Page 24 of His Other Half

Chapter 10

Josie

At exactly noon, thephone rang. Josie hurried across the office and plopped down in the chair, picking up the receiver.

"Hello, this is Banks' Body Shop. How can I help you?"

"It's me," said Cami.

Josie relaxed. She was hoping Cami would call as she'd promised.

She looked around to make sure nobody had walked into the office. "How is your day going?"

"Easier than I expected. It feels good to be here." Cami paused. "I like having others around."

After a month since the kidnapping, Cami had decided to apply for a new job—knowing she couldn't go back to working at the community library without answering questions surrounding her absence. At the same time, Curley from Tarkio Motorcycle Club had come to the apartment to check up on her and mentioned Lainier's Towing company needed someone to work in the office because their current employee had decided to stay home with her children.

As Josie pulled up to her apartment after work on Friday, Cami had opened her door as if waiting for her to arrive. She'd never seen Cami so happy. She believed it was because the company was owned by Tarkio members, and after her rescue, she'd come to idolize them. They made her feel safe.

"That's great. Is the work hard?" she asked.

"No. I pretty much know how to do everything, except deal with the insurance companies and use the radio. I keep messing that up, but so far, everyone has been patient with me."

"It's only your first day. You'll learn."

"I hope so."

"Have you had lunch?" she asked.

"I'm eating at my desk now."

Josie smiled. Cami continued to take care of herself for the baby's sake. Her friend was stronger than she knew.

"How about you? Don't you have an hour lunch right now?"

"Yes." She looked over at the window into the garage. "I'm going to stay here and get something out of the vending machine."

"Gross."

She laughed. "It's not bad. I have a craving for junk food."

"I better let you go. I don't want to get caught making personal calls, even if it is my lunch break."

"I'll pick you up a little after five o'clock, okay?" After getting a reply, she said, "Bye."

Hanging up the phone, she swallowed her worries and concentrated on her happiness. Things were going to work out for Cami, and that's all she wanted for her friend.

Since they worked the same hours and only a mile apart, they decided to carpool each day, so neither one had to drive home alone after work. Right now, with it staying lighter later in the day, it was okay if one of them had to make the drive alone. But by the end of the year, it got dark early and made them both nervous. It was better to use the buddy system.

She watched Chrischris throw an air tool across the garage. The music from outside filtered into the office. All the men were booked solid all day with vehicle repairs.

Needing something in her stomach to keep it from growling, she collected the coins from the bottom of her purse and walked out of the office. In the garage, she went straight to the vending machine on the far wall.

Not often had she resorted to eating junk food for lunch. Usually, she packed a bag with a few items or drove back to the apartment to make her a quick meal, but since the kidnapping, she'd made sure to stay around other people and be aware of not letting herself be alone.

But, that morning, she'd overslept after waiting up late into the night for Paco to return again.

He never came back to her apartment after the first time. Just like he never stopped in at work to see his friends. She was starting to think she'd dreamed the whole night, and he really was Thunder Bird.