CHAPTER EIGHT

Tuesday, September 27th

THE NEXT DAY KANDICE WOKE UP a little after 9:00 AM with a splitting headache. She sat up and Lance brought her a shot of vodka with a packet of powder.

"This will take the headache away in about ten minutes," he said. "It really works."

The powder tasted like dirt in her mouth, so she appreciated the vodka to wash it down. The slight burn helped mask the poor taste.

"How do you want your eggs?" Slava asked from behind the counter.

"Any way is fine," she said.

"Fried it is."

When she sat down at the breakfast table with everyone, there was a large jug of orange juice, toasted bagels, eggs, and strange bacon.

"It's turkey," Blake told Kandice when she picked it up.

"Oh," she said. "I didn't take y'all for health conscious."

"We're not," Lance said. "Slava doesn't eat pork."

"Pigs are filthy animals," Slava said.

She took a cautious bite, "It's actually pretty good."

"Yeah," Blake said. "I've already had two pieces."

When they finished eating, Kandice did the dishes, despite Slava and Lance both protesting. She gave Blake a look, and he reluctantly gathered up the dishes and helped clean them.

"Are you ready to go car shopping?" Lance asked Kandice when they had finished.

"No," she said. "I've got to go home and change."

"Oh. Right," he said.

Men.

He was still wearing the same clothes as the day before.

"I'll follow you," Lance said, "and we'll take my SUV to the dealership."

"Thank you for breakfast," Blake said. "I should head home. I've already got four missed calls from Aunt Jackie."

"You can move in with me you know," Kandice said.

It just came out. It hadn't been the plan to ask him to move in so soon as the slightest change was difficult for him to process. But Blake moving in with her would have been what their mother wanted. Plus, he was great company, and her only family left.

"Are you sure?" Blake asked. "I mean, you've only got the one room. Wouldn't it be weird if I was living in your living room?"

"Not at all," she said. "You don't have to answer now. Think about it and let me know."

"Okay," he said, and left to head home.

Lance picked up his keys. "Are you ready?"

"Sure."

They pulled into a small dealership that wasn't far from her apartment. There were maybe thirty cars to choose from. Even though they only sold used cars, they all looked immaculate. There was one row of six sports cars that caught her eye, going fast sounded exhilarating.

Once they parked, a man came out to greet them, "Hi, Lance. Do you need to trade in your SUV already?"

"No, not today," Lance said. "We're here to get her a new car. Kandice, this is Mike. Mike, Kandice."

"Pleasure to meet you," Mike shook her hand. "Do you know what you're looking for?"

Lance turned to Kandice, "Sports car?"

"Yes," she said with a giant smile.

"Right this way," Mike said.

He led them over to the row of cars Kandice had seen as they pulled in. There was a little BMW, and a Porsche, but it was the midnight-blue Mustang that caught her eye. It looked fast, but also had enough room for more than two people.

"Great choice," Mike said. "This is a 2010 Mustang GT. Semi-automatic transmission, with paddle-shifters. Zero to sixty in 4.9 seconds, and tops out at about 150 miles per hour."

"How much?" Lance asked.

"Same as usual?" Mike whispered to Lance. "All cash?"

"Yes, same as usual."

Mike pulled out his phone and tapped away.

"With all the fees, it would be thirteen five," Mike said.

"Sounds good. Get the keys."

"Are you sure? That's a lot of money." Kandice said, after Mike had walked back towards the building.

"It's okay," Lance said. "Besides, he'll set up all the paperwork to where it's not in your name. It's well worth the extra price."

Mike came back and handed the keys to Kandice.

"We'll be back in about twenty minutes," Lance said.

"Sounds good," Mike said. "Don't wreck it."

They both laughed.

Kandice climbed into the driver's seat, and Lance sat beside her.

"How do I drive this?"

"It's basically the same as any car," Lance said. "You'll just use the paddles behind the steering wheel, the right to shift up, and the left to shift down."

Kandice started the car and pulled it forward. When they got on the street, the car took off like a rocket.

"Press the right," Lance said.

She did, and the needle dropped out of the red.

"Again," he said.

The needle dropped again.

They came to a light, so she slowed down.

"Press the left twice," he said.

She did, and the engine revved up a little.

Once they got through the light, they took the ramp onto the highway. Kandice shifted up this time without having to be told. When she merged onto the highway, the car was already doing 70mph.

"Take the toll road," Lance said. "We'll open it up and see what it can do."

She took the toll road overpass at 85mph. The car hugged the turn and didn't slide at all. Once they were on the highway, Lance turned on the police scanner that was in the middle of the dashboard.

"No cops," he said. "Go as fast as you can."

Kandice got into the far-left lane and put the pedal down. The car climbed to 120mph and she let off the gas. It was far too fast for her comfort. The car wasn't shaky, but she didn't feel in control.

"I can't go that fast."

"That's okay," he said. "You'll get used to it. It's just important that the car can do it if you ever need to get away."

They took an exit and pulled into a gas station so Lance could get into the driver's seat. He wanted to test out the engine and see how fast the car could really go.

When they were back on the highway, Lance got up to 145mph before their exit forced him to slow down.

They were back in the dealership parking lot in under ten minutes.

"What did you think?" Mike asked as they got out of the car.

"Do you like it?" Lance asked Kandice.

"Yes."

"We'll take it," Lance said.

"Excellent," Mike said. "Give me about an hour, and I'll have all the paperwork done."

They spent the hour finding a storage facility that was open 24/7 and had security on site to store her moped long term. The unit they settled on was a ten-minute drive from Kandice's apartment.

When they got back to the dealership, it had been two hours.

Mike was waiting for them.

"Are we good to go?" Lance asked.

"Yes Sir," Mike said.

He had put the dealer tags on the car and showed them the registration. It was under a Susan Carroll. They went into Mike's office, where Lance counted out $13,240 for Mike. The receipt showed the car sold for $9,800, with taxes and title. Mike counted out the money, put half into an envelope, and half into a safe behind his desk.

"As always, it was a pleasure," Mike said, and shook Lance's hand, then Kandice's.

He gave Kandice the keys and walked them out to the car.

"If you need anything, just stop by or call," Mike said.

"I'm sure I'll see you again soon," Lance said.

Mike beamed with a smile.

Kandice got into her new car to follow Lance back to the house.