Hopefully this is what you've been waiting for.
Chapter 28
Mary Morrison was dressed completely in black, her head covered by a black hoodie. It seemed fitting that she was using this from her sons' room. While it was way too big for her, well, Mary could feel his spirit agreeing with her decision to act.
She was standing on the sidewalk looking at the Vincent Plum Bail Bond Office. It was midnight and there was no moon to cast any shadows.
In her hand was a small crowbar.
Looking both ways up and down the street for any movement and seeing nothing, she turned to the door and rammed the crowbar into the side of the door, smashing the tumblers inside and prying the deadbolt apart.
Mary slipped inside the front entranceway and turned on her small headlamp. She was going to find the comic book that belonged to her, well her deceased son really, and get it back.
That slime ball of a bail bondsman had no right to take the wrong comic.
She looked around the room turning her head with the lamp splaying over each surface. It was a standard receptionist office, with a computer on a desk, a couch and a filing cabinet. Lifting her crowbar up she moved to the filing cabinet and broke the lock. Pulling each drawer open, she saw only file folders.
Next she walked to a door and broke the lock. Looking in, she saw another desk with a computer on top. Walking around, she opened the top drawer then slammed it shut. Disgusting! Condoms in a desk drawer? Looking down at her gloved hands, she reminded herself to get rid of her gloves when she was done. Side drawers revealed nothing.
Heading back out the door, she saw another closed door and walked to it. Unfortunately she tripped over a black metal wastebasket. To her, it sounded very loud and she winced.
Crowbar in hand, she slid the end in the door jamb and yanked, the sound of broken wood loud in the dark room. She opened the door and walked into the room.
All sorts of strange things were stacked in front of her. Everything from tvs to stereos, to an electric bike greeted her wandering eye.
So, where to start.
She pulled open a drawer of a chest looking for the distinctive comic. Nothing. She looked around trying to think where it might have been stored.
She moved to the back of the room to another chest. Pulling it open, she shuddered. It looked like a sex toy shop in there. Everything from vibrators, to magazines, to lingerie. There were a couple of dildos, some fairly impressive.
Holding one in her hand, she screamed as the overhead light turned on.
Standing in the doorway were two large men dressed in black. They both had pistols in their hands and one spoke.
"Turn around and put your hands up where I can see them."
Mary Morrison dropped the dildo on the ground and put up her hands, slowly turning around.
She spoke. "I'm just getting what's mine and I'm not leaving without it."
Mike looked at his partner and shrugged.
"The police have been contacted and they're on their way. You tripped a silent alarm and the camera has been recording everything since you broke into this building."
The hoodie slipped and both men could see it was a woman. But, her hair was sticking out in spikes and tufts and her headlamp had fallen down almost over one of her eyes shining down.
There were voices and more men crowded into the office.
Carl and Big Dog peeked into the room and shook their heads. Her again?
They walked into the room and Big Dog spoke.
"Mrs. Morrison. Unfortunately, you are in a lot more trouble than you were before."
Mary Morrison stood with her hands starting to inch down.
Big Dog came closer and spoke.
"Turn around and put your hands behind your back."
Mary Margaret stood defiantly.
"I'm not leaving until I get my comic book back. It's mine, and that man had no right to take it. I got tricked and I want it back."
Both men looked at her and shook their heads. What a loser.
Big Dog spoke again.
"Ma'am, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. I say again, turn around and put your hands behind your back. You are under arrest for breaking into the Vincent Plum Bond Office."
Mary stood her ground.
"And I'm telling you sonny that I'm not going until I get my comic book back!"
Just then, Vinnie came stomping into the office. He was dressed in what looked like lounge pants and a Mets t-shirt.
He yelled. "What the hell's going on here?"
Mary lunged toward him and both Big Dog and Carl blocked her way.
They had her down on the ground and Big Dog had his knee in the small of her back cuffing her hands behind her back as she flailed and screamed at the men.
"You get your hands off me, you perverts. I'm going to charge you with brutality. I'm an old woman who came for what belongs to me."
She looked at Vinnie as they dragged her to her feet, her hoodie sliding around and over half her face, and making her look even more creepy than before. Her headlamp had fallen down and was hanging around her neck with the light shining down under her shirt. The light gave a strange glow under the faded hoodie.
"And you, you slimy excuse for a human being. I want my comic book back. That belonged to my son and it's mine!"
Vinnie glared at the old woman.
"You mean that Green Lantern comic? I sold it to the comic shop. You said it was worth a lot of money. I only got a lousy $800 for it. I should sue you for the rest."
Mary collapsed against Carl in tears. Gone, the comic was gone. How was she going to get it back now?
The policemen led Mary Morrison out the door, reading her Miranda rights to her. They stopped at the police car, opened the back door, and holding her head so that she didn't hit in on the door jamb, they placed her in the back seat, fastening the seatbelt around her.
She looked like she was going to spit. Glaring at her, Carl reached into the door pocket and pulled out a spit mask, fitting it over her mouth and behind her ears.
Big Dog drove and Carl sat in the passenger seat as they prepared to pull away.
Vinnie was taking pictures with his phone of the damage so that he could contact his insurance agent in the morning.
He spoke to the two RangeMen. "I rushed over here so fast that I didn't have time to get dressed. Have you cleared with your monitoring station that someone needs to stay here the rest of the night since she broke practically every lock I own?"
Mike nodded. "We're here until we're relieved. We'll look after the place and make sure it's safe, Vinnie."
Vinnie grumbled as he climbed back into his Cadillac. He was getting too old for this shit.
He made a mental note to advise Connie in the morning that if she was called about bonding out Mrs. Mary Margaret Morrison, do not accept the bond. Les Sebring could bond her out, if she even got the chance.
She was nuts!
~~~o0o~~~
Stephanie emailed Patricia the next morning.
Patricia – We are in Miami and will be here for possibly 3-4 days. I have my own transportation. I'm looking forward to meeting you.
Stephanie
~~~o0o~~~
Larry had told Nancy after everyone had gone to bed all the recent events that had happened to him. They were talking in the bedroom that Nancy had moved into when they came to live with her mother.
"I really thought I should offer to help Mother, but she was so angry and toxic that I literally washed my hands of anything to do with her. I know its mean but I've cut off all communication with her. She has no way to contact me. I hope she will be fine, but…."
Nancy put her hands on both sides of Larry's face and gently turned his head toward hers.
"Honey, you did all you could, even with the circumstances as they are. It's time to live your life now."
Larry sighed and put his arms around his wife.
~~~o0o~~~
Larry looked around the house. He'd found nothing that drew even the slimmest air of caution or disagreement.
It was perfect.
The windows had recently been changed to a more efficient model. The shingles were only a few years old. There was a fairly new furnace and water heater. There was a one car garage and a carport attached to the side of the garage. There was a space in the garage to keep any tools that he had. The owners were throwing in many extras; the lawnmower, the shovels and gardening tools. They were leaving the large dining room set saying that it would not fit in their new condo. The furniture in the boys' rooms was staying and the furniture in the rumpus room was also being left behind.
There were so many good things about this house. There was a yard in the back with a very nice vegetable plot and mature trees and bushes. There would be lots of space for a dog to roam around.
The boys would still be on the same street as their friends. They would be close to her mother in case of need.
He just couldn't imagine a better find and while hugging Nancy, he shook hands with the owners and agreed to the sale. After all the closing details were worked out, it would really be theirs.
Larry phoned back to RangeMan and spoke to Tank. He knew that Ranger and Stephanie had left for Miami since he had spoken to them before he left. He figuratively crossed his fingers hoping that a possible meeting with Patricia would go well. In his heart, he wanted them to have some closure, hope or a plan.
Tank said he would arrange the moving of all the possessions in the store room and would give Larry's phone number to the moving company to finalize the deal.
~~~o0o~~~
Stephanie drove up to the house. It looked very well kept and the street appeared to be a safe place to live.
She slowly climbed out of the car and stood by the front fender. So, how should she do this? Walk up to the front door and hug whoever opened the door? Wait outside and text that she was there? Climb back into her car and drive away?
The front door opened and a lady walked out, almost tentatively.
She looked like she was having the same doubts.
Then, slowly she walked down the steps of the porch and down the sidewalk, stopping to open the small gate. She stepped to the front of the car.
"Stephanie?"
~~~o0o~~~
The judge looked down at Mary Morrison standing in the prisoners' box.
"Mrs. Morrison, I see we are going to be going through this again."
Mary stood defiantly glaring at the judge.
"I was wronged. I attempted to get back what was mine. That bail bondsman took the wrong property and I just found out that he sold it. SOLD IT! Now, how am I going to get it back?"
She collapsed to her knees and started to cry. She tried to pull off the hoodie and instead grabbed a handful of hair and pulled it out of her head. She screamed in pain.
The judge looked at the bailiff and he nodded.
The judge looked at the lawyer standing by Mrs. Morrison.
"I'm ordering a 30 day psychiatric assessment."
The gavel banged.
The lawyer stepped away and two bailiffs moved in.
~~~o0o~~~
Stephanie and Patricia sat on the porch, cups of tea in their hands.
It had been a good visit. Yes, there were tears, and giggles and hugs.
Piled between them were a number of photo albums. They had poured over the pictures, pointing out this and that, and lots of reassuring glances.
They had a plan.
