Twisted Twenty-Six (Stephanie Plum 26)

“Lula.”

“She looks mean. Is she muscle?”

“No. My muscle is waiting in the black SUV in the parking lot.”

“Ha. Good one.”

He thought I was kidding.

“I hear you’re looking for Charlie Shine,” Stan said.

I gave him my business card.

Stan pocketed the card. “I know who you are. You’re the widow’s granddaughter. The boys in the back room wanted to talk to you, but you declined our offer of a ride.”

“I was walking my boyfriend’s dog.”

“Well, you’re not walking the dog now, so I’m going to talk to you.”

“Are you one of the backroom boys?”

“Yeah, I spend some time there.”

“Do you have a La-Z-Boy chair?”

“No. I got a couch. There’s only so many La-Z-Boys.”

“About Charlie Shine,” I said.

“About Jimmy’s keys,” Stan said. “What do you know?”

“I know that they’re lost. That’s it.”

“We searched everywhere, and we can’t find them. So our conclusion is that your granny has them. She was with Jimmy at his last moment. We think he handed them off to her.” Stan made the sign of the cross. “He should rest in peace.”

“My understanding is that the last moment was more like half a moment. I don’t think he had time to hand anything off.”

“You need to have a conversation with Granny. Out of respect for Jimmy we wouldn’t do anything to ruin his funeral, but after the funeral I can’t guarantee your family’s safety if we don’t get the keys. And you should know we aren’t the only ones who want the keys. There are others involved who aren’t as civilized as us.”

“Others?”

Stan stood. “So be real careful.”

“Wait! What about Charlie Shine?”

Stan lumbered away and disappeared through the door behind the bar.

Lula was sitting at the bar, sipping her chardonnay and waiting for her burger.

“Well?” she asked. “Is Shine coming out?”

“No. I’m going in.”

“In where?”

“In whatever is behind the door behind the bar.”

“Are you taking the Rangeman guys with you?”