Hardcore Twenty-Four (Stephanie Plum 24)

Lula leaned forward. “You got something against prostitutes?”

I stepped in front of Lula. “I was given this address for Zero Slick’s parents.”

“That’s us,” the man said. “Our name wasn’t good enough for him. He had to make something up.”

“He’s very creative,” the woman said. “He’s always been a free spirit.”

“Free spirit my ass,” the man said. “He’s a damn snowflake. I didn’t even know what a snowflake was until I heard it on the news, and here I am . . . I got one.”

“Snowflakes are beautiful,” the woman said. “Each one is unique.”

“For crissake, Marie,” the man said. “Give it up. He’s twenty-nine years old, and he’s never had a job. He doesn’t even know if he’s a boy or a girl. What’s with that? I changed his diaper. I guess I know what he is.”

“It’s complicated,” Marie said.

“It’s not complicated. If it hangs outside you’re a boy.”

“I think he’s making a social statement,” Marie said. “He’s at the forefront of human rights.”

“I’d like him to be at the forefront of getting a job. How long am I going to have to support this freeloader?”

“You don’t support him,” Marie said.

“I know you give him money,” the man said. “I’m working double shifts at the plant, and you’ve got a food budget that would feed forty people. Where’s all that food go to?”

“Does he live here?” I asked.

“No,” Marie said. “You know these young people. They like to be independent.”

“Do you have an address for him?”

“Of course,” Marie said. “He lives in an apartment building in town.”

“He doesn’t live there,” the man said. “He blew it the fuck up.”

“You know I don’t like that word,” Marie said to her husband.

“He’s a drug addict,” the man said. “He smokes dope.”

Marie leaned forward and whispered to Lula and me. “He’s really a good boy at heart.”

I gave Marie my card. “If you get an address for him I’d appreciate a call.”

“Of course,” Marie said.

“You gotta respect a mother like that,” Lula said on the way back to the car. “It was real touching the way she always found something nice to say about her loser kid.”

“He was peddling meth. There must be people on the street who know where to find him.”

“He was trying to cook some,” Lula said. “It’s not clear if he ever sold any.”

“Okay, so we know he smokes weed. He has to buy that from someone.”

“Weed’s everywhere,” Lula said. “You get the special of the day from Cluck-in-a-Bucket and it comes with a side of weed.”

I looked over at Lula and raised my eyebrows.

“Only when Clarence is working the drive-thru window,” Lula said.