Hero's Curse by Jack J. Lee Read Free Book Online

kitchen.
    “Mina, this is perfect. I’d like to give you a check for the first two months rent now, and if you don’t mind, I’d like to move in tonight. I can give you my information including my last few landlords so you can do a credit and background check now.”
    She looked hesitant. I gave her my best ‘oh, please pity me’ look and let a barely noticeable catch creep into my voice. “Well, I’ve been camping in my truck and living in hotels for longer than I want and you wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had. For a while now, I’ve been moving from town to town every few months because of my job. That career seems to be over. I’ve had a lot of changes hit me all at once and I’d like to get things stabilized. It’d really help a lot if I knew I had a place.”
    Mina still looked undecided. I gave her my best little boy lost smile. I knew I had her when she grinned back. “Well, if you give me your info now, I guess it wouldn’t be a problem for you to move in immediately.” She gave me a mock stern stare. “You better pass the background check.”
    “Mina, I have the conscience of an angel; I’ll pass any background check you’ve got. John Evans is the name on all my documentation, but I go by Vic. Here is my Indiana driver’s license and a credit card. I’ve listed my social security number and the contact information of my last three landlords on this sheet. So if you don’t mind, I’ll move my stuff while you look me up.” Quickly, before she could change her mind, I went down to my truck to get my bags. I had gargled with tap water after I had upchucked at Brody’s place, but I hadn’t brushed my teeth. Even though I smelled and looked ‘magically’ clean, I didn’t feel clean. I desperately wanted a shower.
    I had pulled my truck into the designated parking spot in the back and was pulling my two pieces of luggage out when a BMW Mini pulled up behind me. A strawberry blond in a cheerleader’s uniform got out. She looked about sixteen.
    “Hi, are you the new renter?”
    “Yeah, my name is Vic.”
    “I’m Andi, nice to meet you.” As I shook her hand, I could see Andi’s eyes sizing me up with approval. To be fair, it may have been because she wasn’t covered with sweat and dirt but she was better looking than her sister. Like I said, I’m an average looking guy; the last thing I needed was a jailbait nymphomaniac. I didn’t try to hide the glumness on my face and in my voice as I replied, “Nice to meet you, too.” I saw shock on Andi’s face as I abruptly turned away and went up to my room.
    I grabbed my tooth brush and went into the shower. I let hot water run over me and brushed my teeth. It was wonderful to feel clean again. I let my mind drift. It just figured that the house I’d found with a threshold would come with an over-attractive landlord and an under-aged sister that liked older men. I didn’t look my real age, but to a normal sixteen-year old, someone like me who looked like he was in his mid twenties should have been too old to check out.
    The idea of being celibate unless I got married was disturbing enough; the idea of never having privacy, the possibility of always being watched by God or a guardian angel was disgusting. B had jokingly encouraged me to masturbate as soon as I was alone, but if God and angels truly existed, there was no privacy. The thought of B or Jehovah watching me at all times turned my stomach.
    I didn’t have any concerns about Mina’s background check. If I had been willing to live in the woods like the Unabomber, it would have been possible for me to live off the grid. Living off the grid is a pain in the ass. It’s close to impossible to have any of the modern conveniences like broadband internet access, smart phone, bank accounts, or credit cards while off the grid. To get all of these things you need a valid social security number.
    An illegal immigrant can buy a stolen identity for less than two hundred dollars; these