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“Me screaming, ‘Oh shit, I’m a fucking dog!’ should have clued him in.”

  “He said he was wanting to move on and forget it. He doesn’t know we went into the apartment and that his former friend melted like the witch from Oz so he’s just trying to protect us.”

  “If you screamed that, why didn’t Mr. Melty deal with you?”

  “He was busy giving one of those supervillain soliloquies as the portal opened and was still harping on. He didn’t seem to be aware of anything except for his gloating,” Nash said.

  Lexie looked sceptical but decided to leave it well enough alone. These two seemed to be hiding something. She didn’t know if whatever it was would turn out to be important or not. Only time would tell and that they had plenty of.

  “I think today’s a bust,” Connie said. “How about we go treat ourselves to a nice dinner and visit the pool here? Then we can have an early night and check out after breakfast.”

  “Sushi?” Lexie suggested.

  “Sounds good to me,” Connie replied.

  “Yuck,” said Nelson. “I vote for fried chicken.”

  “We’ll bring you some back. You can watch a movie on my laptop while we’re gone.”

  “Fine,” Nelson huffed.

  “Get it from Popeye’s,” Nash said.

  “If there’s one close by, sure.” Lexie wasn’t in the mood to argue. She just wanted the day done.

  Chapter 12

  On the Road Again

  “Just play the whole Déjà Vu album,” Nash insisted.

  “No!” Nelson argued. “We are getting on the road again, so it needs to be that. The Willie Nelson version of the song, to be precise.”

  “Connie, please tell this doggone idjit here that he has no clue as to what makes great road trip music.”

  Lexie pulled over onto the hard shoulder and stopped the car. “I have had enough!” she seethed, her teeth clenched. The two bounty hunters had been arguing over the music ever since they’d left the hotel. She grabbed Connie’s phone. “I’m going to select a random album off the list and that’s what we’re going to get and nobody better say another freaking word!” She scrolled through Connie’s albums and jabbed her finger at one at random. The opening strains of Night Flight to Venus came through the speakers.

  “Boney M? Really?” Nelson asked. Both Connie and Lexie turned to glare at him. “I’m shutting up now. Boney M is fine. I was just checking.”

  “I like that song about Rasputin and the Brown Girl In the Ring,” Nash said. Nelson gave him a look of betrayal. “What? I’m not arguing. I’m agreeing this is a good album. And I’m shutting up now so we can listen and enjoy it.”

  Connie gave them both a warning look before turning back around. Lexie faced forward, trying to calm her raging nerves. Not for the first time, she thought on how having the two bounty hunters about was like having two rambunctious middle schoolers about. Or frat boys, she decided. Yes, frat boys who have a sense of entitlement and very little else. She was beginning to have serious doubts about them working for the police back in their own dimension. Sure, they might be actual bounty hunters and might actually turn in those they caught, but she doubted they had any official partnership. If they did, she feared for the state of affairs on the other side.

  She took a deep breath and let it out slowly before turning to look at Connie. “You got the Google map up to sat nav me to the hotel?”

  “I do, but I didn’t book us in a civilian hotel. I got us a room at the Navy Lodge on the Air Station. From I-10 east we take the I-295 South and just get off at US 17 and go north. It’s less than three miles that aways.”

  “Sounds easy enough.”

  “The Lodge is close to the NEX and the Commissary, so we can stock up on snacks and drinks and ice before hitting the beach. Nash will have to stay in his habitat in the car while we’re out due to the pet policy.”

  “I’ll roast!” Nash said angrily.

  “No, you won’t. We’ll take you out at the beach. You can behave there, right? No wandering off or starting talking to people?” Connie asked. “I’ll sit in the car with you guys with the windows down while Lexie runs in to get the food and stuff.”

  “That’s all right, I guess,” he grumbled.

  “After what you two pulled yesterday, you’re lucky I didn’t decide to ditch you at the side of the road!” Lexie answered. “And I thought I said you two were not to make another sound in this car!”

  Nash wisely stayed silent. Nelson looked smug at not being the one to have gotten into trouble this time. Satisfied that she knew where they were headed and that the pair in the backseat were going to stay silent, she restarted the car and pulled out onto the road once the traffic was clear. Nash jumped onto his habitat’s wheel, running in time to Rasputin as it began to play.

  The rest of the drive was uneventful and Lexie began to believe that all the weirdness was behind them bar the presence of the two in the backseat. She smiled as they passed through the air station’s gate and joined in as Connie began to sing along, the album since having finished. Connie had put on the Beach Boys and Sloop John B was rather irresistible, the two in the back seat also chiming in after Lexie did.

  “We’ll check in and then head on over to the Commissary,” Lexie said, pulling into the parking lot in front of the lodge. “We can grab lunch from the food court.”

  Nelson grunted. “Well, this is a step down from our previous digs.”

  “It’s better than the place before that,” Connie replied hotly, “and we don’t need schmancy all the time! This is normal. Besides, our dollars go towards MWR here.”

  “What’s that?” Nelson asked.

  “It’s the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund. The money paid to stay here, from paid activities on base, and the profits from the Commissary and NEX all go to that and help pay for services for military families and retirees”

  “Oh, well, in that case, this is great! More money for us to spend on other things and we’re doing a good deed, too!” Nelson said brightly.

  “Suck up,” Nash muttered as Lexie got out to register them for their stay.

  “Jerk,” Nelson hissed back.

  “Scuzz bucket,” Nash rejoined.

  “Stop it you two!” Connie scolded. “Pair of fools,” she told them as they had the decency to look abashed. “Good. Now stay quiet. People are walking close by and might hear you.”

  Lexie returned, room key held aloft in triumph. “Got it. We can empty the car all at once,” she said, getting in. She looked at Connie. “Everything all right?” she asked, glancing over the seat at the two males in the back. She frowned, taking note of their decidedly guilty expressions.

  “Everything’s fine. I just had to remind those two there were other people about and that it was time to hush.”

  “It sure as hell is,” Lexie agreed. “I’m afraid I’ve got bad news about the beach, though.”

  “Is it closed?” Connie asked.

  “Yeah. Red tide,” Lexie explained.

  “Well, crap,” Connie said, disappointment lacing her words.

  “I thought we’d see what was playing at the theater,” Lexie said. “But first, I thought we’d stop by the food court, grab some pizza and sodas from Anthony’s, and take them to them to eat at the park the receptionist mentioned. It’s got a display of historic aircraft and we can let Nelson stretch his legs. You’ll have to wear the leash though, sorry, buddy.”

  “I’ll forgive you for four slices of pepperoni pizzas,”Nelson informed her.

  “Four! How on earth can you fit four big slices of pizza in?” Connie asked him in disbelief.

  “He’s a pig, that’s how,” Nash said.

  “I have a normal, healthy appetite for a male my age. You, on the other hand, are welcome to fill up on one of my pizza crusts.”

  “Gee, thanks,” Nash said. “But I want at least two pieces of pepperoni and some cheese to go with that crust.”

  “How old did you two say you are, again?” Lexi
e asked, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.

  “We didn’t,” Nash replied, flatly.

  “I’m twenty-five and he’s twenty-four,” Nelson answered.

  “I’m almost twenty-five,” Nash added.

  “Yeah, in about four months,” Nelson jibed.

  “Jeebus!” Connie said. “We’re Rufus to a pair of college aged Bill and Teds!”

  Silence greeted this observation, then, as Lexie turned into the NEX parking lot, Nash spoke up quietly. “His new mom’s name was Rochelle and we didn’t want to be in a band, though. We just wanted to join the police department and his dad wouldn’t sponsor us for the academy.”

  “But, he was the chief of police, though?” Lexie pressed.

  “Yeah,” Nelson said, sadly. “We thought if we brought in this guy, he’d have to let us. We were just about to tackle him to the ground and cuff him when that idiot opened the portal and sucked us all in.”

  The two sisters looked at each other. “We did some pretty stupid things back in the day,” Connie said.

  “And this will probably be another,” Lexie said resignedly. She backed into an empty space and cut off the engine. “But we’re only helping you guys because the portal crossing wasn’t your fault and he needs to be caught and taken back anyway. Now, sit here quietly while Connie and I fetch the pizza. We’ll only be about ten minutes and I’m leaving the windows rolled halfway down. We’re parked in the shade and it’s only seventy-four degrees right now, so you should be fine.”

  “Thanks,” Nelson said and curled up to take a nap.

  “Yeah, thanks,” Nash echoed, settling down into his shavings.

  Lexie just hoped the pair weren’t hiding anything else.

  Chapter 13

  Daddy’s Girls

  After a stop to get Krystal Burgers at the beach for supper, Connie was glad to get back to the lodge and call it a night. The morning came far too soon, a sentiment that manifested itself in true aggravating style as the two wannabe cops in the back seat began squabbling before they even made it onto the interstate again. By the time they arrived on the outskirts of Charleston, Lexie was threatening to find the nearest pet supply store and buy a muzzle. Connie was pretty sure no one made one small enough for a rat, but given the way Lexie had ground her teeth together for the past twelve miles, she reckoned the better part of valor was to just stay silent.

  Her anxiety ramped up as they pulled up to the driveway of the house Daddy Dade had bought just before retiring. Connie looked at Lexie, “Do you think he knows?” she asked. No sooner than the words were out of Connie’s mouth, than the screen door opened. In a few short, rapid strides Daddy Dade stood by the driver window. Jarett Dade leaned down with his familiar scowl and raised eyebrow. Both women flinched, knowing what was to follow. “What in tarnation is going on with you and your brother? I received a call from the hospital and later from some agent with NCIS and no one is being forthwith.”

  Lexie implored, “Daddy, may we get out of the car first, please, I have to pee… “.

  Connie retorted, “This will go down better with Irish Coffee, Daddy. It’s a tale and a half.”

  “You two have got thirty minutes to pull yourselves together and git to talkin’, my patience is worn thin and your brother isn’t answering my calls or texts either. I’ll put the coffee on to brew and meet you in the sun room. And don’t let the cat out. You let my cat out and we’ll have more than just words.” He glanced into the back seat. “You’ll have to put that dog in the side yard. And is that a rat? You better hope my cat don’t get it. Put that thing it’s in on the porch.” He turned on his heel and stalked back inside.

  Connie shot Lexie a panicked look. Daddy Dade was going to be like a dog with a bone and she had a feeling that despite their promise to Turner, they would end up having to spill the beans. At least one version of it, anyway. Lexie gave Connie a look of commiseration as she unbuckled her seat belt and got out of the car. She took off to the upstairs bathroom, leaving Connie to deal with Nelon and Nash before finding Daddy in the kitchen. Connie was walking past the room Daddy called his library when she spied his cat, a big fat Russian Blue.

  “Huh. I wonder when he got the cat. It’s not a kitten and he didn’t mention having gotten one when we spoke on the phone,” she muttered to herself. “Hey, Daddy, what’s your cat called?” asked Connie as she mentally calculated how she was going to handle the situation with the rat and the dog.

  Daddy yelled back from the kitchen, ”I call him Dropov on account of how someone just dropped him off one day. He was a gnarly, nasty thing that insisted on hiding in my bushes for a week before I could catch him. He’s warmed up to me but he doesn’t like other folks much. He’s proved to be an excellent mouser for this old place, though. He also herds the chipmunks and the squirrels out of the rafters but has never harmed them, thank goodness. I’d be burying the things all week if he did. He is not dog friendly though, so your dog will have to stay out in the yard.”

  “Okay, Daddy,“ she said. “Just let me go give them some food and water and I’ll be right back in.” She ducked back out to inform the two males about the current situation. “Let’s hope this doesn’t get interesting,” she muttered under her breath.

  Connie stepped out onto the porch and leaned over the railing that was behind the rodent habitat. Nelson trotted up and sat down to see what she wanted. “We have a problem, there’s a cat who has a reputation for great mousing skills and Daddy is positive it will want to snack on Nash here. He’s huge, bigger than you, Nelson, and his disposition appears to be questionable. I have to leave you two out here for now, but we’ll kennel you in our room tonight. There’ll be air conditioning and you should be safe while Lexie and I finish placating Daddy. Do try to stay out of trouble. Absolutely do not talk to anybody, not even each other, you hear me? I'll bring you out a snack in about a half hour. After dinner Lexie will bring you out a plate, then we’ll smuggle you into our room where we can strategize as to how to best look for our fugitive.”

  “Oh, the indignation of it all! To be treated not only common but as pets no less,” Nelson moaned, sitting on his haunches and placing a paw over his eyes melodramatically. “I would rather not, but seeing how we are guests and in a precarious situation to say the least, I think laying low is the best we can hope for right at this moment. We will however take that refreshment now. I do declare, I find I am a bit parched.“

  Connie rolled her yes at Nelson’s over the top acting. “At your service, Ms. O’Hara, I’ll be right back.” Connie replied. “Keeping these two in check during the visit is going to prove a little bit more of a chore that I thought,” Connie muttered as she stepped back into the main hall and walked back to the kitchen.

  Opening the fridge door Connie found some leftover beef tips and string cheese . “Now to get it into manageable bites for the new zoo crew.” Connie began slicing and even found a tiny bowl for a touch of Chardonnay. She grinned, hoping it would chill them out for the time being while she and Lexie had a moment to themselves after their talk with Daddy Dade.

  Lexie came down the stairs, meeting Connie as she returned from giving the two males their refreshments. “Remember, not a peep about the spooky shit,” she whispered to Connie as they walked together to the sun room. They sat on the old wicker couch across from their father’s favorite matching chair. In his typical military fashion, Daddy Dade said, “Thirty minutes not thirty two. You seem to have lost your sense of punctuality. I suggest you find it. Now, what is going on with Turner?”

  “Well, Daddy,” chimed Lexie and Connie in unison.

  “One at a time. Lexie you go first.” He pointed his finger at Lexie as he spoke.

  “Connie and I decided that we had been apart long enough so we decided to see Turner and you before taking off on a much needed road trip. When we arrived, Turner did not seem to be himself and after meeting him at the beach he began acting strange. When we got him to the hospital and he became lucid, he said that he had had
something to do with the reason one of his employees got fired. It seems that this guy, who Turner had classed as a friend, invited him over to his house and Turner assumed it was to get his job back. Turner knew his friend was taking the loss of his job pretty damned hard, so he went over. Seems Turner ate and drank stuff while there and some of it was laced with something or other. The tox screen will probably say what it was, but right now, we don’t know. Looks like he’s going to be okay.” Lexie paused to take a breath. “Because he’s already out of the hospital and went back to work today. As for NCIS, they have to investigate as a matter of protocol, you know how that is,” Lexie continued “I think everything will be sorted in a few days. We figured we would come up and fill you in personally.”

  “Daddy,” Connie chimed in, “I’m with Lexie. The situation is under control. We are Dades and you taught us how to handle any situation. In this case, it calls for letting NCIS and the MPs do their jobs.”

  “Where is this guy now?” asked Daddy Dade.

  Connie and Lexie looked at each other and Connie said, “According to the police, he’s apparently slithered out of town. They have special investigators working to locate him.”

  Daddy Dade harrumphed but said nothing further, letting the subject drop. “That boy needs to become a better judge of character. Remember that boy he hung out with in fifth grade? Wasn’t until that boy got caught shoplifting from the NEX that he listened to me about him.” He picked up his coffee and took a sip.

  After having some of the Irish whiskey coffee Daddy Dade served, the two girls decided to retire for the night. They needed to confer on how best to dissuade Daddy to not dig further. They hadn’t exactly lied about the former NEX employee or about the special investigators. They had merely omitted some key facts, all too aware of how their father could smell a lie from ten miles away. Jarrett Dade was satisfied for now, but his daughters knew his skepticism would rear its head again and he’d demand more answers and they needed to have a plan on how to tell him things without showing their whole hand. Looking to make sure Daddy Dade couldn’t see them, they sneaked outside and fetched their furry friends.