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“You have an idea?”  Bob followed Phil around the corner of the store.  “This should be good.”

Phil spun around and put up his hands.  “Okay, do you want to hear how we should do this?”

“Sure, let’s hear your idea.”

“Each of us  is going into the store, but not at the same time.  They’re looking for us together, not separately.”

Bob was taken a bit aback.  “Okay, that makes sense.”

“Now, I’ll go to clothes for ten minutes while you browse somewhere else.  Then, you shop for clothes and I’ll browse for ten minutes.  Then we each start browsing.  I’ll leave five minutes after that, then you.  Afterward, we’ll meet at that Subway near the main highway.”

“My word Phil, I am a bit worried you’ve been on the run from the law before.”

“Just call it beginner’s luck for someone whose old flame watched a lot of crime stuff.  Remember, try to find clothes that are different that what you are wearing.  We don’t need shoes, and don’t splurge.  I’ll buy an underwear pack and you get a pack of socks.  And remember, stay within your means for cash.  We don’t want to use credit cards.”

Phil walked away and through the doors of the Kmart.  Bob slowly took his lucky sunglasses off and hung them on the front of his shirt.  What am I turning Phil into?  What am I turning us into?   Bob waited a few more seconds, then walked into the store.

***

“All right.  I think we’re about done here Mr. McGillcuddy.”

“I’ve told you at least five times now officer Vig, It’s just B.”

Tina looked up from her forms.  The man looked on the younger side of seventy-five, but he still had a mischievous twinkle in his eye, and he held his head high.  “Okay B, I think we’re done.”

“Do you mind?”

“Excuse me?”

“The cuffs.”

“The cuffs?’  Tina asked.  Old man B held up his cuffed hands.  Tina reached down and started looking for a key.  “Wow, I had no idea you were cuffed.  Were you being rowdy?”

“Nope.  I’m sure that Laura chick was trying to intimidate me.  I could tell she wanted to lock horns and get anything out of me that she could.”

“So she beat you.”

“Hardly.  I told her what she wanted to hear.  Neither of us wanted this to go on much longer.  I just hope they haven’t towed my Pacer.  That’s been a mighty good car over the years.”

“Well, I don’t think we had a snow emergency anytime recently, so you should be fine.”  Tina took the cuffs from B’s hands and tossed them across the table.  “Do you have a ride?”

“My landlord is here.  She’s got me covered.”

“Well, then you have a safe, law-abiding day young man.”

“Thanks toots.  You get some sleep and maybe get yourself a man.”

“Wait.”  Tina spun in her chair.  “How do you…I mean, what makes you think…”

“Listen, I’ve been on this planet for seventy-five years.  My vision isn’t what it used to be, but I’m not blind.”  Old man B walked out of the room.  As the door to interrogation room three closed, Tina simply sat and chewed on her pen cap.