Page 42 of Smokey's Distraction
“I didn’t know we needed to, but it kicks ass that we got to hang for a bit.”
Ashley walked down the aisle to the cashier’s counter and handed the woman her credit card, with Smokey on her heels.
“How’re you doin’, Smokey?” the cashier asked as she ran the card.
“Not bad. How did the specials go over tonight?”
The woman smiled broadly at him. “Sold out on ’em.” Turning to Ashley, she handed her a pen, along with her card and the receipt. “Here you go.”
Signing the receipt, she placed her card back into her purse. Nodding her thanks to Smokey as he held the door open for her, she walked out into the cold night air, though it was nothing like the past week, which had been downright freezing.
“I think the weather’s finally getting warmer,” she said.
“Feels that way. Where are you parked?”
She pointed to a row of cars under a white florescent lamp post. “Over there.”
“I’ll walk you to it.”
Gravel crunched beneath their feet as they walked in silence, but when Ashley approached the Buick, she groaned.
“What’s up?” he asked.
Waving her hand to the right front tire, she informed him, “I’ve got a flat. I must’ve run over a nail somewhere.”
Switching on his phone’s flashlight, he knelt down by the flat and inspected it, running his fingers over the side of the tire. Straightening to his full height, she noticed his clenched jaw and furrowed brow.
“Do you have a spare?”
“Yeah, but you don’t have to change it. I belong to an auto club. I’ll just call them.”
“Pop the trunk,” he ordered as he strode over to the back of the car.
As Smokey worked, Ashley sensed that something was bothering him.Maybe he’s irked because he’s changing out my flat? I told him he didn’t have to do it.
“Who’s got a grudge against you?” he asked as he stood up.
The muscles in her body tightened. “What’re you talking about?”
He pointed to a thin slash high up in the sidewall of the tire. “This was done on purpose. What’s going on?”
Under Smokey’s intense gaze, she bit down on her bottom lip, scrambling to come up with an answer.
His index finger gently pressed against the skin just below her lip and pulled it free. “And don’t BS me. Someone’s fucking with you.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I hardly know anybody in Pinewood Springs. It’s probably a group of bored teenagers, running around vandalizing cars.”
Smokey stood completely still, his gaze piercing hers. Ashley shifted from foot to foot under his scrutiny.He doesn’t believe me. Maybe I should tell him.She darted her eyes away from his.Tell him what? That a guy I’d testified against has driven all the way to Pinewood Springs to slash my tire? That he has nothing better to do than play games with me? He’ll think I’m a paranoid nut, for sure, and he’d probably be right.
“So you’re sticking with that?”
“I guess I am.” Pressing the key fob, she opened the door, smiling up at him. “Thanks again for helping me out. Where’s a good place to buy a tire around here?”
“Jim’s, on Colorado Ave. and Warren Street. Tell him I sent you, and he’ll treat you right.” The lines in Smokey’s forehead hadn’t yet smoothed out. “I talked to Zach about putting in an alarm, but—”
She laughed. “Let me guess—he said it’s too expensive?”
“Something like that. You shouldn’t stay there without an alarm—it makes you too vulnerable. You need to stay in a hotel until I can get something installed for you.”
