Holding Out for a Hero (Baytown Heroes #9)

Chapter 29

29

ARTIE

Artie stood at the bathroom sink, washing his hands, but his gaze drifted out the small window beside him. Dorothy used to lament that the only window on that side of the house was the small one in the bathroom. He would simply smile even as he wondered why it was something she’d remark on. He loved her and would always nod and agree, but figured she must’ve had her reasons.

He had these thoughts more often—bittersweet remembrances of the old days when he was a younger man with his beautiful bride. He missed her dearly, her absence a palpable ache that lingered in the corners of his soul. He hadn’t felt as though life had a lot to offer since she passed. The days stretched out before him, monotonous and mundane, their house devoid of the joy and laughter that had once filled their home.

When Flip had first approached him about working in the garage, he’d accepted, now recognizing the decision was driven more by companionship than financial necessity. He didn’t need the money since he made do with their small savings and Social Security. But he had to admit, it was nice to have a little extra in the bank.

However, now a cloud of unease lingered over him. The last interaction with Flip had left Artie unsettled. Flip’s voice had a hard edge that he hadn’t heard before. He accepted that anyone could have a bad day or poor reaction to something… but a steely glint in the younger man’s eyes set off Artie’s alarms.

The years had taken their toll on his body, chiseling away at his eyesight, hearing, strength, and memory. But one thing the young ones were guilty of was to underestimate an older person. Artie had had decades of conversations with people from all walks of life and could pick up variances of how someone carried themselves or spoke.

And while the young men came with colorful nicknames and strange ways of talking, they’d been mostly respectful and done the work he needed completed if he was going to keep his shop open. But he’d observed the covert side glances exchanged between Jaybird, Flip, TinMan, and Babyface. He’d heard the hushed conversations and whispers that ceased abruptly when he was close. But now, tension lingered in the air, leaving him with a feeling in his chest like a bad cold that had settled and didn’t get better.

Staring out the small bathroom window, he spied two of them out near the decrepit barn. “That old thing is ready to fall down in a strong wind,” he grumbled. “What the hell are they doing out there?” Despite his age, he refused to be underestimated. If there was mischief happening, he intended to uncover it.

He watched as they now walked toward the garage, with the other two walking out to meet them. Dropping the ruffled white curtain that Dorothy had hung over the window years before, he continued to peek through the edge. The four met on the grassy lane that led to the barn, the path so unused that it was almost a meadow. A series of handshakes ensued, but they weren’t the normal, manly handshake that Artie’s father taught him when he was just a boy. He could still hear his father’s voice all these decades later.

“Face the person and look them in the eye. Never trust someone who won’t look you in the eye, and if you don’t, they won’t trust you either. Grasp their right hand firmly with yours. Never keep your left hand in your pocket when you shake someone’s hand. It’s more than a greeting, son. It’s an extension of who you are and who you’ll be with the other person.”

“Ain’t thought of that in years,” he mused aloud, still watching the complicated handshake the four men used, their movements synchronized with practiced precision. Jaybird whooped and jumped into the air, his hands making equally complicated gestures. Artie rubbed his chin as his unease grew. Something wasn’t right, and the last visit from the detectives ran through his mind. He hadn’t mentioned it to Flip, deciding to keep his cards close to his chest. Now, he had a bad feeling about the barn. But trying to figure out what was happening couldn’t take place when they were around. “Might be old, but I ain’t stupid,” he muttered.

The four men had reached the front, where Flip and Babyface climbed into his car and headed down the road. Jaybird and TinMan retreated into the garage to probably work on the vehicle up on the rack.

Stepping out of the bathroom, Artie decided to wait to check out the barn when no one else was around. Still bothered by what he’d witnessed, he headed into the kitchen to heat a can of soup. Thoughts of what Dorothy would fix for dinner ran through his mind. He missed the idea of them sitting together, enjoying whatever she’d cooked. Whether in times of lean or plenty, she always set a hearty meal on the table.

Sighing, he turned the corner and spied the plastic container still holding a muffin, two cupcakes, and several cookies left over from the last time the Crowder girl had come by when she bought the van. Grinning, he muttered, “Soup and a cookie… not a bad dinner if I say so myself.”