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“That’s not true,” Grandma said. “One of them said the word for poop when I started shooting.”
“Caca?” Tank asked.
“No,” Grandma said. “The S-word.”
“Since when aren’t you saying the S-word?” I asked Grandma.
“It’s left over from Lent. God told me to keep going with it.”
Tank looked impressed. “Did God really talk to you?”
“I’m pretty sure it was God,” Grandma said. “It happened at Mass when I couldn’t find my phone. I said you-know-what and this voice told me not to ever say that word again. It was either God or Morgan Freeman.”
I thought it was unlikely that either of them would be talking to Grandma, but hell, I’ve been wrong before.
Tank opened the passenger-side door for Grandma, who settled herself and put her purse on her lap.
Ranger opened my car door and brushed chunks of window glass off my seat. “Do you want me to send someone over to fix this?”
“Thanks,” I said, sliding behind the wheel. “I can handle it.”
“Babe,” Ranger said.
He closed the door and waited while I backed up and left the lot.
Grandma took another look at her purse. “We have to figure out what we’re going to tell your mother. And I’m going to need a new black pocketbook.”
“Take your phone but leave your bag and gun with me. I’ll get you a replacement tomorrow. Are you going to a viewing tomorrow?”
“No,” Grandma said. “Tomorrow I’m going to bingo. I like to mix it up a little. You don’t want to go to a viewing every night. After a while the lilies get to me.”
I dropped Grandma off and headed for home. I turned onto Hamilton and noticed I’d picked up a tail. I called Ranger.
“Are you following me?” I asked him.
“Yes,” he said. “I want to make sure I’m the only one attacking you in your parking lot.”
Fifteen minutes later I parked in my building’s lot and Ranger parked next to me. He walked me to my door and unlocked it for me.
“No one attacked me,” I said.
“Disappointed?”
“No. I’ve already been attacked once tonight. Once is already too much.”
We stepped into my apartment and Ranger flipped the light switch. “Did you see enough of the two men tonight to recognize them as the kidnappers?”
“I saw enough to say that theymightbe the kidnappers. I’m struggling with the motive. Why would they come after me?”
“Intimidation. Interrogation. They’re losing patience. They thought this would be easy and it’s going south on them. There’s something valuable about the coin. They might be worried that you’ve discovered the value and are trying to cash in.”
“And sacrifice Connie?”
“We’re dealing with men who kidnapped a woman and maybe murdered a man. It wouldn’t be a stretch for them to think you’d sacrifice Connie.” His phone buzzed and he answered it. He listened for a moment and nodded. “Where is he?” he asked. He nodded again and disconnected.
“Bad news?” I asked.
“One of my men has been injured. Not life-threatening but I have to check on him.” He gave me a quick kiss. “I’d feel better if you didn’t look so relieved to see me go.”
