up.
The clerk looked at us in alarm as we stepped into the store from the drive-thru lane. Shed probably never seen a customer before from the waist down.
I smiled, harmless-like.
Maddie ratcheted up her customary frown. Linda-Ann, tell me thats not you underneath those stupid dreadlocks! And selling liquor, too?
So much for building rapport.
Im nine years out of middle school, Ms. Wilson, the clerk said to my sister. Im old enough to work here, you know.
I could have told Linda-Ann not to sound so apologetic. The only defense against Maddie is a strong offense.
I happen to like your hair, Linda-Ann. I aimed a pointed look at my sister. Its a perfect style for you, especially with those cargo pants and that peace-sign T-shirt. So few young people these days show any individuality at all when it comes to fashion.
I was afraid Id poured it on too thick, but Linda-Ann beamed beneath her blonde dreadlocks. Thanks, she said, smiling at me. I like your hair, too.
I thought you were going to college, Linda-Ann. Maddie was judgmental.
College isnt for everyone. I was understanding.
It was becoming clear who was the good cop and who was the bad in our interrogation tag team.
We waited while a car pulled in. The driver wanted a six-pack of Old Milwaukee and five Slim Jims. Dinner. It took Linda-Ann two tries to count out the change from his twenty.
Bad cop: Didnt you pay any attention at all in Mrs. Duttons math class?
Good cop: You must be creative, Linda-Ann. Arty types are never good at arithmetic.
Maddie lost interest in creating rapport and asked Linda-Ann flat out what she knew about her late boss, Jim Albert. The clerk clammed up.
Nothing really. She twirled a dreadlock. My manager told me the owner got killed, but I barely knew him. Ive only worked here a few months.
Linda-Ann got busy rearranging a rack of pork rinds on the counter, even though they looked fine the way they were. Appetizing, actually. She straightened a hand-lettered sign that said Boiled Pnuts/Cappuccino , which I took as clear evidence that the yuppies were colonizing Himmarshee. She was doing everything she could in such close quarters to avoid us.
I knew we wouldnt get anything from hernot with Maddie standing there radiating disapproval like musk during mating season. Linda-Ann was out to show my sister she wasnt a little girl anymore, quaking on a hard bench outside the principals office at the middle school.
I dug into my purse, piling stuff onto the counter, until I found a pen and some paper. Listen, our mother was tossed in jail because she cant explain how come your bosss body was found in her trunk.
Linda-Anns eyes widened.
She didnt kill him, I said. Were trying to find out who did. Wed really appreciate anything you could tell us about Jim Albert that might help us do that, okay? I jotted down my phone numbers and handed the paper over the counter.
Lets go, Maddie. Lets let Linda-Ann get back to work.
Once we were out on the street again, I turned on my sister. You have to learn to lighten up, Maddie. Not everybody responds to intimidation.
Thanks for the tip, Mace. Seeing as how Ive worked with young people all my life and you work mostly with raccoons, I appreciate the lesson in human psychology.
Dont get mad. Im just saying sometimes you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Now you sound like Mama.
I was beginning to realize there are worse things I could sound like.
Maddie and I put our argument on hold, stepping off the street as a pickup truck with mud on the flaps made its way from the drive-thru lane. I couldnt believe my eyes when I caught a glimpse of the driverblack Stetson on his head, left arm in a cowboy shirt propped on the sill of his open window. My heart started pounding and my tongue went dry. I never imagined seeing him would send me for a loop; not after all these years.
Jeb Ennis! I yelled, before
The clerk looked at us in alarm as we stepped into the store from the drive-thru lane. Shed probably never seen a customer before from the waist down.
I smiled, harmless-like.
Maddie ratcheted up her customary frown. Linda-Ann, tell me thats not you underneath those stupid dreadlocks! And selling liquor, too?
So much for building rapport.
Im nine years out of middle school, Ms. Wilson, the clerk said to my sister. Im old enough to work here, you know.
I could have told Linda-Ann not to sound so apologetic. The only defense against Maddie is a strong offense.
I happen to like your hair, Linda-Ann. I aimed a pointed look at my sister. Its a perfect style for you, especially with those cargo pants and that peace-sign T-shirt. So few young people these days show any individuality at all when it comes to fashion.
I was afraid Id poured it on too thick, but Linda-Ann beamed beneath her blonde dreadlocks. Thanks, she said, smiling at me. I like your hair, too.
I thought you were going to college, Linda-Ann. Maddie was judgmental.
College isnt for everyone. I was understanding.
It was becoming clear who was the good cop and who was the bad in our interrogation tag team.
We waited while a car pulled in. The driver wanted a six-pack of Old Milwaukee and five Slim Jims. Dinner. It took Linda-Ann two tries to count out the change from his twenty.
Bad cop: Didnt you pay any attention at all in Mrs. Duttons math class?
Good cop: You must be creative, Linda-Ann. Arty types are never good at arithmetic.
Maddie lost interest in creating rapport and asked Linda-Ann flat out what she knew about her late boss, Jim Albert. The clerk clammed up.
Nothing really. She twirled a dreadlock. My manager told me the owner got killed, but I barely knew him. Ive only worked here a few months.
Linda-Ann got busy rearranging a rack of pork rinds on the counter, even though they looked fine the way they were. Appetizing, actually. She straightened a hand-lettered sign that said Boiled Pnuts/Cappuccino , which I took as clear evidence that the yuppies were colonizing Himmarshee. She was doing everything she could in such close quarters to avoid us.
I knew we wouldnt get anything from hernot with Maddie standing there radiating disapproval like musk during mating season. Linda-Ann was out to show my sister she wasnt a little girl anymore, quaking on a hard bench outside the principals office at the middle school.
I dug into my purse, piling stuff onto the counter, until I found a pen and some paper. Listen, our mother was tossed in jail because she cant explain how come your bosss body was found in her trunk.
Linda-Anns eyes widened.
She didnt kill him, I said. Were trying to find out who did. Wed really appreciate anything you could tell us about Jim Albert that might help us do that, okay? I jotted down my phone numbers and handed the paper over the counter.
Lets go, Maddie. Lets let Linda-Ann get back to work.
Once we were out on the street again, I turned on my sister. You have to learn to lighten up, Maddie. Not everybody responds to intimidation.
Thanks for the tip, Mace. Seeing as how Ive worked with young people all my life and you work mostly with raccoons, I appreciate the lesson in human psychology.
Dont get mad. Im just saying sometimes you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Now you sound like Mama.
I was beginning to realize there are worse things I could sound like.
Maddie and I put our argument on hold, stepping off the street as a pickup truck with mud on the flaps made its way from the drive-thru lane. I couldnt believe my eyes when I caught a glimpse of the driverblack Stetson on his head, left arm in a cowboy shirt propped on the sill of his open window. My heart started pounding and my tongue went dry. I never imagined seeing him would send me for a loop; not after all these years.
Jeb Ennis! I yelled, before
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