Page 70 of Deputy Brand Gets Her Man
He didn’t want to contradict the kid’s grandpa, but what a crappy outlook.
“So you really helped me out,” Jeremiah said, “Taking care of Beans while Willow was in the hospital, so I could be there.”
“It was great! I still have the money you paid me.”
“Saving up to buy that house, I bet.”
He smiled and nodded.
“Well, listen, kid, my brother wants me to help him out over at his honky tonk?—”
“Two Lilies,” Frankie said. “You going to make tacos? Or sling booze?”
The kid was a wise-ass beyond his years. “Bouncer,” he said. “That doesn’t get going ‘til evening, and I need someone to stay with Beans.”
His eyes lit up. “Every night?”
“Most nights. It’s not like I can take him with me. Can you imagine Beans in a crowded honky tonk?”
“He’d go crazy!” Frankie said. “All those people, all that food!”
“He’d topple the tables,” Jeremiah said.
“He’d tackle the dancers!” Frankie replied.
“He’d eat the tacos!”
“He’d drool in the beers!”
They both laughed so hard Frankie got tears.
“You’re what, eleven, Frankie?” Jeremiah asked when they finally caught their breath. Frankie nodded. “So you want to start tonight?”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’ll be home by ten. Earlier once school starts. That’s too late to bike home, so I’ll drive you.”
“Okay!”
“I’ll call your grandma and make sure this is okay.”
“She won’t care.”
“Well, still.”
Frankie leaned forward over the dog, hugging him close. “I get to stay longer,” he said. “We’ll have so much fun!”
Willow found exactly what she was looking for in the background check, and then she drove to Juanita Lopez’s place.
She found her in the vegetable garden beside her modest home. She wore a big straw sun hat and round sunglasses. Juanita got up, brushing off her garden gloves before removing them.
“Hello again,” Willow said.
“Deputy,” she replied with a nod that might’ve been resigned.
Willow said, “I want to ask you something, Juanita. Something you didn’t mention the other day, when we talked about your time with Vincent de Lorean.”
Juanita bit her lip, averted her eyes. Cleary she already knew what Willow would ask.
