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After a big lunch of saltines, seriously sharp cheddar, and pickles, Gertrude headed over to Calvin’s.
“Can you take me to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and AmeriCell?” she asked when he opened the door. “I need a driver’s license and a new jitterbug.”
“Isn’t this usually stuff you call the CAP bus for?” he said, turning toward his living room and walking away from her, leaving the door open.
She stepped inside and shut it behind her. “Yes, but I don’t want to take the CAP bus to the BMV.”
“Why not?”
Because, what if I fail? Everyone will know. “Because I just don’t. Now are you going to take me or not?”
“I’ll take you to AmeriCell, but you don’t need to go to the BMV. You can do it all online. I’ve already printed out the application. It’s on the desk.”
Gertrude hobbled over to the desk.
“How’s your back?” he asked.
“Much better now. Thank you.”
“Probably all that walking around without your walker.”
She gave the back of his head a dirty look, and then looked down at the application. “Ten dollars? Are they bonkers? Ten dollars just to apply?”
Calvin guffawed. “You just wait. Driving is expensive. Besides, isn’t that Andy fella going to pay you?”
“OK, I’ll fill this out,” she said, avoiding his question. She sat down and started to write. It didn’t take long. “Do you have an envelope?”
“Top of desk.”
“And a stamp?”
“Good grief, Gertrude. Can’t you do anything for yourself?” He got up and walked over to the desk. He opened a drawer and pulled out a stamp.
“Also, can you write a check for ten dollars? I don’t have a checkbook. I’ll pay you back.”
“If it means I no longer have to drive you around everywhere.”
“I’m getting a driver’s license, Calvin. I still don’t have a car. You going to let me drive the Cadillac?”
“When pigs fly.”
“Danno lets McGarrett drive his car.”
Calvin smirked. “You are no McGarrett, and Danno doesn’t let McGarrett drive. McGarrett just does.” He ripped a check from his checkbook. “Not that I’m suggesting you try to do the same. Come on. Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“The post office. And AmeriCell.”
––––––––
Gertrude expected, when she got her new phone, that there would be a pile of voicemails waiting for her. She was wrong. “Huh,” she said. “Didn’t you think this case would bring me more customers? I mean, with the publicity and all?” She looked at Calvin.
“Can you lean back, please?” He was trying to pull out of the AmeriCell parking lot. “I can’t see anything but your hair.” He pulled out into traffic. “It’s only been a day. I wouldn’t worry about it, Gert. Cases seem to find you. And while you’ve certainly gotten some press, it’s still a small town. Not much crime. Small state. Not much crime.”
“It didn’t feel like a small state when we were driving on endless dirt roads.”
“True. Big state by land. Small state by people.”
“Which reminds me,” Gertrude said. “You wanna go for a ride?”
“No.”
“Remember how I told you about Dave? Let’s go pay him a visit. Maybe he’ll tell us who he is, if there’s not so many people around.”
Calvin looked at her. “You want me to drive three hours into the woods to visit a man with lots of guns who specifically asked to never see you again?”
Gertrude nodded. “Yes.”
“Sorry. Not happening. And don’t threaten to hitchhike this time. We both know you’d never get picked up on those roads. Except maybe by a moose.”
“What if he’s a really bad guy? Don’t you want to figure out why he’s hiding in the woods?”
“Gertrude, he helped you ladies. And some people just like their privacy. I used to like my privacy, back when I had some.”
“Calvin, he drugged me!”
“Or you just fell asleep.”
“You didn’t see the way he smiled at me.”
“Yeah, let’s slap the cuffs on him. The man smiled. So, so suspicious!”
“All right. Can you drop me off at Samantha’s apartment then?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“What?”
“You’re going to make that sweet girl drive you into the bowels of Aroostook County?”
“She owes me.”
“Fine. Just fine. I’ll take you. But you’re going to be quiet the whole way. Deal?”