You Do What You Have To - 25

 

 

Micky nodded. "What about people like the mail carrier or a deliveryman?"

 

"The mail box is on the post by the gate. It's the only thing not linked to the system, for obvious reasons. Before you ask, I'm careful when I open it. I rather like my hands attached to my body. And if I do get a delivery, which is rare, they know to call first to let me know they're coming because"—Robin grinned—"if they don't, Thor might eat them. Or at least that's the excuse I use."

 

"He probably could, too," Micky said, looking at Thor, who was standing in the doorway.

 

"Naw. He prefers steak to human."

 

"Do you actually let him roam outside?"

 

"Yep. He's as good as any motion sensor—which I turn off, except the ones at the top of the fence, when I let him out—and he's trained not to eat anything he finds out there."

 

"Someone could shoot him. Oh. Right. They'd have to climb the fence to do that."

 

"Yep. And if you didn't notice, there are no tall trees outside the fence. Just bushes between me and the nearest neighbor."

 

"You've thought of everything."

 

Robin smiled wryly. "I have to. No one should know this is where I live, but there's never a solid guarantee that's the case." He closed the panel to the security center, then the cabinet, asking, "Do you feel safer now?"

 

"I felt safe as soon as I saw Thor. No. Before that. When I figured out you actually meant it when you said you'd protect me."

 

"And I will, to the best of my abilities."

 

"Which I'm sure are considerable."

 

"No brag, but I like to think so." Robin turned off the laundry room light and they headed back upstairs.

 

"Night," Micky said, going toward his room. Then he stopped, saying with all the sincerity he could muster, as tired as he was, "Thank you for everything."

 

"You're welcome," Robin replied, smiling. "Get some sleep. In the morning we can decide what comes next."

 

"That works for me."

 

As he settled into bed, Micky wondered just what would come next.