Chapter 84

The number of boats being loaded into the city lake convinced me that there was something different about that day. There was, it was Saturday. I had not realized that the time had passed so quickly, but it had. Enough mundane chores had occupied my time during the week so that days just slipped by while I tried to find some new directions.

Realizing that it was Saturday gave me an idea. It was time for me to finish cleaning out the office. but only if it was empty. I had no desire for another encounter with Gwen so soon. Of them all, only Ed interested me. In my current mood I wasn't sure that I wanted to see him either.

Ed's parking lot was empty, even the van was gone. I parked the cruiser near the door, so that loading the tools of my trade would be easier. I wished that I had planned better. If I had, I could have taken a blanket off the bed to use as a wrapper for the long guns.

I remembered that since it was almost winter, I would need more blankets, so I restarted the cruiser. I drove the two or three miles to Wal-mart. I did my weekly shopping while I was in the store. I almost forgot the blanket, but I remember it just in time.

Then it was back to Ed's office. When I pulled in the second time, Ed's black sedan was parked by the door. Since it was Saturday, I parked beside it but far enough away so that loading the guns and bike wouldn't be a problem.

"Well hello Ed," I said as I entered the office using my key.

"I thought you might be in today," he said as an answer.

"I hadn't planned on it, but I realized that it was Saturday. Since I was already out, it seemed a good time to pick up the tools."

"What kind of mood are you in?" he asked.

"I'm depressed. The stray cat finally came into the cabin last night, and died there. I had to bury him this morning."

"Shit Maxine I'm sorry, but I've got more bad news for you."

"Go ahead and hit me with it Ed. It's the right day for it."

"Don't bother to load your shit,"

"Why not?" I asked.

"You would just have to move it again. Your landlord's mother decided to move her sister into the cabin."

"You are kidding me?" I said getting even more depressed by the minute.

"She called me yesterday, but I didn't have the heart to tell you. You had so much other shit to deal with."

"I'll just be fucked," I said.

"Yeah, it gets worse. You don't have a lease so she is only giving you a week to get out. She wants you out by next Sunday."

"Shit Ed, I'll have to move into a fucking motel." I said it angrily.

"Maybe not, I know some people with places for sale. It's a lousy market right now."

"Well I hate to ask, but can I leave the guns here?" I knew his answer, but I had to ask.

"That's what I said wasn't it? Just leave them till you find a place."

"What about Lucas and Gwen?"

"What about them. If they don't like it, they can leave. I expect them to anyway. Gwen is too classy for a converted service station."

"That's up to them, I'm out of the business now. We sign the sales papers sometimes next week. Jen is supposed to call me when it is done."

"Max, i'm sorry you decided to sell, but frankly you lasted longer than I thought. It's really a boring business. It's a lot like bail bond." Ed suggested.

"Yeah, I know." I replied. "I guess I'll go home and kick the fucking walls out."

"Yeah, but don't do that. I don't want to bail your ass out of jail for something that stupid." Ed said.

Instead of having Vlad help me decide where to store the weapons, I would have to sit and listen to him talk about murder. Damn, life was a shit sandwich and you didn't even get mustard, I decided.

"This place is a dump," Vlad said. "I like it. It reminds me of home."

"Well don't get settled in. I have to move. The guy who owns the place is doing a ten year bit for something or other, but his mother decided to sell it. I put in an offer, but then she decided to move her sister in. I have to be gone in a week."

"As you would say, that just sucks," he said seriously.

"Tell me about it. Right in the middle of Ivan and Davenport, I have to find a new home." I stopped talking to take a long sip of coffee, then added. "Let's get down to it. How do we kill this prick and get away with it?"

"Killing him is the easy part. Finding him is difficult. He does not travel alone and he keeps no schedule." Vlad said.

"Everyone keeps a schedule, we just don't know what it is. Like he has some chick he screws every other Wednesday night, at even numbered hours," I said smiling.

"Okay, he has a schedule but we don't know. So what do we do?"

"What does he deliver and how does he do it?" I asked.

"The FBI says it is counterfeit prescription drugs. OxyContin and Vicodin seem to be popular with counterfeiters."

"They would be easy to transport and probably easier to get than heroine or crack. The Russians wouldn't have to deal with Drug cartels. I bet they sell crank as well." I suggested. "Damn I wish we had a board to put this on. Do not put anything about this in your computer and neither will I. If they kill one of us, let's not leave a trail to the other one?" I suggested.

"I agree," Vlad said. After a little thought he added, "So the packages would be small and easy to hide. He could make the delivery in anything."