Read Online Untraceable by S. R. Johannes - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: S. R. Johannes
Tags: YA)
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nice to just walk in and buy something off the rack without caring about the price tag. “Sir, it’s a thousand dollars.”
He waves me off and browses through the display of GPS watches. “Okay, go ahead and ring her up.”
“Sir, are you sure? We have other ones that are cheaper. But just as good.” I have no clue why I’m talking this guy out of buying, and my piggy bank out of a large commission.
He frowns. “I said, I’d take it.”
“Okay.” I feel a bit guilty for protesting in the first place. Tommy really needs a big sale. My hands shake as I punch in numbers on the register. This transaction is as much as the store makes in a week. Maybe even a month. I can feel the man staring at me. Without looking up, I recite his total. “That’ll be $1,007.37. Do you want a bag?”
He pulls a wad of cash from his back pocket and counts out ten one-hundred-dollar bills plus a twenty. “Nah, I’ll just take it with me.” The man chuckles as he takes the box. When the receipt pops out the top, he rips off the little piece of paper and turns away from the counter. The whole time whistling the same song that I still can’t name.
I call after him. “Sir, your change?”
He doesn’t even bother to look back. “Keep it. This place needs it more than I do.”
Before I can protest any more, the wooden wind chimes on the front door clap together, announcing his exit. I sit on the stool, staring at the money before dropping it in the donation jar on the counter for Save the Bears.
A few seconds later, Wyn struts up and leans on the counter. “Hey you.”
I can’t help but grin. “What are you doing here?” I look at my watch. There’s no way he could have eaten lunch in thirty minutes. Poor Skyler, she probably had to have her Cobb salad and water all alone. The thought lifts my spirits.
Wyn winks. “I thought I’d stop by to bug you before I head out.”
“Oh, lucky me.” I glance through the window to see if the redneck is still in the street. “Hey, did you see the big dude that walked outta here?”
Wyn thumbs over his shoulder. “The jolly red giant? Yeah, why? Was he bothering you? ‘Cause if he was, I can take care of him.”
I scoff because he isn’t nearly as tough as he talks. I happen to know he’s been afraid of spiders since the first grade. Freaked out every time we watched Charlotte’s Web in class. I snicker. “Oh? And what will you do? Talk him to death?”
“A real man never gives away his fighting strategy.”
I rub my eyes and give a fake yawn. “Of course you don’t. Anyway, the dude just came in here and slapped down a thousand big ones for a really expensive knife. Barely blinked.”
“Must be nice.” Wyn plays with the fishing lure display. It topples over, spreading hooks and flies all over the ground.
I groan. “Smooth move, Slick.” We both bend over to pick up the pointy hazards and almost knock heads.
He doesn’t move back. Instead, he hovers an inch from my face. “Did you ask Tommy about that hill?”
“Sidehill? He’s never heard of it.”
“Want me to ask my connections?”
I put my hand over his face. “If you mean Carl, no. He probably knows it’s in the file, and he’ll wonder why you’re asking.”
“Speaking of file, I put it back already.”
I prick my finger on a hook and suck on the bead of blood. “That was quick.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t want to carry it around town. Captain was out for lunch, so I went for it. Almost got nabbed too. And if I had, don’t think for a second I wouldn’t have taken you down with me.”
I plant a fake punch on his chin. “I know you better than that.”
“I hate it when you’re right.”
“I love it.” I flash him a big smile and return the display to its upright position.
“Well, I’m going to go meet … I mean, I gotta go.” He’s obviously about to meet Skyler and just didn’t want to say the S word.
“Okay.”
He turns around to walk away then glances over his
He waves me off and browses through the display of GPS watches. “Okay, go ahead and ring her up.”
“Sir, are you sure? We have other ones that are cheaper. But just as good.” I have no clue why I’m talking this guy out of buying, and my piggy bank out of a large commission.
He frowns. “I said, I’d take it.”
“Okay.” I feel a bit guilty for protesting in the first place. Tommy really needs a big sale. My hands shake as I punch in numbers on the register. This transaction is as much as the store makes in a week. Maybe even a month. I can feel the man staring at me. Without looking up, I recite his total. “That’ll be $1,007.37. Do you want a bag?”
He pulls a wad of cash from his back pocket and counts out ten one-hundred-dollar bills plus a twenty. “Nah, I’ll just take it with me.” The man chuckles as he takes the box. When the receipt pops out the top, he rips off the little piece of paper and turns away from the counter. The whole time whistling the same song that I still can’t name.
I call after him. “Sir, your change?”
He doesn’t even bother to look back. “Keep it. This place needs it more than I do.”
Before I can protest any more, the wooden wind chimes on the front door clap together, announcing his exit. I sit on the stool, staring at the money before dropping it in the donation jar on the counter for Save the Bears.
A few seconds later, Wyn struts up and leans on the counter. “Hey you.”
I can’t help but grin. “What are you doing here?” I look at my watch. There’s no way he could have eaten lunch in thirty minutes. Poor Skyler, she probably had to have her Cobb salad and water all alone. The thought lifts my spirits.
Wyn winks. “I thought I’d stop by to bug you before I head out.”
“Oh, lucky me.” I glance through the window to see if the redneck is still in the street. “Hey, did you see the big dude that walked outta here?”
Wyn thumbs over his shoulder. “The jolly red giant? Yeah, why? Was he bothering you? ‘Cause if he was, I can take care of him.”
I scoff because he isn’t nearly as tough as he talks. I happen to know he’s been afraid of spiders since the first grade. Freaked out every time we watched Charlotte’s Web in class. I snicker. “Oh? And what will you do? Talk him to death?”
“A real man never gives away his fighting strategy.”
I rub my eyes and give a fake yawn. “Of course you don’t. Anyway, the dude just came in here and slapped down a thousand big ones for a really expensive knife. Barely blinked.”
“Must be nice.” Wyn plays with the fishing lure display. It topples over, spreading hooks and flies all over the ground.
I groan. “Smooth move, Slick.” We both bend over to pick up the pointy hazards and almost knock heads.
He doesn’t move back. Instead, he hovers an inch from my face. “Did you ask Tommy about that hill?”
“Sidehill? He’s never heard of it.”
“Want me to ask my connections?”
I put my hand over his face. “If you mean Carl, no. He probably knows it’s in the file, and he’ll wonder why you’re asking.”
“Speaking of file, I put it back already.”
I prick my finger on a hook and suck on the bead of blood. “That was quick.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t want to carry it around town. Captain was out for lunch, so I went for it. Almost got nabbed too. And if I had, don’t think for a second I wouldn’t have taken you down with me.”
I plant a fake punch on his chin. “I know you better than that.”
“I hate it when you’re right.”
“I love it.” I flash him a big smile and return the display to its upright position.
“Well, I’m going to go meet … I mean, I gotta go.” He’s obviously about to meet Skyler and just didn’t want to say the S word.
“Okay.”
He turns around to walk away then glances over his
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