30 (2)

“Turn you in? Why in the world would I do that? Hell, I’ve ran from the law before. What you two need to do is get out of town. I’ll help you with that if you want.”

Phil sniffled again. “You’ll help us run from the law? Why?” This question got the “why ask why” look from Bob.

“Cause I don’t hate you two. You’re quiet and keep to yourselves, and you typically leave me alone.  Besides, after all those years in that apartment I could use a dash of adventure. Now, do you two want out of town or what?”

“Yes, yes.” Bob said, enthusiastically.

“Well, then pipe down and stay down. My evening plans will have to wait.”

“Plans?” Phil asked, almost wishing he hadn’t afterward.

“If you must know, Karla Kupcakes is at Scarlett O’Hara’s tonight, and I was going to get some autographs.” Old Man B said, as he patted the brown paper bag in his front seat.

“Forget I asked” said Phil, as he laid down in the back of the Pacer, really trying to use any kind of mental floss that would take away that image.

***

“Detective, we just got word in about this place. It was rented by a Gerrard…Dinkley?”

Tina snickered. “What is so funny about that, Officer Vig?” Will asked.

“Well, Dinkley is the last name of Velma on Scooby-Doo. I never knew it could be a real last name.”

Will shook his head. “Where is this Dinkley fellow?”

The officer in the doorway hesitated for a second. “Uh…he’s dead Detective. We sent Stevens here to look for some evidence of some kind.”

“Evidence of some kind? Who sent him?”

“Captain Hale.”

“How did he die exactly, this Gerrard fellow?”

The officer shook his head. “I’m not sure. All I could get out of dispatch was that it was some kind of heart attack.”

“We needed to send an officer for evidence of a heart attack?”

“I…I…don’t know exa-”

“Tell you what. Find something out, or find me someone who knows what’s going on here.”

“Right away.”

Tina looked at Will. “You’re being a little hard on Bucholz. He hasn’t been on the force for more than six months, and he was the officer who found Stevens.”

“Well, I want to be the officer who finds the guy who shot Stevens, so excuse me if I don’t coddle Bucholz.”

***

Jeremiah pulled the car into the parking lot. “Anything?”

“Nothing. These discs are all junk. My scan of their hard drives doesn’t show anything either.” Jebediah closed the laptop. “Now what?”

“Now we need to get at that Grand Prix. I’m guessing the police are going to tow it away.”

“What we want isn’t there. Gerrard probably has it on his body. We need to get to the morgue.”

“That sounds more like something up Mokoto’s alley. Do you think she’s up to it?”

“She’s up to it. She’s a professional.”

Jeremiah opened the door. “Do you want anything?”

Jebediah nodded. “Just something tall and dark, no sugar, and no cream.” Jeremiah walked into the coffee shop. Once he was inside, Jebediah pulled out his cell phone. He scrolled through a short list of contacts to one labeled “weatherman”. He began typing.

CAR AND FRIEND IN HANDS OF JOHN Q. SHOULD WE GET INDOORS?

Within a few seconds, his phone vibrated. He looked at the screen.

REMAIN CALM. I THINK AN OCCLUDED FRONT IS FORMING.