Page 29 of High Velocity

Roark and his father sputtered with laughter.“That they are, dear, that they are,” Owen said.“Nothing else to do here, so let’s go down to The Grill for some eats.Roark, care to join us?”

“Normally, I’d love to, but I’ll take a rain check.Charli and I will see you all Saturday.”

They said goodbye then Roark loaded up and headed for the yard where he’d meet Motley.They’d see if they could figure out what the hell was happening around here.

Chapter Eight

Charli

“Well, what d’ya think after only two days?Gonna stick around?”

Charli looked at Stew as they worked side-by-side on the final two cars for the day.Thursday had been non-stop, and happily, Roark had been correct, in that Friday hadn’t been as bad.

“Oh, I’m definitely sticking around.I don’t mind keeping busy, but I won’t scoff at a slower pace.Pretty sure my shine is already wearing off, so next week should be easy as pie, right?”

Stew chuckled as he tightened down the clamps for a new battery he’d installed.Tonto was already emptying trash cans in the other bays after sweeping them out.Once Charli finished the heat shrink for new wiring beneath the dash of an older pickup, she could clean up her bay.

With thirty minutes technically remaining to the workday, Harvey informed them he wouldn’t answer any more calls, and he’d already turned off the open sign.

“I think it’s been productive enough.Doubt anyone’s going to come ‘round at the last minute anyways.”

Charli and Stew pulled out their completed vehicles while Harvey wrapped up the invoices with the customers.Just as she and Stew were closing their bay doors, an SUV came roaring into the lot and pulled right up to Charli’s bay.She waved them off, mouthing they were closed, but the idiot driver gunned his engine while inching forward, nearly bumping into the shop door that was still closing.

Charli stopped the door and stepped out of the bay and off to the side.Even though the driver’s window was up, she still couldn’t stop herself from yelling at the jerk.

“Hey!We’re closing!Unless you want to pay for a new bay door, I’d advise you back off!”

The SUV idled, and the window rolled down, revealing a thick man with shades and a cowboy hat on.He held up a cell phone, waving it.“Says here, you’re open another twenty minutes.”

“Not today, we’re closing early.You need something, you can return Monday morning.”

“And what if I want it now?”

“Then you might want to drive a few miles to Kimberly and visit the auto parts store.As I said, we’re closing.”She eyed the rig, which looked brand-spanking-new, doubting this jackass needed a damn thing.Vaguely remembering Roark saying something about a dark SUV, she eyed the driver again then glanced at his license plate, memorizing it.

Harvey appeared at her side, and she could see in her periphery that Stew and Tonto stood directly behind her.