Last Call by James Scott Bell

Author:James Scott Bell
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Compendium Press
Published: 2020-04-22T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“IF ANYBODY CAN DO it, he can,” Ynez said.

They were driving in Ynez’s Jetta, on their way to one of the homes she was selling.

“He certainly seems like one of those genius types,” Keely said.

“Definitely.”

Keely sighed.

“What’s up?” Ynez said.

“I’m just amazed at you,” Keely said.

“Me?”

“You’ve got it all now. You’ve got a job, you’re making good money, you’ve got a house.”

“And Lucy.”

“She’s so adorable,” Keely said. “And smart. And what’s this about a stalker?”

Ynez looked at her. “She told you, huh?”

“Matter-of-factly,” Keely said.

“I didn’t want her to be scared, but she overheard me talking about him. His name’s Buddy.”

“Is he dangerous?”

“He wants me to think he is,” Ynez said. “So I got a restraining order, which doesn’t do much. That’s why I have Electra Woman.”

“Who?”

“Not who.” Driving with one hand, Ynez reached in her purse and pulled out what looked like a pink iPhone. “This is Electra Woman. Twenty-five million volts of girl power.”

Keely hefted it. “Ever use it?”

“Not yet,” Ynez said. “But I’m itching to.”

“THIS IS what we call a sharp little property,” Ynez said.

Keely knew what she meant. You could tell by looking. No rogue weeds in the yard, no fading paint on the trim. Not even dirt on the Spanish-tile roof.

“It has curb appeal,” Ynez said. She parked at that very same curb. They got out and started up the walk to the front door.

Ynez said, “I know how to show property. I’m a show-er. Let me show you the inside.”

Ynez entered a code on a box hanging from the front door handle. A drawer popped out with a key inside. Ynez used the key to unlock the door.

“Smell,” Ynez said.

Keely took a sniff. A nice scent.

“My own personal potpourri,” Ynez said. “Lucy and I made it.”

“Nice.”

“You have to appeal to all the senses,” Ynez said. “If I’m having an open house I’ll set out a plate of freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies.”

The house was without furnishings, but the carpet looked new and a skylight let in a generous splash of sunshine. There were pretty hardwood floors. The kitchen looked updated and shiny.

“This is kind of cool,” Keely said.

“Why don’t you buy it?” Ynez said.

“You have half a million you can spare me?”

“Let me talk to my mortgage broker.”

“I’m sure I qualify,” Keely said. “I can put my body parts up for collateral.”

“And they’re still very nice parts,” Ynez said, “if you don’t mind my saying. Seriously, you’ll get settled somewhere, why not here?”

“I don’t even know how to think that far ahead.”

“We can change that. I’ll show you how to set goals and go for it. Like that guy in the poster.”

“Just before he—”

“He didn’t fall!” Ynez laughed, and Keely joined her, and thought how much like a sister Ynez suddenly felt like, even though Keely had never known a sister or brother.

Ynez’s phone Michael Jacksoned. “Ah, I have to take this. Have a look around.”

It was a nice house, a warm space. Keely wondered if she’d ever fit in such a place. She’d always been in apartments, squeezed in between odd people who somehow became friends—except for Mrs.

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