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Not for me. I liked easy.
I parked behind the Tesla, preventing Steven from backing up. I could see Steven at the cash register, talking to the clerk. I had my cuffs in my back pocket and an illegal stun gun in mysweatshirt pocket. Lula and I walked in and stood on either side of Steven.
“I don’t suppose I could borrow some money from you,” he said. “I ran out of the house without my wallet, and I have a rad craving for gummy bears.”
I paid for the gummy bears and cuffed Steven with his hands in front so he could eat. We got him into the backseat of the Whatever and drove him to the police station on North Clinton. I called Connie after we dropped him off.
“Is Vinnie still in the municipal building?” I asked Connie.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I haven’t been able to reach him.”
“I brought Steven Plover in just now. He’s going to want to be bailed out before court closes shop for the day.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Connie said. “I’ll call his mother.”
“Tell her the Tesla is parked at the convenience store on Mulberry. Have you heard any more from the kidnappers?”
“No,” Connie said. “There was just that one call.”
“Who do you think they’re going to take?” Lula asked when I hung up.
“Me,” I said. “They tried to get me after the viewing and Grandma scared them away. I’m sure they think I have the money.”
I turned onto Hamilton Avenue and saw that I’d picked up a tail. Black SUV. Rangeman. Ranger had no doubt tapped into the call from the kidnappers and reached the same conclusion I’d reached. That I had a big target on my back. Plus, I had a new Whatever that wasn’t yet tagged with a tracker.
Lula got out at the office, and I continued on to my parents’house. I parked on the street, got out of the Whatever, and waved at the Rangeman guy.
My mom was knitting, and Grandma was on her iPad when I walked in.
“I’m going to mooch lunch,” I said.
“Help yourself,” my mom said. “There’s leftover pot roast for sandwiches with gravy, or there’s deli meat and cheese.”
I went with the pot roast, no gravy.
“What’s new on Facebook?” I asked Grandma.
“I wasn’t on Facebook,” she said. “I was on Twitter. I like to watch the rocket launches. What’s new with you?”
“I have a new car. Actually it’s not new. It’s just different.”
“What does it smell like?”
“It smells like used car.”
“That’s a step in the right direction,” Grandma said. “How’s Connie looking? That was all they were talking about at the bakery. Her disappearance is a big mystery. Even her mother doesn’t know where she was. I just about got a rupture trying to keep the secret.”
I made myself a pot roast sandwich with mustard, horseradish, and slices of dill pickle. I can’t cook but I can make a sandwich.
“Connie’s good,” I said. “She’s back at work.”
“Have you heard any more from the kidnappers?” Grandma asked.
“Only that they want their money.”
“Can’t blame them,” Grandma said.
“Are you going to give them their money?” my mother asked me.
