Willow (The Willow Series Book 1)

by Cheri Lewis

  I glance over at her and she’s looking toward the window. I forgot about the puppy that was under my desk earlier. I turn and walk back to the front and look under my desk. It’s not here. I step to the back where I was changing clothes earlier and there it is, a big white snowball, curled up asleep on my pair of bloody pants. Looks like I’ve been claimed. I really don’t want or need a dog. I say to the sleeping puppy. “I don’t want you. I can tell you’re a troublemaker. You don’t follow rules. You do what you want. I don’t want you and I’m not keeping you.” I turn leaving the puppy where it lies. I catch the back of Jessica carrying two puppies out the front door. I sit down at my desk to take the weight off my leg and wait for her to return. When she strides in the front door I stop her. “The other puppy is in the back.” She nods and begins to head that way. “But, I’ve decided I’m going to keep it.”

  She opens her mouth to argue but frowns and spins on one foot toward the back room again to retrieve her last two puppies. As she parades by she says, “You do know you’re robbing me. That’s a fifteen hundred dollar puppy and my only boy.”

  I shake my head. “Next time maybe you’ll think things through. Your first mistake was the terrible idea you came up with to get free publicity. The second was trying to then rob me and the third, and your biggest, was hiring me.”

  She rolls her eyes as she walks out the door. I lean back in my chair and close my eyes. It’s not long before tiny toenails tap on the floor and I’m reminded I’m no longer alone. I turn my head to the left and open my eyes. There he sits with his tongue hanging out of his mouth and his tail swishing back and forth across the floor. “You’re not going to be hard to potty train are you?” He turns his head with his ears perked up. “I really wanted to go home and take my pain medicine, but now I think I need to take you to the vet and then to the pet store to buy you whatever it is you need.”

  ****

  After a three hundred and fifty dollar vet bill for shots and a test to see if the puppy has cancer, then another two hundred at the pet store, I’m thinking now robbing Jessica of the puppy is actually robbing me. I also had to come up with a name on the spot for him at the vet. I tried to think of something cute but nothing fit him. I tried calling him Snow, Furball, and when I called him Flopsie he actually turned his rear end toward me. I got a clear picture of what he thought of that name. So I named him Joe. I always said if I ever had a kid they’d have the simplest, most common name I could come up with. Thankfully no kids yet.

  When I get home I set up his kennel in the living room against the wall away from the furniture. The pet store lady warned me puppies love to chew on stuff when they’re bored, if they can reach it at all, it’s as good as damaged. My furniture isn’t new but it’s paid for. I put him a warm blanket in the kennel that she also said Joe needed. She seemed offended when I asked her if she worked for commission. She assured me she didn’t but I’m not a hundred percent I believe her. I take him outside one more time before I place him in his kennel for the evening. I know I need a shower but I’m too tired and ache so bad now that the numbing shot has worn off. I pop two pills the doc gave me and climb into bed.

  I stumble down my hallway and flip the light on in the living room. “What in the hell is wrong with you?” Joe looks overjoyed to see me. Tail wagging so fast I can barely see it. He dances around then places his paws up on the side of the kennel. “Do you have to pee already again?”

  I take him outside and know if a car drives by I’ll have to jump behind the shrubs or at this point I’d just wave. I’m standing in the front yard in a short t-shirt, panties and socks. All he does is sniff around for three or four seconds then sits by my feet. I growl in frustration, pick him up and take him back inside then place him back in the kennel. I flip the light off and start back down the hallway. He starts crying the high pitched whine and then the insistent barking. I stop in the hallway, now really regretting what I’ve gotten myself into. I turn back around and flip the light switch on without entering the room hoping he’s just afraid of the dark. He continues to cry. I lie my forehead against the wall and consider crying. Come on Willow, he’s a puppy. You didn’t cry after that six foot asshole knocked your ass to the ground.

  I give in and walk into the room. He immediately stops again. “You’re not used to being by yourself, are you? Do you miss your sisters? Is that it? If I let you sleep with me then you’ll have to swear to me you’re not going to pee on my bed… or my floors… or do anything puppies do to irritate their owner?” He wags his tail and I sigh in defeat. I pull the lever back on his kennel. Out he jumps, running until he reaches my feet. I turn the light back off and go back to bed after I have to help him up on the bed with me. He sniffs around until he finds an acceptable spot then does three circles and lies down. I watch him find his peaceful sleep immediately and it lulls me back to mine.

  I groan when I roll over. “For the love of God!” I grab my phone off the nightstand and see it’s one-thirty in the morning. I sigh and put the phone on my chest. As it continues to ring, I contemplate not answering it. I already told you I’m not doing bounty hunting anymore. I slide my finger across the screen. “Hello.”

  “Willow, honey, I’m so sorry. I wouldn’t be calling you if James didn’t need you right now. He’s out on a skip and so is Terry. He just got a call that Tiny is at Jimmy’s.”

  “Tiny? You know he’ll turn himself in eventually. Why do I need to go get him, right now, at one-thirty in the morning?”

  “He’s in a lotta trouble, Willow. James needs to talk to him before he turns him in. It’s liable to kill his momma. You know that. I’d go with you but the kids are in bed and…”

  I kick my foot against the bed in aggravation then grab my leg and grimace in pain. “Fine. How do you know he’s going to be there when I get there? It’s about closing time.”

  “Jimmy said he would keep serving him beer until you get there. But to call him when you do and you can get him when he gets outside the bar. He doesn’t need Tiny flipping his shit and tearing the place apart again.”

  “How long has it been since you’ve seen him last?”

  “When we bonded him almost two months ago.”

  “Drugs?”

  She sighs and her voice wavers like she’s going to cry. “Among other things.”

  I exhale and rub my eyes. “All right. I’ll have him to you in about an hour. You tell James he owes me big time.”

  “He said to tell you, if you can get him to us before the police pick him up he’ll pay you extra and grill you a steak.”

  “It better be a damn T-bone. Not that cheap shit, either.”

  I hang up the phone and turn on the bedside lamp then throw back the covers. I realize I have a nice warm spot against my left side. Joe’s head pops up and sleepy eyes open. “I gotta go and you can’t go with me. Not this time.” I get out of bed and throw on the same pants I was wearing earlier and pull my dark blonde hair up into a messy ponytail. I need to get my hair cut it tickles my shoulder blades now but I haven’t taken the time to do it.

  “You’re going to have to get in your kennel until I get back. And don’t start that crying crap, okay?”

  I pick him up and walk back into the living room placing him in the kennel to make sure he has plenty of water. I shove my feet down into my boots and quickly lace them up. Then I grab my keys off the hook hanging by the door. I climb into my truck carefully, turn the radio on louder than usual and roll down the window for a few miles to help wake myself up. The twenty minute drive isn’t so bad on the deserted streets. When I pull up in front of Jimmy’s it’s a little after two. There are two men standing out front smoking cigarettes and talking. I pull out my phone to call Jimmy when a text pops up on my screen from Heath. “Willow, let this one go.”

  I look over my shoulders both ways until I spot an unmarked police vehicle parked up the street a ways in the dark. I text him back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m here to have a whiskey.”


  “Please. New boss. I know you’re lying. Don’t interfere and if you’re not lying don’t drink tonight. Just go.”

  Well shit. What have you done Tiny? I sit another minute contemplating what to do. The taillights on the unmarked SUV light up the dim street then the headlights. I watch as it begins to pull up the street slowly until it comes to a stop right behind me. I stare into my rearview mirror watching the two men. One I recognize. It’s Heath. The other must be the new boss. The driver door opens and out steps a large framed man. He’s wearing blue jeans and a dark polo shirt. I can’t really make out what all is hanging around his waist until the streetlight catches his badge. I can tell by his swagger that he’s an arrogant son- of-a-bitch and I can already smell the bullshit he’s about to spew. I bite the inside of my left cheek and watch as he walks with authority to my window. He knocks twice with the back of his fingers. I hit the button on my truck for the ignition and lower my window a little.

  His southern twang is different than the normal around here. It’s thicker and slower. “Evening. You’re out mighty late this evening, aren’t you?”

  “Or, I’m up really early. It’s all in how you look at it. I find perception is important.”

  He seems to be thinking about what I said or choosing his words carefully because there’s a long pause before he replies. “Officer Heath said I needed to meet you sometime… when I had the chance. I’d already heard stories. You have quite the reputation around the station. I told him why waste this opportunity? There’s no time like the present.” He places his hand on my truck and leans against it. I know it’s so he can see me better but in turn I can see him better too and it’s hard not to notice the flexed chiseled muscles holding him up. I turn my head back like I’m looking out the windshield but glance in my rearview mirror. Heath is shaking his head back and forth warning me to not do anything stupid. I lower the window all the way down and smile returning all the bullshit charm he’s feeding me. I stick my hand out the window and using the sweetest tone possible, “It’s nice to meet you Officer…?”

  His hand envelops mine. I know he’s shaking it firmly on purpose for intimidation but what he doesn’t know is that I don’t intimidate easily. “Oh there’s no need in titles. Just call me Wade. You know, like you would a friend.”

  “Well Wade. I’m Willow and I was just about to go into Jimmy’s and have a whiskey. Would you and Heath like to join me?”

  “No ma’am. Not tonight. I hate to spoil your plans on this fine morning but it’s now after two a.m. and it’s against the law to serve alcohol to patrons after two.”

  I pull my hand away and look back at the clock like I didn’t know it was after two. I notice his southern twang is making mine more pronounced. “You know what? You’re right. I’ve had such a shit day. I guess I didn’t even consider the time. I sure am glad I made a new friend who has just stopped me from almost breaking the law.”

  He half grins and dips his head bidding me goodbye. As he turns he stops and comes back. “Maybe we can have that drink another time. You have a good night, Ms. Matthews.”

  What the fuck? How’d he know my last name? Heath and I are going to have a talk. You don’t tell everything you know about somebody. Damn Heath. I watch him in my side mirror walk away as I crank my truck. Great ass. Too bad it’s attached to jackass. I pull out and drive down the street several blocks out of my way then take a right and another right. I call Jimmy’s Bar. “Jimmy’s, we’re closed.”

  “Hey Jimmy, it’s me Willow.”

  “He’s still here but he’s pretty bad. I’ve been watering down his shots. I don’t think he’ll go without a problem.”

  “Look, I’m going to pull up out back and try to get Tiny to go with me. You’ve got cops staked out front waiting for him, I’m guessing. I’ll come up with something. You just got to go with me on it, okay?”

  “Shit. I don’t need no trouble with the law. They’ve sent the ABC board in here three times this month already.”

  “Good thing all your customers are regulars, huh.”

  “Yeah. I’d be closed down with fines out my ass.”

  “Okay, I just pulled up. Come let me in.”

  The phone goes dead. I leave my truck running and hop down out of it. I look down the long alley for any indication of the police and don’t see any. Why would they not be watching the back if they want him so bad? When I reach the back door an employee I don’t know opens it to let me in. I glance at the back of a man stooped over placing beer mugs in the dishwasher. I’ve been here hundreds of times over the years but I’ve never come in through the back. I continue around the corner until I reach a swinging door and glance through the small window making sure it’s where I need to be and push on it. It leads out to behind the bar. I’ve also been here ‘til closing time but I leave before everybody has left so seeing the bar empty and quiet like this, is another first for me. Jimmy is leaning against the bar wearing his usual red plaid button up and jeans looking out across the room. I turn and look out over the room also. There sits Tiny. All four hundred pounds of him. He looks terrible. Greasy hair. Unshaven. Clothes are a mess. He’s hunched over and seems to be staring down into an empty beer mug. I nod at Jimmy and walk out from behind the counter. I immediately notice the wad of cash hanging out of his back pocket. There’s another one pressed down by his belly in his front pocket. I place my hand on his shoulder. “Hey, Tiny.” His eyes cut up from the glass and it takes him too long for it to register who I am. “It’s me Willow.” He smiles and he’s missing his two front teeth. I decide against asking what happened to his front teeth. I don’t want to set him off. “Hey Jimmy and me are going to Tootsies out on the county line. Do you want to go with us?”

  Jimmy speaks up from behind me. “Yeah, Tiny lets go have us a beer. Maybe find us a honey or two to look at.”

  Tiny stammers his slurred words. “I’ll… buys us ten.”

  “Let me grab my keys,” Jimmy says as he walks away.

  “Hey, we can take my truck I’m parked out back!” I yell at him as he disappears into the back of the bar.

  Tiny stands and sways back and forth. I wrap my arm around his back and my head comes right to his smelly arm pit. James you owe me huge for this! We walk through the bar and I have to work hard to help support his drunken weight when he sways as he walks. Thankfully we make it out the back to my truck with no problems. I open the back door and his foot slips down off the running board several times, one time pinning me between him and the door. Jimmy helps me get out and then takes my place helping him climb into the truck. “Put your seatbelt on,” Jimmy tells Tiny as he shuts the door.

  “Do you mind riding with me over to James’ place?”

  He blows out a long breath while rubbing the back of his neck. “He’s going to lose his shit when we go anywhere besides Tootsies.”

  “I’m hoping he’ll pass out by the time we get there.”

  “You have to take him to the police station, too?”

  “No, just to James’. I guess they’re going to turn him in. Brandy said James needed to talk to him first.”

  “What’s he in trouble for now?”

  “No clue but I’m almost afraid he robbed a bank or something with him having that much cash.”

  “You know what. Let’s not speculate. The less we know the better.”

  “You got that right.”

  We both climb into the front seat of my truck. I now have to decide if I should pull forward and risk being seen by the ass or back all the way down the alley into the street. I put the truck in reverse and back down the alley careful to miss all the dumpsters. I mouth “police” to Jimmy and he nods in understanding.

  Jimmy and I chat like nothing is wrong and we’re on our way to Tootsie’s whore house on County Road 75. If Tiny had given much thought as to why I’d have a need to go to Tootsie’s I doubt he would’ve been so willing to go with me. When we pull to a stop light I send a text to Brandy and ask her if I bring him
to their house or to the office. She texts back ‘house,’ which causes an unsettled feeling to float about in my stomach. They better not be helping him run. I turn off the main road into the maze of subdivisions, cookie cutter homes all the same exact style just different colors. Jimmy looks back over his shoulder to Tiny who hasn’t said a word. I adjust my rearview mirror so I can see him and his eyes are open but he seems to be asleep. Actually he looks dead. “Jimmy, can you tell if he’s breathing?”

  “Yeah, but something isn’t right.”

  Tiny sits straight up and begins howling and beating his chest like an animal. I can see Brandy’s driveway and I’m elated when she has the garage door open and waiting for me. I gun it the rest of the way and pull in. My big truck isn’t made for this type garage with all the stuff lining the walls too but I make it fit. I’m bouncing up and down in my seat because Tiny is now bouncing and continues to howl.

  “What the fuck is he doing?” Jimmy yells.

  As soon as I get the truck into park, I jump out and Jimmy is out the passenger door. I point and shriek, “Hit the button to close the garage door!” Brandy comes into the garage with an anxious look on her face. Jimmy slaps the button on the wall and the door begins to lower but it stops against the bumper of my truck. Tiny is still acting like a complete lunatic. “You traitor, you liar,” are only some of the words I can make out that he’s screaming.

  “Brandy, he’s going to have a heart attack. You’re going to have to calm him down.”

  “I don’t know what to do. James normally deals with him.”

  Sudden silence falls over the garage. I try to look into the back seat from where I am but I can’t see anything. I whisper to Jimmy, “Open the back door on that side and see if you can see anything.”

  He shoots me a dirty look then opens the back door and says quietly, “Tiny…. Hey, Tiny, are you okay?” He looks over the hood at me. “He’s out of it again.”