“You’re Tammy, right?”
She didn’t answer.
The kid stared at him. His eyes matched the ocean.
“Hudson’s niece?” Jayden said.
“Who are you?”
“Jayden. Hudson’s buddy.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip and studied him.
“Hudson’s busy, and he asked me to meet you here with the key to his place.”
She was a head shorter than him, her shoulders narrow and her neck slender. A fading violet circle beneath her left eye gave away the fact she’d had a shiner a week or so ago. Jayden was huge standing next to her, and for the first time ever, he felt bad for his intimidating size and appearance.
He smiled, hoping to take some of the fear from her eyes. “C’mon, there’s no mistake. The place is ready for you and…” He looked at the boy. “And this little guy, whose name is?”
“Zak.” The kid’s attention went to Jayden’s right arm. He had a full sleeve, a collage of wolves, snakes, dragons, and winding vines over tombstones.
“Zak. Cool name, and you look like a cool kid.” Jayden squatted down. “Who is this?” He touched the floppy ear on the soft toy Zak was holding tight.
“Bilbo.” Zak’s two front teeth were missing, his new adult ones just starting to peek through his gum. “He’s a rabbit.”
“Yeah, so he is. You and Bilbo wanna see your new house?”
Zak nodded.
“If I could just have the key,” Tammy said then swallowed, or rather gulped. “Please.”
“Sure, but it’s in the house, and Hudson gave meinstructions to make sure you’re good with everything.”
“I’m sure it will be fine.”
“Let’s see, shall we?” He stood and stepped around her. “Come on, this way.”
He heard her following, and within a few seconds, climbing the steps behind him.
He took a slurp of his coffee and then nodded at the door. “Go in, take a look.”
Once again, she glanced around, checking the long street left to right.
“Ain’t no one hanging about but locals,” he said. “And it’s a nice area, you’re cool here.”
She didn’t answer, and she looked anything but cool. He figured if he so much as sneezed she’d take off like a startled deer.
“You got anything else with you?” he asked. “Suitcase?”
“No.” She paused. “We left in a hurry.”
“We had to.” Zak turned his mouth into an exaggerated upside-down smile. “Before he woke up.”
“Before who woke up?” Jayden knew the answer but wondered how much of the shitshow Zak had witnessed.
“Daddy,” Zak said, “He was angry before he went to bed, and usually he’s angry when he wakes up too.”
“Zak.” Tammy ruffled his hair. “Enough now.”