The Children's Corner

Chapter 28

Ryan slams the receiver of his landline into its cradle. "The feds are grabbing our case!"

"What are you talking about, Bro?" Esposito demands.

"The South Carolina State Troopers spotted the semi. They're holding the driver but for the DEA, not for us. Cannabis is still a schedule one drug, and transporting it across state lines is a federal crime."

"Murder is a worse one," Esposito argues.

"Yeah, but we don't have hard proof of the driver's complicity. And the feds found the cannabis in the truck. So they're charging him and keeping him."

"Can we at least get a chance to question him?" Esposito presses.

Ryan groans. "Only if we go to South Carolina. He's in the federal prison in Bennettsville. So we'd have to get Montgomery to OK the trip. And right now, he isn't signing off on plane fares."

"Then screw it, we should drive. Without that trucker, there's no way Eli Douglas can convict Elise Truman. And we can't put a murderer back on the street because the feds have their heads up their asses. I'm going to talk to the captain right now. Coming?"

Ryan springs from behind his desk. "Right behind you."

"Double pancakes," Rick announces, stirring a pourable bowl of batter. We'll need extra fortification."

"For the twins' checkup? You may be right. The last time we were at the pediatrician's office, Jake screamed the house down," Kate recalls, grimacing.

"For that, yes. I think the sound of the air conditioning set him off. If memory serves, it whistled. So I'm bringing the portable white noise machine with us this time. I'm hoping that will help. But I was referring to the festivities afterward. I'm the celebrity draw at the twins' families meeting. That means we have to try to make it through the whole thing, or at least until it's time to pick up Lily. And did you try the cookies last time? I almost broke a tooth."

"I didn't. But I'll remember to stay away from them. However, I'm surprised they couldn't get a bigger name."

"I beg your pardon?"

"A bigger celebrity. We're in New York. There's no shortage of fame. Don't Sarah Jessica Parker and Mathew Broderick have twins? They even live in the right neighborhood."

"She's going back into production with Sex in the City, the redux. And he's putting together a production of The Plaza Suite. Also, I don't know if either one of them would put up with the cookies. But, in any case, I got the tap. And if the boys stay reasonably calm during the meeting, we could learn something the books and pediatricians don't reveal."

"You've got a point," Kate agrees. "Are you putting chocolate chips in the pancakes?"

"Whatever you need."

"Ten hours and 22 minutes," Ryan groans, checking the driving directions on his phone. "And that's not counting restroom stops and finding food. We'll have to pick up some clothes and find someplace to stay overnight. No way we'll be able to get into the prison before sometime tomorrow."

"You're getting soft, Man," Esposito accuses. "When I was in the army, we would have camped on the ground and been glad to have rations."

"And when was the last time you ate rations?" Ryan demands. "Your abuela said Bambi's the best pupil she's had in the kitchen. And I don't think you're doing much sleeping on the ground. But hell, let's get going. I'll call Jenny and break the news on the way. You'd better call Bambi too. Maybe they can keep each other company while we're gone."

"And trade stories about us? I hope not. But let's move it. I don't want to hit rush hour."

Rick hands out a few cards for acoustic engineer Lyle Trowbridge as he and Kate are leaving the meeting. "That wasn't bad at all," Kate remarks as they secure the twins in their safety seats. "I had a great conversation with a mother of two sets of twins. She had some nursing tips I can use."

"I picked up some info too," Rick admits. "And the cookies were fresh this time. But it didn't make up for skipping lunch because we were stuck in the doctor's waiting room. Do you want to do a drive-thru after we pick up Lily? She'll love it if we get her a slider."

"Fine with me," Kate agrees. "As long as I get a full-sized burger."

"Got to keep the baby nutrition flowing. I'll order you a double."

Lily bounces in her seat as Rick gives the family order to the plastic clown head. He turns to Kate as he pulls into line at the pickup window. "I thought the Burger Belle sounded nervous. Did she sound nervous to you?"

"She did. But there's a long line. Maybe they're having trouble getting the orders out."

"Maybe," Rick considers. "But it's always that way this time of day. She should be used to it. I don't like it. Something's going on." Rick inches ahead. "Is everything all right?" Rick asks as the bag the Burger Belle finally hands him quivers in her grasp.

Her eyes dart from side to side as she mouths, "nine one one."

Rick maintains his smile but nods. " Got everything. Thank you. Did you see that?" he asks Kate as he exits the drive-thru.

"I've already got my phone out. Calling now." To avoid alarming Lily, Kate carefully uses police codes for her call as Rick drives down the block and pulls over. "All right. Unis are on their way. ETA two minutes."

Rick glances back at the kids. "Whatever's going on, there's no way we should stay to find out. And the boys are getting restless. We need to take the hungry horde home."

"Go," Kate agrees.

As Esposito drives into the motel parking lot, Ryan surveys the facility. Two letters are out on the sign and windblown trash skitters across the asphalt. "Are you sure we shouldn't just find some nice roach-infested SRO?"

"Not funny, Partner. There's some kind of convention. We're lucky to get a room at all. And we just passed fast food row getting here. At least we won't starve. And the place even has a pool."

"Probably filled with brain-eating parasites."

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Esposito demands. "This isn't that bad. We've put witnesses up in worse places. You've been like this ever since you talked to Jenny."

"Yeah, well, she reminded me that it's the anniversary of our first date. She had a special dinner planned and everything."

"Uh-oh. That's rough. You're going to be in the dog house when we get back."

"Not officially. She was very sweet and told me to be careful. I felt guilty. I still feel guilty."

Esposito shakes his head. "Then she got you, Man. That's not sweet. That's passive-aggressive. She doesn't have to punish you because you're doing it to yourself."

Not Jenny," Ryan argues. "She'd never be like that."

"Well, whether she is or she isn't, we're doing our jobs. We're down here to nail a murderer. You've got nothing to feel guilty about."

"I don't know. Maybe on the way back, I should buy her something. Maybe one of those nut rolls we saw at the rest stop."

"Are you trying to poison her too? Look, When we get back to Manhattan, we can go by the little jewelry store that has those necklaces that she and Bambi like. We can get them both something."

Ryan rolls his eyes. "Damn, Man, you're feeling as guilty as I am. But the jewelry store's a good idea. Let's just not bring home any bedbugs."

"Yeah, we'll check."