Chapter 36

8PM found me in my van on my way from my cabin in the woods to pick up Mopsy and Flopsy at their motel.Thank God it wasn't the Hazelwood.The video twins were staying at an old time mom and pop16unit tourist cabin motel.Someone had decided to restore it to its1930'‬s lack of glory days.The bathhouse, which had been the only sanitary facilities originally, had been traded for tiny individual bathrooms stuck on the rear of the cabins like so many tumors.

Marty had decided that if he and I could share a motel room for almost two months, Mopsy and Flopsy could do it for two days.I stopped for them on my way to the Cop Out.I had decided to go along with the gag.In doing so, there should be no difficulty collecting the money for the mission.

In the spirit of cooperation, I decided to take them to the Cop Out Club. "‬Now listen you two.I am going to take you to a cop bar, but you are not cops and neither am I.We are guests, so behave like it.No prying into their lives or so help me I will shoot you myself."

"Okay, we get it Max.We are here to observe, not interact."It was Flopsy, who really did seem to get it.

"‏Good,"I said as I parked the van on the street a block away from the Cop Out.

"‏Max,"one of the paramedics shouted over the too loud jukebox. "‬Where you been girl?"

"Recovering from Saturday night," ‏I replied.He thought it was a joke, which was fine with me.Mopsy and Flopsy wandered off to sit alone and observe. "‬You seen Blevins?"

"Not tonight, but he will be around later I'm sure.The man has no home."

"Hey, you seem to be here too much as well,"I said smiling.

"‏I know this is my life, just like Blevins."

I sat at the lunch counter bar to drink a beer, while I waited for one of my cop buddies to come in.Several minutes later, I noticed Flopsy on the dance floor.She wasn't very talented but, with those big ole boobies moving to the music nobody seemed to mind.I had to admit there was some appeal there for the guys.

"‏Well hello,"Blevins said from behind me.

"‏You slipped in on me.So where is your partner?"

"Which one the official one or my running buddy Jerry?"

"Either one?" ‏I asked.

"‏Anya, the bitch, is doing paperwork and probably won't come over at all.If she knew you were here, I'm sure she would rush over."

"I doubt that," ‏I replied. "‬How about Jerry?"

"Jerry is still broke up about Sarah.He is moody as hell.I never know what he is likely to do next.Come on let's get a table."

"Sounds good to me."

It took all of ten minutes for the table for six to fill up.Blevins was a magnet for some reason.I had never known him to leave with anyone, but people were just drawn to him for some reason.One of the only slightly overweight, and only slightly butch EMTs sat down beside me.We all drank and laughed at the ordinary people.

Now and then I looked up to see the twins checking things out.I have no idea whether they were having any fun or not, but I know Flopsy danced several times.

When neither Anya nor Jerry showed up by the time I finished my second beer, I decided it was time to go home. "‬Well guys, it's time for me to call it a night while my carriage is still a carriage."

"Stay and dance with me at least once," ‏the slightly butch EMT suggested.

"‏I will dance with you once, if you promise I can lead,"I said it loud enough to be heard by everyone at the table.

"‏Fair enough, but if you dance good enough, I might get you a job."

"Oh as a dancer?"

"Sure, you ever been to the Island over in Tryon?"

"Never heard of it," ‏I admitted.

"‏They have pole dancers there and the manager is a friend of mine.If you are a good dancer I can get you a job.You have the body for it."

"You mean a chick with hardly any boobs is a popular dancer?" ‏I was still speaking loud.Everyone was laughing with me.

"‏Sure, there is something to be said for having the body of a teenage boy."

"Afraid all these middle aged wrinkles would ruin the illusion," ‏I admitted.

"‏Let's dance, so I can see if you are worth the effort."

"Let's do it.I guess since I look the most like him, I'll be Fred and you be Ginger."

"Sounds good to me," ‏she said as I led her to the dance floor.The music was reasonably fast so we danced without touching.Then something slow and sensuous came on the jukebox and I moved slowly to it.

"‏Yeah, you will do just fine,"she said giggling.

"‏Not really hon, I'm a terrible dancer.It won't do you any good to pretend otherwise."

"Then what will do me good?" ‏she asked.

"‏Well I prefer lovers who don't need to ask what to do next.But for now it's time for me to leave.Night sweetie."I didn't remember her name.I wasn't even sure that I ever heard it.

The twins joined me outside the club. "‬You certain do know how to have fun,"Flopsy commented.

"‏Oh, I thought you were having all the fun."

"You don't blame me do you.I got a lot more attention here, than I ever did in Boston."

"Are you two from Boston?"

"We used to work for the PBS station there until they got their funding cut.Private donations dried up with the recession and then the damn republicans cut our funding.So now we are working for peanuts trying to get our own production company started."