Part 113

Glenn was confused when they reached the hardware store. The lights were flickering, the door was swinging open on one hinge and glass was broken.

His sister tried to peek around him. "Wait… Lia… I want you to go to the coffee shop down the street." He picked her phone out of her pocket. "Call this number and ask Porsha to come pick you up and bring her dad, okay?"

The golden retriever puppy nodded. "Okay, Glenn."

"Good, go, run!" He watched her run off before going inside the store. "Mom? Dad?" He saw the cash drawer was hanging open. Looking down at the floor, he saw a smear of red and he followed it until he heard a crash in the back. He quickly dove behind the shelves as the office door opened.

Two bull dogs came out wearing mask and gloves, holding weapons and a bag presumably with money from the safe. They were congratulating each other on the score, not even realizing they were being watched and recorded, as they left with an arrogant swagger.

He waited until they were gone and continued his search. He followed the red trail.

———————

With the twins spending the night with Meena, Ash and Tyler decided to go out to eat at one of the local sushi restaurants. "You know, I love them but it does feel good to eat like a grownup again." He chuckled.

She laughed along. "I know. I've had enough pizza and chicken nuggets for a while." She dipped her piece of dragon roll into her soy sauce. She bit her lip. "I'm sorry…" At his questioning glance, she continued. "For my parents, for the disruption they've caused. I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "There's no reason to apologize for that, Ash. It's not your fault." He reached across the table to squeeze her hand. He bit his lip, wondering how to start the conversation. "Isn't it odd. How two people can know each other for less then a year, yet… it can feel like so much longer."

She nodded. "I know. I feel like I've known you all my life. You know more about me then my friends all know." Ash drank her saké.

———————

At the Green Household, Suki carved a small chicken. "I've never done a whole chicken before." She admitted. "But Rosita gave me this recipe for beer can chicken and it sounded so good."

Nooshy took a deep breath. "It smells great, Big Mama." She accepted a drumstick and a thigh and piled a heap of rice and a few spoonfuls of the candied carrots.

Porsha dug into her breast. "It's really good." She said as her phone rang. "Porsha speaking…"

Marcus kissed his wife. "They're right, Su, it's delicious."

"Wait!" Porsha's tone made them all take notice. "Lia, wait. Hold on, slow down. What's wrong? Where are you now? Where's Glenn, can I talk to him?"

"What's wrong?" Nooshy asked softly.

"Yes, yes, we're on our way, sweetheart. Stay where you are. Stay on the phone with me," she asked. "Big Daddy, I think there's something wrong at the hardware store. It's Glenn's sister and she said the door was broken and the lights weren't working right. He told her to run to a safe place and call us for help."

Marcus nodded. "Nooshy, Suki, stay here. I'm calling the boys." He got his phone and dialed while they hurried out.

Nooshy bit her lip. "Shouldn't I go too? I could help."

Suki shook her head. "I need your help here. And we need to be able to get help if it's needed."

"Good point… I just hope…" she went to the window and watched them drive off.

Suki hugged her. "They'll be alright. I'm sure of it." She contemplated calling Johnny but thought better of it.

———————

After dinner was paid for, Ash and Tyler left. They never were able to talk about it. Neither of them quite knew how to bring it up.

"Tyler, you didn't have to pay for both of us," she told him.

The orangutan laughed. "It's no problem, Ash. I wanted to. I'm the one who asked you out." He blushed as he realized what he said. "Not that I meant…" he said as they headed for his car.

"Put your hands up!" A voice stopped them, making them turn, looking at two bulldogs wearing masks, a gun pointed directly at them. "Give us all your valuables and no one gets hurt."

Tyler instinctively put himself between them and Ash. "Look, we don't want any trouble." He pulled out a wallet and threw it at them. "That's what you want right?"

The leader pocketed it. "Now her." He ordered.

"She didn't bring her wallet, I treated her. Leave us alone now," the primate pleaded as he subtly pushed his keys into her hand.

He laughed. "Then we'll just need to take something else." He reached for the porcupine. Tyler lunged at him, grabbing the firearm.

"Ash, get out of here!" He ordered as he fought with the criminals.

"Tyler!" She shouted. "Leave him alone!"

"Go!" He shouted as he grappled for the gun.

She didn't know what happened, it all went so fast. A flash of light and a small explosion. The orangutan hit the ground, holding his shoulder. "Tyler!"

"What's going on here?" A voice she really didn't want to hear got her attention. "Ash!"

"Mind your own business, porcupines!" One of the bullies snapped.

Another flash made Ash jump as one of the bulldogs fell. She looked at her father in shock. He held a small pistol, aimed directly at the second mugger.

"Drop it!" He shouted at the remaining crook. Like the coward he was, the dog dropped his weapon. "Kick it to my daughter."

Ash picked it up when it was kicked over. She went to Tyler. "Are you okay?" She asked, looking at the wound.

"Yeah, I'm fine, t'is but a flesh wound," he quoted one of their favorite movies.

She punched his good shoulder. "You idiot! You could have been killed! What would I have told the twins? Or Alphonso? What would I have done if…" She grabbed him by the collar and kissed him furiously, only just aware of sirens in the distance as he returned the kiss.

————————

Airlia was waiting in the coffee shop when the truck rolled up. Porsha came running inside with her father behind her. "Lia, are you alright? Has Glenn come yet?"

She shook her head. "No and he hasn't called. I'm worried. The glass was broken. The lights were broken. It was dark…"

Marcus listened. "Porsha, stay here with her. The boys and I'll go see what's going on." Seeing that she wanted to protest, he held up his hand. "She needs someone to watch her while we go get him and their parents. Get her something to eat. There's a restaurant across the street."

Porsha sighed. "Okay, Big Daddy… be careful, please." She begged him. She offered a hand to the girl. "Let's go eat. I'm sure you're hungry, right? I've never babysat before."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm nine, I don't need a babysitter."

The wolfette chuckled at the girl's sass. "Fair enough. I'm not babysitting you then. I'm taking a friend to dinner."

———————

At the hospital, Tyler and Ash gave their statements to the officers while the doctor stitched up the wound in his shoulder and wrapped his shoulder and arm. Her parents were talking with the police in the waiting room.

"Well, now I don't know what to do or think," she said. She held his hand, squeezing to help mask the pain of the wound. "They actually saved us tonight. But it means they were still stalking us."

Tyler shook his head. "I know… I know… What do you want to do?" He asked. Seeing her hesitation, he added. "No matter what, I'm on your side."

She sighed. "I think they've at least earned the right to a conversation and go from there. Maybe they really did think they were doing right by me. I mean look at my life. I can't complain. I have a wonderful family, friends. I'm moderately successful. I have two kids I never expected to have… and I have you. They did teach me to be self-sufficient."

"Damn right, I did," she heard her father announce his presence. The staff must have assumed they were allowed back. "I also thought I taught you self-defense. Where's your sidearm?"

"Dad, I never did like carrying that thing. I sold it a long time ago," Ash said.

"And now you know why I wanted you to have it," he corrected her. "I guess you'll need to get a new one."

She rolled her eyes. She couldn't deny that he'd used a firearm to help. She just wasn't sure she could ever pull the trigger. And she didn't want it around the twins. "Whatever… Thanks for helping us. For saving us…"

He nodded. "I bet you want us to leave now, don't you?" He asked.

The porcupine sighed. "Well, I do suppose you deserve some kind of chance. Fine. But not tonight. Not when he's dealing with the pain medication and it's all so fresh. Let's meet for breakfast in the morning."

"Will we get to meet the kids?" Mrs. Cohen asked.

She sighed. "We will meet at Croc's… I'll ask Clay to join us." She promised. "You're not in trouble, are you Dad?"

He shook his head. "Nah, the officer that arrested the other guy said their guns had already been fired tonight. A couple of rookies who thought having a couple of guns made them a couple of hot shots. It's a clear case of defensive use."

——————

When the Gorillas arrived at the hardware store, Marcus immediately understood what happened. He led the way in carefully. "Glenn! Can you hear me?!" He called.

"Brother? Look…" Barry pointed to the red trail. They followed it to the back room where Glenn sat on his knees.

Marcus drew near. "Glenn?" He saw what he was looking at. He put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

The German shepherd shook his head. "What happened? They were fine when we left? Why did this happen?" He was doing his best not to cry.

The gorilla shook his head. "Don't. Don't fight it. Barry, call the cops. Stan, call Porsha and let her know that Glenn is alright. I'm going to text Suki and ask her to go pick them up." He sat beside the dog, rubbing his back. "It's okay, you can grieve."

He shook his head. "No… I can't… not yet. I saw the ones who did this. I got them on video." He glared at the floor. "They'll regret this." He promised.

Marcus shook his head again. "Don't. Don't spend your time on revenge. Your sister is going to need you. You can't risk your life now." He gripped his shoulder. "It's going to be alright. I'm going to help you through this. We all will. Come, let's go get you something hot to drink." He pulled the boy away and led him to the stairs that took them up to his home.

AN: I have to be up at 2:30 tomorrow morning. So we're ending this now. Next chapter: immediate aftermath of Glenn's tragedy.