d5e426eccb138e04dab909926b2752c6

Being dragged from the street into the paddy wagon and straight into the police station holding tank had soiled their own outfits to a certain extent. But even before that, since they were on a budget, and they’d been forced to return the money stolen from Capital First Bank, they’d never been able to splurge on these kinds of super-duper suits.

“Now for the next part,” he said, and took a deep breath. “Let me do the talking.”

“Okay, Jer,” said Johnny.

“I mean, not a peep, okay?”

“Sure, Jer.” The big guy glanced at the two elders. “Are you sure they didn’t suffer?”

“Nothing that two ibuprofen won’t fix,” grunted Jerry, then hollered, “We’re ready in here, officer!”

A young officer came ambling up, noticed the two inert figures tucked into bed and grinned.“You managed to sermon them to sleep, did you? Good job.”

“They are contemplating their evil deeds,” said Jerry, adopting Elder Thaddeus’s high reedy voice and holding his Bible in front of his face, as did Johnny. “Thinking hard about their sins and possible redemption.”

The sound of a key turning in a lock and the iron door swinging open was like music to his ears.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_3]

Vesta and Scarlett were celebrating the latest win for their neighborhood watch seated outside Pier’s Pont, the popular bar in downtown Hampton Cove.

“The watch is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with,” said Vesta. “Pretty soon now Alec will have to admit we can’t be ignored.”

“Yeah, we did great,” said Scarlett as she checked her look in a small pocket mirror. And as she did, she couldn’t help but notice how Vesta’s son and Mayor Butterwick were seated only a couple of tables back, talking with Dan Goory.

“Don’t look now, but Alec and his girlfriend are chatting with Dan Goory,” she whispered.

Of course Vesta had to glance over, though she did manage to be discreet about it.

“Probably talking about the article on Dan’s website,” said Vesta, lowering her voice and darting occasional glances at her son over Scarlett’s left shoulder.

“What article?” asked Scarlett, who didn’t read the Gazette. Or any other newspaper for that matter.

“They were both caught playing hooky. Skipping work so they could spend a late lunch together. I could have told Alec that if he wanted to do some canoodling to do it either at his place or hers. Though he probably wouldn’t listen,” she added with a mother’s proper pique. “That’s kids for you. Always getting themselves in trouble.”

“Canoodling? You mean they were…”

“Nah. They kept it strictly PC, but some sourpuss still took offense and snapped a couple of shots on a smartphone and sent them to Dan, who published it on his website, the jerk. As if public servants aren’t entitled to enjoying a proper love affair.”

“Do you think Alec and Charlene will get married?”

Vesta shrugged.“Kids these days don’t get married anymore, honey. Not like in our day. They hook up, move in together, and that’s it. No muss, no fuss. Too bad, I say. I like a nice wedding.”

“I think they make a great couple,” said Scarlett, glancing surreptitiously over her shoulder. “I hope they stick it out.”

“I think they will. It takes more than an amateur paparazzo to break up that band.”

And as Vesta smiled a rare smile at the thought of her one and only son finally finding love again, suddenly she thought she saw two familiar figures walking across the street. They were both dressed to the nines, only something wasn’t quite right about them.

And then she got it.

“Hey!” she said, getting up. “It’s those two crooks! They’re getting away!”

Her shouts hadn’t missed their effect: Alec was also looking in the direction she was pointing, and so were Charlene and Dan Goory.

Johnny and Jerry, for that’s who they were, must have discovered they’d been discovered, for they broke into a frantic run.

Alec went in pursuit, stomping across the street, and so did Charlene and Dan, followed by Vesta and Scarlett. Scarlett, on her high heels, was last, and soon fell behind.

Vesta, who hadn’t run a race in forty years, was soon huffing and puffing, and had to give up. Her son, too, quickly lost his puff, due to his voluminous size, and supported himself against a parked pickup, sucking in breath by the cubic meter, red in the face.

Dan, on the other hand, was still going strong, his white beard flapping in the wind, but it was actually Charlene who was in pole position, and gaining on the two crooks. The robbery to which they’d subjected her clearly still rankled and she was determined to get her men.

Vesta watched the drama unfold from her position on the sidewalk, and even climbed a chair to get a better view.

Johnny was slowing down, while Jerry clearly suffered from a stitch in his side. What actually finished it for them, though, were Wilbur Vickery and Father Reilly stepping out of the General Store for a chat, and accidentally stepping into the fleeing duo’s flight path.