Read Online Collision Course by David Crawford - Free Book Online Page A

they’d be willing to part with,” the man said as he stood up straight. His hands stayed below the counter. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”
    DJ looked around. The shelves of the little store were empty except for a few nonfood items. There was nothing he needed. “Let me look around for a minute.”
    â€œHelp yourself,” the man said. “We don’t have a lot left, though.”
    As DJ walked up and down the aisles, a beat-up old truck pulled up and stopped in front of the gas pumps. A second later, two young men walked into the store. One of them was carrying something in his hand. DJ’s security experience made him watch the hand to make sure it didn’t contain a weapon. He couldn’t tell for sure what it was, but it wasn’t a knife or a gun. The young man started to speak to the proprietor, but the older man tipped his head toward DJ.
    From his position in the back of the store, he could see a pump shotgun leaning in the corner behind the counter. No doubt the man had a pistol under the counter as well. DJ noticed the young man who had started to speak had an old revolver stuck in the front of his jeans. The hair on the back of DJ’s neck stood up as he saw the way the three men were looking at him. He strode toward the front of the store, trying not to look as though he was in a hurry.
    â€œI don’t see anything I need,” he said as he passed the counter. “Thanks for your help.”
    Glancing back over his shoulder, he was thankful that no one followed him as he’d left. He took a few more steps and checked again. It was still clear. He turned around and quietly backtracked along the side of the store, where he hoped he could hear what was being said inside.
    â€œ. . . up the road,” the store owner said.
    â€œWe just came from that direction, and we didn’t see anything,” another voice said.
    â€œWell, that’s what he told me.”
    â€œWho cares? What’ll you give us for the watch?” the third voice said.
    â€œThree.”
    â€œThree gallons?” the third voice asked incredulously. “You got to be shitting me! That’s a five-thousand-dollar watch!”
    â€œOkay, five, but that’s it.”
    â€œAll right. Let’s do it.”
    â€œNot now,” the store owner said. “I just told that guy in here that I didn’t have any. Come back after dark.”
    â€œOkay, but you better not screw us,” the second voice said threateningly.
    â€œYou know you don’t have to worry about that. I’ll see you about eight thirty.”
    DJ edged around to the back of the store, where a set of heavy double doors stood open. Screen doors covered the openings. DJ stayed well clear of them. A minute later, he heard the old truck start up and take off. Thankfully, it went in the opposite direction from his camp.
    He decided he’d go back and rest and then come back after dark with his night vision. He walked briskly back to the bridge, recognizing again that the people outside were pretending not to notice him. One thing he hadn’t realized before was that several people were watching him from inside their houses as he walked by. When he got to the bridge, he checked to make sure no one could see him and then slipped down to the creek and back to his quad.
    He changed back into his black clothing and climbed into his hammock, intending to read. But what had happened at the store began to anger him more and more, and he wasn’t able to focus on his book. It had been obvious to him that the man behind the counter had lied to him from the very beginning. The two younger men only verified that he had gasoline and was trading it for stolen goods. Perhaps the watch belonged to one of the young men, but DJ doubted it. They’d probably stolen it from someone. Maybe it had even been Jacob’s or his son’s. He knew it was unlikely, but it was possible. DJ