16 Sizzling Sixteen

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Book: Read 16 Sizzling Sixteen for Free Online
Authors: Janet Evanovich
said.

    Well, it didnt do me any good tonight.

    The night isnt over, Ranger said. You could still get lucky.

    ______

    BEING A BOND enforcement agent almost never requires me to set my alarm clock. Felons are in the wind twenty-four hours a day, so I can pretty much pick which of those hours I want to go hunting. Lula usually rolls into the office around nine, and Im usually right behind her. This morning was no different.

    Id sent Ranger home early the night before, deciding I wasnt ready to get that lucky. A night with Ranger was tempting, but the cost would be high. My relationship with Morelli was currently on hold. A morning argument in Morellis kitchen a couple weeks ago had ended with the notion it might not be a bad idea if we saw other people, but the reality was that we werent. I felt comfortable with flirting and maybe a kiss, but I wasnt comfortable going beyond that with another man right now.

    Hey, girl, Lula said from the bonds office couch, whats up for today?

    Dirk McCurdle and a drug guy named Chopper.

    And Vinnie, Connie said.

    Yeah, I said. And Vinnie.

    Do you have any leads? Connie asked.

    I know where he isnt, I told her. Id like an address for Dirks best friend, Ernie Wilkes. Ive got one Mrs. McCurdle left. If she isnt helpful, Ill talk to Ernie.

    Connie punched a few keys on her computer, and it spit out Ernies address. She wrote the address on a slip of paper and handed it to me. Hes retired from the button factory, so he should be at home.

    The phone rang and Connie picked it up. Yeah, she said. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Ill be right there. She disconnected and grabbed her purse. I have to bond out Jimmie Leonard. That means I have to lock the office up for an hour until I get back.

    We could stay here and babysit phones, Lula said.

Sizzling Sixteen
    Page: 24

    Connie and Vinnie were the only ones authorized to write the bonds that released people from jail while they waited for their day in court. I worked as the office bounty hunter, and I signed individual contracts that gave me permission to root out felons who were FTA for their court date. Lula wasnt authorized to do anything, so she just did whatever the heck she wanted.

    Connie took off for the courthouse, and Lula and I piled into the Jeep. Stella McCurdle lived in north Trenton. Ernie Wilkes and his wife lived a couple blocks from Stella. Good deal for me. I was short of gas money and not excited about the idea of driving all over creation to find McCuddle. I took Olden to Bright Street and turned onto Cherry. I parked in front of Stellas house, and Lula and I got out and went to the door.

    Now this heres more what Im talking about, Lula said. This looks like a bigamist house.

    It was a narrow, two-story single-family house. And it was painted lavender with pink trim. Why Lula imagined a bigamist should live in a lavender house was anyones guess.

    Yep, I said. This looks like a bigamist house for sure.

    I got high hopes for this wife, Lula said.

    Stella McCurdle answered the door in tight lavender stretch pants, little sling-back heels, and a stretchy flower-print wrap shirt that displayed a decent amount of over-tanned, crepe paperskinned boob. She had big chunky rings on her fingers and big chunky earrings, lots of make up, and her hair was a shade short of canary yellow, done up in a seventies bouffant.

    Whoa, Lula said. Its like Soul Train for seniors. Stella leaned forward. What was that, dear? My hearings on the blink. Im all clogged up with wax. I was just on my way to the doctor.

    Im looking for your husband, I said to Stella.

    What?

    Your husband.

    No, thank you, she said. I dont need any.

    Must be a lot of wax, Lula said.

    Dirk! I yelled. Wheres Dirk?

    Dirk! Dont know. Dont care, she said. Im moving on. Im gonna find myself a new boy toy. Dirk was too old for me anyway.

    Thats the spirit, Lula said.

    What? Stella yelled. What did you say?

    Lula and I screamed good-bye to Stella, we got back into the car, and I

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