J is for Jaguar
Author: Jelsemium
Dedication: To Jaguar, the Southern Kitty
Rating: T for Potty Mouths
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, not even Frank
Warnings: Um, well, I am trying for humor here, so you may want to put the drink down. Or cover your keyboard.
Chapter 3 of 4
It was several weeks later before Don and Megan had a free Saturday. At least Megan was free. Somehow, Don had been roped into helping load books into her new bookcases.
"After we finish here, we can cruise over to Buckland and pick up my new acquisition!" Larry said enthusiastically as he sorted through Megan's Nancy Drew books.
Don shot him a quizzical look. "And that would be?"
"A black, 1954 Jaguar coupe," Larry said happily.
"Charlie found a man who was willing to sell one of his collection," Amita said from the kitchen. She and Megan were stenciling a border of ivy leaves around the room.
Charlie smiled over his shoulder. He was sitting on the floor of the main living space, shelving Megan's psychology text books.
Megan walked around the counter that separated the kitchen from the living room and studied Charlie carefully.
"Oh," Don said with interest. "You got a new car?"
"Don, it was made in 1954," Charlie said patiently. "It's not new. Hell, it's even older than you are!"
Don aimed a swat at him and Charlie ducked away.
"Better to be old than a sissy," sniffed Don. "And soon, you'll be both!"
"Now, boys!" Megan warned.
"It's a real beauty," Larry said. "A pity about the color, but that's only cosmetics."
"You didn't want black?" Megan asked.
"Well, black does have a certain je ne sais quoi," Larry admitted. "However, I would have preferred the silver."
"Can't you paint it?" Don asked.
"Well, painting an antique car is tricky," Larry said. He patted his pockets. "If one wishes to enter the vehicle in competition, one must use paints in the original palette that was available at the time."
Amita nodded. "So, no hot pink Model T's?"
Larry shuddered. "The very thought of pink… I can't find the email from Frank," he muttered. "I must have left it in Amita's car."
"The keys are in my purse," Amita said.
Larry eyed the denim hobo bag warily.
Amita laughed and came out of the kitchen. She pulled her keys out of her purse and handed them over to Larry.
Larry headed downstairs, Don following curiously.
Megan put her hands on her hips. "Charlie, is this part of your wicked plan to get revenge on Larry for parking your car on top of the Mechanical Engineering building and for making you believe Marshall Penfield won the Abel?"
Charlie flashed her a wicked grin "Oh, yeah."
Amita giggled from the kitchen.
Megan squatted, crossed her wrists on her knees and growled. "I'd be really disappointed if you were raising his hopes for nothin'."
Charlie blinked at her. "What?"
Amita came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a paper towel. She watched Charlie and Megan with worried eyes.
"Larry really wants that car," Megan said. "If there is no car…"
Charlie held his hands out defensively. Then crossed his hands to make a 'T' shape. "Whoa! Time out! Megan, I assure you that the car exists. Frank Buck is a friend of mine. He collects jaguars, including this beauty from 1954."
Charlie shifted around so he was facing Megan. "Frank has been having trouble with the IRS lately and needs to sell one of his collection to pay his fine."
He gestured toward himself. "I helped him to streamline his accounting practices to make sure that he never gets into that kind of a bind again. In gratitude, he agreed to sell the car to Larry rather than put it up for auction where he might have gotten a better price."
Charlie ran a hand through his curls. "Basically, the difference between what Larry is paying and what he might have gotten from the auction is my consulting fee."
Megan relaxed. "So, this is the real deal?" she said. She stood up.
Charlie nodded and crossed his heart. "I guarantee, there is a beautiful, 1954 Jaguar coupe waiting for Professor Fleinhardt at Buckland."
"But you have something wicked up your sleeve?"
"Yes," Charlie said.
Megan indicated Amita with a tilt of her head. "How come you aren't seeking revenge on her?"
Amita smirked. "I'm an excellent kiss up," she said.
Charlie turned pink.
Megan grinned. "How can I help?"
Charlie leaned closer and whispered. "Don't let Don shoot my friend."