Tribal Law by Jenna Kernan

DMV. That was an expensive ride for a man with no job. Gabe stared down at Pablo’s image. The face that stared back held a defiant smirk. He decided that he needed to get eyes on Nota.
    Gabe’s eye strayed to the glowing dashboard clock as he again compared the time the trip to Phoenix should take Selena against the actual time.
    He told himself that he needed to tell her that the state police would be by to question her, but that was only part of it. He wouldn’t feel right until he saw her with his own eyes.
    It was close to ten when the familiar box truck bounced along on bad struts and a passenger window now constructed of gray duct tape and cardboard. That might be the best sight he’d seen all day long. She passed right in front of him and he saw her for a moment, sitting tall behind the wheel. He pulled out and followed, drawing up beside her as she came to a stop before the modest three-bedroom house her parents had been assigned by HUD before she was even born.
    He was out of his vehicle before she had her lights off. Selena gave him a tired smile that warmed him like nothing else could. His heart just couldn’t seem to remember that she’d broken their engagement, and it went slamming into his ribs like a giddy puppy spotting its favorite toy.
    â€œHello, Selena.”
    â€œChief,” she said.
    She knew he didn’t like it when she called him that, but she did it anyway, often.
    On the other side of the cab, a door slammed. “Is that Gabe? You about gave me a heart attack, boy. Thought it was another ambush.”
    Frasco appeared before the truck, a shadow in the darkness.
    â€œEverything all right?” Gabe asked.
    â€œThey didn’t shoot us,” said Frasco. “Didn’t pay us, either. What’s happening with Jason Leekela?”
    â€œWe are only saying there was a shooting and that two parties were involved.”
    â€œThey shot each other?” Frasco laughed. “Sammy will know that’s not right.”
    Probably, Gabe thought, and they’d deal with that when it became an issue.
    â€œWhat happens next?” asked Gabe.
    â€œThey’ll call us.”
    â€œWill you let me know?” he asked.
    â€œDryer will, I expect.”
    â€œWhere’s Dryer?” asked Gabe.
    â€œDropped him at his car. Said he’d call you tomorrow.”
    â€œI look forward to that.”
    â€œYou want to come in?” asked Frasco. “Ruthie has some supper waiting,” he said.
    â€œThank you, no.”
    Her father arched his back and groaned. “I’m going in. Selena?”
    â€œIn a minute, Dad.”
    He hesitated, then left them alone in the darkness. Gabe drew closer and Selena leaned back against her box truck. Above them the stars shone bright enough to make the snow cover glow silver.
    â€œI was worried about you,” Gabe said.
    â€œYes?” She looked surprised. Did she really think he could just turn off the feelings he had once had for her? Could she?
    Selena stared up at him with dark, compelling eyes.
    Gabe stepped back before he did something foolish. More foolish than coming here in the first place.
    Selena captured his hand and held it for a moment, gave it a tiny squeeze and then released him. The moonlight gilded her skin. She parted her lips and Gabe stopped moving away.
    Why had he taken that damned ring back?
    All his reasonable, rational thinking blew to hell beneath the smoldering gaze she cast him. He couldn’t think. He couldn’t breathe. He felt awkward, unsure of what to say. He was always like this around her, ever since she’d shown him the door. They’d lost the familiarity they had once shared. But not the attraction. That was blazing between them as strong as a forest fire. He stood before her under the starry darkness.
    He should ask what happened in Phoenix and where she went and who she met. He should ask why Dryer had left her instead of seeing her safely back