Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 68538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
I looked at the sign that read ‘Chief Parking Only, Violators Will Be Towed.’
That was most definitely new.
“Fuck yeah it is,” I fisted my hands, walking up to where the concrete dust, dirt, and metal shavings still lay on the ground where the pole was set. “Looks like today new.”
I pulled out my phone as I said, “Come on over to my truck. We’ll sit there while I find out where your car was taken.”
I knew every impound and towing company in the city. But there were only two that the city used on a regular basis, and I happened to be great friends with both owners.
I tried Hail Towing and Recovery first.
Hail was fairly new in town—the last two years new. Previously, it was based in Kilgore, Texas, which was about a two-hour drive from Dallas. However, at a SWAT team function, I’d met a friend of Dante’s, the owner of Hail Auto Recovery, and he’d put me in touch with Dante about a matter that had come up. We’d hit it off, and I’d encouraged him to expand to Dallas.
That was two years ago, and his business was thriving. I’d even helped the board to start fielding all of the DPD’s calls to Hail Auto Recovery because of how professional, responsive, and good he was.
“Hail,” Dante answered, sounding not tired in the least.
“Hey, buddy,” I said. “It’s Auden.”
“Auden, hey. How’s it going?” he asked, sounding more approachable now that he knew it was me.
I nearly rolled my eyes.
The man didn’t save numbers into his phone, and it was a surprise to him each time someone called as to who it was on the other end of the line.
“I have a car I’m looking for,” I said. “It went missing from the DPD parking lot after the chief decided to put up a no parking sign.”
“I’m not at the office today, I’m at the Special Olympics field day with my daughter. I’ll call dispatch, though, and have them give you a call,” Dante offered.
“Thanks, man,” I said as I got to my truck, unlocked it, and opened the door for Maven.
Maven climbed in, and my eyes automatically went to her ass as she hefted herself into my truck.
“No problem.” Dante hung up without a goodbye.
Again, his usual.
“You know all the towing companies in the area?” she asked as she settled into the seat.
I leaned my hip against the frame as I said, “You wouldn’t believe the number of cars we have to have towed.”
She wouldn’t, either.
With wrecks, illegal parking, and arrests, I used a towing company at least four times a shift.
But before I could tell her any of that, my phone rang again and I answered it.
“Carter,” I greeted the unknown person.
“Hey, Auden, it’s Travis Hail,” Travis greeted me.
“Hey, Trav. How’s it going?” I asked, absently reaching for the string that had loosened on the hem of Maven’s cut-off shorts.
Goosebumps broke out on her leg as my knuckles brushed the skin on the outside of her thigh.
“It’s going good,” he said. “Dante told me that you were looking for a car. I looked up all the ones we towed from the police department parking lot and found only one. An SUV.”
I blew out a breath. “Yeah, that’s the one I’m looking for. A red Grand Cherokee?”
“That’s it,” he said. “But since I was the one who did the tow, and I didn’t get a good vibe on the chief of police putting up a fuckin’ sign and then getting pissed when someone was already parked there, I towed it to the woman’s house who it was registered to.”
A grin split my lips. “Awesome. Yeah, it’s my girl’s car. And long story short, she was parked in the same exact spot I’d been parked in before she’d gotten there. She delivered a bunch of baked goods for the department and left her vehicle there while we went fishing. Chief’s her dad and has a vendetta against her.”
“Sounds like an asshole move,” Travis said. “Anyway, I have to get back home. I’m only covering up here because the manager is sick with the stomach bug. Like I said, dropped the car off at her house. I put it in her driveway. Cute place, by the way.”
“Thanks, brother. I appreciate all your help,” I said.
Travis said, “Welcome,” and hung up just like his brother had.
I rolled my eyes, then shoved my phone back into my pocket.
“Your car was towed to your house,” I said. “Travis got a shit feeling from your dad when he saw the sign being put in. Decided to tow it to your place and not the impound yard.”
Maven’s shoulders deflated. “Good. That’s one less thing I have to worry about this weekend.”
I fingered a lock of hair—a big curl—and said, “Your hair’s falling out of your ponytail.”
She pushed it out of her face, and her cheeks went pink. “I sleep hard.”