Lamb smiled slyly at the envelope. He picked it up, folded it in half and thrust it in to his breast pocket, which he then fastened closed.
"Aren't you going to count it?"
"I think we're beyond that by now." Lamb smiled at the young blonde woman.
"So spill already. I need good Echolls dirt by tomorrow." She announced.
Lamb leaned in and whispered. "He wrecked a rental car in the desert while lost, possibly intoxicated, and once back in town he was receiving hospital guests after hours."
"Okay. Good. I can work with that." She smiled and put on her husky, sultry voice. "I'm glad you're as good as your … reputation, Sheriff Lamb."
He smiled as she sauntered back out the door. "Always a pleasure, Ambrosia!" He called after her.
"How would you know?" He flashed a wink over her shoulder at him. "You haven't had 'the pleasure' yet."
Lamb took a long, slow breath in through his nose. "I do love watching her leave." He said softly. Then he patted his money affectionately, which due to its location, amounted to petting his badge.
"Was he high?" Mac blinked in disbelief.
Veronica laughed. "That's the best explanation yet, but honestly, I have no idea."
"But you've got it until tomorrow?" Mac fought the urge to rub her eyes.
"Yup." Veronica smiled.
Mac swallowed and her eyes appeared glassy.
"You want to drive it, don't you?" Veronica teased.
"Hell yes I want to drive it!" Mac gestured at it. "How can anyone not want to drive it?"
"I know. Its sooo pretty!" Veronica laughed. "I told my dad that he couldn't drive it."
"Why? What could he have done that would be that bad?" Mac fought to look at Veronica but could only look at the car.
"He asked if Dick and I would be dating soon."
Suddenly Mac's eyes darted to Veronica. "Eww!"
"I know."
"No, really. Eww. Eww cubed for that matter. Or, like, Eww to the tenth!"
Veronica laughed. "Yeah, but he's been paying for it ever since. He's being totally nice."
Mac smiled. "Are you going to let him drive it?"
"Yeah, I couldn't say no, not for real. But that doesn't mean he doesn't have to pay."
"That should be on your family crest Veronica; be forewarned – You may have to pay!" Mac sighed. "So, if I buy the mochas do I get to drive down to pick them up?"
"That sounds reasonable." Veronica held out the key.
"And I get to drive home too? Right?" Mac tried, grabbing the key. Veronica refused to let go.
"You can drive it until I'm out of coffee." Veronica decided, still holding on to the key.
"A large it is." Mac decided out loud.
And Veronica let go of the key with a smile and a flourish. "And when we get back – you'll help with Logan's case?"
"You had me at 'That sounds reasonable'!" She announced, bouncing towards the curb.
Dick sat quietly in the chair next to Logan. Logan had been given a pill for pain and had promptly passed out right after.
Dick was just finishing a small bag of Doritoes when he looked at the door, and then again at Logan.
What's time to a hog? Dick wondered and he snatched the remote off Logan's bed and turned on the television. What… No cable? In a HOSPITAL?
Five channels. He shook his head. And three are showing golf!
He looked back at Logan.
Logan's skin was sunburned and swollen. It seemed to hang and bunch on him like cloth on a hanger. Through the redness of the burn you can make out the bruises across his face, neck and hands. The road had grated his forehead when he landed and he was spotted with the bites of various desert insects.
Dick looked at the door for a long moment. Then he pushed his chair back and put his feet up on the edge of Logan's bed. "Dude…" He told him "I have NEVER made you watch golf."
And with that he turned up the volume – not that it mattered – because it was golf.
"Stupid sport could be played in a library." Dick crossed his arms indignantly but then found himself lost in the thought of incorporating mini-golf courses in to public libraries.
Meanwhile, just two streets away, his Mazaratti was doing 106 mph in a heavily caffinated dash through the streets to a particularly stirring movement by Bach.