Page 77 of Dick

TWENTY-TWO

Dick

JESS fell out of the car with the finesse of a trained Hollywood stuntwoman. When she hit the ground, she rolled into the center of the street and stretched out like she’d been killed.

The cops who were following me slammed on the brakes. Physically unable to drive around her, and bound by sworn oath to provide her assistance, it appeared they were doing just that. I turned to the right, hit the gas, and intentionally spun the car into a 180 degree turn, shooting off to the left. The car slid sideways, and the engine revved as I fishtailed up the street toward the highway.

A quick check of the rearview mirror produced no one. Nonetheless, I hammered the gas, sped toward the highway on-ramp, and hoped there were no more cops on my tail.

Once on the highway, the roads had been traveled enough that they were dry from the early evening Texas rainstorm. I didn’t need to be in a chase with the police if I didn’t have to be, and as it appeared, I was alone in my travels.

I slowed to 70 miles an hour, checked my mirrors periodically, and couldn’t help but laugh when I pulled off the highway fifteen minutes later with not a soul in sight.

Feeling rather anxious, I pulled over in a hardware store parking lot and set the parking brake. I grabbed Jess’ purse, scanned through contents, and found nothing.

I looked again.

Nothing.

One item at a time, I removed each and every article from her purse.

Nothing.

Frustrated, I tossed the purse beside the growling leopard, and scanned the passenger side floor.

A glistening from the center of the floor mat shot a glimmer of hope through my bloodstream. I got out of the car, walked to the passenger door, and opened it. I stared down at the floorboard where Jess’ purse had been, and immediately grinned.

Against the black carpeting, the 10 carat stone looked like a fascinating pebble.

A $3,500,000 pebble.

I picked it up, held it under the streetlight, and smiled at the thought of it all.

My life was almost in order.

All I needed was one more thing.

Jess.