Hitman's Creed - 47

 

"So what are you doing tonight?" Eck asked a couple of days later as he and Joey returned to the station to sign out for the day.

"Nothing planned, why?"

"I've got a date with Judy. You know her, the chick who works at the convenience store just outside of town." Joey nodded. "So anyway she called me, seems her cousin came in from out of town all of a sudden and, well…" Eck looked hopefully at Joey.

Joey laughed. "You want me to come along to entertain her."

"Okay, don't take this wrong because I know you like girls and all, but this cousin's a dude and just a kid, like just turned twenty-one a couple of weeks ago. I figured since we're going bowling maybe you could come along and like be his bowling buddy while I romance Judy."

Joey thought about it, then shrugged. "Sure, why not, beats sitting in my apartment watching bad reality shows."

"Thanks man, I owe you one. You want to meet us at the bowling alley at, say eight?"

As he walked home twenty minutes later Joey was wondering what the hell had possessed him to tell Eck he'd come along. He hated bowling. Then he had a brainstorm. The minute he got into the apartment he tossed his jacket on the sofa, put his gun and the rest of his equipment away and took out his cell.

"Mom, is Mary there?" he asked as soon as his mother picked up the phone. When she said yes, he asked to talk to her. "Hey," he said when his mother put her on the phone, "you doing anything tonight?"

She wasn't but it still took some fast talking to get her to agree to come along, which included his promising to cover for her at the coffeehouse on his day off.

At eight on the dot he pulled into the bowling alley parking lot. He figured he'd introduce Mary to Eck, who'd introduce her to the cousin, then he'd be free to leave, or at least sit at the bar with a beer and people-watch instead of making a fool of himself on the lanes.

When they got inside Joey saw that Eck had already gotten a lane. He sat in the booth with Judy, who was a reasonably pretty blonde, on one side and a rather studious looking young man on the other.

Eck greeted Joey with a cocked eyebrow when he saw Mary. Joey immediately introduced her then Eck introduced the young man, whose name was Nate.

"Ready to rumble?" Eck asked with a grin once the introductions were finished.

Joey chuckled and said that since he was a lousy bowler he'd be happy just to watch or run for food and drinks when needed. Immediately everyone gave him their orders, laughing when he rolled his eyes. "What do you think, that I have two sets of hands?"

"You did offer," Eck pointed out, waving him away. "So go."

With a mocking salute, Joey did. He came back a few minutes later laden down with drinks and snacks. Mary was up at that point and he winced when she rolled a gutter ball. Then, he went back to settle at the bar where he took out the book he'd brought with him to keep himself busy.