Homicide My Own - Anne Argula [59]
“That is part of the profile, but I like to think I’m just misunderstood.”
“Why are you still on the island?”
“Why else? Loading up on fireworks.” I had missed a sign. BEST DEALS. “I hear Rocketman has the best deals.”
I led Nascine over to the stand and started randomly selecting my arsenal from the back wall. The kids stacked them and tallied the price.
“Gimme an Ambush, an Atom Splitter, a Warp Speed…”
“Where’s your prisoner?” asked the deputy.
“Offer’s still open. You want him, you can have him, and the two females as well.” To the kid, I said, “And I want a Texas Cyclone, a Dark Zone…a Golden Shower?”
“I don’t name ‘em,” said the Springer fan, “I only sell ‘em.”
“Where’s your partner?” asked Nascine.
“You took a real shine to him, didn’t you?”
“Where is he?”
“People do take a shine to him. He’s very popular. Every other month he gets named Officer of the Month, they give him that good parking place close to the door. The guy gives off a light, you know? I guess you could call it a glow, and everybody wants to kind of get within that glow. What a wonderful thing that is. I guess.”
“What the fuck are you talkin’ about?”
The f-word came much easier to this guy.
“My partner. You know, the way there’s always one person in town that everyone is attracted to. The Golden Girl…or guy. He’s an unusual guy. You never met a guy like him. I’d like for you to hang out together for a while, see what I mean.”
“I’d like for you to get off the island.”
“I can see that. I just don’t know why. Or maybe I do.”
“We don’t like big city cops…”
“Big city? You ever been to Spokane?”
“…skirting our jurisdiction, cozying up to the Indians to get around dealing with the county.”
“Which must be a pleasure, I’m sure. Next time.”
“You are one smart ass bitch, ain’tcha?”
“Now, you’ve crossed the line, Sheriff. Only my colleagues call me bitch.”
I really wanted to send a kick to his jewels, and I had a clear channel, as he was standing feet apart, arms folded across his chest.
“What else?” said the kid. They were in business here.
“What the biggest thing you got?” I asked, still staring down the wiry deputy. “I want the most bang for my buck.”
Both kids answered at the same time. “The Predator.”
“Then give me two predators.”
“Where’s my old lady, Calvin?” asked the deputy.
“Makin’ tacos,” Calvin told him.
“Yeah,” I said, “We went back to see if we could buy some…Odd’s still back there trying to strike a bargain…but here’s the thing, they don’t look like any tacos I ever saw before.”
That’s when Calvin gave me the recipe for Navajo tacos, and when Deputy Nascine ditched me and started walking, a little unsteadily in his cowboy boots across the crushed rock, to the camper.
The kids packed my fireworks into recycled grocery bags. The bill came to $285, which entitled me to a free Rocketman’s t-shirt. I handed Calvin my Visa. No way would the lieutenant reimburse this one, and Connors was going to have a conniption when he saw the bill next month, but what could I do? Messing with people can cost you.
I dumped the stupid fireworks in the trunk of our Lumina. It was just then the yelling started.
18.
I was driving again, but I didn’t know where or what we would do next.. We were cooling down. We had, after all, just assaulted a police officer, which is a serious offense everywhere in the world, unless it is committed by another police officer and it’s personal. Those assaults rarely reach a court of law, and I was hoping this one would not be an exception.
Deputy Nascine had rounded that fireworks stand to find Odd on one knee, as though proposing, and Camilia Two Trees Nascine sitting on the camper step with her arms resting on his shoulders and in her eyes a look of such quiet joy that it had Nascine all but spitting. He had not seen that look since shortly after she had graduated from high school, when