Read 12 Twelve Sharp for Free Online

that I can see. Unimpressive work history. Mostly in retail sales. Waited tables at a bar in Springfield and most recently lists herself as self-employed, bounty hunter. Some financial information. The SUV is leased. Lives in a rental in Arlington. I can go deeper, but it'll take a day or two.'
    'What about Ranger? Can you run a check on him?'
    'Connie and me try to run a check on him all the time,' Lula said. 'It's like he doesn't exist.'
    I looked at Connie. 'Is that true?'
    'I'm surprised his name showed up in Carmen's data base,' Connie said. 'He has a way of erasing himself.'
    I redialed Ranger's cell number and got his service again. 'Hey, man of mystery,' I said, 'your wife is here, and she's looking for you with a gun in her hand.'
    'That would get my attention,' Lula said.
    'Only if you were near a cell tower,' I told her. 'And sometimes Ranger goes places where no cell tower has gone before. Let's saddle up. I want to see what Lonnie Johnson's house looks like today. See if anyone's shooting at him.'
    Lula's Firebird was parked in the small back lot, so we left through the back door and took her car. After a couple blocks I called Connie.
    'Is Carmen still at the curb?'
    'Yep. She didn't see your rear exit. Guess bounty hunter skills aren't high on the list for things you learn when you're married to Ranger.'
    I hung up, and Lula cruised down Hamilton and hooked a right turn into Johnson's neighborhood. We were a block away when we saw the lone fire truck. It was parked in front of Johnson's house… or at least, what was left of it.
    'Hunh,' Lula said, creeping in for a closer look. 'Hope he had insurance.'
    Johnson's house was a pile of blackened rubble.
    I got out of the car and walked to the fire truck where two firemen were checking a form off on a clipboard.
    'What happened?' I asked.
    'The house burned down,' one of them said.
    They looked at each other and laughed. Fireman humor.
    'Anyone hurt?'
    'No. Everyone got out. Are you a friend?'
    'I knew Lonnie Johnson. Do you know where he went?'
    'No, but he went there fast. Left his girlfriend behind to sort through the mess. She said it was a kitchen fire, but there was no way.'
    How about this: maybe the firebomb landed in the kitchen.
    I got back into the car and slouched in my seat.
    'Look on the bright side,' Lula said. 'Nobody's shooting. And I don't see no rocket launcher.'

Three
    I think we'll file Lonnie Johnson in the lost cause file,' I said to Lula. 'If he has any sense at all, he's on a bus out of town.'
    'Good idea,' Lula said. 'Who we got next up?'
    I'd planned to do the arsonist next, but he'd lost some appeal now that I had my nose clogged with barbecued house. I got the stack of files from the back seat and fingered through them.
    Luis Queen had been picked up for solicitation. Not a high bond, but he'd be easy to find. I hauled Luis Queen in all the time. Unfortunately, it was too early for Queen. He wouldn't be on his corner turning tricks until midafternoon. Queen liked to sleep in.
    Caroline Scarzolli held some potential. She was a low-bond shoplifter. First-time offender. Worked in a lingerie and gadget shop. I handed the file to Lula. 'How about this one?'
    'I like this one,' Lula said. 'Scarzolli will be at work now, and I've been wanting to take a look at this store. I gave up being a 'ho, but I still like to keep up on the technology.'
    Pleasure Treasures was on a side street in the middle of the city. The name on the front of the store was written in hot-pink neon light. The lingerie displayed in the window was exotic. Crotchless panties trimmed in faux fur, sequined thongs, nipple pasties, animal-print garter belts.
    Lula parked in the small lot adjacent to the store, and we sauntered up to the front door. Actually, Lula was the only one sauntering. I was skulking, head down, hoping no one was looking.
    An older woman walked by with her dog and our eyes met.
    I'm a bounty hunter, looking for someone,' I said to her. 'I'm not buying