Chapter 17

It will come as no surprise to most of the readers that this is not only fiction but bald faced lies. The author has been known to stretch the truth past breaking. He is fully aware that Monster Millions is his own creation and does not exist in reality. He is also cognizant of the fact that this an alternate reality. The names might be real ... the people are not. If your name is in here ... it’s not you ... any of you.

“What about my lottery ticket?” He was adamant about that.

Mr. Director said, “You’re sure you want to go that route?”

“Absolutely.”

“Look at her shirt,” he said.

“She took that too,” and sounded as irate as a professional liar can get.

Believe me ... we can sound sincere.

“Well,” said the director. “I guess we go to court.” He turned to the assembled LEO’s and said, “You can’t have him ... yet. This takes precedence.” He held up a hand, “Later. But we need an escort.”

So, we ... Violet in one police car, and the young looking old guy in another ... followed the director to the nearby Federal District Court.

I came next ... the convoy ot out of state LEO cars led the parade of newspaper, TV anchor persons with their camera persons and the general standersby ... followed by the Weigels station manager and the clerk who sold the winning scratch-off ... trailed by the customers who witnessed the sale and the technician who possessed the video of the sale...

The manager was there to collect the store reward for selling the scratch-off ... a likely sum... 5% and the clerk got 2 ... percent.

The court was only five blocks away ... could have walked it ... but ... the downpour voided that option.

What?

Of course it was still raining ... a real gully washer ... flooding in the hills and the streets of the metropolis were curb to curb.

The parade ... a wet one ... stopped, blocked the streets as the ‘news’ abandoned cars and vans and charged, en masse, the doors of the Federal building ... and ... suddenly ... the court room was packed ... standing room only ... and damn little of that ... because it was a rainy day and the convoy attracted the attention of the few shoppers and street bums alike.

Why?

Cops and sirens, cops and flashing lights, and cops ... in general doing their possible to keep up with their felon... ‘not letting him out of my sight,’ was repeated over and over.

I am surprised no one was killed.

“Order in the court ... all rise ... Federal District Court is now in session, the honorable Judge Fitzpatrick presiding ... be seated.”

The clerk presented, the tech presented, open and shut...

“180 days in county,” said the judge.

The last thing heard as he was hustled out the door was, “What about my lottery ticket?”

Saturday ... the drawing for the Monster Millions. Violet presented the stolen ticket ... it was only ten million. He might have bought it ... but she signed it.

The next regular business day, the jail received an anonymous deposit of one thousand dollars for the maintenance of the perp.

The bundled up woman said, “Cigarettes and a soda now and then.”