Page 38 of Pepper, the Biker & the Vanishing Body

“That is one intense person,” Zelda said, casting a glance at the drawing before acknowledging my dad with a nod and walking off to answer the calls for more coffee.

My mom slid over in the booth to make room for my dad as she warned, “Don’t step on Mo.”

He didn’t have to worry. Mo moved curling himself up against my leg.

“That is amazing, Sally,” my dad said with pride. “Put a hoody and mask on a suspect and from this drawing his eyes will betray him.”

“Find anything in the woods?” I asked my dad after he finished taking a sip of his hot coffee.

“Josh found a brief blood trail. We figured the guy probably wrapped his wound to stop the bleeding. We’ll compare that blood with the sample we got from Mo and if they match, we know we have the right guy.”

When my dad saw the drawing of the motorcycle boots, he said, “I’ll be visiting with that motorcycle gang again.”

My dad asked my mom a few more questions about the incident, finished his coffee, and stood. “I’ve got to get back to work.” He leaned over to give my mom a peck on the cheek. “Please do not exhaust yourself, Sally.”

“I won’t. I intend to be in top shape for tomorrow night,” she said with a smile.

I could see my dad panic, silently asking himself—what’s tomorrow night?

I felt bad for him, so I helped him out. “Are you looking forward to the talk at the college, Dad?”

He sent me a bless-you-daughter smile, then with a look of concern at my mom said, “You need to rest after what you have been through lately, Sally. Maybe we should skip the lecture.”

“I know you don’t want to go, Warren, so I won’t force you,” my mom said to my surprise and Amy’s as well since she poked me in the side with her elbow.

My dad looked relieved, not so much my mom.

“Maybe Professor Pierce Anderson will be there, and you can speak to him about the book,” I suggested, hoping to lift her spirits and was surprised when my mom looked like she was about to cringe.

“I’ll go with you,” my dad snapped and walked away mumbling to himself.

“What’s that all about, Mom?” I asked.

“Oh, your dad has it in his head that Pierce is interested in me,” my mom said as if it was unimportant.

“What makes him think that?” Amy asked as curiously as I was to find out why.

“A little misunderstanding.”

“What misunderstanding,” I all but demanded since I could tell my mom didn’t want to say anymore, but I wanted to hear what caused my dad to get annoyed and change his mind so suddenly.

My mom capitulated. “Your dad caught Pierce trying to kiss me.”

CHAPTER 10

Ian nearly toppled off the couch, rolling in laughter later that evening, when I recounted how my mom had shoved Professor Anderson into the college fountain. Her reasoning? To stop him from planting an unwelcome smooch, to cool his jets, and to save my dad from committing an unscheduled felony assault while running for sheriff. Classic multitasking.

What really sent Ian into hysterics, though, was when I reiterated my mom’s colorful description of what followed and doing a good imitation of her.

“Poor Professor Anderson flailed around in the fountain like a disoriented walrus on ice. It was so embarrassing for him that I didn’t think twice about reaching out to help him—and, naturally, or unfortunately, physics got involved. The professor slipped, yanked me in after him, and splash! Enter your dad, ever the gallant hero, lunging to my rescue from a watery fate. One misstep later, he was in the fountain, too, completing the most dignified cannonball trio in local history.”

“I can just picture the three of them now, a crowd gathering and laughing,” Ian said unable to contain his laughter. “And your dad still won the sheriff’s race after that comedy of errors?”

I couldn’t hold back my own laughter. “My mom insists the incident won him the race. He was hailed a hero for coming to his wife’s rescue.”

“You know, Pep, you not only have some of your dad’s good qualities, but you also have some of your mom’s unique character. Life will never be dull with you. Oh, and you should know now that my parents aren’t as nearly entertaining as yours.”

“My parents are definitely a unique couple,” I said with pride.

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