Not in the Heart

Not in the Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

Book: Not in the Heart Read Online Free PDF
Author: Chris Fabry
Tags: Fiction - General, FICTION / Christian / General
chuckle that sounded like it emanated from somewhere deep. “I’ll just bet you can be.”
    â€œI wasn’t exactly civil to you, either,” I said.
    She turned left and we headed toward a part of town I tried to avoid, with storefronts boarded up and bars on the windows. People made a vain effort to stay in the shade as the sun rose higher and the streets below heated to blistering.
    â€œEver had a car repossessed before?” she said.
    â€œHappy to say this is my first time.”
    â€œWell, the bad news is, you’ve lost those four wheels, but the stuff inside is still your property. They can’t take that away. Surprises me that they’d tow it if they saw an animal inside.”
    â€œThey probably didn’t see it. I left her cage behind the front seat and draped my shirt over the top to keep the sun from being directly on her. If I happened to sleep in.”
    She pursed her lips. “You should have set your alarm.”
    â€œYeah, I can see that.”
    â€œWell, if we can find it, they’ll probably let you take—look there. We’re in business.”
    My BMW was making a wide left turn into a chain-linked lot that looked like something out of a postapocalyptic movie. It made the term junkyard seem upscale. Oleta did a U-turn and parked on the street in front of the office and accompanied me inside.
    The girl behind the desk didn’t recognize her, but someone from deep inside the building let out a screech. “Oleeeeeta! What are you doing here, girl?”
    The two made small talk and I stood behind her, watching out the window as a bearded man in dirty coveralls unhooked the car. When I pulled out my keys, Oleta snapped her fingers and gave me a mama bear look. “You stay right where you are.”
    It is not in my nature to wait. Making things happen is a specialty, whether it’s tracking down a news source or getting past people whose job it is to keep me away from the interview. But I watched the man loosen the chains from the flatbed trailer and open my front door. Seconds later he came toward the office with the shirt-draped cat carrier.
    â€œGet me some water—I think I got a dehydrated cat,” he said with a thick drawl.
    â€œWhat kind of fool would leave a cat shut up in a car like that?” the woman behind the desk said.
    Oleta pointed at me. “That’s him. But don’t judge him too quick. We spent the last thirty minutes trying to catch up with you.”
    The man looked at me. “I never take a vehicle with an animal in it. I didn’t know.”
    I nodded. “I believe you. Does that mean I get the car back?”
    He smiled through yellowing teeth, some darkened, some gone. “Sorry, not my call.”
    Oleta ran interference and I took Murrow, the laptop, and my big suitcase. We got back in the Town Car and drove away. Instead of taking me to her real estate office, she made a turn and we wound up in front of Tallahassee General.
    â€œI can’t go here,” I said.
    â€œSure you can. Your son’s up there.”
    â€œYou don’t understand.”
    â€œWell, I understand that I’m late for work and I can’t loan you my car. Go see your wife and son.”
    I opened the door and grabbed Murrow’s cage.
    â€œLeave her with me,” she said. “There’s a PetSmart near the office. I’ll get her some food and water and a litter box. You don’t need to carry cat dander into the ICU.”
    Murrow seemed more irritated than anything. For some reason letting her go with a stranger felt cruel, but maybe it was just me trying to hang on to what I couldn’t keep.
    â€œAll right. That would help a lot. I’ll be around to pick her up when I get a car.”
    â€œTake this.” She handed me the Piggly Wiggly bag and wrote her phone number and address on the side. “You could look through some of the material in the meantime.”
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