In a small hole on the police station’s back lawn, a gopher popped his head out. He didn’t know anything about the case, the government, or any of the people involved. He only knew he was hungry. He ran out of his hole towards the dumpsters near the police station. He stopped for a moment and looked up. This gopher didn’t know a Cadillac from a Studebaker, but something about this car made his nose twitch. There was something different, and something he didn’t like. This gopher had only known hunger, but now he only knew dread. The gopher retreated, opting to find food elsewhere.
Tina Vig was not a gopher, but she knew a Cadillac, and she knew when one was parked in an odd place. “Will, this car is a mess. There are coffee cups in the backseat, there’s a pile of CDs in the back…wait. Look at this.” Will walked over and looked in the back window. He saw CDs, along with DVDs and game discs. He also noticed a hard drive or two in the back, including one that had been ripped out of a desktop PC. He pulled out his cell phone and started taking pictures. “What are you doing?”
“The way our luck has gone, somebody is going to drive this car off and we’ll lose any evidence again.”
“I say we wheel lock this son of a gun, then break out the windows. It is in a loading zone after all.”
Will clicked another picture and smiled. “I like the way you think officer Vig.”
Tina started walking away. “I’ll get some wheel locks. You keep an eye on the car.”
Will watched Tina walk away. He thought about what Clayton had said about telling her how he felt. His mind was far, far away from Sioux Falls, and the Cadillac behind him.
***
“About time!”
“Relax, would ya? I remember when you hadn’t showered for a week or three.”
“That was a rough patch. I think it took me five showers that day. Today might be two.”
Bob slid the key card into the door. “You’re in luck. I got extra shampoo and soap for you.” Bob opened the door. “I’m just happy I was able to talk our way in here.”
“Say what?”
“They wanted ID and a name and a credit card and everything. I had to make up some story about having my wallet stolen, and getting money from my friend who was on his way here.”
“She bought that?”
“I had to lay the charm on pretty thick.”
“What did you use for a name?”
“Oh, I figured I’d just use an old college friend’s name to sign in. Not a big deal.”
“Which friend?”
Bob plopped into the chair in the room, and tossed his lucky sunglasses onto the desk. “Eli Elson.”
***
Tina heard footsteps behind her as she was about to turn towards the front of the station. She saw Will running up to her. She was worried for a moment about the car, but then she was worried about what he might be saying.
“Tina listen…I…I realize this is a bad time…”
“No time like the present?” She arched her eyebrows and gave a half smirk.
“Listen…I…you…me…let me start over. Look, I don’t want to…I mean, we work together and get along, and…”
“Will” Tina said, as she moved closer. “Are you trying to ask me on a date instead of watching the car?”
Will reached out to Tina’s shoulders, and spun them both around. “There, now I can do both.”
***
Jebediah scrolled through his contacts. He got down to Z1, Z2, and Z3. “I really need to clear out the other two” he said.
“I’m going to miss that car.” Jeremiah turned the unmarked car into the airport.
Jebediah hit send. After three rings, he hung up. “It’s done.”
