Show Her The Money

“I doubt it, Pink. The police think the guy was hit in the arm, and I happen to know, Sparks was in a meeting all morning. A lot of the Marvel execs are in town to go over their Permian Basin holdings.”

“Does that mean the Dog Doo Stalker isn’t connected to Marvel?”

“No, it just means I don’t think Sparks is your man.”

“Then the guy’s still out there.”

“True, but he’s got a bum arm now, so maybe it’ll keep him quiet for a while.”

“Wonder what happened to Sparky’s hand?”

“I’d like to think he closed it in a car door, or sliced it open on a meat cutter, or something equally painful.”

“I still can’t get over how he acted, Ed.”

“Just be careful, Pink. If you see him, or any of the others, don’t talk to them.”

“But, Ed, I tried to walk away!”

He stared at me with a worried frown. “Next time, try harder.”

Mom was out for meetings all afternoon, so I spent the remainder of the day working on my spreadsheets of Shanks Resources’ bank statements. I found several more checks to Birds in Flight and spent some time on the phone and the Internet, looking for information, but came up empty.

At five, I joined the cattle drive and left the office, headed for Mom’s to tell her about what happened at Mabel’s, and to drop the bomb that I’d leased an apartment. I dreaded it, but figured it was best to bite it and get it over with. Besides, I needed to get out to the Shankses’ yard as soon as night fell, which would be close to nine o’clock since it was late summer.

Mom wasn’t home yet, so I took the opportunity to float in the pool. I’d been there half an hour when Harry showed up.

“Hey, Harry,” I said as he came outside, “Mom need more Freon?”

He looked at me and shook his head. “No. She said there’s a noise, or something, so I came to check it out.”

Thinking it sure was late for an air-conditioner guy to be working, I said, “This must be a really busy time of year for you.”

“Uh, yeah…yeah it is. Real busy. Been at it since seven this morning.” He stepped back, said he’d talk to Mom later and left.

He’d looked sorta uncomfortable and I checked to see if I was coming out of my bathing suit, but I wasn’t. I wondered if Harry was casing the joint, but decided he wouldn’t have come out to say hello if that was his purpose.

Mom finally came home and set to work making chicken and dumplings. She said she thought I could use some comfort food, which had the effect of making me feel even more guilty for renting an apartment and dissing her.

I dropped a kiss on her cheek and inhaled deeply. Mom smells good, always. Don’t know what it is. Just Mom. “Thanks, Mom. You need some help?”

“No, I’ve got it.” She slanted a look at me as I settled on a barstool on the opposite side of the kitchen island. “I hear you got a haircut today.”

Yikes. She’d already heard about it. “Who told you?”

“Ed. He was at a meeting I went to this afternoon. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay.”

While she stood there, all Mom-like and domestic, making dumplings, she casually said, “Let’s go over to old lady Bohannon’s tonight, break in and get the disk out of Mister Bob’s box.”

It took me a minute to recover from my shock enough to speak. “Uh, Mom, that’s known as breaking and entering and can get us ten years in the Big House.”

“Only if we get caught.”

“You’re not serious.” She couldn’t be. Could she?

She glanced up from the dough. “I’m dead serious. Let’s get the disk, get it to the boys at the SEC, and this maniac won’t have any reason to stalk you.”

“It’s tempting, Mom, but too risky.”

“Not as risky as a stalker who tried to haul you off in the middle of the day, from a crowded place.”

“Maybe not, but I’ll take my chances and avoid prison.”

“Well, okay,” she said with disappointment edging her voice, “but let me know if you change your mind.”

With a cup towel in her hands, she turned toward me. “Where were you at ten-thirty? I came to ask you to lunch.”

Oh, man, this was it. I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to tell her until later. I sucked in a deep breath. “I went to look for an apartment.”

“Did you find one?”

“As a matter of fact, I did. It’s a one-bedroom on the west side of town. The Windmills.”

“I’ve seen those before. Not too dumpy, but kind of old.”

“This one has turquoise appliances.” I was waiting for her to start the lecture about the danger of living alone and the foolishness of wasting my money.

“When do you move in?”

“Anytime I want. I signed the lease effective today.” Any time now, she was going to get wound up.

“Let me know if you need some help. My air-conditioner guy does some other stuff for me, and he’d be available.”

“Okay, sure, Mom. Thanks.” I waited for her to say it.

“I think I’ll go take a quick shower before dinner.” She turned and walked out of the kitchen.

Watching her go, I coulda caught several flies, my mouth was so wide-open in shock. Where was the lecture? Where were the hangdog looks? Where was her favorite martyr routine?

Something was up with Mom, and I intended to find out what it was. Shoving off the barstool, I trailed her into her bedroom and confronted her in the bathroom. “Mom, aren’t you going to say anything about me not staying here with you?”

She tossed her skirt into the hamper, then turned my way. “No, why would I?”

“I don’t know. I just figured you’d be upset about it.”

“Why would I be upset?”