Chapter 90

Even without the splint, the flimsy donut box would have been a difficult item for me to carry. With the splint, I had to use it as a resting place and hold the box in place with my good hand. Yes it sounds painful because it was. Still it would be short lived as I parked right outside the door to the courthouse basement. That basement was used by the Sheriff's office.

The way over weight receptionist took the donuts and made a big fuss over me. "Sylvia what in the world happened to your hand," she asked.

"I got stung by a bee," I said.

"You mean to tell me a bee did that," she said pointing to my hand.

"Yep, it was a big bee," I said. "Is the man in?"

"Let me ring him," she said.

It took Chief Deputy Eddie Simpson about a minute to show up in the small waiting area. When he did, he took one look at me and shook his head. "What in the world brings you in. I hope it is just to visit," he said.

"It is. Don't worry I'm not here to try to enforce the old contract," I said.

"Good, I wouldn't want to fight you on it. I hear your law enforcement certificate has been pulled permanently." he said.

"I heard that too," I said with a smile.

"What does that mean?" he asked.

"They got their experts, next year I'll get mine." I said.

"I see. So you are moving back here to do your rehab?" he asked.

"This is the only place where I have any friends at all. So yeah, I'm moving back. You gonna have a problem with it?" I asked.

"Not at all, you behave yourself and we will be glad to have you," he said.

"I don't plan to behave myself, but I will try not to let it go too far," I said with a cheap grin. "So I got places to go and people to snow." With that I was out the door. I didn't even see a deputy at the station other than Simpson.

I headed to the apartment to settle up with the Blue Haired Lady, as I thought of my landlady. I could never remember her name. I was terrible with names. Before going to the apartment I stopped by the bank's atm machine. It was a small bank but it had the only atm in the small town. Every store in the plaza was hooked to the atm system, but none of the ones in Country Seat were.

I checked my wallet and found two hundred bucks and change. So I drew five hundred more just in case the Blue Haired Lady only took cash. I honestly could not remember how much I would need.

After stopping at her house and knocking at the door. I waited a few seconds for her to make it to the door with her walker. "So Sylvia, I called my son. You do remember my son" she asked.

"Of course I do," I replied. I had no idea if ever heard his name, but I knew she had a son. He had been a big part of how I got the apartment the first time. I hoped he hadn't sabotaged the deal this time.

"He said to give you the same deal as before, so that's what the rent will be. Four hundred a month and you pay for any changes you want to make. I will pay for no repairs, at that price," She said.

"Well I guess I need to make friends with a plumber and electrician," I said.

"Couldn't hurt," she said with what had to be a wicked smile.

After she assured me she hadn't changed the locks, I refused the key she offered. For some reason I had carried the apartment key through both incarnations. I think it had to do with being my touch stone to normalcy.

It was late in the afternoon so I knew I was through for the day, except to call for gas, power, and water. All three were still working, I just needed to have them changed to my name. Turns out I didn't have to do any more than have them start billing me again.

It wasn't too awfully late when I swung by Mary Ellen's shop. "Well as I live and breath," she said upon seeing me.

"Hello there Mary Ellen," I replied. I noted that there was a new young woman helping in the shop. "New apprentice?"

"Yes the last one moved on to bigger and better things in Atlanta. Ain't that just the way. You teach them how to get along in the world, and they go out on their own."

"Every mother's cross to bear," I said.

"So after slipping out of town in the middle of the night without saying goodbye to anyone are you back now?" Mary Ellen asked.

"I'm back for sure, but not up for our old gig, just yet," I said holding up my bandaged hand.

"If I remember correctly you don't mind a little rough sex," Mary Ellen said.

"You do remember correctly, but I'm not sure a broken hand is very sexy," I said.

"With the boutique sex tapes business one never knows," she said.

"Well anyway, I'm back, I'm here in a box van to get my furniture out of storage, but I need to get my car out of storage as well. If I go by the storage lot to make sure the Toyota runs. Would you be willing to drive it back to my apartment if it is just a slide and drive?" I asked.

"Of course, but be sure it is just slide in and drive away. I can't spare a lot of time away from the shop." She said.

"I need to leave now to be sure, so let me call you when I have it running and bailed out of storage," I said.

She nodded so I left and drove to the storage yard. "I'm here for this car," I said the to the attendant as I handed him the paperwork provided by Mission.