Dark Beach - By Lauren Ash Page 0,32
big heavy boots took off his faded red ball cap and scratched one hand through his hair. Jenny couldn’t tell if his face was filthy too, or if he was just unshaven.
“I need five hundred yards of thirty-pound test, multi-strand or multi-fiber. Oh … Where’s Kurt?” He looked her up and down, his eyes skipping over red loafers and denim to pause, chest height, at her white tank and grey zipped hoodie. He made absolutely no eye contact. “Never mind … I’ll get it.”
The fisherman went behind the counter and took what he needed, scrawled a note on the notepad on the counter, and left with a disinterested, “Excuse me.”
Jenny craned her neck across the counter. The note just listed the items and finished with the man’s name. “Dan Town,” she said, guessing he had a tab or something.
Another fellow entered, this time baby-faced, thin and pale—obviously a tourist. “Nice shop you have here.”
“Uh … I … don’t work here.” Jenny tried to act natural, all the while knowing she looked like a fish out of water.
“Why are you behind the counter?”
A tourist and a smart-ass. “Er … I was looking for the owner. I needed to get something.”
“What are you going to get?” he asked, in a tone that said it was obvious to him she had never fished a day in her sweet life.
“Tape. I need some tape, but no one is here. I was just looking for the owner.”
Returning to the front of the store, she tried to act as if nothing was going on. The newcomer raised an eyebrow that implied he had rightfully put her in her place, but left her alone.
“Some freaking people,” Jenny said under her breath.
“Excuse me?”
She whirled around. The young man was right behind her.
“Did you just call me some fucking person? Who do you think you are, lady? You living in some fantasy world where you can just walk around insulting others and waltzing into stores to steal shit?”
“Steal? I wasn’t going to steal anything.” She took a step back and made a fist behind her back. “I was looking for the owner—Kurt. Honestly I was,” she stammered, stunned by the confrontation. “And I said freaking, but I didn’t intend for you to hear. I’m sorry, truly I am.”
The young man just glared at her for a moment, and then went on with his own business.
She backed away, closer to the door. Maybe it was time to leave, but where to go? Kurt sure isn’t here. She slipped her hand into the pocket of her hoodie, where the note was tucked away, and went back to browsing the lures. After a few minutes, she sighed and headed for the exit, taking one last glance at the counter. No one was there, not even that bastard tourist.
Where did he go? Jenny stood completely still by the door, and listened. There was not a sound in the shop. Not a breath. Nothing. The kid had not passed her, so he had to still be around. The aisles were all empty. This was crazy. Did she imagine the whole thing? Where was this joker?
“Hello? Anyone here?” She took a few steps back toward the counter. Kurt? Anyone? You—freaking asshole kid?” That would surely get a response.
“Asshole? Is that any way to greet someone who has been making you a magnificent lunch?” A gruff but cheery voice issued from the back of the shop.
“Kurt?” She blushed.
“Sorry I’m late. We got in late to shore this morning, and the catch was big. Took longer than I expected to unload and—”
“It’s fine,” Jenny interrupted. “Did you see a young man in here?”
“No. But there’s a note here on the counter.” Kurt picked up the notepad, tore off the page and added it to a file behind him.
She noticed that Kurt too was dressed in flannel and jeans.
Jenny frowned. “No, a kid. He was here but I didn’t see him leave. I figured he went in the back or … somewhere, I’m not sure.”
“The only person I see here is you.” Kurt looked at her, his glance appreciative. “Are you hungry? I’ve got soup on getting hot, and I picked up a fresh loaf of bread. Come on.” He gestured toward the back door of the store. “Don’t worry. Folks come in all the time and leave just like that. Most of my customers are regulars and have tabs. I usually have Hal here on the counter, but he called in sick. He’s probably not, though. He’s