Monsters and Lollipops

by Franklin D. Lincoln

Liz was still agitated as she maneuvered the Cherokee down Main Street, heading for home, where she really did not want to go. She still felt at loose ends, and unable to settle down. She was driving the vehicle below the speed zone limit and just putting along. She was always a careful driver and had been more so as the M. S. had progressed. She didn’t feel reckless nor did she like driving that way. What she had done at the bank was strictly for Ben MacCready’s benefit and to demonstrate her anger.

  It had been bothering her all morning that she had told Deb everything that was happening and she wasn’t sure just how reliable Deb could be about keeping it all under wraps. Usually, the best way to spread news around town would be to

  tell Deb, and she would take it from there. As Liz approached the Gossip Grill, coming up on her left, she made a decision. She put on her left signal and pulled close to the center line in the street. She came to a stop in front of the drive that led to the back of the restaurant. She let two cars from the other direction go by, then twisted the wheel sharply, floored the gas pedal, and shot across the street, bouncing into the drive before the next oncoming car would get too close.

  She rolled to the back parking lot and found a parking spot way in the back where the employees usually parked. She noted that Deb’s Honda was missing from her usual spot. She glanced at her watch. It was only ten fifteen. Still a few hours from lunch time. Besides, Deb usually worked through the lunch hours and she should be on the job. A dread crept over Liz. What was Deb up to? Whatever it was, Liz was pretty sure that it couldn’t be good.

  She decided she would still go inside. Perhaps, Morris could tell her where Deb was. She turned off the engine and started to open the door, when she heard the familiar sputter of Deb’s Honda approaching. Liz pulled the door shut and rolled down her window.

  “Good Morning, Sunshine,” Liz called. Deb had parked two spaces down from where Liz was parked. She had just turned off her engine and was dismounting, not noticing the presence of the Cherokee.

  She looked a bit chagrined as her ears recognized the voice and she slowly turned her head to see Liz.

  Liz was smiling smugly and crooked her index finger toward Deb.

  Deb muttered something to herself under her breath and walked over to the Cherokee. She was taking off her helmet and shaking out her hair as she tucked the helmet under her arm.

  “Where’ve you been?” Liz demanded.

  “Well, where’ve you been?”

  “I asked you first,” Liz said.

  “Okay. Then I guess it’s your turn to answer first.”

  “I went to see……” Liz started to say. Then she caught herself. Deb was doing it again. She always had a way of turning things around.” Hey, wait a minute. That’s none of your never mind. Where’ve you been?”

  “Well, I guess that is kinda my never mind and it’s none of your never mind, neither.”

  “Deb you can be so exasperating at times. I got a half a mind……. .”

  “That’s right. You only got a half a mind.” Deb cut her off.

  Liz ignored it and started to repeat,” I got a half a mind to………. .” Her words trailed off again.” Hey who’s that?” She lifted her chin as if pointing toward the restaurant.

  Deb turned and looked behind her. She saw the blond haired woman she had been waiting on earlier.” I don’t know. Just some old broad who’s trying to tell herself she’s still a hot young chick. I hate to tell her, but it ain’t workin’. She comes in for coffee and a little something a couple of times a week. Why?”

  “She looks familiar. That’s all.” The woman had walked around the rear of a dark green Saturn and was fishing her keys out of her purse.” At first I thought…but it couldn’t be. It wouldn’t make sense.” Liz paused.” Then again, maybe it does. Quick! Get in. You’re driving.” She pushed the driver’s side door wide open, and started to slide across to the passenger seat.

  “What for?” Deb exclaimed, hardly moving.

  “Never mind. Just get in and drive.”

  The woman had her car door open now and she was sliding in behind the wheel.

  “For heaven’s sake, Deb. For once in your life will you do what you’re told and just get in, before she gets away?”

  Deb hurried and climbed into the cab, pulled the door shut behind her, turned the ignition and kicked the engine into life.

  The woman had already backed her Saturn out of the parking spot and was cranking her wheel to turn toward the open drive.

  “Will you just move it, Deb?” Liz shouted again, her voice shrilling with panic.

  Deb was maneuvering the Cherokee as rapidly as she could and muttering under her breath, her jaw hanging low. “Where we going?” She shouted back as she pawed at the wheel.

  “Just follow that car!”

  “Well, why didn’t you say so in the first place.” Deb’s face brightened suddenly.” Just like TV, huh?”

  “Yeah, Deb. Just like TV. But hurry up. We don’t want to lose her.”

  Deb tromped on the gas and shot toward the street. The Saturn had already pulled out and turned right. The Cherokee bounced out into the street with tires squealing. A car from the other direction braked to a sudden halt and almost slid into the Cherokee’s rear bumper.

  The Cherokee fish tailed a bit, then, straightened out as Deb floored the gas pedal. The Saturn was far down the street by now. Deb leaned over the steering wheel as if willing the vehicle to go faster. She was going too fast to slow down when she saw a car coming out of the bank parking lot and entering the street ahead of them. Deb stood on the brake, shoving it as far down as fast as she could, but the momentum was too great. The Cherokee slid forward, tread from the tires painting marks on the pavement and the stench of hot rubber filled the air.

  Deb’s arms went rigid against the steering wheel, pushing her back against the seat upright behind her. Liz pushed her arms out in front of her and braced herself against the dash.

  It all happened so fast, that it seemed like flashes of light and color before her eyes. She screamed without hearing herself, or Deb next to her. Only the crash and the sound of metal against metal registered in her brain.

  In an instant it was all over. Liz bounced backward against the seat, her neck snapping backward and sending pain up and down her spine. The monster now took the opportunity to take charge of Liz’s body. Her vision blurred and she had no control over body movement.

  Next to her, Deb was trying to fight her way through the bulky remnants of the inflated air bag that pinned her between the seat and the steering wheel. The driver’s side door came open and a man’s voice said,” Liz. Are you all right?” With the Cherokee up against the dented in driver’s side door of the black and white, Ben MacCready had slid across the seat and had gotten out on the passenger side. His left hip hurt a bit from the impact of the crash.

  Then as Deb fought her way out of the air bag, MacCready said with surprise,” Deb. Where did you come from? I thought Liz was driving……” His gaze spread to the passenger seat. Liz was sitting straight back; her eyes glazed and staring blankly forward. She was catatonic.

  “I should arrest the both of you,” Ben MacCready said. He was sitting in Liz’s usual chair in her living room. Sissy Boom Boom lay in her chair and eyed the big policeman warily. Deb was sitting on the couch and looking very gloomy. She didn’t bother to give MacCready any of her usual back talk.

  She had just put Liz to bed and had given her medication. Liz was sleeping soundly now.

  “But I don’t suppose that would do any good,” Ben sighed.” So why don’t you just tell me what the hell has been going on this morning?”

  Without any of her usual attitude, Deb told him about Liz recognizing the woman who drove away in the Saturn and how Liz had insisted that they follow her.

  “Did Liz tell you who she thought the woman was and why she wanted to follow her?”

  “No. She just told me to get in the Cherokee and drive. So I
did.”

  “And just where had you been before you met up with Liz in the diner parking lot?”

  “You promise you won’t tell Liz if I tell you?” Deb was reluctant, but still subdued.

  “That depends,” MacCready said.” If I don’t have to tell her, I won’t. But I can’t promise. You’ll just have to trust me.”

  Deb lifted her head and leveled her gaze at Ben MacCready. She swallowed hard and said feebly,” Okay.”

  Deb told him that Liz had told her about Martin Callan and how she didn’t really believe it until she went to Callan’s place thinking she could head Liz off from turning the tractor back. She told Ben how Callan had frightened her and had been rough. She told how interested that Callan was in Liz’s money and how his attitude had suddenly changed.

  MacCready listened intently, his mind methodically putting pieces together. When Deb had finished, MacCready gave her a reassuring smile and said,” You did just fine, Deb. I don’t think I have to arrest you after all.”

  Deb brightened,” Really?”

  MacCready chuckled.” Really. But I still have to give you a ticket.”

  Deb’s face began to darken again. MacCready said,” Just kidding.” He smiled broadly.

  “Oh Ben, thank you,” she beamed proudly.

 

  *****

  Chapter Twenty Nine