Slumber by Tamara Blake

Author:Tamara Blake
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: FICTION/General
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2013-06-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Ruby drove out of the megamart parking lot in a daze, trying to process their conversation. What did Tam mean that there was nothing he could do? And what the hell was he thinking to suggest that Ruby dump her family?

Something about Tam wasn’t right. No one with any feelings would suggest that Ruby just dump her mom and little sister. Didn’t he have family that he cared about? Maybe he was a sociopath. Everyone at Cottingley seemed messed up in one way or another.

Ruby chewed the inside of her lip while she negotiated the traffic. She needed to get a grip, but seeing Tam again had upset her equilibrium. The worst part about the encounter was that it was all for nothing—she was no closer to answers about how to get rid of the necklace. It thrummed against the skin of her throat, a constant reminder that one false move and it would choke the life out of her.

Shelley didn’t seem to notice her preoccupation on the drive home. Ruby had allowed her to buy the baby animals comic as a thank you for behaving so well at the store. Shelley chattered on about the cute baby koalas while Ruby listened with half an ear, pulling into the Sea Oats Mobile Home Park.

“…and did you know baby koalas are called joeys and live in their mama’s pouch?”

“That’s super-interesting, Shells.” Maybe later tonight she could call Tam again and try to reason with him. There had to be a way to get some answers out of him without going back to the Cottingley nuthouse—

“Who’s that in our front yard?”

“Huh?”

A red and white U-Haul was parked on the curb in front of their trailer. The front door was propped open, and two large men were carrying their sofa down the front steps, while a third tossed their dinette chairs into the back of the truck.

“No…Oh no, no, no, no!” Ruby threw the minivan into park and leaped out. “What the hell is going on?” she yelled. “What are you doing with our stuff?”

“Eviction procedure, ma’am,” came the gruff answer. “We’ve got an order to clear out the premises at 427 Sea Oats Lane.”

“But that’s impossible! We’ve been given no notice.”

The guy, a muscled hulk with a thick neck, just shrugged and handed her an official-looking document while the other two went back inside. “Not my problem, lady. I’ve got a writ from the courts and a schedule to keep.”

Bewildered, Ruby scanned the document. The red ‘NOTICE TO QUIT THE PREMISES’ letters blurred in her vision.

“It’ll be easier for all of us if you don’t cause a scene,” he said. “But we can handle it if you do.”

The other two men had come out of their trailer carrying the dinette table between them. They regarded her with the stony expressions of guys who had been through their share of ugly eviction scenarios.

“Ruby?” Shelley had gotten out of the minivan. Her face screwed up, and her eyes filled with tears.

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