you’ll get your parts. I can’t give you what I don’t have,” the voice shouted.
Grant tried to slip closer so he could get a look at the speaker, but his bionics chose that moment to creak.
“Hey! Who’s out there? Can’t you read? We’re closed.”
A guy Grant could only assume was his cousin Greg came out of the back room holding a cell phone and looking pissed off. He was probably only a few inches shorter than Grant, but he was at least fifty pounds skinnier. His hair was dishwater blond and long enough to be pulled back into a scraggly ponytail. Grant hadn’t seen his cousin for more than an hour or two since he’d left for basic ten years ago. The years hadn’t been kind to Greg.
“Who the fuck are you?”
“Your cousin.”
“Grant? Shit, when’d you get so jacked? I didn’t even recognize you. I thought you lost your leg?”
“I did, but only below the knee. How ya doin’?” Grant held out his hand and noted Greg had to wipe his palm on his jeans before he shook hands. Before Grant could ask why the door was locked, his mom came in.
“Aunt Sue? What are you doing here?”
“Hi, dear. Grant just moved back to town, and I wanted to bring him down so he could help you out at the store. I know I haven’t been much help since Ed got sick and I feel just terrible about that.”
“Help out? I don’t know—”
“How’s your momma? She sent a beautiful fruit basket when Ed was in the rehab hospital.”
“She’s fine, likes living in Florida with her sister.”
“That’s great. I know how lonely she was after Tom passed. It’s good to have her family around. Where’s Anita, by the way? Why are you all by yourself?”
“Uh, Aunt Sue, there’s a lot that’s happened since Uncle Ed got sick. I haven’t wanted to bother you with all the details.”
“I’m here now, so you can bother me with those details,” Grant said. Ellie’s bad feeling seemed quite accurate. There was something shady going on with Greg. He wouldn’t make eye contact with either Grant or his mom, he kept shifting his weight from foot to foot and his free hand rubbed his nose constantly. It didn’t take a genius to recognize the nervous tells.
“Well, you know that new big chain auto parts store opened up in Strasburg, and we can’t compete with their prices, so business has trailed off. I had to let Anita go and I’ve been running the store myself.”
“Oh, honey, why didn’t you say something? I could have helped out,” Sue said.
“You had enough on your mind with Uncle Ed. I didn’t want to worry you. How’s he doing, by the way? Is he still paralyzed?”
“Only on one side, and that’s coming along. Just yesterday he lifted his arm. And this morning, I swear his mouth moved more when he smiled. If he keeps working, who knows how much movement he can regain?”
“That’s great,” Greg said.
“So what can I do to help out around here?” Grant asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve got things pretty much covered. As you can see, we’re not overrun with customers.”
“That could have something to do with the out-to-lunch sign out front. Why don’t I take a look at the books? I bet it’s hard to keep up with the paperwork and run the store by yourself too.”
“Ah, I gave the paperwork to a friend who’s working on the books.”
“But you must have backups on your computer.”
“Wait, what do you mean?” Sue interrupted. “Ellie’s our accountant. Why would you give the paperwork to your friend?”
“I was just trying to cut costs. He’ll do it for a lot less than Ellie.”
“But Ellie’s been doing our books since she graduated college. She got our inventory computerized and set up our online catalogue too. She does more than just keep our books organized.”
“With all due respect, Aunt Sue, I know this is hard on you, but if I’m going to take over the store, I need to be able to do it without you looking over my shoulder and second-guessing every change I
Grant tried to slip closer so he could get a look at the speaker, but his bionics chose that moment to creak.
“Hey! Who’s out there? Can’t you read? We’re closed.”
A guy Grant could only assume was his cousin Greg came out of the back room holding a cell phone and looking pissed off. He was probably only a few inches shorter than Grant, but he was at least fifty pounds skinnier. His hair was dishwater blond and long enough to be pulled back into a scraggly ponytail. Grant hadn’t seen his cousin for more than an hour or two since he’d left for basic ten years ago. The years hadn’t been kind to Greg.
“Who the fuck are you?”
“Your cousin.”
“Grant? Shit, when’d you get so jacked? I didn’t even recognize you. I thought you lost your leg?”
“I did, but only below the knee. How ya doin’?” Grant held out his hand and noted Greg had to wipe his palm on his jeans before he shook hands. Before Grant could ask why the door was locked, his mom came in.
“Aunt Sue? What are you doing here?”
“Hi, dear. Grant just moved back to town, and I wanted to bring him down so he could help you out at the store. I know I haven’t been much help since Ed got sick and I feel just terrible about that.”
“Help out? I don’t know—”
“How’s your momma? She sent a beautiful fruit basket when Ed was in the rehab hospital.”
“She’s fine, likes living in Florida with her sister.”
“That’s great. I know how lonely she was after Tom passed. It’s good to have her family around. Where’s Anita, by the way? Why are you all by yourself?”
“Uh, Aunt Sue, there’s a lot that’s happened since Uncle Ed got sick. I haven’t wanted to bother you with all the details.”
“I’m here now, so you can bother me with those details,” Grant said. Ellie’s bad feeling seemed quite accurate. There was something shady going on with Greg. He wouldn’t make eye contact with either Grant or his mom, he kept shifting his weight from foot to foot and his free hand rubbed his nose constantly. It didn’t take a genius to recognize the nervous tells.
“Well, you know that new big chain auto parts store opened up in Strasburg, and we can’t compete with their prices, so business has trailed off. I had to let Anita go and I’ve been running the store myself.”
“Oh, honey, why didn’t you say something? I could have helped out,” Sue said.
“You had enough on your mind with Uncle Ed. I didn’t want to worry you. How’s he doing, by the way? Is he still paralyzed?”
“Only on one side, and that’s coming along. Just yesterday he lifted his arm. And this morning, I swear his mouth moved more when he smiled. If he keeps working, who knows how much movement he can regain?”
“That’s great,” Greg said.
“So what can I do to help out around here?” Grant asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve got things pretty much covered. As you can see, we’re not overrun with customers.”
“That could have something to do with the out-to-lunch sign out front. Why don’t I take a look at the books? I bet it’s hard to keep up with the paperwork and run the store by yourself too.”
“Ah, I gave the paperwork to a friend who’s working on the books.”
“But you must have backups on your computer.”
“Wait, what do you mean?” Sue interrupted. “Ellie’s our accountant. Why would you give the paperwork to your friend?”
“I was just trying to cut costs. He’ll do it for a lot less than Ellie.”
“But Ellie’s been doing our books since she graduated college. She got our inventory computerized and set up our online catalogue too. She does more than just keep our books organized.”
“With all due respect, Aunt Sue, I know this is hard on you, but if I’m going to take over the store, I need to be able to do it without you looking over my shoulder and second-guessing every change I
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