Chapter Eighteen #2
“Algebra 1.” Lacey winced, as if she was preparing herself for something unpleasant.
“Ah, that’s nothing. Come on back to the break room and we can knock that out in no time, squirt.” Joker turned his attention to Jenna. “We’ll leave the door open so you can be sure she’s safe. Both of you are here, I hope you know that.”
Jenna nodded slowly, not quite sure how to take that. Was there something she should be afraid of? Had something happened that she didn’t know about? Jenna looked at Papa Smurf.
He opened the door to his office and stepped inside, jerking his head for her to join him. She got up and followed him into the room. He left the door open so they could hear if someone came in, but he lowered his voice so they wouldn’t be overheard.
“He had a sister who disappeared when she was about your sister’s age. It’s been more than five years and they’ve never found her. Not only is he a math wiz, he’ll do everything can to protect her, no matter what comes along.”
Jenna’s chest ached at the thought of her sister disappearing and never knowing what happened to her.
“Is there reason to think he’ll need to?” She stared out the doorway to the glass front of the building, wondering if she’d gotten them from one bad situation, where she struggled to pay the bills and put food on the table, to another. Only this one might actually be dangerous.
“No, no. There’s no reason to worry, not that I know of. And Roadkill would have told me if there was. He’d want to make sure we have your back.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure, , Girl. Well, as sure as I can be.
You’re boss was just arrested and we’re not sure who he was involved with.
There’s a chance, slim, but I won’t lie to you about it, that something tied to him could come our way.
But I don’t think it will. Just go on with your life. We’ll cover the rest.”
Jenna watched him, unsure if she should trust him and relax, or if she should keep her guard up. Then again, did she even know how to relax? How exactly did someone function if they weren’t worried about something, like, all the time?
Taking a deep breath, Jenna nodded.
“All right. All right. I’ll take your word for it.” She turned to look out the front glass again. “I’m glad you came in when you did, I have a couple questions.”
“About what?” Papa Smurf propped his hands on his hips and watched her.
“First, this bill.” She moved back to the counter where she’d been working before. “I can’t find this part number in the catalog.” She motioned to the sheet and book where she’d been trying to find the cost for the part.
He bent down and looked at it for under three seconds before straightening.
“That’s because it’s not in there. I got that from another wholesaler.” He turned and went back into his office, reappearing a moment later with another large book. “It’s in this one.”
She stared at him with wide eyes. This had to be at least the fourth huge catalog.
“Um, wouldn’t it be easier to just look them up online? I’m sure it would be easier to order that way.”
“You’re right. I’ve been telling him that for years,” a voice she didn’t recognize said as someone came around the corner from the break room.
Jenna jumped. She hadn’t been aware anyone had been back there but Joker and Lacey, and this was neither.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. I came in the back door.
” A new man appeared, a little shorter than many of the others.
He had long dark hair and a beard that came down far enough to brush his chest if he wasn’t careful.
He wore a denim vest over a hoodie, jeans and boots similar to what most of the men wore.
“You’re Jenna, right?”
She nodded slowly but didn’t bother to hide her confusion. How did he know her name? They hadn’t been in Papa Smurf’s office long enough for him to have gotten it out of Lacey. Besides, she hadn’t heard any voices from back there but Lacey and Joker.
“I talked to Roadkill. He told me about you and you’re sister.” He tilted his head toward the breakroom where she could hear the soft murmur of two voices. “But that’s not why I’m here.” He moved closer and swung a backpack off one shoulder to rest on the counter.
She frowned and wondered what was going on, but stayed quiet as he unzipped the bag and pulled out one laptop, then a second.
“I’m here to set up your computer and teach you how to use it.”
“And on that note, I’m out of here. I’ve got things to do in the shop. Yell out if you need anything, Mama,” Papa Smurf said before he ducked back out into the shop, and avoiding all computer talk.
Jenna eyed the laptop warily. Yeah, being able to look things up would be a lot easier but she wasn’t sure she wanted someone watching as she fumbled her way through it.
“I’m Cypher by the way.”
Jenna frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “I just would have thought someone called Cypher would be good at math. Yet it’s Joker helping with algebra.”
“I’m not bad at math, but cipher is more code and encryption now. I’m a hacker. Coding, programing, that kind of thing, hence, Cypher. Besides. Joker has a soft spot for teenage girls. She couldn’t be safer with anyone.”
Jenna nodded. Her chest ached all over again as she remembered what Papa Smurf had told her about the other Warrior.
“All right,” Cypher said as he pulled a hand full of cords out of the bag, then set the backpack into one of the chairs in the waiting area. “How familiar are you with computers?”
She bobbed her head from side to side.
“I did okay in school, but I’ll be honest, it’s been a while.”
He turned and watched her with narrowed eyes. “You don’t have a computer?”
“Just this.” Jenna picked up her phone and held it up. “And Lacey’s school computer, but I don’t touch that.”
Cypher scrubbed one hand over his face.
“Please tell me it’s at least an android.”
Jenna scoffed. “Do I look like I have the kind of money to drop that on a phone?” She shook her head.
“It’s not even new.” She used the same phone she’d had since before Mama had died.
Well, not really. She’d put her sim card into Mama’s phone and had to go get a new one for Lacey.
She hadn’t wanted to give an eleven-year-old a phone, but since it was just the two of them, it seemed like the best way to be able to stay in touch if there was an emergency.
“What kind of computer did you have in school?” Cypher asked as he moved around to her side of the counter. “I need to get back here for a minute. This won’t take long.”
“Same kind they’re issuing now, I assume.
” She stood and went into the breakroom where she leaned against the door jam and watched where Joker sat next to her sister at the small square table and asked Lacey if she knew the next step.
She replied and watched him. He nodded and she ducked her head and went back to work.
He glanced up and spotted her. He nodded once then dropped his gaze to the paper between himself and her sister.
Lacey must have finished the problem because she exhaled loudly and sat up straight, rolling her shoulders and looking up.
“What’s up, Jen?”
“Just giving Cypher some room to get things set up. Is he helpful?” Jen tilted her head toward Joker.
Lacey looked from Jenna to Joker and back again.
“So far.”
“Good.” She pushed off from the door jam and turned to go back to the front room, hopefully Cypher was done.