Twisted Twenty-Six (Stephanie Plum 26)

“I might not be completely sure.”

* * *

—

Morelli and I had just laid waste to the endless all-you-can-eat Sunday buffet at Jerry’s Diner.

“Jerry outdid himself on this buffet,” I said.

Morelli signaled the waitress for our check. “I don’t think there’s a Jerry anymore. I think Jerry died and the diner got sold to Amazon.”

“Well, whoever owns it put out a kick-ass buffet.”

“Agreed.”

Morelli’s cellphone buzzed, and he checked for a text message.

“Not good?” I asked.

“Kelly has the flu, so I’m on call, and there’s a dead juvenile on Stark with gang graffiti tattooed onto his forehead.”

“That’s ugly.”

“Yeah, that’s my world. I’ll take you back to your parents’ house so you can get your car, and then I’ll go to work. This shouldn’t take long. It’s not like there are body parts spread all over.”

Ten minutes later, we spotted Grandma a block from my parents’ house.

“She’s on the move,” Morelli said. “She’s got her big black patent leather purse, which means she’s carrying. And I’m guessing she’s headed for the bakery.”

We pulled up alongside Grandma, and I lowered my window. “Get in,” I said. “We’ll give you a ride.”

“No thanks,” Grandma said. “I feel like getting some exercise. I gotta stay in shape now that I’m single again. I might want another boy toy after things calm down.”

“I’ll walk with Grandma,” I said to Morelli. “Call if you wrap things up early.”

“I’m going to the bakery,” Grandma said. “We’ve got leftover rump roast, and I’m going to get rolls, so we can have sandwiches for lunch. I might get some Italian cookies too. There were some at the wake, but I didn’t get a chance to eat any. I was too busy with my widow obligations.”

“You must be relieved to have it behind you.”

“In the beginning I wanted to do a real good job. And I have to admit, I was liking the attention. I didn’t feel so bad about Jimmy after I got over the shock. I figured he was going to do okay, making deals with Jesus or God or whoever is in charge of that stuff. Jimmy was good at making deals. But in the end, it was just sad and tiring. You know what was the best part of the funeral and the wake? Your hair. It has sparkly blue streaks, and it’s filled with life, and I always knew where you were, except when I couldn’t see you. Looking at it made me not so tired.”

Jeez. Who would have thought?

“Thanks, Grandma,” I said. “That’s really nice to hear. I’ve been feeling boring lately. I thought the blue extensions might help.”

“You aren’t boring. The blue streaky things work because that’s who you are. You’re like the sky at midnight, when the moon is shining, and the wind is blowing.”

I got totally choked up. It was such a beautiful thing for Grandma to say. And I wanted to be the moon and the wind, but I couldn’t see it. At this point in time I felt more like a cloudy day with the promise of rain.

We reached the bakery and took a number.

“It’s always crowded like this on Sunday,” Grandma said. “Everyone comes here after church. It’s like when you’re praying, you ask the Lord for a babka and then you just gotta come pick it up.”

We were next in line when I saw Jimmy’s sister Rose enter the bakery. Angie was behind her. Both women narrowed their eyes when they saw Grandma and me.

“What’s with these women?” Grandma said, catching sight of them. “They’re everywhere. And they’re giving us the stink face.”

“Ignore them. We’re next.”