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When she emerged from the motel room, she'd followed her note to the T. White sleeveless cotton blouse, because it was as hot as Hades, full coverage bra, even though it was as hot as Hades, floral capris, because they made her happy and shorts made her uncomfortable, and a pair of white leather sandals, because they allowed air flow.
"We can talk this over at the cafe," he suggested, as he climbed out of his air conditioned car into the already sweltering heat.
He wore a full uniform, and Mo had no doubt it was hotter than hell. Maybe it would make him more cooperative. Hiding her smug conclusion, she folded her arms declared, "Nope. I'm not moving until you fill out a report and make sure this is hauled away."
"You can't be serious," he sighed.
"Try me," she responded in a dangerous voice. "I'm down to about my last dollar and I can't afford to pay for this to get hauled to the junkyard. Besides, it's the responsibility of your fellow officers, even though they're from a different state. Someone in the law enforcement community owes Moses May Murphy, and I don't see why the good state of Louisiana can't pick up the tab."
"For one, you don't even live here," he said.
"Wrong. I'm in the process of moving back, I was raised here, and my Grannie lived here and paid taxes her whole life. The crime happened here. Besides, the motel owner will complain to Carter about the unsightly blight on his property." She ignored his choked laugher and continued, "Then Carter will give me a ticket that says 'move your pile of car or you'll get another ticket,' which I won't be able to pay because I can't afford a tow truck, which means I'll get that other ticket and the tab just keeps going up. In the meantime, the only way I can get anywhere, such as the store for powder, is by walking. And without powder, I'm NOT walking any great distance. It's a vicious cycle that continues to grow until it's too big to control."
"No."
Mo blew her bangs up in frustration and closed her eyes. "Fine. How much is a tow truck?"
He shrugged. "Beats me. We usually just tow each other when someone breaks down."
Her eyes flew open. "So pretty much everyone around here drives one of those vehicles that only the rich can afford in California?" she asked. At his puzzled look she explained, "Those gas guzzling, air polluting, cancer causing truck bodies sitting on tractor tires!"
Officer Reese laughed. "Everything in California causes cancer. I bet if I ordered a bag of air from that state it would come with one of your Proposition 65 'cancer panic' labels."
"Do you know how much exhaust work you'd need to drive one of those in California?" she asked. "Your emissions alone would get you tagged as an industrial polluter."
"And that's why I don't live in any of the crazy states." He overlooked Mo's burst of ironic laughter and continued, "The emission restrictions would take the joy out of owning one."
"You have one of those oversized big wheels?" she asked, her eyes wide with hope.
"Big wheels are for kids," he scowled. "I have a four-wheel-drive truck. It's a necessity."
"How much do you charge for towing? Oh, wait, that's right- you don't!" She batted her lashes. "When can you pick it up?"
"Nice try," he said. They both looked at the sound of a horn blast. It was Carter, in his squad car.
"The accident caused less mess than that," he said, as he pulled up with his window down, and looked at what had once been Mo's car.
"Did anyone get towed?" Mo asked.
"Don't answer that," Tony warned. "It's a trick question. She's trying to get someone to haul away that pile of junk."
"I keep telling him I'm the victim here," she protested. "I didn't tear it apart, and I doubt it will fit back together again. Don't you have a police lot for wrecked cars?"
Carter looked at Tony and raised his brows. "Accidentally wrecked cars," Tony said.
"And you'd give your neighbor a tow, but aren't willing to help get my vehicle towed to... pretty much anywhere? I don't care at this point." She was getting desperate.
"There's the catch. Your car is not in a towable condition." Tony shot a smug look at Carter.
Mo smiled. She could play hardball. "So you lied to me earlier."
He flushed and said, "Hey, wait a minute now- what are you implying?"
"I'm not implying anything. I'm calling you a liar," she said bluntly.
His eyes narrowed, and he ignored Carter's muffled laugh. "I am not a liar, ma'am."
"You told me earlier a flatbed tow truck could remove this... didn't you?" she asked.
"Tony, have you been lying to the ladies again?" Carter joked.
Mo turned and gave him a big smile. "You have a truck too, don't you?" Carter's face turned to worry before he rolled up his window and drove off.
"Coward!" Mo yelled after him. She turned to Officer Reese with a sigh of resignation. "Well, I guess we're done here."
"What about the statement?" he foolishly asked.
"You still want a statement?" she asked in disbelief. He nodded, and she turned away muttering under her breath, "Here's a statement. Why don't you go...?" The last part of her suggestion was barely audible.
"That could be considered a threat," he told her.
"Good! I wasn't sure you'd understand the implications and my intent. And do me a favor. The next time someone calls 911 from this motel- if it has anything to do with me? Don't bother coming. You're worthless as a cop!" She wandered back to her room, grumbling, "Public servant, my ass! Public nuisance is more apt." Her door slammed, and she turned up the AC to high and stood in front of the unit.