Haven: Returning Evidence 4

[amichan]

 The lights are on so Julia has to be safely on board.

She opens the door as I'm putting the plank down, “When are we setting off.”

“Well we can set off after eating and stop for a while and sleep...or I can sleep and,” I shudder, “get up early, and get us going if you're willing to make morning food.”

“I'm all for leaving now,” she says, “Why torture...but I can still make breakfast. That way you can pilot some more—get us more distance.”

“I prefer this plan.”

She laughs, “Then why not just rule it?”

I shrug, “I was feeling democratic.”

After rock, paper, scissors I make us a steak stir fry and then we get underway after stopping to gas up. Julia joins me in the cockpit after about twenty minutes bringing with her my jacket.

She sits down nearby and watches me for a little while, “So, earlier—I was wanting to ask you about the tattooed man—I mean we talked about that whole thing...”

“No, that's fine,” I agree, “It's fine. I just got bent out of shape for a bit because there was a death threat, but that's done with. I'm good. I promise.”

She nods for a moment, but then, “Death threat?”

“That's done with. Stoney's arrested—she's the one who was after me.”

“Sooo...Evi,” she says.

I find myself wincing, “Can we talk about the tattooed guy again?”

“Sure,” she says, unfortunately, “Look, you did want me to keep you on track there, right?”

I nod.

“If there was a tattooed guy who showed up right in front us would you freak out?”

I sigh, because I know me, “I guess it would depend on what he was doing,” I run a hand through my hair, “I—damn it, I'd be on edge, watching him, body language...this is exactly why I didn't want Vanessa to tell me.”

It's her turn to sigh, “Remember how I said that I inherited mine like a birthmark. Uncle Vince did his too, and I mean you freaking out about these things it's—it's pretty much like when people in town freak out because you're a Crocker.”

Ouch.

“I know there are times I could see Uncle Vince actually wanting to kill you,” she laughs, “he's really harped on about me living on the boat with you almost as bad as Mom would about me hanging out with you sometimes...but can you imagine Uncle Vince--” she lunges towards me thrusting her hand in my face.

“Watch it,” I flail away, deliberately spinning the wheel, “I'm steering here.” I shift us back on course quickly and the Cape lunges back in the opposite direction.

“Are you trying to make me sea sick?” she demands.

“I'm not the one threatening to strangle me.”

“I was trying to prove you're being an idiot.”

“Point made, alright?” I tell her, “I was being stupid—an idiot even.”

“Good. Now, Miss Dense.”

I have to laugh at that too, “Fine, but you need to go get beer and bring it up here.”

Julia makes good and returns with a six pack of German beer in glass bottles. She sets it between us. I pop one open and hand it to her and then do the same for one of my own caps clinking back into the cardboard carry holder. I've had a few minutes to think but I'm still not sure exactly what to get into with regards the several years of Evi debacle that I lived. I can hope that she'll have blown town by the time we get back so it'll really be a none issue, but I wouldn't put it past her to go around interrogating people—if she's got some weird scheme in mind—and, of course, then she'll find out I was full of shit. Julia leans over and clinks bottles with me.

“I'm hoping she'll be a none issue when we get back,” I point out, “That I convinced her I was blowing town and only had the Gull as a front...”

Julia laughs, “She's your past and everything...”

“Yeah. I left her...” I try to think, “several years ago, as I said.”

“Is it okay for me to hate her, Boss? Because I kind of think I hate her.”

I sort of snort-laugh at that, for a moment there's a snippet of a thought that Julia is jealous of her, but that's quickly chased down by common sense given the lack of reason for anything like that. Julia's crush on me was a decade or more ago. Now, it's just friendship and I'm not fucking that up, I have precious little of it.

“I'm not going to say anything if you do. I...our relationship was mutually destructive,” I shake my head, “romantic equivalent of heroin really,” I drain the beer, and get another one. Julia is still working on her first, “but it's done. She might be after more,” I smirk, “but I'm not. It's not a good place to be...too many opportunities to turn into my father; but like I said, hopefully she'll be gone when we get back. You dunking her in the drink can't have done anything for her pride either.”

Julia gives a light laugh but she still looks pensive as she takes another sip of her beer, “So, no working arrangements with her? Because I really don't want to have to apologize for dunking her and try to make nice.”

“No,” I shake my head, emphatically, “None. I don't foresee having any, either. She did have a job offer, but she screwed me over badly the last time we worked together and just no.”

“Good,” Julia says, “Because I mean, she waltzes in and thinks she can just do whatever the fuck she's used to without stopping to assess the situation? Or even asking if her help is needed, or listening to the answer? She either gets the hell out of town, or she's going to get herself hurt or killed butting into something she doesn't understand and isn't trying to understand, and she's going to blame everyone but herself for it.”

“Alright, then.”

Julia shakes her head out, “Okay,” she says, “I said my piece. I'm done on that.”

I nod. At least Evi didn't show up trying to bind me to her with a child. I don't need to be following that train of thought right now.

“Duke?” Julia asks, “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I nod, “Just getting tired. Find a good place for us to drop anchor and we can sleep for the night.”

She nods, and goes to the map, and the GPS and comes up with a place within fifteen minutes of where we are now. We drop anchor next to a small island, and I take the rest of the beer with me to my cabin as I bid Julia good night.

“I'm making breakfast,” she reminds me, “You're the one who can drive.”

“It's piloting. This is a boat, not a car. Don't offend her.”