Chapter 98: Much Ado About Nothing

The morning after Martin Left, I drove my cruiser to Ed's old office first thing. It was mildly cold, but even so I rolled Gunny's bike into the parking lot. There I gassed up the bike and gave it a few tugs. I was happy to see that it started easily.

Lucas arrived while the bike warmed up. "You going for a ride?" he asked surprised.

"I'm thinking I will ride it over to the motel. That is if I can get you to drive my cruiser over." I suggested.

"If you don't feel you need me to follow you, how about I have a cup of coffee first, then bring it over." Lucas suggested.

"Actually I think that would be a good idea. By the way what do you hear from Gwen?" I didn't really care, it was just being polite.

"The last I heard she and Mike were working on some kind of real TV deal." he admitted.

"Well, is she coming back down here or are you going to move up there?" I asked.

"We don't know yet. It looks like for the next five years I am going to stay here." He didn't sound angry or even irritated.

"That's up to you Lucas. You know all that wasn't personal?" I said.

"I know, but it seems like you did it to spite Gwen." he said.

"Well we are just to have to disagree on that. Thanks for bringing the cruiser over," I said handing him the single key to the ignition.

Even though I had worn the full ski hood and neck scarf, it was cold riding the bike the two miles. It was also a definite wake up experience. There is no way that anyone could have that early morning groggy feeling after a ride like that.

I parked the bike in the store room. I had left the can with the extra gas behind. Since Lucas still had his bike there, he could make use of it. I parked the bike as far away from the boiler as possible. If a flame from the boiler reached across the six foot space between them, the gas in the bike would be the least of my worries.

I had stopped at Hardee's on the way home for a breakfast biscuit. Since I made perfectly acceptable coffee, I sat at the old registration desk with my Mr Coffee and the paper bag. I finished the biscuit before Lucas arrived.

I had the morning news on my 15" screen TV. The TV wasn't any larger than my computer monitor. When I had people in my place, it wasn't to watch TV, I can assure you.

"I got your car," Lucas said from the door.

"Come on in, you haven't seen the place since Archer's men finished up." I suggested.

Lucas took the quick tour then said, "They really did do a nice job on this old place. If I were sure Gwen wouldn't be coming back, I would rent one."

"And if I were sure Gwen wasn't coming back, I would let you." There was no sense pretending. He knew that I would never rent to him as long as Gwen was in the picture.

For the next three days I did absolutely nothing. Sure I ate, I used the toilet, and I watched TV. I even watched a TV shows the next day on the computer now and then, but I did nothing constructive or exciting. I was a drone for three days and loved it. I ran on auto pilot every day, so I accomplished nothing. It didn't bother me at all.

The cell phone rang after almost a week of doing nothing. If I counted from the days before I bumped into Martin. "Hey Slut," Jen said.

"My, my shyster what bee crawled into you panties?" I asked.

"He said to just tell you it was Martin from the Cop Out." she said.

"Oh and from that you deduced that I am a slut?" I asked.

"Wouldn't you?" she asked.

"I guess I would at that. So what is it that Martin wants with lil ole me?" I asked.

"Someone down there in the North Carolina Swamp wants to rent two of your apartments, if they can work out a deal for your services as well."

"Ah, you know what they want to do there don't you?" I asked.

"My guess is that it's not water boarding." she said laughing at me.

"They want me to run a safe house for them. I don't want to play spook." I said.

"Well as far as I know it's one of the few things you haven't done." Jen suggested.

"It's all too complicated to be honest. It's much easier to just rent to firemen and the like." I admitted.

"So how about the other? They also want to talk to you about being a body guard." Jen was pressuring me to take the work. I didn't need the money, so I didn't understand.

"Actually Jen the best I can tell they want me on the payroll in some capacity. I really don't want to go on their payroll. Something will come along to keep me out of trouble." I admitted.

"Well be careful how you say no. These might not be the best people to piss off," she suggested.

"I expect that I already have, but I'll try to play nice mommy." I laughed when i said it.

"You need someone to keep your head out of your ass," Jen said. "I refuse to see you self destruct."

"Then why do you keep pushing me into these jobs that get me shot at." I asked.

"Because I'm too chicken shit to do it myself and it is just so exciting to be part of. Part of it from a far, far distance," she admitted.

"Too bad Vlad didn't hang around, he would have been perfect for you." I suggested.

"Yes he would," Jen agreed. "So I should tell Martin to find another home?"

"Yes, I think that would be a good idea. Also that I'm not looking for steady employment."