Chapter 32
Standing inside the camper, I looked from brother to brother. "He saidwhat?"
They were sitting on opposite sides of a narrow booth thatmightseat four, if the four people didn't mind squashing in next to each other.
Considering that I hardly knew these guys, I'd already declined their offer to sit. Instead, I was standing at the end of the booth, trying to make sense of everything they'd just told me.
At my request, Anthony repeated his last sentence. "He said that if anything happens, he's gonna kick our asses."
I gave Anthony a perplexed look. "If anything happens? Like what?"
Anthony shrugged. "He didn't say."
I wasn't buying it. For some reason, I just couldn't see Joel threatening these guys, unless – maybe it was some sort of inside joke? I asked, "Was he serious?"
Anthony gave it some thought. "Maybe. Hard to say."
I studied his face. "You don't look too concerned."
"Eh, we're used to it."
"Used to what?" I asked. "Being threatened?"
"Or whatever." Suddenly, he reached out and slapped the tabletop. "Wait a minute. That wasn't it."
Startled, I gave a little jump. "What?"
"What Joelsaidwas that if some lawyer showed up, we should kickhisass." He paused, as if thinking. "Some guy named Dirk?"
I wanted to groan out loud. The last thing I wanted was more drama. Reluctantly, I said, "I think he meant Derek."
"Yeah, that's it."
I gave the two brothers a good, long look. They didn't look like fighters, but they didn't look soft either. In truth, I wasn't sure that Derek could handle either one of them, much less both.
But that wasn't the point. The last thing I wanted was a fist-fight on the front lawn.
Hoping to head off trouble, I summoned up what I hoped was a smile. "I'm sure it was just a joke."
Anthony gave me a dubious look. "You think?"
I kept my smile plastered in place. "Definitely."
Across the table, the two brothers shared a look. It was Steve who said, "The aunt and uncle – was that a joke, too?"
Damn it.I knew exactly who he meant. My Uncle Ernie and Aunt Vivian, who had who had this annoying tendency to show up and swipe my stuff when I wasn't home. In a carefully neutral voice, I said, "What about my aunt and uncle?"
"Yeah," Steve said. "What about them?"
I felt my jaw clench. "That's what I'mtryingto find out."
"Yeah," Steve said. "Me, too."
It was enough to give me a headache. "So Joel mentioned them, too?"
"Hell if I know," Steve said. "Ididn't talk to him."
I turned and gave Anthony a questioning look.
