Free 3 Mango Bay by Bill Myers Page B

voice.
    “Muurrrphhh!”
    Bob had a vocabulary of about thirty different sounds he'd use to express his feelings. This particular sound meant he wanted me to fill his food bowl. Immediately.
    To show Bob I understood, I spoke to him. He likes it when you respond when he speaks to you.
    “ It's okay Bob. You're not going to starve. There's still food in your bowl, but I'll put some more in. Would you like that?”
    Bob responded. “Muurrph.” His almost happy voice.
    While Bob watched, I topped off his food bowl with fresh kibble.
    He sniffed the bowl, and then without taking a single bite, he strolled off, proud that he was able to get me to do for him. As he understood it, I was there as his man-servant, to handle his every wish.
    And of course, he was right. All cats understand that this is how it works.
    After washing my hands, I found Bob on the couch in the living room. He saw me come in and said, “Murrph?” - as if he were asking, “And where have you been today?”
    Since he'd asked, I felt obliged to tell him the story.
    “ Bob, I went out to dinner at Zekes with Lucy. You'll probably meet her tomorrow, and I think you'll like her.
    “ We had shrimp, then watched the boats in the bay. Then I came home to see you.”
    Bob said, “Murrph”.
    Then he curled up beside me and purred as I rubbed his big ears. We stayed that way for almost an hour, Bob sleeping and me trying not to.
    At around eleven, I locked up, turned off all the lights and went to bed.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
    It was still dark outside when my phone chimed me awake. I rolled over and picked up the phone off the night stand. The time showed 12:43. Just after midnight.
    Too early for Lucy to be calling about yoga.
    The caller ID said, 'Anna'.
    I answered.
    “ Anna, what's up.”
    In a tired voice she said, “I've got a problem and need a favor.”
    “Okay, tell me what you need.”
    “ Remember earlier today when I told you I had a date?”
    “ Yeah, I remember.”
    “ Well, the date isn't working out. We're at Rusty's Raft on Dearborn, and the guy I'm with is hammered. He started drinking before he picked me up and he's been drinking all night.”
    “ It got ugly and he got kicked out for picking a fight with the bouncer.
    “ I think he's still outside. Waiting for me.
    “ I don't want to be around him. He's too drunk to drive. So I need a ride home.”
    I sat up, with the phone to my ear.
    “Anna, stay inside the club. I'll be there in ten minutes. I'll call you when I pull up to the door. Stay inside until then.”
    “ Thanks, Walker. I'll owe you.”
    Pulling on the clothes I had worn earlier, I grabbed my keys, wallet, and cellphone, and headed out. Rusty's Raft is on Dearborn street, just a few minutes from Serenity Cove.
    This late in the evening, there wasn't much traffic. Almost no one out, so I made good time.
    When I arrived at the Raft (as locals call it) their parking lot was half full. I didn't bother pulling in. Instead, I did a quick U-turn and pulled into the loading zone at the front door. Then pressed redial on my phone to reach Anna.
    When she answered, I said, “I'm right outside.”
    A moment later, Anna stepped through the front entrance of the Raft. She looked around, saw me and headed for the Jeep.
    Almost immediately, a man stepped from behind a Palmetto bush and moved toward Anna. His disheveled hair, wrinkled shirt, and the large wet spot on the front of his pants suggested he might be the date Anna was trying to avoid.
    I quickly exited the Jeep and stepped between Anna and the obviously drunk man.
    “Hey,” he slurred. “She's with me .”
    Then he took a swing.
    People who are drunk should never fight. They almost always have a distorted depth perception, and are usually off balance.
    Avoiding the man's swing was easy. I stepped back as his arm went by, then watched as the momentum of the missed swing carried him in an arc that ended with his knees on the ground.
    Putting my arm around Anna's shoulder, I