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Harry and Matt left for the office before the women. Since Matt didn't like Sady driving his truck, he took Harry with him, and CJ followed with the women a short time later. Sady was worried about her car. She'd never left it overnight at the office, and she hoped it wouldn't be vandalized.
When CJ stopped behind the building Sady scanned the lot. "Did someone move my car?" she asked.
"No one told me they planned to do so," Amanda replied. CJ shrugged, as Sady jumped out and ran through the lot. Justin was gone! Sady burst through the back door of the office.
"Did you move Justin? Where is he?" she yelled. Two heads popped out of the conference room.
"Sorry," she said. "I forgot to use my inside voice." She repeated her questions as Amanda and CJ entered.
"Maybe the city had it towed," Harry suggested. "I don't think the police took it."
"Let me make a few calls," Amanda offered. "Before Dash arrives, because once he's here I'm gonna be busy ringing his bell." A few feet down the hall she stopped and turned back, "And if you warn him I'm gonna ring your bell, got it?" CJ smiled, while Matt and Harry ducked back into the conference room for cover. No one wanted Amanda ringing their bell, except maybe Joey.
Sady hovered over Amanda's desk, impatiently waiting for news on Justin. Amanda hung up after making her last call. "Sady, I hate to say it, but I can't find your car. It wasn't towed by the city or the police." Sady raced through the office.
"Help! Get the security video. Someone stole Justin!" she yelled, stopping at the conference room. "Hey," she said, trying to get their attention. "This isn't the time to be watching TV."
Harry took her by the arm and sat her in a chair. "Sady, I think you might want to watch this bit of the news." She tried to interrupt, but Harry was insistent. With a sigh, she gave her attention to the news and watched the live video they were broadcasting... of Justin being chased down I-75 by the state police.
Sady watched her Mustang weaving in and out of lanes while the police tried to keep up. At one point he entered the median and spewed sod. It looked like he would lose control, and Sady slapped her hands over her eyes with a moan. The newscast continued the coverage, so she spread her fingers to take a peek. Justin was back on the expressway, with the police closer.
The driver jerked the wheel and cut across all the lanes to make a quick exit, leaving the police in the fast lane. The helicopter covering the chase followed Justin's progress as he made his way through a busy city street, before turning off into a residential area. The helicopter lost sight of the car in the neighborhood filled with mature trees. The scene cut back to the studio and Sady ran to the TV and pressed her nose to the screen, "Noooo! Come back." Harry patted her hand in comfort.
When Tim Archer arrived, Amanda showed him to the conference room, then took a seat next to him. "I'm available for dictation and witnessing signatures," she declared. "I also make a good cup of coffee. It's better with those doughnuts from the bakery down the street. Stubbles, why don't you run down to the bakery and get me some of those doughnuts so we can have coffee?"
"We can't have coffee without doughnuts?" he asked.
"Not my coffee," Amanda replied, fluffing her hair.
Matt snorted. "Your coffee probably requires shot glasses, Amanda. If you want those doughnuts trot down there and get them yourself." Amanda's eyes narrowed, and she took a breath, getting ready to unload.
Sady interrupted with a deep sigh. "I'll go get the doughnuts," she offered, sounding depressed.
"Are you okay?" Arch asked Sady.
"She just watched her stolen Mustang elude the police on a high-speed chase," Harry explained. He stood and handed Sady some money. She trudged to the door, looking dejected.
"I'll be back," she announced wearily. "First Bob, now Justin," she muttered as she left the conference room.
"Someone send her to Hollywood for an audition," Matt suggested with a laugh.
"She's not going to the doughnut shop by herself, Meadows," CJ warned with a look in her eye that had Matt jumping to catch up with Sady.
"We've come up with a plan," Arch announced when they returned with the doughnuts. He grinned as he handed out the plans.
"That was pretty darn quick. Wait a minute," Matt protested after he glanced at the paper. "We have to work the Wienie Chuck Wagon for this job?"
"Not we," CJ corrected. "You, Sady, and Amanda. You are the backup in case something goes wrong, and Amanda is there to make sure the Chuck Wagon runs smoothly."
Arch turned to Amanda, "You know how to work a Chuck Wagon, don't you?"
Amanda rolled her eyes and asked, "Why do you think my family is hell bent on destroying the Wienie Wagon? It's our payback to Pops for having to spend summers serving hot dogs from a hot trailer!"
"Well, we're rolling Friday at noon," Arch told them. Nodding to Matt, Amanda, and Sady he said, "I want the three of you at the Chuck Wagon tomorrow as well. I'm sure our suspect will scout it in advance, and it wouldn't hurt for him to think at least one of you is an actual employee... Meadows."
"Gee, is Willie gonna pay us?" Matt asked sarcastically.
Amanda laughed, "No, Stubbles. But, the experience will instill within you a desperate need to annihilate the Wienie Wagon."
"I've already been in a wreck with that machine, and I never want to see it again. Tell Willie to save it for your mom to crash. What time do we have to start tomorrow?" he asked Arch, then he scowled when Tim looked to Amanda.
"9:30," Amanda said. "We start serving at 10:30. Arch is driving me there today so I can help set things up." She batted her lashes and said, "He's going to be my chauffeur."
"It's about time someone else got the short straw," Matt laughed when Arch gave him a nasty look.
Sady waved and asked, "Do we get hats?"
Amanda just smiled and Matt complained about losing all his dignity as well as his sanity.
"It gets better," Arch told him with an evil smile. "I took the liberty of printing this off the internet for you to memorize. Amanda and I will see you tomorrow." He passed papers to Matt and Sady, then rose to leave.
"Don't forget about me," Amanda yelled after him. She ignored the rude remarks that Matt made. He had more rude remarks when he looked at the page Arch had given him. It was the menu from Willie's. He and Sady looked at it in stunned silence. Willie served a lot of dogs. The menu read:
WILLIE'S SPECIALTY DOGS
The Dog Pile- A Hot Dog with Everything
The Hog Dog- A Smoked Sausage Dog
The Log Dog- A Vegan Dog
The Frankfooter- A Foot Long Hot Dog
The Pound Hound- A One Pound Hot Dog
The Sour Hound- A Hot Dog with Sauerkraut
The Meanie Wienie- A Hot Dog with Hot Peppers
The Teeny Wienie- A Child Size Hot Dog
The Beanie Wienie- A Chili Dog
The Leaner Wiener- A Low Fat, Low Sodium Hot Dog
Wienie Smoothies- A Hot Dog Smoothie with Choice of Condiments Blended In
Regular Hot Dogs with Choice of Condiments
––––––––
Sady was still reading the menu when Matt remarked. "Well, I hope you get it memorized, because I don't plan on doing so. That's why Amanda is along. I'll pretend to be a trainee. How does that sound?"
"With Amanda as your boss?" Sady laughed. "It sounds like you are in for a long day. I think you'd be better off memorizing the menu."
"We'll see who's laughing tomorrow after we get out of work," Matt said.
***
"What size is the medium?" the blonde co-ed cutie giggled at Matt while her friend nudged her.
Matt gritted his teeth, wanting to scream, The cups are in front of your face. Instead, he removed a cup and held it for the blonde to see. "It's smaller than a large, and larger than a small," he replied in a monotone.
The blonde thought it over then said to her friend, "I don't know if I can drink a medium."
Order the small! Or, order the medium and throw away what you can't drink- either one will work. There's only twenty cents difference in price! Matt's blood pressure rose, and he said, "I'll tell you what. I'll let you have the small for the price of a medium."
"Wow, can you really do that?" she asked with wide eyes. Yep, and I can even charge you for a large if you'd prefer.
Amanda overheard his 'small for the price of medium offer,' and her blood pressure rose as well. She stabbed Matt in the arm. "What?"
"I was just telling this nice young lady she can have a medium for the price of a small," he lied. Amanda turned away, mumbling the loss was coming out of his pay. Arch had dropped off Amanda, then went to get the packets from Willie, before driving to Ann Arbor to check them with the Knights. Matt was on his own with Sady and Amanda.
Matt turned back to the co-eds. "Have you decided?" he asked the blonde.
"I changed my mind," she giggled. "What size of hot dogs do you have?"
Matt ignored Sady's laughter. She was off to the side, working the grill.
Matt responded tersely, "We have three- small, regular, and foot long." Or like the picture- right above the cups- illustrates! Just point and I'll figure it out.
"I've decided." Congratulations! "I'll take a foot long Teeny Wienie." There is no foot long Teeny Wienie!
"One regular dog," Matt yelled to Sady. Amanda gave him the evil eye, and he made a rude gesture at her under the counter. He served the blonde and clenched his jaw as he waited on her brunette friend.
"I forgot what size the medium was," the brunette told Matt. He held up the cup again.
"Which size is that?" she asked seriously. Just big enough for me to ram down your throat.
"It's the medium."
"How many ounces are in a medium?" she asked next.
"More than a small, and less than a large."
"Oh, that sounds good! I'll take a small orange soda." We don't serve orange soda, idiot!
"Would you care to upsize that to a large cola for free?" Matt offered, completely ignoring Amanda.
"That depends on how many ounces are in the large," she responded.
"More than the medium."
"Is the cola diet or regular?" Who the hell cares? Just take your drink and go!
"Which do you prefer?"
"Well, duh! It depends on whether or not I'm dieting," she said with an eye roll at her friend, indicating Matt was stupid for having to ask.
"Are you dieting?"
"Why? Do I look like I need to lose weight?" Only in the mouth.
"No."
She smiled. "Good, I'll take a small diet cola then." Matt served her drink with shaking hands. His face was red when he smiled at the next customer, a sweet looking old lady.
"I'll need a few minutes to look at the menu," she told him. What were you doing while the blonde was earning her degree as a physicist, and the brunette was studying to be an accountant?
She unloaded her purse on the counter, and Matt wondered what she was digging for. First she picked up a tissue and swiped her nose, then she pulled out her change purse and set it aside. Seeming satisfied, she loaded everything back into her purse, then looked at the menu. The hot dogs just passed their expiration date in the time it took you to do that.
"Young man, what's a Wienie... does that say Smoothie?" she asked a few minutes later.
"It's a drinkable hot dog," he replied.
"How clever. Now does the word smoothie refer to the texture or the flavor?"
It's overworked ground bologna in a cup, and you sip it through a straw! What do you think? "Both, I'm sure." He wanted to slap his forehead, but Amanda would make him wash his hands and put on another pair of gloves if he did so.
"Well, thank you. But, I'll take the Meanie Wienie," she said. "Although, I really should stay away from the spicy food, because of my ulcer. Wait, I changed my mind. I'll take the Beanie Wienie." That's a better choice, because chili isn't spicy. Your ulcer will thank you, lady!
"How hot is the chili sauce?" she continued.
"Mild as a mother's milk," Matt told her. She paid him out of her change purse and counted every coin as she laid it on the counter... after she shoved a wad of bills into her purse. She seemed to be digging for the coins of least value. Matt lost count, so he just nodded at Amanda to scoop up the money. Matt heard Amanda winding up because the woman had short-changed them. He shoved the dog across the counter and yelled, "Next!" The old lady smiled and left with her bargain priced flame throwing chili dog.
His next customer was a father with a five-year-old boy. "What do you want?" the father asked his son. Does no one read the menu and decide before they get to the counter? Get out of the line until you know what you're ordering!
"I'll take the mother's milk," the little boy replied, and Matt choked. He heard Sady laughing again. The father gave Matt an embarrassed look. All these people and the only one paying attention is a five year old? Matt bared his teeth at the father.
"That's not on the menu," he low voiced to his son. "This place has hot dogs." Looking at Matt he said, "My wife just had a baby, but I had no clue... kids these days, huh?"
The little boy pointed to the old lady who'd just left and yelled, "She's got mother's milk. Look, she's gonna take a bite." The man put his hand over his son's mouth and rushed him to another food vendor. Mission accomplished.
The next guy got mad when he discovered they weren't the pizza place. He was texting on his phone while waiting in line. He chewed out Matt as he texted the episode to his friends. Next.
Matt nearly ran when he saw a harried looking mother with at least five children, all under ten years of age. "Six plain hot dogs, six medium lemonades, and a family size bag of chips," she ordered. She laughed at the look on Matt's face and offered to change the order if it would make him feel better.
He told the woman, "As our tenth customer of the hour you get your meal for free." Any woman pushing a wagon that size up a hill deserves all the help she can get.
The mother and the kids all said, "Thanks," even the youngest who could barely speak.
Amanda was getting her jabbing finger ready to poke him. "Look at that little one and tell me they don't deserve it. And I was starting to think all your customers were selfish and rude," he said.
Before Amanda could respond Matt heard, "Hey, idiot in the stupid-looking hat, what about me? If I hadn't left the line because I thought this was the pizza place I'd be the tenth customer. I should be getting a free meal, not her." It was the texter.
Amanda took a deep breath and Matt said, "Fine- what do you want?"
"I'll take the Pound Hound, a giganticize drink, and family size chips."
"Hey, Amanda. I think I'm getting the hang of this job," he grinned as the guy left trying to carry his load and text at the same time.
"Keep laughing," Amanda warned as she tucked a pad into her apron pocket. "I'm keeping track of this."
The next couple had spent their time in line jogging in place. "Do you have a dedicated grill for the vegan dogs?"
"All the Chuck Wagons were dedicated when they were put into service. I'm pretty sure they were blessed at the same time, but I don't think Willie's found anyone to baptize them." The couple gave Matt a dirty look and left without ordering.
The father and his five-year-old boy came back. "He insists he wants what that old woman had earlier." He turned to his son. "Point out the mother's milk, so the serving boy will know what you want." The little boy pointed to the Beanie Wienie and his father gave Matt a nasty look. "Why don't you get your menu straight, buddy?" Matt stepped to the grill and added extra beans to the boy's order. I hope your car windows won't open. Next.
"Is the Sour Hound kosher?"
"I don't know, but I'm pretty sure the relish is." Another unsatisfied customer stormed out of the line.
"I want my money back!" The texter returned and yelled at Matt. "That Pound Hound wasn't sixteen ounces."
"How do you know?" Matt asked with a sigh.
"Because it just ran through me like a freight train and there's no way a pound of food came out. It would have plugged up that toilet if it had been a true sixteen ounces." Did you weigh it?
"You got your meal free." Moron! "And sixteen ounces is the pre-cooked weight. The dogs shrink as they cook." Like your brain. Next.
"Can I get the Dog Pile with just ketchup?" a teenage boy asked. No. The Dog Pile comes loaded, so you'll have to scrape off everything except the ketchup.
"Of course." Learn to read!
Before Matt could look for another customer Sady interrupted. "Your turn on the grill," Sady told Matt. "I'm starting to feel sick."
And I'm getting a headache!
Amanda pushed Sady out the open door, "Go take a break." Then she grabbed Matt by the arm and shoved him to the grill. "Now that things are getting slow you need to clean up this mess." She pointed and tapped her foot. "You've seen this showdown before, and you know how it ends. Get moving!"
It was true. Matt had seen Amanda bully his ex-girlfriend, Emily, into cleaning up after her dog. "Don't I get a break?" Now I really do have a headache!
She snorted, "You have to work to earn a break. Now get that grill scraped before the next round of customers. Restock the chips and cups. Wipe down the counters. When you're finished, you can go check the condiment rack outside."
"What will you be doing?" he asked.
"I'm taking a break," she replied. "And make sure you don't handle clean items with dirty gloves or I'll take it out of your pay."
"I'm not getting paid, Amanda," he reminded her.
"Then you're going to owe Pops for the loss," she said. "Now quit interrupting my break!"
***
"I wish we had bet on the outcome of the day," Sady told Matt as they drove home. "I would have won!"
"That's because Amanda has a sadistic streak hidden under her bossy and overbearing manner," he complained. "I don't think it's funny that she made me wear a hat that said, Pup in Training!"
"That's your own fault," Sady said. "If you'd been good, you could have had a hat like mine."
"Sady, that's not something I would mention with pride. It's just another form of humiliation. Speaking of which since when can a boss order an employee to shave?" He rubbed his nearly smooth jaw and frowned.
"Don't you like it?" Sady asked.
"I'm not used to it," he said.
"Here, let me feel," she offered, unbuckling her belt and reaching over to rub her hand down the side of his face. "You already have a five o'clock shadow," she teased. "But, I like it. I think you look nice."
"Yeah, and tomorrow I'll have a five o'clock razor burn," he complained.
"You want to borrow some lotion to use after you shave?" Sady asked.
"No, thanks! I have no desire to smell like a peach or a coconut, Sady."
She leaned over again and kissed him on jaw, causing him to jerk the steering wheel. The truck swerved, and he swore. "What are you doing?"
"That was just for comparison," she said with a smile.
"Well, put on that seat belt before you cause an accident! And save the comparing for when my hands are free."
"Okay, and I'll bring the lotion just in case you change your mind," she told him. She sniffed the air. "Peach or coconut would be an improvement. After a few minutes in the Chuck Wagon we all smell like grilled meat." She wrinkled her nose, and he laughed. "You won't think it's funny when your truck smells like meat in the morning," she warned him.
"Haven't they found your car yet?" he asked. "I'm going to start charging you cab fare."
"Send the bill to the government, and let me know how that works out for you," she replied.
"I won't hold my breath."
"Just make sure you're a good puppy on Friday," Sady teased. "You might work your way up to Top Dog manager status."
He grinned. "Will you pet me if I do?"
"No, but I'll pick up the Davis kids and we'll take you for a walk," she laughed.
"Forget it! I didn't sign on for overtime torture." He drove her to the office so they could find out what was in the packets.
Arch gave the report. "There are six packs that contain small, but rare and high quality gems. Since Willie's well known for making regular rounds throughout the Detroit area with the Wienie Wagon, it's probably been used for other deals without him knowing. We think the packs were put into the wagon by the seller, during an advertising event last week. He likely picked up the money at that time."
"The buyer was probably going to retrieve the packs at a promotional event this week that Willie had scheduled. Willie makes the appearances public knowledge. But then Sady wrecked the wagon and took the packets, leaving him desperate. The only thing we can figure is the buyer heard a radio traffic report about the Wienie Wagon blocking Woodward Avenue. Then either he, or one of his men, got there as fast as they could. Someone must have seen you with the packets, Sady, and followed you back to the Keller's... then to your apartment and the office. Your report stated that he said he saw you take them."
"That's a lot of coincidences, isn't it?" Matt asked.
Arch shrugged. "Maybe someone took video with their cellphone and posted it online. Willie's address is in the phone book. These guys know how Willie operates or they wouldn't have used his vehicle for their business. The important thing is that this guy realizes Sady took the packets. We may never know how he figured it out, but that really doesn't matter. My bosses would like to pull in the net on this one if we can. We'll have our lab guys repackage the gems, so they don't look like they've been tampered with."
"I'm not working for that overbearing, power tripping woman who thinks she's the boss," Matt complained.
"Wrong," Harry told him. "Someone has to be close to Sady in case something goes wrong."
Matt narrowed his eyes and said, "Sassafras, you owe me for this!"
"I'll buy you the Pound Hound," she agreed, while he reluctantly grinned and shook his head. That night she went home with the Knights, and Thursday they went over plans at the office.
"Aren't you a little early?" CJ asked Arch when he walked into the conference room. After one look at his face she continued, "Did Amanda pop your tires?" He refused to answer other than to say he'd given Amanda a different driver. Then he turned his attention to the job on Friday.
Once Sady identified the buyer, she was to make the deal with him. Even if he didn't pay, it was important to let him get away with the packs. The techs repacked them with GPS trackers, so they could follow him. Sady had three goals- ID the buyer, make the deal, and not get hurt.
Before he could say more Sady's phone rang, and she excused herself to take the call. She returned, fuming. "That was the police, and they wanted to let me know that my stolen Mustang was used in a high-speed chase yesterday. They have no idea where my car is now, but they'll keep me posted." She threw herself down into the chair with a sigh, and the discussion continued.