Change of Plans

Agonizing pain continues to surge through Tommy's body as he's finishing up his first satellite installation of the day. Of course, the client bickering in her screechy voice doesn't help his anguish a bit. 

"You really shouldn't be working if you're sick," she spouts as he's hacking up a lung.

"I'm not sick," he wheezes. Tommy turns his head, hoping to deter the smell.

"Then why are you coughing so much?"

"Your perfume makes me gag."

"I wouldn't expect someone with your caliber to appreciate the finer things of life." Raising her nose, she storms out of the room.

People in my social status wouldn't be stupid enough to spend money on half the shit you rich folks do, he thinks, gazing around at her collection of junk. 

"The uglier the piece, the more it's worth." Hernandez once said. "Ain't that the truth?" he snickers, packing up his equipment.

Stepping into the hall, he quickly glances around. Finding the coast is clear, he tiptoes toward the den. You deserve to be robbed after all the shit you've put me through today, he thinks, setting a camera in place. 

Tommy hears a growl and then feels something sharp pierce his leg. He looks down to find a small Pekingese clamped to his calf. He reaches for the dog, hoping to pull him away. Tommy loses his balance, stumbling into an oak bookcase. Knick Knacks tumble around him as he slides to the floor. The mangy beast continues to tear into his leg. Using his free foot, Tommy thumps the dog in the head. Yelping, the mutt scampers away.

"What's going on?" the lady asks, stomping through the door. She notices the broken keepsakes scattered everywhere, "My trinkets, you've broken my precious trinkets, she gasps." Scooping up a few of the pieces she turns and says, "Why did you do this? Why?"

"I was trying to get your dog off my leg and fell." Tommy points to his torn pant leg.

"You must have provoked Pokies to make him attack you like that."

"I didn't do a damn thing to your vicious mutt."

She opens the front door. "I want you out of my house, and I want you out now."

"Gladly." Grabbing his stuff, Tommy storms through the door.

"Don't think that your boss won't hear about this," she yells, slamming the door too. 

"He'll side with me on this one," Tommy thinks, stomping toward his truck.

He's tossing the last of the equipment in when his phone rings. "I was just about to call you, he answers." Glaring at the house he continues. "It seems that I've run into a little trouble with an install today."

" I heard all about it." 

"Sorry, sir."

 "So exactly what went on today?"

" Her mutt attacked me. I bumped into the shelf trying to get away." Glancing down at his leg he adds, "The beat tore me up good." 

" Do you need an ambulance?"

 "I"I think I'm alright to drive."

"Go to the hospital, I'll meet you there."

Throwing his bag into the truck, Tommy climbs inside. Glaring at the house one last time he says, "You're going to be sorry we ever met." 

***

The sergeant finds her detectives working at their desk when she steps in the door. Surely, they've found something by now, she thinks as she walks toward them.

"Do you have any news for me, guys?" she asks, plopping down at her desk.

"The school security claims John Harris returned to campus late last night and hasn't left."

"Have you found anything on the Honda Accord, Jeff?"

"I'm still looking, Serg."

"What about the list of volunteers?"

"None of them drive a Honda and they don't fit the neighbor's description. The manager doesn't believe any of them worked when the Harris' did either." Jerry reaches for his phone.

"What about the material?"

"We haven't heard back about that yet." 

Hanging up, Jerry turns and says, "That was the lab, they said the DNA from the blood found in the yard isn't in their data bank, but they did determine the victim is a healthy white male. They said they'll try to determine an approximate age soon."

"I bet we'll find out if it's a thirty-something the neighbors saw driving the Honda."

***

Tommy is sitting in the hospital waiting for his turn. He was supposed to be next, but a car accident bumped him to the end. I wonder if any of these guys have money. He's scanning the room for possible targets when his boss steps through the door. 

"How are you feeling?" he asks, plopping down beside him.

"As good as can be expected, I guess." He pulls up his pant leg. 

"He did take a chunk out of you."

"I know." Tommy grimaces as he moves his pant leg back down. Remembering what the doctor had said about Jen, he looks over and says, "it's been a bad day all the way around."

I'm about to make it a whole lot worse, the man thinks. "The customer is threatening to file two lawsuits. One against you and the second against the company. I got her to agree to forget the incident if we reimburse her for everything you broke and give her two years of free services." 

"It wouldn't have happened at all if she'd put the dog up like she was told."

"She claims she locked him in the den, and that you opened the door without her permission."

"It happened in the den, alright, but the door was open when I walked in."

"Why were you in there to begin with?"

"I thought she said that's where the second TV was." 

""She also claims you were rude to her, used foul language and was constantly moving things around." 

"The old bat had it out for me the moment I stepped in the door. Making snide remarks about me and my wife just to get under my skin."

"That may be true, but until we can investigate the matter, I have no choice but to suspend you." 

No, please, don't 't do that. I have a wife and four kids to support."

"I don't want to do this to you, Tommy, but I have to follow company policy, otherwise, my ass will be on the line."

" I'll reimburse her personally for everything I broke, just please don't fire me, sir."

"I'm sorry, Tommy, but I don't have a choice. You can pick up your final paycheck tomorrow." Standing up, he slowly walks towards the door.

***

After being released from the hospital, Tommy decides to visit his pals at the warehouse. He hadn't planned on working for Hernandez again, but now that he's unemployed, he's going to need some type of income coming in.

"Tommy old buddy, what brings you by?"

"There was a problem at one of the jobs. So my boss wants me to take a few days off." Tommy shows him the bandaged leg. "I was hoping you had some work for me."

"What did you get yourself into, lad?" He looks at his extremity again.

"A damn ankle biter came after me, tore me up good."

"I see. Well, we don't have anything planned this afternoon, but meet us back here this evening, say around seven thirty."

"I will, sir."

Hernandez glances at his watch. "I hate to cut this short, but I have somewhere I need to be."

"I'll come back tonight, Sir," He replies as he's being escorted out the door.

***

Jerry sees the sergeant walking by when he looks up from his desk. "Sergeant," he says, motioning her over.

"What is it, Jerry?"

"I wanted to let you know that I've called all the hospitals in a 60-mile radius and only one person came in with a dog bite today, it's a guy by the name of Tommy Campbell."

"Is someone picking him up?"

"He's not our shooter. He was attacked during a routine satellite installation. His company confirmed it."

"This is a strange coincidence, sergeant."

"What is, Kirk?"

"Tommy Campbell is thirty-two and he has sandy blond hair." He points to the screen.

"Does he own an Accord?"

"He doesn't own a car, but his mother in-laws have several and one of them just happens to be a Honda."

"Call his in-laws, see if they still have the car."

"I'm on it, sergeant."

"Sergeant, the lab confirmed the blood found in the bedroom belongs to the victims."

"What about the fingerprint?"

"I've run it through every system and still can't find a match."