Mr. Fred: The Watchman at the Edge of Dade County – A Quiet Force in My Lover, The Hitman

He’s not the hero. He’s not the villain. But Mr. Fred is the kind of man you don’t forget.

If you’ve been following the teasers and clips for my romance-thriller novel My Lover, The Hitman, you’ve probably caught glimpses of a scruffy older man wearing old jeans, a trucker hat, and always with a cigarette dangling from his fingers. That’s Mr. Fred.

At first glance, he’s just comic relief—an old drunk clinging to his Walkman and old-school ways in a world that’s gone digital. But trust me, Mr. Fred is more than meets the eye. He's the man behind the curtain. A relic. A rebel. And the last of a dying breed.

A Keeper of Secrets… and Cash

Mr. Fred owns and operates Fred’s Storage, a dusty facility nestled on the edge of Dade County. No cameras. No computers. No Wi-Fi. No questions asked. He prefers things that way—and so do the people who come to him. He only accepts cash and minds his business. But don’t let the outdated exterior fool you: Fred is a man who sees everything.

In Chapter 10, D’vone returns battered and bruised after a deadly encounter, dragging himself back to the very place that sheltered his mother decades ago—Fred’s Storage. And Fred? He never blinked.

Because he already knew.

The Connection to Roxanne

Mr. Fred met Roxanne, D’vone’s mother, years ago when she rented a storage unit during her many mysterious trips between Miami and London. He watched her move in silence, noticed the money she sent faithfully by mail, and never asked questions about the strange comings and goings. But he knew. He saw enough. He heard enough. He suspected more than most would dare.

Even his late wife, Brenda, knew there was something different about Roxanne—and once offered to let young D’vone stay for summer camp. Roxanne never allowed it. And so, Fred and Brenda backed off, but treated her like family all the same.

When Roxanne died, Fred didn’t mourn like others. He poured a drink. Lit a cigarette. And waited.

D’vone’s Return

Now a grown man living on the edge, D’vone returns to Fred’s Storage seeking a secret hideout, ready to convert two units into his private lair. When he walked through that rusted screen door, Fred recognized him instantly—saw his mother’s fire in his eyes and greeted him like a grandson coming home.

D’vone’s return rekindled something in Fred: a promise he never made out loud, but one he kept all the same.

The Man Who Says Nothing, But Knows Everything

Fred never installed security cameras. He’s not paranoid—he’s just smart.

And even though Fred drinks too much and dances like no one’s watching in his dusty old office, don’t let the act fool you. He’s a survivor. He’s also someone who’s loyal to the grave—especially to Roxanne.

Final Thoughts

Fred’s role in My Lover, The Hitman may seem small, but it’s vital. Without him, D’vone wouldn’t have a base. Without him, the past would remain untethered. And without him, this love story wouldn’t have the quiet undertone of legacy, loyalty, and silence that makes it truly hit.

Fred reminds us that sometimes the loudest loyalty is the one unspoken.

So next time you see that old man with the cigarette and the grizzled beard pop up in my video clips, just know—he’s not just background noise.

He’s the soul of a promise kept.

Read the full story in My Lover, The Hitman—available now on EricaStrawberry.com

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