Charley pulled into the parking lot and scanned the area cautiously before she hopped out of her truck and snatched the tire pressure gauge from inside her door. With a serene smile on her face, she sauntered across two rows of vehicles and dropped into a squat beside a dinged up Ford Taurus.
There was always a sense of peace and an almost infinite satisfaction to these little chores and today was no exception. Pressurized air hissed across her fingers as she held the tool to the valve. She never drained the air completely, that would be unsafe, but she did like to toy with her victim by convincing her that she had a slow leak whether the garage agreed or not.
A shopping cart rolled on by and the woman pushing it chuckled softly. “Hi Charley, how’s it going?”
“Hey there Joyce. Not too bad. Just about done.”
The woman laughed and continued on her way. “See you later.”
Charley nodded.
It still amazed her that no one in town had informed on her yet. Truth be told, her little retaliation was getting old. Maybe she ought to let it go now. How long could you nurture a grudge?
She pocketed her pressure gauge and stood up, inspecting her handiwork. There was a definite droop to the tire but you could drive on it. Perfect.
Walking into the store, Charley grabbed a basket and intercepted a nasty look from Randi the cashier who was picking at her fingernail polish behind the register. The smile she gave Randi in return was saccharine sweet. Okay, maybe she wasn’t ready to call her little game finished yet.
• • •
Ten minutes later Charley unloaded her basket, setting her oranges, milk, and small loaf of bread on the belt. She looked at Randi expectantly and waited for the inevitable huff before she turned on the conveyor and scanned the items.
Before Charley had a chance to say something guaranteed to set Randi off, Millie poked her head out of the office and said, “Charley, honey, Barney’s been trying to reach you.”
“Oh yeah?”
“We have a freezer down. Could you look at it?”
“What about my groceries?”
“We’ll put them in the walk-in for you.”
“Fine. Where’s Barney?”
“In the back. You can go right through.”
Charley beamed at Randi and received a frosty glare for her trouble as she waltzed off in search of the grocer.
He nearly broke her wrist barreling out through the swinging doors just as she reached up to push them the other way. He jumped back at the sight of her.
“Charley! Thank God you’re here. It’s our ice cream freezer. It just quit this morning.”
He led her down the frozen food aisle and pointed. Charley dropped to her knees and pulled the front panel off. The compressor was silent and caked with dirty lint.
“Barn, could you cut the power to this thing?”
“Of course. I should have thought of that.” He ran off and Charley waited for the display lights to go out before she reached underneath. She was going to need her tools.
• • •
Charley sat on the polished floor with the compressor pulled out in front of her and tried hard not to snap at the anxious man leaning over her shoulder. He shoved his heavy glasses up yet again as he breathed down her neck. His sour breath was killing her.
“Barney,” she said turning with a grimace. “Can you do something for me?” Like back the hell off!
“Sure, what’s that?”
“I need a pen and paper to write the serial number down. This thing’s shot — nothing I can do. You’re going to need a new compressor.”
He groaned and exhaled another putrid breath right in her face and she almost gagged.
Still, she wasn’t without sympathy. “I’m sorry. Do you have the owner’s manual and paperwork that came with the freezer?”
“It’s in the office.”
“I’ll make my call from there if you could put it on the desk.”
“Thanks Charley, I’ll be right back.”
He was almost to the corner when she called out, “You and Millie should empty this thing fast if you want to save your stock.”
He shot his finger at her, silently acknowledging her point then hurried off.
Crystal Owens rounded the corner and came to a halt, taking in the scene. “Freezer out again?”
“This thing here,” Charley kicked it with her foot, “has officially expired.”
“I’m having a Chunky Monkey craving.” Crystal winked and pulled a pint of ice cream from the freezer.
“How firm is that?”
Crystal gave the container a little squeeze. “Seems fairly solid.”
“Good.”
“See ya later, Charley.”
She and Barney passed each other. He came to a stop and handed Charley a pen and a small spiral pad. She copied everything that looked relevant then stretched back up to her feet.
“I’m going to need your hand truck to move this thing.”
“It’s in the back. Can you find it yourself?”
“No problem.” Charley walked toward the swinging double doors and saw Millie barreling down the far aisle with two empty shopping carts tucked together, obviously on her way over.
When Charley finally left with her small bag of groceries, she was dirty, her wrist hurt, and she was in a foul mood after the inevitable exchange of derogatory names with Randi on her way out. At least she had righteous indignation on her side.
• • •
An old rusty Jeep Cherokee with a canoe strapped to the roof pulled in behind Drake’s car and he pushed his way out the screen door to greet his summer interns, swatting at mosquitoes along the way.
“Cal, Jamie, wow, I didn’t expect you until tonight. You made good time,” Drake said fanning another mosquito away from his face.
The driver, a kid no more than twenty-two, fought his creaking door open and said, “Your directions were perfect. Man it’s beautiful up here.”
The girl on the passenger side tugged a bag off the floor in front of her seat. “And don’t worry about feeding us, Dr. Carver, because we ate in town.”
Drake came forward to help them with their gear. “Did you remember to bring hip waders?”
Jamie gave her boyfriend a smug smile. “I did.”
“Yeah, Jamie’s anal. She followed your list to the letter,” said Cal, teasing her.
Jamie stuck her tongue out at him.
“Come inside.” Drake waved them toward the cabin. “I’m giving you the larger bedroom facing the lake because that one has the full size mattress.”
“Thanks.” Cal waited for Jamie to precede him through the screen door.
Drake led them to their bedroom and set the two duffel bags he carried just inside the door.
Jamie paused to look around the main room of the cabin. “This is nice, kind of homey.”
“I like it,” said Drake going back out for another load.
• • •
When everything was inside, Drake said, “You’re not going to believe this but I was just about to head to town when you showed up. I’m supposed to meet with Lloyd Chalmers at the DNR and I have to get our satellite link set up so we have computer and phone up here.”
“Anything you want us to do while you’re gone?” asked Jamie.
Drake shook his head. “Nothing. Make yourselves comfortable, look around. Explore the lake. Just don’t take out this canoe until I get back with the new tags and spare life vests.”
“No problem,” said Cal giving his girlfriend a suggestive look. “Let’s unpack and check things out.”
“I could be three or four hours,” said Drake.
“We’ll manage,” said Cal.
Drake grabbed his keys off the counter. “All right, I guess I’ll see you later.”
• • •
Two hours later, with his errands behind him, Drake dropped by the tavern for a sandwich and a beer. When Dink came around later to clear Drake’s empty plate, he lingered to chat but their conversation came to a screeching halt when an attractive young woman walked in and hopped up on the stool right next to Drake.
Both men were taken aback at how blatantly she examined the newcomer. “Hi there, I’m Randi,” she said with a sexy purr.
“Drake.” He wiped his hand with his napkin before offering it.
Her feline smile turned downright scary and Drake suddenly felt like a raw steak flung into a lion’s cage. She didn’t release his hand. “What brings you out to our neck of the woods, Drake?”
He gently yet firmly tugged his hand back. “I’ve got a contract for the summer with the Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Natural Resources.”
“Oh.” She bared even more teeth. “Good for me.”
He could tell her interest was superficial at best. He was simply a fresh face.
Dink rudely cut her off to ask, “You drinking light beer, Randi?”
“Yes.” Her eyes locked on Drake, she leaned in and said in a flirtatious hush, “Smart girls watch their figures so the guys will too.” Then she dropped back with a laugh and winked.
Her behavior was a little over the top but Drake had nothing better to do so he played along. “I don’t think you have to worry about that.”
This is when the playful banter shifted like quicksand beneath him. Drake cast a startled eye on the manicured hand suddenly riding along his thigh as Randi leaned against him, pinning his left arm to his side. There was no way he could pull free without nailing her in the chest. What the hell was he supposed to do now?
• • •
Charley sauntered into the tavern and went right behind the bar. Grabbing a glass, she loaded it with ice then set it down to search for her whiskey of choice. Dink walked over, shaking his head slowly. Just when Charley was about to pour, he grabbed her by the shoulders and tried to steer her out but she hip checked him, connecting with his thigh.
“Ouch! Get your bony ass out from behind my bar,” he said, giving his sister an impatient shove.
“Cut it out, you dork,” she said with a big grin and dug in her heels in as she shoved back.
Their tussles were so commonplace they didn’t even raise eyebrows. But just as Charley hauled her arm back to elbow Dink in the gut, she froze. There was Randi, local legend, putting the moves on Drake. She was rubbing against his arm like a cat for crying out loud!
Her blood boiling with jealous outrage, Charley shot a scorching glare at the woman.