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He instantly disconnected.
“These people are losers,” Lula said. “They’ve got no imagination. All they can think of is taking a hostage.”
“It’s not going to be me,” Connie said. “I’m paying attention and I’m carrying.”
“Ditto on that,” Lula said. “Not gonna be me either.”
I was lacking confidence that it wouldn’t be me.
“Business as usual,” I said. “Let’s collect the guy who drove the fire truck into the flower shop.”
“You haven’t got a car,” Lula said. “And my car isn’t suitable for transporting felons.”
“What’s wrong with your car?” I asked her.
“It’s too nice. Why don’t we just go get you a car.”
“I haven’t got enough money. I need the money from the fire truck guy.”
“I know a guy who practically gives cars away,” Lula said. “We could talk to him.”
“Are they legal?”
“Mostly it’s that they’re refurbished.”
“Refurbished would be okay.”
Lula drove us down Stark to the end and pulled into the junkyard.
“Hold on,” I said, “this is the junkyard.”
“Yeah, they have a side business going,” Lula said. “Some of the cars get a second chance at life. It’s like when you go to the animal shelter, and you adopt one of the dogs or cats and give them their forever home. Only these cars are more like getting a last-gasp home. I know about this because I sort of date one of the guys here. Andy. I called and told him to expect us.”
Andy was waiting at the gate. He looked okay. Jeans and T-shirt. Some muscle. Shaved head. Large gold tooth front and center. He motioned for us to park in a cleared area that was next to a line of sad cars.
“So here are the cars,” he said to me. “They all run, and the tires have some miles left on them. Just pick one out.”
This is what my life has come to, I thought. Last-gasp cars.
“What do you think?” I asked Lula. “Do you see anything you like?”
“If it was for me, no. But your cars never last more than a couple weeks before they get blown up or smashed by a garbage truck. How about the pink one?”
“I don’t think I can do pink,” I said.
“Truly, the best one here is the little gray Whatever,” Andy said. “I think most of it is Toyota. You can’t go wrong with Toyota.”
“Does it smell inside?” Lula asked.
Andy walked over and sniffed at it. “It smells like a used car.”
“How much is it?” I asked.
“How much do you have?” Andy asked.
“Four hundred and fifty dollars,” I said.
“That’s a little shy,” Andy said. “Lula’s gonna have to make up for it in lovin’.”
