CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Talon loaded the finished cabinet into the back of his truck and locked up his shed. He had been working in his shed the whole afternoon, but he kept thinking of Bianca. He’d called the diner twice and Carly had assured him that Bianca was doing well. “She’s awesome!” Carly had enthused. “You should have found her earlier, Talon!”
He told Carly that he would pick Bianca up at closing time and tried to focus on his work. He just couldn’t wait to see Bianca at the end of the day. He wanted to hear her voice and see the smile on her face. Already the house felt so empty without her.
Talon drove to town and made his way to Yaya’s house. He parked right in front of Yaya’s overgrown yard and began to unload the cabinet from his truck. The thorny branches and vines quivered and seemed to be moving even though the air was perfectly still. The lengthening shadows made those twisting vines look ominous and forbidding.
The tall, gnarled plants hid Yaya’s house from view but Talon heard a door creak open. The next instant, Boris came bounding over the wall of spiky branches in a single leap.
“Here’s the cabinet,” Talon said.
Boris leaned over and Talon took the envelope that was tied to his handle. He counted the cash in the envelope and nodded. Yaya always paid promptly and in full upon delivery.
Talon watched Boris balance the cabinet on his handle. Boris waggled his bristles at Talon and flew over the tall, twisting plants. The broomstick would get the cabinet indoors to Yaya.
Talon was about to get back in his truck when he saw the plants in Yaya’s garden pull apart. Boris was furiously sweeping something round and green towards the curb.
Talon held his breath when he saw the small green frog rolling towards him. The frog was curled into a tight ball and was rolling and bouncing down the sidewalk.
The broomstick jiggled and took aim. Boris swung himself like a golf club and smacked the hapless frog right at Talon.
Talon’s reflexes were quick. He stretched out his huge hand like a catcher’s mitt and gasped when his fingers closed around a scrawny arm.
The frog had turned back into the wild-eyed ruffian.
The thug yelped and tugged himself free from Talon’s grasp. He glanced fearfully over his shoulder at Boris. “Get that broomstick away from me!” he shrieked.
“Calm down,” Talon said. Boris had already disappeared back into the house. “What’s your name?”
“Lucien Wickam.”
Talon glanced at Lucien’s bare feet and saw that he had all his toes. He looked the young man over and didn’t see any injuries.
“What happened in there, Lucien?” Talon asked. Lucien seemed to have all his body parts with him, but…
“It was awful!” Lucien wailed.
“What was awful?”
“Karaoke!”
“What?” Talon wasn’t sure he’d heard correctly.
“I was locked in a soundproof room with that witch and her broomstick. The witch sang karaoke non-stop and that broomstick wouldn’t let me hide in a corner. That devilish, evil broom kept sweeping me towards the speakers. It was...horrible!” Lucien sobbed.
“That’s all?”
“Isn’t that enough?” Lucien screamed. “I’ll do anything not to go through that again. I’ll turn over a new leaf. I promise!”
“Go get yourself a job,” Talon said. “A big wolf like you should be protecting little old ladies, not preying on them.”
“Y-yes, sir,” Lucien stammered.
Talon watched the traumatized young man scamper away as fast as he could.
As he started the engine, he could hear a terrible noise coming from Yaya’s house. It was Yaya singing karaoke. Outside of her soundproof room.
Talon grimaced.
No wonder Lucien was reduced to a blubbering mess.
Putting the truck into gear, Talon sped away from Yaya’s house and headed towards Sunset Diner.
He couldn’t wait to get Bianca home.