Hunter hadn’t thought much about it then, but now he reflected on how he’d helped Money out, the way his father had helped out a guy down on his luck, who was going to kill himself. His father had maybe saved that man’s life, had maybe taught Hunter something without his realizing it—something he never acknowledged then but understood now. Giving up something of value to help another. How damn many lessons had his father maybe tried to teach him as a kid and he never realized it?

In the house, Olivia sat on the couch reading a Tattoo magazine, her brunette locks pushed over her ears, one hand balancing the magazine, the other rubbing Ruby’s head.

“Get the toolbox unloaded?”

“Unloaded and wheeled into the garage.”

“Didn’t block any of the weights, did you? Don’t need the extra workout of moving that heavy son of a bitch.”

“All good and outta our way.”

“Cool beans.” Olivia paused, then told Hunter, “Go do whatever it is you gotta do. I’ll be here with Ruby when you get back. I can see you need time, that it’s weighing on you.”

“Itch and Nugget say they’re gonna ride along.”

Smiling, Olivia said, “They’re true to you.”

“Always have been.” Staring at Olivia, he smiled. Walked over and kissed her on top of her head. “Enough of the soap opera bullshit. Best get packed if I wanna get some miles in before nightfall.”

Walking from the living room to the hallway, stepping down the hardwood to the bedroom, the only thing that brought Hunter peace of mind was being on his bike out on the open road. Air peeling his skin. Sunlight lifting his mood. Alone with his thoughts. At one with his surroundings.

Pulling his vintage military olive-drab backpack from the closet, he grabbed some T-shirts, jeans. Underwear from his oak dresser. Took a .45 Colt and a box of shells from his gun cabinet in the corner. Same gun his father bought from that guy all those years ago. A gift before Hunter left for the war. Dad felt it held some kind of luck. For Hunter, it was one of the few items he had from his father. It had sentimental value and also gave personal protection. You never knew what you might encounter when riding cross-country.

Slinging the pack over his shoulder, he grabbed a road atlas and compass from his office, just in case he needed it. Hunter was old school. Coiled his phone charger. His phone pressed into his pocket along with his matte-black Benchmade Infidel double-edged knife. Though he still had three grand in his wallet from work that he’d never deposited, he needed to stop by an ATM for some extra travel cash.

He bent down and kissed Olivia, patted Ruby on the head, told Olivia, “No idea how long I’ll be gone.”