Characters: Toby, Jenna and Garrett
TOBY
It was a hot day on the site. Like most of the guys, I had already removed my shirt but the sweat still dripped down my back. Jamming the pick I was using into the ground I straightened my back and wiped away the perspiration dripping into my eyes. Just as I went to pick up the pick again a sleep, black car pulled up across the road. I squinted into the sun, trying to see the two people emerging from the car. I didn't need to see; I would have recognised the tap tap of Jenna's stick anywhere. It was pathetic but the sound of it made me shiver.
The second person in the car moved around from the driver's side.
Garrett.
Carefully I moved slightly to the left, so I was partially blocked by a truck. I watched frowning as Garrett led Jenna to the door of the house next door to our site.
What were they doing here?
Garrett rang the doorbell and they waited. Jenna said something and Garrett lent in closer to hear her before nodding seriously. I couldn't see the door open but suddenly they both looked up. Garrett smiled and held out his hand. I shifted a little further around to see who he was greeting.
I was not expecting to see what I did. The smallest, frailest looking elderly lady was standing there, squinting at them through thick spectacles. She seemed to recognised them suddenly but didn't show any sign of liking who she saw. Grumpily she turned and waved at them to follow her into the house. Garrett led Jenna inside before turning to close the door. He looked up and down the street quickly. As his gaze moved towards the site I ducked down behind the truck.
When I stuck my head up again the door was closed and all was quiet.
From the other side of the site my boss gave me a shout. Waving acknowledgment at him I returned to my pick and reluctantly began to work, though I kept one eye and one ear on the house next door.
Quite a while later I was still at work on my patch of stone when I heard the creak of the front door opening again. Quickly I turned to my boss, who was looking at some plans behind me.
"Hey boss, mind if I take a quick smoke break?"
He studied me questioningly. Both he and I knew that I didn't smoke.
"Sure thing kid," he said eventually, shrugging.
Quickly I dropped my pick and moved towards a truck at the edge of the site. Just as I moved closer both Garrett and Jenna emerged from inside the house and stepped out onto the porch. Jenna tapped her way down the steps, shaking off Garrett's touch as he offered to help her. He frowned and turned back to the elderly woman who remained in the doorway.
"Thank-you for your help Mam" he called to her.
Jenna stopped and turned back towards the woman. Creepily the way her head was turned her face was staring straight at me. She was so close I could see my silhouette reflected in her glasses.
"Just remember our deal," she called clearly and coldly to the woman.
"You two just be careful who you battle with. Some people don't respond so well to blackmail," she called back before turning inside and shutting the door firmly behind her.
Just as Garrett and Jenna went to continue walking down the path one of the guys on the site behind me loudly called out my name.
Instantly Jenna's head whipped back to my direction and I saw her urgently talking to Garrett. I ducked down behind the truck just as Garrett began to turn in my direction too.
Breathing heavily I flattened myself against the side of the truck and waited to see what would happen.
One of the builders nearby was watching my peculiar behaviour. Suddenly he turned towards the guy who had shouted my name and shouted back a response. Sighing in relief peered over the edge of the truck. Garrett leaned in and said something to Jenna. She nodded and turned away, tapping away down the path. I turned back to the guy who had saved me. I smiled gratefully at him and he responded with an understanding wink.
I had no idea what transaction I had just witnessed between Jenna, Garrett and the old lady but it was important. Now I couldn't wait for my shift to end. I needed to tell Spencer what I had seen.