Echo

mighty interesting, my friend. I think we need to include little Scotty in our investigation, don’t you? We can make a fortune off a that tail a his. This keeps get’n better and better. Can’t wait ta tell my sister; she’s gonna love it. Hope she got rid of the fat cow’s carcass. Don’t want to deal with that now; do we? I got me some strategizing ta do.” Armoni removed a frayed cigarette from behind his crusty ear. Lighting it, he took a deep drag of gratification, exhaling in Tomas’s submissive face, the scurvy bouquet of cheap tobacco and halitosis redolent in decay.
    “Come on, boy. Maybe I’ll give you a go at Kelso tonight to celebrate. I think I might have her suck my dick while she’s at it.” Sneering at Tomas’s red face, he double punched him playfully, “I promise I won’t make you watch me and her get it on again. Now boy, let’s go celebrate.”

Chapter 12
    Jose woke early the next morning. He had a few ideas he wanted to discuss with Abby but he and Scotty were swamped with so much hard work to do today, he doubted he would find the time. His biggest challenge was to start chopping up the gold in their back yard; if you wanted to call it a challenge. He preferred to think of it as their salvation. This was going to be what enabled them to escape from Tomas and his buddy Armoni. And to escape the potential of discovery after yesterday’s incident at the mailbox. Washing up in the bathroom, he admired his tail. He loved looking at it. It gleamed. He wished he didn’t have to keep it hidden. He wasn’t ashamed. On the contrary, he felt proud. It made him special. He felt confronted with a destiny. And it linked him to Abby in the most special way. Wiping his face, he thought he heard raised voices in the living room. Oh, please, it’s too early . Sighing, he hurried down the hallway to confront the newest crisis of the day.
    Entering the living room, Jose was confronted by Abby and Scotty’s sickened faces. Echo and Barney were playing catch me in the kitchen. Well, it couldn’t be that bad if Echo was ignoring them.
    “What’s up, guys?”
    “Jose , it’s gone . Our treehouse is gone. Do you believe it? Look out the back window.” Scotty stamped around, angry as a honeybee caught under a horse’s blanket. Looking over to Abby, Jose saw her nod with confirmation, clearly dumbfounded.
    Going to the window, he confirmed the treehouse was missing. It appeared as if it never existed. Letting himself out the back door, he walked over to the tree. Looking down at the ground, he searched for signs that someone had been here in the night to steal their treehouse away. Nothing. So what the heck happened? He walked back into the house, where Abby and Scotty anxiously awaited his pronouncement.
    “We are royally screwed.” Jose sat, feeling as broken as the busted sofa on which he sat, bracing his head in his hands. Abby and Scotty looked at one another in consternation. Abby slipped over to the sofa, her arms wearing sympathy as she slid them around his neck.
    “Jose, don’t be upset, things aren’t that bad. We still have each other and the house. Maybe we can get our jobs back.”
    “No, Abby. I had plans for us. We need to get out of here. It’s too dangerous here for us to stay.”
    “Jose, what in the world are you talking about?” Abby demanded.
    ###
    Just that moment, the doorbell rang. Abby’s hand rose to her throat. Shaking off her sudden fright, she stood up to go to the door, musing how she had better stop letting Jose’s paranoia get to her. Opening the door, she discovered Kimir’s mother standing there, with Kimir hiding timidly behind his mother’s skirt. She didn’t look happy, by any stretch. Kimir’s mother was a rotund Muslim woman, wearing a standard Hijab. Her no nonsense face exhibited a respectful demeanor but she clearly had a mission on her mind.
    “May I help you? Oh, hello there , Kimir, why don’t you come in?” Abby held open the front door.
    “No thank you, Ms. Preston. If you could be so kind to answer a few questions for me, I would be so grateful.”
    Although Kimir’s mother looked like she would be anything but grateful, Abby said, “Of course.”
    “My Kimir told me how your brother chased off the bullies that were tormenting him. He told me what they did to his turtle. I would like to thank him. Is your Scotty at home?” Abby would prefer Scotty not be exposed to Kimir’s mother. He was not equipped to deal with a