Chapter 10 – Ink
INK
Ariel woke up shortly after breakfast was delivered and joined us in the kitchen. “I thought I smelled food. Where did this come from?”
“Ink had it delivered,” Presley said.
“It’s from Irene’s Diner. Irene is a Blackwings family member,” I explained.
“Thank you,” Ariel said. “I wondered what we were going to eat since most of our food is gone.”
Presley laughed. “I’ve yet to let you starve. I’m not going to start now.”
“I know.”
“After we eat, can you make a list of what we need from the store while I work on the door situation? I’ll place a grocery order when I’m finished.”
Ariel nodded in response.
Presley turned her attention to me. “Do you have any suggestions for the best way to go about replacing the front door? I’m assuming I’ll need to go to a home improvement store.”
“Yeah, that’s your best bet if you want it fixed today. We’ll measure it, but it looks like a standard size door, so we should be able to find a replacement easily. It might not be exactly the same, though.”
“I don’t care if it’s the same, as long as it closes and locks properly.”
“Have you considered having a security system installed?”
She nodded and swallowed the food in her mouth. “Yeah. I’ve thought about it before, but there hasn’t been a serious need for it until now. I guess I need to see what’s out there and get something scheduled.”
“If you’re interested, one of my club brothers owns a security company. He gives a discounted rate to club family and friends.”
“That sounds great. I’m definitely interested.”
After breakfast, I gave Judge a call while Presley and Ariel got ready to go door shopping.
“Hey, Ink. What’s going on?” Judge said when he answered my call.
“Hey, man. I wanted to talk to you about a basic home security system install,” I said and explained the situation with Presley.
“I can do it today if that works for you,” he said.
“Oh, uh, let me check with Presley. I wasn’t expecting you to be available so soon.”
Judge laughed. “You got lucky. If money is an issue, she doesn’t have to pay anything today. I’ll send her an invoice in a few days, and we can work out a payment plan if necessary.”
“Thanks, man. Let me talk to her, and I’ll get back to you soon.”
“Sounds good.”
I ended the call and turned around to find Presley standing in her living room, watching me curiously. “Is there something you need to discuss with me?”
“That was Judge, the one who owns the security company. I called to get an estimate on a new install and to see what availability he had,” I said and told her about his pricing and payment options. “If you’re interested, he said he can install it today.”
“Really?” she asked, sounding just as surprised as I was.
“That’s what he said.”
“Then yes. I’d like to have it installed today.”
“Are you sure? You don’t have to do it today,” I said. I didn’t want her to feel pressured into making a decision she didn’t want to.
“Yes, I’m sure. It’s something I should have done a while ago.”
“What is?” Ariel asked.
“Getting a home security system.”
“Great. Now I’ll never be able to sneak out.”
Presley laughed. “If you were the kind of kid who snuck out regularly, we would’ve had an alarm system before now. Besides, the tracking app on your phone has been preventing that for years.”
“So, that’s a yes?” I asked.
“Yes,” Presley confirmed. “Will we have time to go get a new door before he gets here?”
“Yes. He won’t be here until after lunch.” I didn’t tell her he was coming from Devil Springs because I didn’t want her to think I had called in a special favor. Technically, I hadn’t. Judge would have said no if he didn’t want to do it. “Are you two ready to go?”
“Ready when you are.”
We loaded into the SUV and headed to the home improvement store. The selection of exterior doors was minimal at best, but Presley found a prehung door that would work.
“Do you want to stop by the clubhouse on the way back and pick up your car?” I asked once we had the door secured to the top of my SUV.
“Oh, yes, please,” Presley said. “With everything else, I forgot about my car.”
As I followed her back to her house, I called Phoenix to let him know what was going on.
He listened intently while I filled him in. “Those two sure have had a run of bad luck here recently. How are they handling it?”
“I think Presley’s okay, but she might be in task mode. Ariel seems shaken up. She’s been glued to Presley’s side since it happened.”
“Maybe she’ll feel better after the alarm is installed,” he said. “Do you think the break-in is related to Ariel being drugged?”
“I don’t know. The timing is awfully coincidental, but I highly doubt those three little queefs are able to get around yet.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. And they would’ve done some damage to the house or stolen things of value.”
“The combination of clothes, food, and camping gear makes me think it might have been a homeless person. It’s just weird that they picked Presley’s house.”
“You said they got some fingerprints, right?”
“Yeah, they said they got several, but some will belong to Presley, Ariel, and me.”
“If she hasn’t heard anything from the police department in a few days, let me know. I’ll give Chuck a call and see what’s going on.”
“Thanks, Prez.”
Next, I called Dice. “Hey, man,” I said when he answered. “You want to help me install a door today?”
“Sure. Who needs a door?”
“Presley,” I said and told him what happened.
“Damn. She’s having a rough go of it. When are we doing this? Now?”
“Yeah. I’m on my way to her house with the door now.”
“Okay. Text me her address, and I’ll head your way. Do you need me to bring anything?”
“Yeah,” I chuckled. “She has only basic tools.”
“Gotcha. I’ll load up what we need and head your way.”
“Thanks, man.” I finished the call with Dice just as I was pulling into Presley’s driveway. I got out and followed Presley and Ariel inside.
“What do you need us to do?” Presley asked.
“Nothing. Dice is going to come over and help me with the door.”
“I can’t just sit here and do nothing,” she said.
“We can get groceries,” Ariel suggested. “And make lunch for everyone.”
“That sounds like a great idea,” I said. “I’m going to get started on the door.”
“Wait. What do you want for lunch?”
I shrugged. “I’m sure whatever you decide to make will be fine. I’m not picky, and neither is Dice.”
Presley grinned. “Rocky Mountain oysters it is.”
“Oh, that’s just mean.”
“What are Rocky Mountain oysters?” Ariel asked.
I looked at Presley. I was not about to explain what Rocky Mountain oysters were to her seventeen-year-old daughter.
Presley sighed. “They’re deep-fried bull testicles.”
Ariel scrunched her nose in disgust. “Ew! Are you serious?”
“About them being bull balls? Yes. About serving them for lunch? No.”
“Well, thank goodness for that.”
“Sandwiches or something simple will be fine,” I said and headed to the living room to start removing the old door.
Dice arrived just as Presley and Ariel were leaving for the grocery store. “Hey, Presley,” he said. “How’s your mom?”
“I haven’t talked to her today, but she was in good spirits when we left last night. Her leg is broken, but she doesn’t need surgery for it. Other than the cut on the back of her head and some bumps and bruises, she’s okay.”
“That’s good to hear,” he said. “Sounds like you had a rough night, though.”
“Yeah,” she agreed. “Having my house broken into was definitely not something I was expecting. I’m just glad they didn’t take a lot and that the damage was minimal.”
“Well, we’ll have your new door installed in no time.”
“Thanks. We’ll be back soon.”
“Without Rocky Mountain oysters,” Ariel said over her shoulder, causing me to laugh.
We got started on the door, and I waited for the questions I knew would be coming. It took longer than I thought. “So, what’s the deal with you and Presley?” Dice finally asked.
“What? Are we in high school?”
“Yes. Now, answer the damn question.”
I shrugged. “As of right now, we’re friends. Would I like it to be more than that? Sure. But the opportunity hasn’t presented itself.”
“So, make one present itself.”
“That’s easier said than done.”
“How about I invite you two over to have dinner with me and Daphne?” he asked.
“You realize we’re a little old for you to be playing my wingman, right?”
“That’s not what I’m doing,” he countered.
“That’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
“If you want to have us over for dinner, that’s fine, but don’t do it on my account. You should probably invite Ariel, too. I don’t think Presley is going to feel comfortable leaving her home alone anytime soon.”
“Got it. I’ll text Daphne to see when a good time will be.”
I shook my head at my best friend. He was going to help whether I wanted him to or not. “When you’re done playing matchmaker, maybe we can get this door installed.”
The rest of the day passed quickly. When we finished with the door, we helped Judge install her home security system. Before I was ready, there was nothing left to do, and it was time for me to go home.
“I really can’t thank you guys enough,” Presley said.
“We were happy to help,” Judge assured her and pointed to his business card in her hand. “Be sure to call the office if you have any questions or problems with the equipment.”
“I will. Thank you.”
After Judge left, Dice looked at Presley. “Daphne wanted me to invite you and Ariel over to our house for dinner on Friday. Ink will be there, too.”
“Oh, um, sure. We’d love to,” Presley said.
“Great. We’ll see you then.”
“Do I need to bring anything?”
“Nope. Just yourselves,” he said as he headed to his truck.
And then it was just the two of us. “Thank you for all your help this weekend.”
“You’re welcome. Are you two going to be okay?”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “It might take a few days to feel comfortable again, but we’ll get there.”
“Call me if you need anything. I don’t care what time it is.”
“I will. Thank you.”
As I walked to the SUV, I decidedly did not want to leave, but I couldn’t think of a reason to stay. I couldn’t say for sure, but I got the feeling that Presley felt the same.