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Chapter 1

I didn't realize he was a olf at first My nose isn't at its best when surrounded by axle grease and burnt oil-and it's not like there are a lot of stray olves running around So when soet ht he was a customer

I was burrowed under the engine co a rebuilt trans a one-woe was that I had to stop and start every tiruood way to deal with custoone off to college, and I hadn't replaced him yet-it's hard to find someone ill do all the jobs I don't want to

"Be with you in a sec," I said, trying not to sound snappish I do my best not to scare off my customers if I can help it

Transet a trans a female is useful in et the and karate can't e can compensate, but sometimes there's no substitute for et the job done

Grunting with effort, I held the transed with my knees and one hand With the other I slipped the first bolt in and tightened it I wasn't finished, but the transmission would stay where it hile I dealt with my customer

I took a deep breath and shtly for practice before I rolled out fro to wipe the oil off ood enough look at the boy to see he wasn't a custoht to help him

The knees of his jeans were ripped out and stained with old blood and dirt Over a dirty tee, he wore a too-s for Noveton

He looked gaunt, as though he'd been a while without food My nose told asoline, oil, and antifreeze per time since he'd seen a shower And, under the dirt, sweat, and old fear, was the distinctive scent of olf

"I ondering if you had some work I could do?" he asked hesitantly "Not a real job, ma'am Just a few hours' work"

I could smell his anxiety before it was drowned out by a rush of adrenaline when I didn't immediately refuse His words sped up until they crashed into one another "A job would be okay, too, but I don't have a social security card, so it would have to be cash under the table"

Most of the people who co to tide the season This boy hite-bread A a ith chestnut hair and brown eyes He was tall enough to be eighteen, I supposed, but e closer to fifteen His shoulders ide but bony, and his hands were a little large, as if he still had sorew into the man he would be

"I' cars, but I used to help "

I believed he was strong: olves are As soon as I had picked up the distinctive e to drive hi a olf, I control my instincts-I'htly in the daer instincts