Free Out of the Storm by Kevin V. Symmons Page B

was determined, but Joey was the last person he wanted to talk to right now.
    Bobby came to the rescue. “Hey, Boss. Joey.” He nodded in her direction. “Sorry to bother you. But I need a few minutes.”
    Joey looked frustrated. Hurt. “Catch you later. At the Café. See ya, Bobby.” She returned his nod, did an about face, and left abruptly.
    “Okay. Thanks. Catch you soon,” Eric said to Joey. He turned to Bobby. “You needed me?”
    “Yeah.” Bobby followed Joey with his eyes. “I do.” He turned back to Eric. “Nice girl. Cute. And it’s no secret she likes you.”
    “Thanks for the advice.” A frown crossed his face. “Look. I know she’s trying to help. But I got no time right now.”
    Bobby held up his hands. “Okay, Boss.” Bobby looked around then stepped into the office. His expression softened. “It’s been a year, Eric. You know how I felt about Elaine. How everyone felt. But she wouldn’t want you to go on like this forever.”
    Anger surged. Eric bristled momentarily but it passed quickly. He knew his friend didn’t counsel the lovelorn. Bobby was trying to help.
    “Got no time for this right now,” Eric insisted as he stood. “What do you need? I’ve gotta go pick up Ashley. I’ll call later if I can’t get back.”
    “What do you want me to do about the Jacksons’ Sea Ray?” Bobby asked.
    The Jackson family had been good customers for three generations. One of the marina’s first. Allen had lost his job recently and they were having financial problems.
    Eric shrugged, scratching his day-old beard. “What would you do?”
    “Hell. You know I go back a long way with Al. He used to catch my touchdown passes in high school. I’d give ’em another month.”
    “Sounds good to me.” Eric stood and patted Bobby on the back. He grabbed his jacket.
    Bobby nodded. “See you later.”
    “Yeah. I’ll try and get back.” He slipped the windbreaker over his sweatshirt.
    “Take your time. The place isn’t going anywhere.”

Chapter Eleven
    “Ashley?” Eric called her as he drove to the hospital.
    “Hi. I been waitin’ for you. Can’t wait to get home. I…I mean to get out of here.” Her words tumbled out. A long silence followed. Eric had no regrets that Ashley thought of his house as home. He liked the idea.
    “Louise picked up some new things you can wear home if you want. Your choice,” Eric said, breaking the long stalemate. “I’ll leave them at the nurse’s station. Call me when you’re ready.”
    “Thanks. Something new would be nice,” she enthused in her soft drawl. “See ya in a few minutes.”
    As Eric was closing his cell, it rang. He opened it, seeing a familiar number. “Buzz?”
    “Yep. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you.”
    His friend sounded tentative, non-committal. Not Buzz’s style. Eric’s throat tightened, wondering if the next shoe was about to drop.
    “What’d you find out?” Eric asked, hoping the answer was something he wanted to hear.
    “Ashley’s clean. No wants, warrants, no record of any kind.”
    Thank God. Ashley wasn’t a fugitive from justice. Eric slumped in his seat and breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Buzz. Good to know since I’m about to pick her up.”
    “That’s good,” Buzz offered.
    Eric knew his friend too well. He was holding something back. “You want to give me the rest?”
    “Damn! I knew I couldn’t fool you.” Eric pictured his friend’s ruddy face twisting into a frown.
    “C’mon. Give. I need to know the whole picture. What’s going on?”
    “That’s the problem. There’s nothing but a driver’s license on file.”
    That sounded familiar. Eerily familiar. Shades of Lip’s report on Ralph. “What do you mean…nothing?”
    “Nothing means nothing, my friend.” Another silence followed. “Look, because it was you I called in a couple of favors,” Buzz volunteered. “Checked with FBI, Homeland Security, even called a contact the chief had with the Norfolk