Houston: Robinson Destruction – Paranormal Tiger Shifter Romance

by Kathi S. Barton

  “Has Tru seen this?” Houston said she was out on business. Dad looked at him. “You mean she’s out there working.”

  “Yes. But it is a business trip. That’s the way I’m planning on thinking about it. That way, I won’t have to worry about her getting hurt or killed. It’s semantics, I know, but it helps me cope.” He looked at the piece in front of them. “That’s why this is a lot further along than I thought it would be. She had to leave yesterday right after we were married, and she’ll return sometime tomorrow. She told her boss she was going to be away for a couple of weeks. Then the two of us are going on a trip ending up in Florida. After the show, we’ll stay another week before we come back here. Sort of a rest and honeymoon all at the same time.”

  “She’s a good girl, Houston. I love her like I do the others.” Houston said he loved her as well. “What would you do, son, if she were to get hurt again? I don’t know that I could handle knowing your mother was going out on this sort of thing and be all right with it.”

  “I know I could tell her not to do it, and she would quit. She told me that. But although she didn’t stay it, I know it would crush her in some ways to have me do that to her. It would be like cutting off an important part of her. I could no more ask her to quit what she does than I think she would ask me to quit what I love. It’s not right to even think I would.” Dad nodded and walked around the piece again. “I’m taking this one with me, to the show. I wasn’t going to, but now I’ve had a chance to finish it, I’m going to have it picked up tomorrow and delivered.”

  “How much you think you can get for this? I’m only curious. Your mom, she told me you had a commission check lying on top of the microwave thing the other day when she came to see you. That’s a sure fire way to lose your money, son. I hope you’ve taken care to deposit that.” Houston told him he had but didn’t mention the other three checks he’d remembered to put into the account too. “I nearly forgot the reason I came by. Your mom and I are going to take a little trip ourselves. I was wondering if you could keep an eye on the house for me, but if you’re going to be gone, then that’ll be fine.”

  “Blake and Trudy are going to be staying in our home with the boys while we’re gone. They’re having some walls torn out to make a bigger room for the kitchen. I didn’t realize how small that one was when they purchased it. They wanted to be able to eat in it too, and there simply wasn’t the room for it. I’m sure they’d not mind keeping an eye on your home too.” He said he’d asked them. “Now get to the point, Dad. Why are you really here? You told me about the trip yesterday, and I told you we were leaving. We even discussed the Justices watching over your home while in ours. Why are you hemming and hawing around?”

  “I want to get your mom something special, and I haven’t the first idea how to go about it. I talked to Rogen, who ain’t romantic at all, and she suggested I get her luggage. That way, she’d have something new to put her things in. She’s got luggage, darn it, and don’t need nothing new to shove her things into. Anna said I should have a nice dinner where we’re going. Champagne and roses. That ain’t your momma either. She’d rather be planting flowers than having them die in a vase any day. I don’t know what to get her.”

  “You should get her luggage, Dad. Something colorful and large. That way, she can bring back gifts for her grandchildren in it and know she won’t have to shove things in the cases and be worried her older stuff might not be big enough.” Dad nodded. “The dinner out is perfect as well. Don’t just take her to some restaurant that has her wondering what to order. Have a picnic basket filled up from the hotel you’re staying in, grab a nice little blanket, and go outside near some park and watch the kids playing around in the surf or something. As for the flowers, why don’t you do just that? Have her garden redone, something I know she’s been wanting to do for years. To have all her roses put in one place, and the bushes she put in the garden when she found them on sale in another. I think around here someplace I have the plans she and I worked on one year when you promised to have it done for her. Do you remember that?”

  “I do. It was the year— Holy smokes, Houston, Dawson had just graduated from college. That was nearly eight years ago.” Houston thought it was closer to ten, but let it go. “I like them, those ideas the girls gave me, with you spicing them up a little. She surely could use something to put her pretties in that isn’t older than Thatcher. I think that was the last time we both purchased luggage. And you’re right about her bringing things home for them babies we have. By the way, are you and Tru gonna have any soon?”

  “No. We’ll have children, but not right away. She’s got three more years before she can retire with all her pension. And since her job is so dangerous, they’ve included me in her payout so I’ll get one as well. Also, she has other perks, but nothing we couldn’t do without if she were to quit now.” Dad looked so sad about that. “Dad, I didn’t say we weren’t going to have children. Just that we’re not having any right away. We want to settle into this job of hers and see how that works for us. We have to consider money too.”

  “That’s always a good thing to think about.” He and Tru had never gotten to sit down with the banker and financial planner the government sent along because she’d been called out. But he’d done as asked and sent in a copy of their marriage license, as well as any bank account information he had to be added to hers. “You know Rogen was worth some money when she come to this family. You thinking that Tru, she’s been smart with her money too? I’m not prying, son. I’m just making sure the two of you are all right. I know you have months where you don’t have any income because you have a show coming up. I’m just being a dad, making sure his boy is not going to lose the set out of his navel anytime soon.”

  “Whatever that means, I’m not going to lose anything. I promise you, Dad.” They laughed a little. “I don’t know the extent of Tru’s financial wealth. Even if there isn’t anything close to having much, I know we’ll be fine. I don’t care anyway. I love that we have this home that is paid for. I have a place to work, and I’m not too terrified for her when she goes out and does her job. Her business trips pay well, I think, but that’s all I know until she comes back.”

  “That’s all I can hope for then. How about you and me, we head into town, and you can help me pick out some things for your mom? I’d feel better going with you than with one of them girls. I love them to pieces, I surely do, but they’re a might on the intense side, and I’m afraid they’ll shove me into a piece of pretty luggage with some tape over my mouth.” Houston asked him why he’d think that. “I don’t know. I’ve been watching them shows with your momma. The ones where they solve all those murders? I’m telling you right now, Houston, there are some pretty terrifying ways people can kill someone off if they’ve a mind to. Some man cut up his woman and put her in a suitcase, and shipped her out on a plane. Why? I don’t know what’s wrong with people nowadays. Those shows, they’re a little silly too, I think. But we have fun watching them, thinking about how our girls would go after the bad guys.”

  “I bet if you asked one of them, they’d tell you stories that would curl up your toes.” Dad stared at him. “They’d relish giving you every detail about it too.”

  “I’m sure you’re right. And that there is the reason I’m not ever going to ask them about it. My goodness, what a thought.”

  Dad was still talking about it as they left the studio. Houston looked at his piece once more as the doors to the bay came down.

  It was just what he had wanted it to be. If no one else liked it, he’d just bring it home and put it in the living room with the other pieces he’d kept. Walking to the truck, he thought about something Tru had told him when she’d left him. Getting in the truck, he turned to his dad to ask him about it.

  “What do you know about weapons?” Dad told him the bullet comes out of them pretty darned fast. “Yes, because that is what I need to know in buying one. I have the specs on
one Tru wants me to buy. One she can train me on. Will you go with me to get it?”

  “Sure. It’ll be fun. I might even think on getting some lessons myself before this is all done. You never know what sort of mess might come with the next bride.” Dad laughed. “I’m hoping she’ll be a pushover, but I’m sure the others will straighten her out soon enough. Which of your brothers do you think will be mated up next? I’m hoping she has herself a passel of kids old enough for me to take to ball games and stuff.”

  “Dad, you keep talking like that, and the other women will be straightening you out.” Dad laughed and said they loved him. “I’m sure they do. But they won’t tolerate you thinking of them as broodmares.”

  “No. I’m guessing they won’t. Oh well, you help me, I’ll help you. We’ll be all right with this, don’t you think?” Houston told his dad he thought they were already working things out. “I agree. I agree so much that I’m going to let you buy me dinner tonight. Yes, sir, having about fifty grandchildren is all I can think about.”

  Houston laughed. He was going to tell Rogen and Anna about it the next time he saw them. Then he was going to tell Tru. Sitting back to watch his dad try and wiggle his way out of this trouble might be the most fun he’d had in some time.

  Getting the luggage was much easier than they thought it would be. They actually had a large display of them at the department store. Dad took his time buying the set he wanted. It was between a lavender set that was just the perfect color of the lavender Mom had in her garden, or the rose set that had no designs, but was so pretty he thought it matched Mom’s rosy cheeks when she was happy with him.

  Dad was a romantic after all, he realized. After getting Mom the lavender set with all the other pieces that went with it, he also got her a pretty robe to match and some pretty pajamas. Smiling at his dad when he paid for them, flustered when the cashier asked him if he was getting them for his girlfriend, Dad paid and left in a hurry.

  “Girlfriend indeed. That wasn’t nice.” Houston said it was very nice of her. “How you thinking that? I’m a married man with grandchildren.”

  “And Mom is a beautiful woman. So what? Maybe you should treat her like a girlfriend once in a while. Take her out by picking her up in a limo. We have a couple of them around. Taking her out to dinner and a show. You should treat her like it’s a first date sometimes.” Dad didn’t say anything all the way to the garden center. But as soon as he got out, he asked Houston if he was serious. “I am. You and Mom have nothing to hold you back from having the time of your life. You’re young, healthy, and happy. Have fun with that.”

  For the rest of the afternoon, he could see his dad was working on what he’d told him. Good, he thought. Houston would love to see the two of them dressed to the nines, as Mom called it when they dressed up and having a good time. Perhaps he and Tru could watch the boys for a couple of days so that Blake and Trudy could do the same.

  Chapter 9

  “Sinun on otettava kaikki lääkkeet. Et voi jakaa sitä sukulaisillesi.” This was the fifth time in the last hour Tru had to tell someone all the medications needed to be taken. To not share them with their family. “Sinulle on tärkeää saada hyvin.”

  Even telling them it was important for them to get well, she knew as soon as they left the makeshift clinic, they were going to do just what they wanted. Standing up and stretching, she looked around for the doctor she was there to take care of. She’d put it off an extra day, killing the man, so she could help out around the Finnish clinic that had been set up to help the sick.

  She’d also figured out the doctor was stealing the donated drugs to sell them on the open market for money. Fucker. Tru made her way to the little tent that had been set up for the doctors and nurses to have a moment of respite. Pulling an apple out of her pocket, she bit down into it when she sat down.

  “You’ve done some amazing work out there.” Tru nodded at her target. “I heard today is your last day here. It’s going to be a shame to see you leave.”

  “I’m not sure where you got your information, but I’m not leaving anytime soon.” She took another bite of her apple and put her hand into her pocket, pretending to put the sticker from the apple there. Wrapping her hand around the gun, she smiled at Doc Clift Crocus. “Who did you hear that from anyway? I’d like to tell them to mind their own business.”

  “I was thinking it was about time you left.” He turned toward her and pointed a gun at her. “You’re messing with my schedule, Dr. Shoe.” The alias had been given to her. “It’s time you leave. However, they’ll never find your body.”

  “You think not?” Two by two, four of the people she was working with came into the little tent. “This man says he’s going to take care no one finds my body. What do you guys have to say to that?”

  “Who sent you?” Finally, Tru thought. She knew now that the others were in on the selling off of things, as well as the drugs. “Is it the manufacturer of the equipment we’re selling off? Or the drugs? Either way, you’re not fucking up the good thing we have here. It must have taken them years to find someone to come here that could also speak Finnish. You’re good at that, but not good enough for us to be fooled.”

  Rogen, I have an ever so slight problem here. It’s now five against one. The odds are not in my favor. Rogen told her to hang on, she’d fix it. All right. A huge distraction would be wonderful.

  I’m working on just that. You’re to kill all five of them. Is that going to be a problem? Tru told her she had it, but she might get wounded. I’m willing to take a chance on you getting wounded but not dead if you are.

  Yes, wounded is much better than dead. I don’t know how Houston is going to feel about that, but you get to tell him. Rogen said he was right there with her. Ask him what he thinks of wounded over dead. I’ll do what he thinks.

  Very funny. She nearly smiled when she heard Houston’s voice. I might well have been really mad at you had Rogen not told me what these bastards are up to. That doesn’t mean I’m a hundred percent okay with this. But I’m thinking wounded is much better than you coming home to me in a box.

  As soon as the explosion sounded, she killed three of the men. The doctor fired at her just as she shot him in the head. The bullet went high and right. Saying a quick thank you to Rogen, she took off after number five. He was standing in the middle of a group of people with a small child to his chest and a gun to his head.

  “You’re not going to leave here.” He said he’d kill the child then. “Then what? You going to grab yourself another hostage to back up another foot or two? Drop the gun, and I’ll kill you quickly. I’m supposed to find out what I can from you, but I’m willing to call it a day and only kill you right off if you drop the fucking gun.”

  He grinned at her. She never wavered her weapon from him as his fingers began to tighten on the trigger. Then, just as she was ready to fire at his knees, his head simply disappeared. The little boy was left standing there as confused looking as she was. After that, it was a free for all of people trying to run away from the explosion of guns and other weapons going off. She was nearly to the river when Rogen spoke to her. Her voice was eerily calm.

  I didn’t do that. Tru told her she hadn’t thought she did. What the mother fucking hell is going on over there? All I can see from the satellite is the bright lights of the weapons going off.

  This is just a guess on my part, but I think it might be the buyers. I wasn’t aware the buy was happening today, but maybe I was wrong. Rogen laughed. Tell me when you’re finished laughing, and I’ll know how much to fucking beat your head in when I get back home. If I get home.

  You will. Where are you? She told her as best she could. Good. Go upriver. There is a boat rental place there. I’m assuming you can drive a boat?

  I can. But I can fly a plane much better. More practice. Rogen laughed again. You fucking dick, this isn’t funny. I’m being shot at from every direction he
re. Fucking do something other than laugh.

  How about a helicopter? Tru told her she could fly that too. There is one there you can take, right? I mean, you don’t need me to like, plug something into you for you to know how, right?

  Right now, I fucking— She was shot, and it hurt like a mother fucker. I’ve been hit in the leg. Upper thigh. Minimal blood loss, and I don’t believe it hit anything important. I’m taping it up now.

  I heard that about you. You always have silver tape on you for just this. The helicopter is gassed up and ready. Lucky for us someone there works for us. Rogen paused a moment, so Tru took that moment to tape the wound closed. The man there, his name is Richard. You’re going to have a passenger on your way to the local high school parking lot. He’s going to guide you.

  Why do I have to bring him along? I can find the lot. Rogen told her he was coming home. Home? I’m assuming to the US with me.

  You assume correctly. He’s the doctor you were there to replace when he came up missing. He’s in bad shape, Tru. Maybe you can use a little of your doctoring skills with the onboard kit to get him in good enough shape to make it home. Tru asked her how bad. He told me he wants to meet his daughter for the first time before he dies. He’s in a bad way.

  Well shit.

  Tru limped her way to where she was supposed to be going. It took her a little longer than she had hoped because of the wound. But she hadn’t been shot at again for the last quarter of a mile.

  The chopper was just where Rogen told her it was. She’d finally had to tell her to shut up and to leave her alone to think. The woman was jabbering about bullshit stuff, and it had gotten on Tru’s nerves. Rogen was worried. Tru got it, but she was driving her insane, telling her about her son Jimmy.