Chapter 15

Dock looked up from his assembling of kitchen tools. “You say something?”

Leo shook his head.

“Good! Why don’t you grab that chair and sit down.” Dock nodded to an old chair resting at the end of the table. “Pull it up close.” He ordered and Leo quickly found himself obliging the demand with nervous, frenzied movements.

“I’m gonna go grab the berries, you stay right there.” He pointed at the chair and Leo complied. “You ever taste fresh blackberries?” Dock called out from across the kitchen. He was over at one of the large sinks that lined the left wall of the kitchen. Leo could hear the splash of water.

“No!” Leo called back. He was beginning to get uncomfortable, and felt like he was being led down a road where there were no signs as to what was around the next corner. He chewed on the side of his hand, a nervous habit he’d picked up back in grad school. He didn’t realize how serious the habit was until he accidentally broke skin once.