Tricked

next to the truck and two officers got out. One went running to the back of the drugstore and the other approached Frank’s window. Better him than Albert, I figured.
    The convenience store smelled of stale tobacco and bleach solution, with a top note of all-beef hot dogs and stale buns. Granuaile was standing next to the fountain drink machine with two cups, looking indecisive. I grabbed one from her and murmured the plan in case we needed it, as I filled my cup with unsweetened tea. Turned out we needed it.
    The police officer was waiting for us as we exited the store. He was a wee bit pudgy around the gut, stark physical evidence that police work was more about pushing paper than chasing down bad guys. Frank and Albert were out of the truck and standing near one of those freezers full of bagged ice. Both doors to the truck were open.
    » Morning, « the officer said to us from behind sunglasses. He gestured to the truck. » Were you two riding in this vehicle? «
    » Yes. Is there a problem? «
    » May I see your IDs, please? « Ah. He was one of those guys. We handed them over without a word. He considered them carefully for a time and then looked up at us. » Where you folks headed? «
    » Colorado, « I said. » We hitched a ride out of Flagstaff. «
    » Told ya, Gabe, « Frank said.
    » An’ I heard ya, Frank, « the officer said without turning his head, annoyance clear in his tone. I fought to suppress a smile. Frank had followed the plan. Tell the officer a simple story, and then we would come out of the store and independently verify the story. If he was truly suspicious, he’d assume we merely had our story straight, and that was true. Detective Kyle Geffert would never believe anything out of the mouth of Atticus O’Sullivan. But this officer was in a hurry, just covering the bases, and not especially worried about what appeared to be a dumbass pretty boy and his sister; our simple story, therefore, told simply, took on the veneer of truth, especially when it corroborated what Frank said—and Frank was somebody he knew and probably trusted as a hataa³ii . I tried to look as dumb and guileless as possible.
    » Need you folks to stand over there, « he said, gesturing to the ice cooler, » while I search the vehicle. «
    » Oh. Okay. « Without questioning, I meekly shuffled over to stand next to Albert and Frank, and Granuaile followed silently. There was no need for us to talk to Albert and Frank. If we were hitchhikers, we wouldn’t commiserate like friends. Officer Gabe stood there a moment to size us up, and then he ducked into the truck cab. He straightened a moment later, holding up a bag from the hardware store.
    » You got a whole lotta nails here. What they for? «
    » Tree house, « Albert volunteered. » For my kid. « Good one, Albert.
    Officer Gabe grunted and resumed his search. He opened the glove compartment, looked behind and under the seats. No giant stash of drugs. He didn’t see anything in the truck bed either.
    » All right, « he said, waving at the truck. » Everything seems to be fine. Sorry for the inconvenience. Have a nice day. « Without another word, he turned and went to join his partner at the back of the drugstore. More sirens were approaching—an ambulance, no doubt, for the unfortunate pharmacist who’d been rendered unconscious by a mysterious apparition.
    Albert waited until Officer Gabe was out of earshot and then turned to me. » Where’d you put ’em all? «
    » No worries, Albert, « I said. » Let’s go have a nice day, build a tree house or something. « The drugs were precisely where I’d left them in the bed of the truck, nicely camouflaged.
    » But you still got ’em, right? «
    » Absolutely. «
    » Well, how’d you hide ’em? « When I just shrugged and grinned, he turned to his uncle. » Where’d you find this guy? He’s too weird for me. «
    After that, it took some convincing for Albert to drive us to Frank’s house, where Frank fetched his old six-shooter for me to use.
    We had one more stop to make before we could return to the mine site. At the big box store we picked up two five-gallon paint buckets, a large mixing bowl, a slotted mixing spoon, and two bottles of olive oil. Frank also snagged some food for lunch and some ice and drinks to restock the ice chest at the hogan.
    Albert dropped us off at the devastated mine site and waved good-bye uncertainly to Frank. He seemed reluctant to leave his uncle all alone with the crazy