The Last Day

FIFTY-FOUR

When they returned, the TV van was gone. Ward stopped beside the guard standing near the throat of the driveway and rolled down his window. The guard, a tall, wide- shouldered bald man, smiled when they stopped. He had a black garbage bag in his hand, fairly full by the look of it. The street looked pristine compared to only hours earlier. Several bags were already filled and lay side by side near the NO TRESPASSING sign the guards had put up around the property.

“We can pick up the garbage,” Ward told the guard.

“Gives me something to do,” the guard said, smiling.

“Looks pretty quiet,” Ward said. He noticed calluses on the man's strong hands. The black uniform looked uncomfortable in the heat. There was a large survival knife on the gun belt. The man's eyes weren't smiling in concert with his lips.

“Word's out that you're not news anymore,” the guard said. “That FBI agent told the media creeps they were wasting their time and could call Tom Wiggins if they wanted the scoop. They checked it out and hauled ass. I'm just waiting around to be officially dismissed. Todd said with the hole behind your house, you might want some protection until you don't.” He put a hand on the gun at his side. “I'll make sure nobody bothers you guys.”

“I guess you should hang around a little while,” Ward said.

“I'm not going anywhere as long as there's a threat. We'll leave the go- away sign,” he said.

“Thanks,” Natasha said. “We really appreciate it. I don't know your name.”

“People call me Thumper. Y’all have a nice evening. As long as I'm here, you won't be in any danger from any hole- dwelling creep.”

Ward pulled away, rolling the window back up as he went.

“Somehow I don't feel any safer,” Natasha commented. “He is sort of…”

“I know,” Ward answered.

Ward parked the Lexus in the garage and went into the house, closing the rolling door behind them.

“Sometimes I wish we had a big dog,” Natasha said.

“That's doable,” Ward said. “How about a wolf?”

“I was thinking more like a Labrador,” she said. “Or a golden retriever.”

“So, what do you want to do with the rest of the evening, after?” she asked him.

“After what?”

She put her arms around his waist, and kissed him. “If you'll follow me, young man, I'll show you what.”