Jobe: Alvarez Security Series Read Online Free PDF Page A

with a somewhat garbled greeting.
    “Hey, I just wanted to make sure you were all right.”
    “Uh huh,” came the reply.
    “I’m going to meet a friend after lunch and then I’ll be home. Is the nurse still able to stay a little later?”
    “Yasss.”
    “Okay, mom. I love you and I’ll be home as soon as I can. Text me if you need.”
    “Los ya ta,” her mom said, working on trying to pronounce the words clearly. It did not matter how she said them. Mackenna knew her mother loved her. The stroke may have robbed her mother of much of her speech and movement on one side of her body, but that was all. The survival instinct was strong and passed on from mother to daughter.
    Just then her phone vibrating interrupted her thoughts. Looking to see the caller, she answered happily.
    “Hey, Jennifer! Are we still on for an early dinner?”
    “Absolutely. I’ve been looking forward to this. I can’t wait to hear how your center is going.”
    Making arrangements to meet, Mackenna hung up and powered down her laptop. Standing, she headed to the front room.
    “How’s it going?” she asked the computer teacher.
    Rose smiled at her and nodded at the three women hard at work. “They’re doing great. We’ve covered most of the basics and by next week should start with the most complicated reports and spreadsheets that they would need to know how to manage. In fact, I told Jerika that I think she’s almost ready to have a job interview soon.”
    Mackenna’s gaze found the smiling girl and walked over to give her a hug. “Fabulous! We’ll make sure to train you on interviewing as well as helping you with your resume first. And before you start actually meeting with prospective employers, we’ll get some business clothes for you.”
    Jerika returned the hug with tears in her eyes. “Oh my God, thank you. This’ll make all the difference in the world.”
    “A good job will help you transition out of New Beginnings and into your own place,” Mackenna reminded her. The smile on the young woman’s face was priceless.
    Looking up at Rose, she said, “Okay, I’m heading out. Got a friend I’m meeting for early dinner. I probably won’t be in tomorrow. I’ve got a staff meeting at DSS.”
    Waving goodbye, she stepped out into the bright sunlight and glanced up and down the street. A low-riding car with darkened windows drove slowly down the road. She stood there defensively as she watched it stop for just a few seconds in front of the building and then move on. Seething, she called Little John, her night watchman.
    “Hey girl,” he answered jovially.
    “Hey back. Listen, I’m out front and that same car is driving by and I’m positive it’s probably one of the gangs just wanting me to feel threatened.”
    “Now girl, don’t you go gettin’ all riled up. You can’t fight those fuckers alone.”
    “I don’t plan on fighting them, Little John, but honest to God, if they come back then I’m going after them.”
    “Oh Lordy, protect those fuckers when you get mad. Only you know they don’t fight fair and they carry guns. So you gotta promise me, you’ll leave them alone.”
    She heard the worried tone in his voice and assured him she was leaving. “Just make sure you lock up really good tonight when you go on duty and I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
    Looking up and down the road again seeing nothing but quiet, she walked to her car and drove to the little restaurant to meet with her friend.
    *
    “Mac, I love what you’re accomplishing,” Jennifer enthused as the warm, melted mozzarella strung out from her fingers to her mouth. They had met at a little Italian eatery and decided to splurge on the appetizers. Jennifer Malloy was a fellow social worker for the Department of Social Services and handled an elder care center that provided low-cost housing for a group of elderly residents. Mackenna stared at the petite, blonde beauty in front of her, giggling at how much she could eat and stay so