Ian returned with two large pizzas and placed them in the center of the table. He flipped open a box, grabbed two slices and jumped back.
The Sanders descended on the food like sea gulls surrounding a fishing boat.
Ray grinned and slapped Joe’s hand away from a slice and snagged it. He took a big bite and a strand of cheese hung from his bottom lip, down his beard, and onto his shirt. He fit right in with this family.
Tom managed to grab a skinny slice with only half a pepperoni on it. “Anyone threaten you lately, Charlie?”
“No.” I bit into my slice.
“Margarita and Felix have never threatened us, but they don’t like us,” Joe said.
“Anyone threaten you?” Tom asked Joe.
“No. And I don’t have any pending malpractice suits, either.” Joe grabbed the last two slices from the box and dropped one onto my plate.
“Thanks, honey.” It was a ruse. I knew Joe planned on eating the second slice too, but he didn’t want Momma to tell him to slow down.
“Whoever cut the line did it while you were working.” Ian leaned over the table, opened the second pizza box, and grabbed a slice. “The first time you pressed the brakes you pushed the fluid out making the pedal feel squishy, right?” Ian asked me.
“Yes. I braked going down the hill at the first curve and it was okay, but then the pedal went all the way to the floor and the car didn’t slow down at all.” My heart fluttered, reliving the fear.
“Yeah, so the guy had to cut the line while you were at work because otherwise you’d have noticed it when you drove to work,” Ian said.
“We’ve got security cameras now,” I said to Tom.
Tom stared at the untouched slice sitting on my plate that was soon to be in Joe’s belly.
Liz took pity on Tom. “Momma, slide the other box this way so Tom can get a slice.”
Momma pushed the box toward Tom.
Ray intercepted, took the largest slice and then handed the box to Tom.
Tom grabbed a slice and settled the box on top of the empty one. “I’ll call Sunnyview and ask them to save the video.” He stood, took his slice of pizza and walked into the kitchen.
“A guy would have to lie down next to your car to cut the brake line. The camera might not catch that if another car blocked the view,” Ian said.
“But hopefully we’d see someone walking near my car. Unless the camera isn’t pointed in the right direction.” I looked at Ray. “How did Tyler supposedly overdose Oscar? I can’t see Oscar letting Tyler inject him with anything.”
Ray wiped his face, finally removing the cheese. “Let’s talk about that later,” he said behind his napkin.
Tom returned. “Thank you for the pizza. I’ll head over to Sunnyview and review the video. What time did you get there yesterday?”
“I worked from two-to-ten,” I said.
He pulled a card out from his front pocket. “Call me if you notice anyone suspicious hanging around or think of any new information.” He put the card on the table and tapped it.
Anisa passed it down the table to me.
“Thank you, Tom,” I said.
Ray stood. “I’ll go with you. We can stop by and visit my mom.” He tucked Oscar’s notebooks under his arm.
“Sounds good.” Tom sounded sincere.
Joe showed the guys out and returned a moment later.
Liz cleared her throat. “What’s your work schedule, Charlie?”
“I’m off today. Next week I’m working Monday, Wednesday, Friday from six-to-two,” I said.
“You can borrow my car, if you want,” Momma offered.
“That’d be great. Thank you.” I loved her little Jetta with the sunroof.
“Momma, we’re supposed to be keeping her company just in case the bad guy shows up,” Liz said.
“That’s a really bad idea.” I sent Joe a fix-this look and picked up the empty pizza boxes.
“Liz, we appreciate the offer but none of you are trained in self-defense and being Charlie’s bodyguard could put you in danger,” Joe said.
I finagled the pizza boxes into the garbage and returned for the plates and glasses.
Anisa stacked the plates and handed them to me. She followed with the glasses and helped me load the dishwasher. “If you want me to go grocery shopping for you or with you or anything, just call me, okay?” she whispered.
“I will.” I closed the dishwasher door.
Liz’s voice overpowered Joe’s and Ian’s in the dining room. Liz was an amazing sister-in-law and a natural leader. We let her organize because her OCD and anxiety needed to, and we loved her even if she was a tad overbearing at times.
Anisa and I returned to the dining room. Everyone stood, now fed, and ready to leave.
“I don’t think getting out of town for a few weeks is unreasonable,” Liz said.
Joe’s scowl disagreed.
Liz pointed at me. “Come on, you can’t feel safe here.”
“I feel safe,” I said.
Liz rolled her eyes. “There’s a madman trying to kill you.”
“I don’t like it.” Momma stood. She pulled her keys out of her pocket and placed them on the dining room table. “Anisa, will you give me a ride home?”
“Sure.” Anisa hugged me. “Call me anytime.”
Momma hugged me next. “You stay safe and don’t let anybody run you out of your own home.”
Ian kissed my cheek. “Do you want me to give you my gun?”
“No,” I said.
“Absolutely not.” Joe slapped Ian on the back of his head.
Liz opened her purse and pulled out a black stun-gun. “Take this. There’s fresh batteries in it.”
I took the stun gun and put it on the table. “Thank you, Liz.”
She hugged me tight. “Be careful.”
“I will. Thank y’all for coming over.” I grabbed Joe’s hand and we walked to the front door and swung that sucker open and herded the clan out.
We waved as they got into their cars.
Joe closed the door and hugged me close. “Are you really okay?”
I nodded, my hair getting caught in one of his shirt buttons. I carefully detached myself. “I don’t believe Tyler committed suicide. I
