Page 39 of Flick

“I’m bored,” Beth said.

Winnie chuckled. “Well, that’s not good.”

“Why is it not good?” Della asked.

“Because the words ‘I’m bored’ from Beth usually precede some adventure we all end up on,” Winnie said.

“Like what?” Rose asked.

“I remember about twelve years ago, which was pre-kids, pre-husbands, and pre-mom getting sick, and when Baron was still President of Bluff Creek. It started with Beth saying, ‘I’m bored,’ and ended up with Dad bringing bail money for us to Winfield, Kansas. I know—funny, the bail bonds girls needing bail money—but who carries two thousand dollars per person around for bail money with them,” Winnie said.

“What did you guys do?” Rose asked, leaning forward.

“We defended a woman who had a jerk for a date in a bar in Winfield, but none of us knew that the guy was the son of one of the town’s top dogs. Instead of all of us being asked to leaveafter the fight broke out, we were taken to the jail supposedly on drunk and disorderly and assault. Regina and Mom threw fits until we all were given breathalyzer tests because we hadn’t had any drinks yet. We’d just walked in to get some food before we headed back. By the time Dad and Baron got there with the bail money, the police officer was arguing with his captain trying to drop all the charges.”

“How did it end?” Della asked.

“Once Dad walked in the door in one of ourFranks and Daughters Bail Bondsshirts and loudly asked how it looked to have the owners of the bail bonds needing bail money, we were let go without any charges. Of course, Mom and Regina were mad. I mean, they were so irritated they went back that fall and campaigned against the dad. He lost as mayor. Never piss off a Franks woman and her posse,” Beth said, chuckling. “Oh, I’d forgotten about that.”

“Hey, we have movement at the appliance warehouse. It looks like they have trucks getting ready to leave,” Bear said.

Beth stood up. “Those trucks need to be followed.”

Winnie nodded and grabbed her stuff. “I agree. You ladies coming with us?”

Della and Rose grinned. “Oh hell, yeah. Let me get my gun.”

Beth grabbed the keys to the dark van that hadn’t been used yet for surveillance after grabbing her little kit she’d put together. She might not have told Flick what she was thinking before he left. Sure, she loved him, but he wasn’t going to tame her craziness. Sometimes she needed to follow her instincts wherever they led. The only thing that bothered her was they didn’t have time to add any disguises, so they’d need to be careful with any cameras.

The ladies joined her, and they followed the directions Bear and Cowboy gave them for the truck they were following. Whenthe truck pulled into a large gas station at the edge of town, she saw her chance.

“Okay, I’m going to approach the guy like I’m a lot lizard and then incapacitate him. Then I’ll drive the truck to a spot where we can break into the back and see what’s in there. Deal?”

“Lot lizard?” Winnie asked.

“A prostitute who hangs at the truck stops to have the truckers pay for sex,” Beth said.

“That’s a thing?” Winnie asked.

“Oh yeah, my favorite is when we’d get a call from a guy who got rolled by a lot lizard. He’d tried to tell us how he was robbed without admitting he’d been paying for sex. Guys are so dumb sometimes,” Rose said.

Beth grabbed a hat and slid it down so her face was hidden from any cameras. She palmed her little surprise for the guy. She grabbed her T-shirt, pulling it up through her collar and tucking it down behind her bra. The guy would probably only be looking at skin, not her.

She walked up to the door he’d just opened. She grabbed the door and hauled herself up, keeping her right hand free.

“Sugar, you fancy a little relief today? I’ve got a mouth like a hoover if you’re in a hurry,” she said.

His eyes sparked. Yep, she had him.

“What if I want more?”

“Oh baby, I can make you happy however you want. I took first place in bronc riding,” she said, leaning closer. When his eyes glanced to look down her shirt, she struck. She slid the syringe into his neck and depressed it. He swung his arm wide, but the ketamine was already working. She watched him for a couple seconds to make sure he wasn’t faking, then pushed him to the side, got in the driver’s seat, and closed the door.

She called Winnie.

“Yes?”

“We’re good. Isn’t that salvage yard the club owns relatively close?” Beth asked.