Series: The Laws of Opposite Attract Series by Vi Keeland
Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 105253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
“Hey. How’s it going? We’re looking for a mechanic named Bo.”
“What did he do? Did your rig break down?”
Owen shook his head. “No. Nothing like that. We just need to talk to him. It’s personal, actually.”
The guy nodded. “Bo’s off today.”
My eyes widened. “But he works here?”
“Are you looking for Bo Ridge?”
“We’re not sure of his last name,” I said. “Did he start recently?”
“About a week and a half ago. Maybe two?”
“Is there any chance you saw a woman with him? Her name is Vera.”
“Didn’t catch a name, but there’s a blonde that drops him off and picks him up sometimes. Came at lunch the other day. I’m pretty sure they boinked in the car. She was sitting on his lap in the front seat, and that hunk of junk they drive was rocking away.”
That sounds like Vera…
“Was she thin, with too much makeup and a ton of bracelets?”
“Not sure about the bracelets, but skinny with makeup fits the bill.”
“When does Bo work next?”
“Tomorrow morning. Eight AM. We’re open a half day on Saturdays.”
I sighed. “Is there any chance you could call him for us, or give us his number?”
The guy pursed his lips.
“Please?” I said. “It’s really important that I get in touch with them.”
He gave a curt nod before rummaging through a file cabinet and pulling out a stack of papers. I peeked over as he removed one from the pile, trying to read upside-down chicken scribble while the guy scanned the one-page application with his finger. Halfway down, his pointer stopped at a telephone number. He tapped twice before dialing the number from his desk phone on speaker.
But it didn’t even ring. Instead, the call went right to an automated message saying the number had been disconnected.
He frowned. “It worked the day after he came in to apply. I used it to call and tell him he could have the job on a probationary basis.”
“Maybe you dialed wrong?”
The guy frowned, but he disconnected and punched in the numbers again. This time, I watched what he entered and checked the digits against the paper. He’d dialed right, but the automated message came on once again.
“Guess it was disconnected?” He shrugged.
If the description of the skinny blonde who’d boinked him in the car at lunch wasn’t enough to identify Vera, the turned-off phone clinched it. This was my mother’s MO.
“Do you have an address?” I asked.
He looked down at the page and shook his head. “He was staying at a motel when he filled out his application. Said he was waiting to hear if he’d gotten an apartment.”
“Do you know what motel?”
“No, but it wouldn’t do you any good. He’s not there anymore. He moved into the new place a few days ago. Was supposed to give me the address to update my records, but he didn’t yet.”
I sighed. “Alright. Would it be okay if I called him here tomorrow, on your shop’s phone?”
“As long as you don’t make it too long. He’s got a lot of work to do. We’re backed up.”
“Can I get your telephone number?”
The guy slipped a card from a holder and handed it to me.
“Thank you so much for your help.”
Outside, Owen raised his hand for me to high five. “We did it!”
I slapped with a smile. “I cannot believe this worked. I don’t know how to thank you, Owen.”
“No thanks necessary. But do you think it’s a good idea to leave and call in the morning? Then you’re relying on your mother to make her way back to New York in less than forty-eight hours.”
My exuberance waned. “You’re right. I wasn’t thinking. Getting in touch with her is only half the battle. She’s not like a normal mom who would run home when I tell her the kids might get put in foster care. That might be a reason for her not to run home. In her warped mind, knowing someone else has them is license to keep flitting around. I might need to drag her back. But I also can’t leave the kids alone tonight.”
Owen thought for a moment. “Why don’t we set you up at a hotel nearby, and I’ll go back and stay with the kids?”
“I can’t let you do that. Plus, I’m not sure how Hannah would feel about you staying at the apartment.”
“You could go home, and I could stay and talk to Bo?”
I blew out two cheeks of air and shook my head. “I’m not exaggerating when I say she might need to be dragged home. I think it has to be me.”
“I have an idea.” Owen put up a finger. “Hang on a minute. Let me make a quick call.” He slipped his cell out of his pocket and fiddled with the screen for a few seconds before bringing it to his ear. I listened to one side of a conversation.