to make a good impression and mostly by habit to scope the place out. He knew how important it was to know every exit available from any building...things happened all the time and people died because they got turned around and couldn't find a way out.

After completing several forms, a quick tour with the supervisor and the mandatory safety regulations manual being issued to him to keep and maintain (there were updates on a regular basis) he was introduced to a handful of other men and put to work. He was quickly accepted into the group and even though he didn't talk much they all appreciated how hard he worked and how much he accomplished. So far, so good.

On this day when he arrived home, Holly's car wasn't there and he found himself wondering where she might be. He climbed the stairs and as he was pulling the key from his pocket, he got that feeling of being watched again. "Okay," he spoke under his breath, "this is getting old." Once inside, he went straight to the window where he peered out from behind the curtain, but nothing looked out of the ordinary. Stripping his clothes off as he approached the bathroom, he came up with a game plan.

After a quick shower, Bucky left his apartment again, climbing on his bike and driving off at a leisurely pace. He drove a couple of blocks over then turned down an alleyway and parked it in a small lot. Walking swiftly, he made his way back to his street, careful to stay in the shadows and out of sight as much as possible. Across the street and a few houses down, he leaned on a light pole and watched as the lanky snoop from before was actually attempting to open Holly's garage door. The man was trying to look like he belonged there, but anyone who saw him would know that he didn't. He was so wrapped up in trying to open the door that he didn't even notice Bucky walking up behind him. Would never have known he was there if he hadn't felt the cool metal hand wrap around the back of his neck, pulling him back from the door and pushing him down on the stairs that led to the apartment.

Leaning in close, his piercing blue eyes staring a hole through the intruder he spoke softly, "Who the hell are you and why are you spying on me?"

"I, I...I'm Glen... and I'm not spying on you!!"

"What do you call it then?" Bucky was in no mood for games.

"I'm not, not spying on YOU." Wrong answer.

FUCK! He had never even considered that Holly was the one this guy was watching... Grabbing a fistful of Glen's shirt, Bucky partially lifted him from the step he had landed on and growling in the man's face he asked "Then you are either doing a piss poor job of casing the place to rob it, or you are spying on Holly. Which is it, and WHY?"

The murderous look in his eyes left no room for hesitation or lies.

"I... a man. I don't know his name. He offered me a lot of money to watch her... her comings and goings and who she hangs out with. I was never supposed to do more than watch, until today. He called and told me to see what was in the garage. I didn't want to mister, I swear! But he threatened to make my life miserable if I didn't help him out."