Free 16 Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

percent sure Vinnie is in the house.

    I know, Connie said. Stink bomb. We lob a stink bomb in there, everyone runs out, and in the confusion we rescue Vinnie.

    I like it, Lula said to Connie. Boy, youre good. I could see youve done this before.

    High school, Connie said. I was the stink bomb queen. One time, I stink-bombed the principals house and he blamed it on Jimmy Rubinowski.

    What happened to Jimmy Rubinowski? Lula wanted to know.

    Nothing. He was a football player. He was golden.

    Is this stink bomb going to damage the house? I asked.

    No, Connie said. It takes a couple days for the smell to go away, but then everythings good. Except for the window you broke getting the bomb into the house.

    I hate to be a wet blanket, but I dont like doing this without making sure Vinnies in the house, I said.

    Lula and I broke a few minor laws from time to time in the pursuit of felons, but for the most part, we had paperwork giving us wide authority for search and capture. We all knew Bobby Sunflower was pond scum, but that didnt give me the right to lob a stink bomb through his window.

    This isnt a whim, Lula said. Theres circumstantial evidence. And anyway, this heres Bobby Sunflower were talking about. He probably gets stink-bombed all the time.

    How about this, Connie said. I go home and whip up a stink bomb. And then we go back to the house at night so we can creep around better and look in windows. And then if it looks like Vinnies in the house, we bazooka the bomb in.

    I guess thats okay, I said. Unless Sunflower has family in the house.

    Sunflower hasnt got family, Lula said. Only thing hed have in the house is armed entourage and maybe a ho or two.

    The sun goes down around eight-thirty, Connie said. So lets meet here at the office at eight-fifteen. And everyone wear black.

Sizzling Sixteen
    Page: 43

    NINE

    I LEFT THE bonds office, drove to Quakerbridge Mall, and went straight to the food court. I had a photo of Chopper, and Id become pretty good at spotting drug dealers. Not to mention I had the lucky bottle. So maybe with all those things going for me, I could snag Chopper. I got a cheeseburger and a vanilla shake, and I sat at a table that would allow me to see almost the entire food court area.

    According to the photo and file description, Chopper was a Hispanic male, 59 tall, medium build, no piercings or tattoos. A smashed right hand. Forty-five years old. One eyebrow.

    I finished my burger and shake, and I sat for a while, trying to look like I was waiting for someone. I got up and walked around a little. I bought a chocolate chip cookie. I sat at a different table. I did another tour of the food court. I walked beyond the food court and looked around. No Chopper. I bought an ice cream cone, and I sat and ate it. Still no Chopper. By seven oclock Id had enough of the food court, so I went home and changed into black commando gear. Black jeans, black T-shirt, black sweatshirt.

    Lula and Connie were already at the office when I pulled in. Connie was dressed just like me. Lula looked like an ad for S&M clothes for plus-size women. Black leather boots up to her thighs, black stretch skirt that hung two inches below her ass, black Spandex wrap shirt.

    I got my gun, my stun gun, my pepper spray, my flashlight, Lula said. And then I got my other gun and a bread knife.

    I have an Uzi and the stink bombs, Connie said.

    They looked at me.

    I had hairspray and a nail file, but it didnt stack up next to guns and stink bombs. I have the lucky bottle, I told them.

    Now youre talking, Lula said.

    Connie grabbed her purse, and we followed her out of the office.

    Ive got my brother Tonys car, Connie said. Its a P. O. S. Explorer, and no one will pay any attention to it sitting on the side of the road.

    Lula got in front with Connie, and I got in back with the box of stink bombs. The adapted for stink bombs rocket launcher was behind me. It was deep dusk when we drove over the bridge to Pennsylvania, and by