It All Comes Out in the Wash: Silver Lake Cozy Mysteries, Book #1

By Sophia Watson

This is the 1st book in the series. The 2nd book is "Snow Angels or No Angels" by Sophia Watson. The third book is "(That) Summer in Silver Lake". See silverlakemysteries.weebly.com for links, synopsis & updates.

Set in the East Cape Girardeau area of Illinois across the Mississippi river from Missouri and the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Silver Lake is an extreme eco-tourist resort and farming area (mostly corn). Our main character, Asia Reynolds, is an internationally known documentary film maker & photographer who grew up with Elise Snuggles (African-American cable newscaster-lady that types the little yellow info banner on the bottom of the TV screen) and Sergeant Sheila Rodriguez, tough, beautiful, Mexican-American motorcycle cop in the Silver Lake Police Department.

Asia disappears in this first book, local Patrolman "Chico" (Ignacio Gonzalo) Almonte, super buff boyfriend of Sgt. Rodriguez, sets out to track her on Nino his midnight black stallion with Asia's rescued 120lb. Husky-German Shepard, Zucchini, guiding the way. Asia's politics cause more than one problem with the conservative farming community, especially her documentary on the sharing of irrigation water rights during droughts. When Elise can -- between bouts of jealous rivalry with fellow news person at the KANU cable station, Alphonsine LaDuque, a "prettier-than-thou" irritant around the news station -- she researches leads about Asia's disappearance.

Meanwhile, a local financier is found dead on his new property, complicating everything. If that isn't enough, an Illinois Congressman is shot dead during a small cavalcade into town. What connects all of this? Perhaps it is the bungee jump, local hot air balloon rides, gliders, carnival ride area, white water rafting, private plane hangars or international jet setters that make the small town its money and tend to bring trouble with them? Find out by reading this First Book in the Silver Lake Cozy Mystery Series by Sophia Watson.

The second book in the Silver Lake series is "Snow Angels or No Angels" also by Sophia Watson (see silverlakemysteries.weebly.com for links), which features wild Europe, the Outer Hebrides, underground London and true facts about international computer hacking set in a fictional context.

Book three is in the works for this summer of 2016 entitled -- "(That) Summer in Silver Lake" which features a deep scandal inside the Silver Lake Police Department and trouble in Asia Reynold's household -- see above website for updates.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cozy Publishing
• Release date: Apr 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310955891

Sophia Watson

Cathy Smith (Sophia Watson) lives in northern Maine near the Canadian border writing cozy novels (on Nook and Kindle also as Zara Brooks-Watson), poetry (on Kindle as Cathy Smith), taking photographs (for the poetry) and editing her short stories from the Nineties (of which she has many). She lives in a farming (rural) area watching the wildlife -- recently foxes, weasels and cardinals -- and the ubiquitous coyote. She has a wonderful rescued Yorkshire terrier named Sparky, supports third world and other animal rescue organizations online and has owned quite a few amazing dogs and cats. She also writes under two pseudonyms -- Zara Brooks-Watson and Sophia Watson (cozy mysteries). She has four book websites -- silverlakemysteries.weebly.com -- jitterbug-watson.weebly.com -- zarabrookswatson.weebly.com and appleciderpoetry.weebly.com -- She authors the Silver Lake Cozy Mystery Series and the Bonaventura Cozy Mysteries -- samples of these books and links to all of her online downloads are available on the website link below. She is her own publisher as Cozy Pubishing. More books are available under all three names on Nook and Kindle and many other e-book distributors online. She attended Boston University (graduating magna cum laude) and Harvard.

Book preview

Other Books by this Author

BOOKS IN THE SILVER Lake Cozy Series as Sophia Watson

It All Comes Out in the Wash-Book 1

Snow Angels-Book 2

That Summer in Silver Lake-Book 3

Solstice-Book 4

THE BONAVENTURA COZY Mysteries as Zara Brooks-Watson

Jitterbug-a novel of the Fifties

Tie Dye-the sequel, a novel of the Sixties

SHORT STORIES, POETRY and a Children’s Book as Cathy Smith

Hidden Treasures: A Book of Short Stories

Waiting for the Sunrise: The Collected Poetry of Cathy Smith

The Tree People-Children’s E-book for ages 6-10

ALL E-BOOKS ALSO AVAILABLE in paperback. For updates and all book sales links, see: Silverlakemysteries.wixsite.com/sophia-watson  audio-video site

Silverlakecozymysteries.weebly.com  plain site.

Contents

Other Books by this Author

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five: Who Let the Dogs Out?

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

About the Author

Chapter One

"Zucchini!" shouted Asia desperately as she lay on her face, her hands tied behind her, on the cold, dark forest ground, the dampness of molding leaves seeping into her clothes. A deep, rough voice laughed and commanded, Shut up you! The man turned to his companion and continued, She thinks a vegetable will save her. I hate these New Age people. They are so weird.

Don’t worry, said the other man. Even if there is anyone way out here, no one will pay any attention. We sound like we’re having an argument over a recipe. They both laughed.

Maybe it is some sort of prayer, answered the first man. I don’t see any long, green cucumber-like superhero coming. Maybe she should call out for an onion instead. Might be more useful. Both men laughed even louder.

__________ 

Two weeks earlier, on June 12, at dawn, the deep green of the Silver Lake community park near the downtown area was covered with carnival equipment. The first to set up was a huge inflated play castle for children, which had already gleefully been in use since the day before.

This was to be no ordinary carnival. It was the opening of the summer Eco Tourism season in the Cape Girardeau area of Illinois and Missouri. The bungee jump was almost set up. Parachuting was available at the local airport. White water rafting was right on the banks of the Mississippi. Hang gliders, kayak rentals and hot air balloon rides were offered on the shores of Silver Lake itself. Tickets and brochures for all the extreme sports were also available here at the carnival and at the airport. Regular carnival rides such as bumper cars, a Ferris wheel and the Tilt-A-Whirl were also being put together, plus a professional sound stage for local and internationally known musicians.

Instead of cotton candy and other sugar snacks, gourmet health snacks were to be sold from local cafés, restaurants and bakeries and from colorful wooden carts and booths set up between the rides. This was a very high-end form of tourism. Jet setters flew into town in private jets and smaller planes from all over the country and the world. The mighty Mississippi River, Mingo Wildlife Refuge and the many fantastic caves of Mark Twain National Park and the Meramec Caverns all offered chartered private and public tours. These were the main attractions in nearby southern Missouri.

Besides the ultra-rich, hippies from around the country also packed into this small mid-western town in order to panhandle, play music on the street and bandstand - and sell their handicrafts. They rented tent space in local campgrounds, although it wasn’t unusual to see them camping rough out in the woods and using the local YMCA to shower. No one really minded that. The hippies were generally polite, soft-spoken and cleaned up after themselves. As a result, the local police looked the other way and usually protected them from unreasonable homeowners and other critters of the forest.

__________ 

A small group of female deer paused, synchronized in a graceful, balletic movement together, quietly alert, on an expansive, nicely landscaped lawn as the sun came up high over the steaming dawn mist of the nearby woods. As the early morning fog began to clear, a woman opened her front door, still dressed in her rather wrinkled flannel pajamas, holding a fresh, hot cup of spearmint tea. The deer looked up, not startled, bent over again and continued pulling at the soft grass.

The woman put her mug down on a porch table, walked out to her mailbox gingerly in her bare feet, and grabbed her newspaper. The deer turned, lifting their heads at the same time, still synchronized. Like magic, they evaporated into the trees, soundlessly like the mist. She walked back up to her front porch, got her mug of tea and went back inside her house.

This woman was usually up this early. No real reason, other than it was her favorite time of day. Add a sunset or a summer twilight to that and you would have Asia Reynolds’ daily set of natural comfort zones. Although, when not working a gig, she might go back to sleep for a few extra hours in the morning.

She padded through her living room, which she had decorated in dark green paint interspersed with varnished, natural pine paneling. This was a simple but striking setting for her nature photography. Besides being a mildly well-known documentary filmmaker, she sold many of her photographs to both nature and travel magazines—and to local art patrons, as well. She entered her large stainless and polished granite kitchen, getting out her Vita Mix blender. She made a fat-free yogurt smoothie with her own fresh blueberries. After thinking, she added the last of her best friend’s, Elise Snuggles, homemade honey and a soy-based vitamin powder.

Her big 120 lb. Husky-German Shepherd dog, Zucchini, came over to her and sat down, sniffing at the good smells above her head.

No, baby, no dairy for you. It gives you looseness. Zucchini snorted (probably in naive disagreement.)

Asia filled a tall glass with the frothy blue mixture. Taking a sip, she set the glass down on her kitchen table and went over to the sink. Filling a large watering can, she went around the back of her home and watered her numerous houseplants, opening curtains as she went.

She finished her early morning ritual just as the sun came up fully over the horizon. She shoved the empty can under her sink. Picking up her glass of smoothie, Asia reached over for her newspaper and went out the sliding glass doors to her back yard. Zucchini followed her, lying down at her feet by the padded wicker lawn chair in which her mistress was sitting. Asia put her feet up on a matching footstool and opened her paper.

An elaborate architectural drawing of a large and beautifully designed building in the town center (with proposed landscaping) illustrated the day’s headline: New Spa/Laundromat for Silver Lake. Next to the drawing, was the photograph of a sailboat bobbing on the lake that this rural Illinois farming town was named after.

Asia looked down at her dog and commented, What’s so exciting about a laundromat that it has to take up half the front page? Of course, Zucchini only snorted, put her head down on her paws and groaned. Asia reached down to scratch her dog’s ears and continued talking to her idly, Who ever heard of a multi-million dollar laundromat? Even if it does contain a workout room, sauna and health spa/café?

Asia flipped to the second page, which folded out to reveal drawings of the elaborate layout of the new building. A heated indoor swimming pool was surrounded by large sliding glass doors and floor-to-ceiling plants—enough to make it resemble an indoor/outdoor botanical garden. Wooden decks extended outside the glass walls on three sides to reveal an impressive vista of rolling hills and the closest shore of the Mississippi. In the next drawing, another vista portrayed sailboats gliding serenely underneath the wings of eagles and hawks hunting the waters for fish.

One of the decks held a dozen outdoor hot tubs, covered by a metal awning. The view of the forest and nearby lake from there was spectacular.

Asia put her feet down on the cement tiles of her patio, hunched over the paper, chewing her lip and starting to read more avidly. She took a long drink from her smoothie. Gentrification had hit every small town surrounding Central Illinois University, as many out-of-town entrepreneurs tried to lure the local college students (and their parents and families) into their establishments. Asia had to admit she loved the new attention these small farming towns had been giving to beautification lately. There were flowers, new trees and benches sprouting up everywhere. The new little cafés certainly showed promise in attracting an exciting and lucrative sort of tourist trade in the summer. There was winter sports, too, such as snowmobiling, snowboarding; tobogganing and cross-country skiing when the snows came. 

People unrelated to the university also came to Silver Lake simply to vacation – to white-water raft and go spelunking in the caverns of Mark Twain National Park over the nearby state border in Missouri. They were not just the folks who came to look at the university with their kids. No more greasy burgers and fries, the small restaurants in Silver Lake served everything from Moroccan and Somali cuisine to local game and fish with macrobiotic and vegetarian/vegan entrées.

A price list from the proposed new spa caught Asia’s eye. Membership was very reasonable. Basic membership could get her pool time and enough sauna/steam room/workout room access to fit neatly inside her work schedule. She didn’t need the laundromat part. There was even a lovely teak-paneled health food café on the first floor open to the public. New membership came with some coupons for discounts in the café.

After Asia had quit smoking two years ago, she had decided to become a vegetarian, learn Hatha yoga, meditate and become healthy. Zucchini, the dog, was a child of this transformation.

A woman’s voice echoed from the front of the house, "Yoo-hoo! I’m tired of cornfields! I need another continent. You there, Asia? You forgot to lock your front door again."

Just as Zucchini got up to wag her tail, a small black woman with a wicker basket walked through the kitchen and out into the back yard.

You still in your pj’s, girl? It’s almost ten o’clock! Don’t you ever go to work?

Sometimes, came Asia's answer from behind a spray of Acacia and a short Japanese maple.

Well, I just came over on my break to bring you a fresh batch of honey. The petite woman rounded the bushes and put the wicker basket she had been carrying on the glass-topped outdoor table in front of Asia.

"Hmm, Ms. Snuggles," commented Asia as she reached in the basket, drew out an amber jar and opened it. Sticking her finger in, she hummed in pleasure as she tasted the fragrant syrup.

You try it. You buy it.

Smacking her lips, Asia said, Of course.

"You can, by the way, call me Elise. Just so long as you don’t call me Mrs. Snuggles, who is my mother—and probably the name of a few dozen cats and a dirty 900 number."

Sure, said Asia, smiling. Just joking.

Ha, answered Elise, sardonically, helping herself to a chair. What ‘cha got for breakfast?

Blueberry smoothie and toasted bagels. Do I need to ask if you want some?

No.

Asia put the newspaper down and got up, releasing the wrinkles in her flannel pajama bottoms to fall to her ankles as she stretched, letting out a long, loud sigh.

Oh, shoot, said Elise. Don’t let me disturb your sleep. I’ll get it.

Okay, replied Asia, not needing a further prompt to slide back into her comfortable overstuffed, wicker patio chair. Zucchini followed Elise back into the house.

Don’t give the dog any smoothie. It makes her loose.

I know, called Elise.

Asia could hear Elise use baby-talk on her big husky as she poured smoothies and toasted the bagels. She grimaced. Zookie (Zucchini) had been trained as a certified Search and Rescue dog. She practically had the doggie equivalent of a college degree. No need to use a demeaning, creepy tone of voice. Not that Zookie disliked it. Quite the opposite, she loved it. Asia was the one that disliked it. To her it was like squeaky chalk on a blackboard. Elise came back outside with a breakfast tray holding a large plate filled with buttered, toasted and split bagels and their two glasses of smoothie.

I gave Zookie a doggie cookie and some salmon jerky.

Good. Then maybe she’ll recover from your baby-talk.

This dog loves me, said Elise running her hand through Zookie’s magnificent silver and golden caramel neck ruffle. The dog laid her huge, wide head on Elise’s thigh, letting Asia’s friend continue talking trash and scratching her behind her ears.

See, said Elise squeezing her larynx closed and puckering her lips so she could squeal. Her words took on a pudgy sound. Th-ou could probably sth-peak baby-talk in any language of the world like this, and some dog, somewhere, would let you do a tummy rub for it.

Ick, said Asia, deftly fighting for part of the newspaper from Elise.

"This dog is impressive. She would look so-o-o good next to my new raincoat. Ooo... P-wetty girl..." Zookie wagged her tail.

"Take her to work with you, then.

Mmm, said Elise in agreement, lifting the entire front section of the newspaper up in front of her face, setting her feet up in the exact spot that Asia had been using on the nearby foot stool as she crunched on her bagel.

Asia was left with a lovely wicker basket containing seven jars of Elise Snuggles’ honey, only part of the story she had been reading and Zookie falling asleep on her left foot, which was also falling asleep on its own rather uncomfortably.

Elise sipped her smoothie with a loud smacking sound. I’m really getting into my Jujitsu right now, she said from behind the newspaper, sort of crumpling it as she took it away from her face to talk. She half sat on it to keep it from flying around in the light summer breeze that had picked up a few of the maple leaves on the lawn. Asia relaxed, even though there were flaws in this picture, like the fact that Elise seemed to forget that she had been reading the exact same section of the news that Elise was sitting on right now.

I like to kick people, Elise continued, apropos of nothing, but getting a big silent nod from Asia. You know I’m small for regular Judo...Jujitsu gives me the element of surprise, and the right fulcrum for my size. Those throws where you grab the opponent’s shirt and land them on the floor are too much for me. I only weigh 95 lbs. Zookie’s got twenty-five pounds on me.

Yeah. I know, commented Asia, getting up to get some more to eat from the kitchen. Just a minute. I’ll be right back. I need a bowl of granola, she said. Elise handed her an empty smoothie glass, asking for more.

Aren’t you worried about your carbs?

No. Besides, the bagels and granola are whole grain. Aren’t you worried about too much soy...or becoming over-vitaminized?

‘I didn’t know you could become over-vitaminized!" answered Elise, sounding concerned.

Look it up on the Net.

Zookie got up, stretched and yawned. Elise called into the kitchen, So much could happen when a tiny woman grabs a man’s shirt. Not all of it good. A seemingly innocent arm grab is easier to hide. My highly-trained thumb and fingers grab a secret fulcrum. With a twist, the pain that shoots through your opponent’s arm, shifts him or her onto their opposite foot which you deftly kick out from under them, pulling them forward and then letting them drop to the ground backwards when they lose their balance. The whole thing is to make your opponent lose their balance.

There were sounds of crashing silverware, along with the rushing sound of dog kibble being poured. Asia re-emerged through the sliding glass doors a few minutes later with a pottery bowl filled with granola, milk and fruit, and Elise's refilled glass of smoothie, ducking under an enormous hanging Boston fern that was part of her informal security system - truly designed to catch the uninformed.

Hmm? answered Asia. I lost half of what you said.

No bother. I’ll show you later.

Zookie sniffed the air, shook her long sable ruff and sauntered into the kitchen, passing on one side of Asia, going in the other direction.

Asia sat down at the glass-topped table again and set the bowl of cereal in front of herself, pulling her new jar of Snuggles honey over in front of it. She opened the jar, sniffing the golden syrup appreciatively. Mmm...I really love this blueberry. Yum.

Elise said, My bees are all over the berry bushes this year, as usual.

Asia took a spoon and emptied two large spoonfuls of honey over her granola. Greedily, she licked the syrup into her mouth right from the spoon. You’re going to get another blue ribbon at the Silver Lake Agricultural Fair this year.

Probably.

It tastes just like blueberries.

I’ll bring some buckwheat flavor over when it’s ready.

Sounds good. Let me put on some music and light some incense...create some atmosphere to celebrate this fine honey. Asia gave Elise a ten dollar bill and went back into the house through the sliding glass door. She put a set of jazz and ambient CDs on her stereo and lit some pungent Indian sandalwood incense, bringing the smoking sticks outside. The sweet sounds of a jazz saxophone drifted through the open doors to the house.

"Ah. You put on the African Smoothie CD I gave you for Christmas. I love Isaiah Katuma, said Elise as she took another honey-soaked bagel from the plate. Love him..." She and Asia smiled at each other as they bit into the moist, nutty bagels.

Three doe appeared at the break in Asia’s forest, timidly walking onto the lawn in her back yard. Ssh, exclaimed Asia, pointing at them quietly. Look! I saw them early this morning in front of the house.

Oh yeah, commented Elise as she turned slowly to observe the animals with a smile. They are beautiful. A great vision to start anyone’s day with. I have a couple of wild rabbits over by my house that hop around from time to time. I see them in the winter, too, after they change color. I think they like me. I put dry oatmeal out on the snow for them as an extra treat last winter. I nick-named them Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford. The two women laughed as they finished their bagels. Elise said, I have to get back to work.

Elise paused and sniffed at the air, I smell weed.

Hippies. I think they camp in my woods sometimes. I don’t mind.

Me either. Might as well get a contact high before I go back to my computer.

Asia picked up her video camera and got a nice long shot of the deer munching their way back into the forest. A high, sweet saxophone riff drifted into the air over the two women. Then a rough saxophone began to set a beat when the CD changed to Soul Makossa.

Elise grinned and said, loudly, Asia, stand up, I want to show you something. Asia frowned, standing up with a little curiosity and some irritation after finally getting her front page back and getting Zookie to move off her foot. Why bother? said a warier part of her brain.

No. Go over there on the grass. Elise followed her and quickly kicked her right foot out from under her with a lilting giggle as she pulled Asia’s arm forward. Got ‘cha, she said, elated, raising her right fist in the air as Asia lost her balance and fell backwards when Elise released her arm.

Asia looked up at her, laconically, lying flat on her back, looking up at the robin’s egg blue of the late morning sky and puff-balls of traveling clouds. "Ow. Uh. What is that called?"

"Yoko Gake with a wrist grab from Jujitsu."

What do you study again? still philosophical, not trying to get up yet.

Kodokan Judo and Jujitsu. Not bad for a beginner, eh?

Zucchini went over and slurped affectionately at Asia’s face. Ugh, Zookie! Quit it, girl.

You want the front section of today’s paper? asked Elise, holding up the massively crumpled front page and ignoring the fact that her best friend was still lying on her back.

Yeah. You can get the paper at the cable station, when you go back to work. They should have one. I wanted to look more closely at that strange laundromat plan.

The one with the spa? It looks extravagant.

Yeah, very. They are going to have everything: reiki, yoga, steams, qigong, a sauna and more. I’m joining. The paper said the entire plan will cost in the ballpark of $20 million.

"No way!"

Yeah, way. I wonder who is financing the thing?

Dunno. But I bet we find out.

Yeah. The cable news anchor at your station will know eventually.

That’ll be the biggest news in Silver Lake since they renovated the high school.

Or required plastic doggie bags if you walk your dog on town sidewalks, replied Asia as she rolled over onto her stomach, groaned, and got up using Zookie’s sleek back as a brace. Well, now that you crumpled up my newspaper and knocked me down ... feel energized?

"Yeah. Using judo brings up my Chi."

Asia laughed, standing up and brushing herself off a little. Mine, too. What a rush. I can feel Chi all over my backside.

Elise picked her basket up and smoothed the hair on Zucchini’s back. The dog wagged her shaggy tail like a large fan, stirring up a small breeze. I have to get back to the station; everyone will be waiting breathlessly for me to add tonight’s movies to the TV Guide. One day, I’ll be a news anchor, too. You know I have a master’s degree in journalism.

Yeah, I know. But, think about how important you are now. No one would know what was on cable tonight if you didn’t type the information into the rolling yellow banner.

Oh, whoopee, said Elise, getting up to leave. See you, girl.

Luv ‘ya, Elise.

Chapter Two

TOWARDS THE END OF the day, a large yellow and green John Deere earthmover rolled slowly over the smoothed and hard-packed surface of a large lot near Silver Lake Boulevard. Next to that there was a huge concrete square with iron re-bar sticking out of it, obviously part of a semi-finished foundation.

Two men in bright yellow hardhats stood watching a few carpenters working on a large façade facing the street and framing a section of the front foundation. The smaller of the two men in hardhats rubbed his hands together and looked over to the architectural plans the other, rather obese, man was holding and frowning into. The smaller man was smiling and looking excited. He said, We’re ahead of schedule. Looks like we’ll be done building a couple of weeks before we advertised.

Yeah, commented the bigger man in a cavernous, deep voice. But, the price of construction materials is really skyrocketing. We might be early for our opening, but we might go over budget.

We’ll make it up.

You’re so optimistic.

It’s a great business plan! People already come up to me on the street to ask about membership. Besides the front page article in the Silver Lake Daily News, two national Eco-Tourism companies are going to list us as a local attraction in the Cape Girardeau area with full color photographic spreads. Imagine whitewater rafting, then relaxing in a sauna? Then buying a box of Baklava soaked in local organic honey to bring back to your hotel suite, rented condo or rustic lodge? Beats rice crispy squares, a candy bar and a smelly tent.

The bigger man was very big, he must have weighed circa 300 lbs. or more. He was obese but had beautiful skin and was very handsome. Thick, wavy black hair brushed down to his shiny, finely molded eyebrows. He frowned and looked like thunder when he did. I still think there is something weak in our inclusion of a laundromat with the spa and café.

Again? Tobias, we already discussed this. Health spas need a lot of promo. They need promo that borders on community education.

"Education? Vance, get real. We are not spokespeople for the New Age movement."

"Yeah, actually, we are. If we are smooth and media-savvy, we can bring travelers and Central Illinois students into the laundromat and hand out brochures, coupons, freebies and samples from the café. And what do tourists and college students really need? A comfortable local laundromat... Vance Smithers chuckled a little bit, and said, ...with really good food. Even something to take home for dinner. And a heated pool. Something healthy to soothe your feelings when you lose that first boyfriend freshman year.

Tobias Smart gritted his teeth and punched the bridge of his sunglasses back up his nose. He started to fold the plans up. It’s the strangeness of the combination: ‘Like, go swimming in our heated indoor pool and wash your clothes!—Come to the California Spa and Laundromat!’

Separately. They can’t swim in their clothes, chuckled Vance.

This is not funny. It’s my money that’s paying for the start up.

"Boy, do I know that," answered Vance, sourly.

Hey! I don’t have to continue paying for this. Check your attitude.

Don’t worry.

I am, bantered Tobias Smart irritably.

Vance Smithers kicked a rock down the sidewalk in reply.

A large black limousine made its way down Silver Lake Boulevard following three motorcycle cops. Two more limos followed the first one. The leader in the phalanx of police was a strikingly beautiful Latina woman, who looked more like a Vogue model for police Public Relations than a cop.

Tobias Smart looked at his overly expensive Swiss watch and slapped his huge hand on Vance’s shoulder.