Free Don't Make Me Choose Between You and My Shoes by Dixie Cash

against her seat. “Well, if that doesn’t beat all,” she whispered. “Why do you suppose he wouldn’t even look?”
    â€œMaybe he didn’t understand you. Or maybe he doesn’t want to get involved.”
    â€œHell, I didn’t ask him to identify it. I just asked him to look in that direction.”
    Edwina shook her head. “It’s different here, Debbie Sue. It’s just different.”
    â€œYou’re telling me. A body on the ground back home, covered up by a sheet? Everyone in the county would be on the phone, checking up on who’s missing or dead. And if this many people drove around in Dallas, all honking at each other, somebody would get his ass kicked.”
    In less than fifteen minutes, the driver delivered them to the front entrance of their hotel, heaved their suitcases onto the sidewalk and sped away. Edwina hooked her carry-on’s long leather strap over her shoulder and hoisted another bag to her hip. She bent and picked up two additional bags, one in each hand.
    But Debbie Sue wasn’t ready to stop looking at her surroundings. “Wait a minute, Ed.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong? This is the right hotel, isn’t it?”
    â€œYeah, yeah, this is where we’re supposed to be.”
    Edwina started forward. “Well, I think it’s a pretty fair bet nobody’s coming out here to get us. Let’s go in. I’m carrying over a hundred pounds of crap.”
    She limped another two steps under her load, then stopped and set her bags and suitcases on the sidewalk. “Okay, what’s up? What’s going on? You look like a six-year-old that just heard Christmas was canceled.”
    â€œI don’t know, Ed. It’s just that all of a sudden I don’t feel like we belong here.”
    â€œYou mean in New York City? Hon, I’m not sure if anyone belongs here, but the fact is, this is where we are.”
    â€œI mean at this conference. Good Lord, Ed, just look around us. What in the hell can we tell people who live here about anything, much less about conducting a criminal investigation? They see more shit walking down the street than we run up against in Salt Lick in a lifetime.”
    â€œOh, no, you don’t. You’re the one that talked me into coming. You don’t get to have second thoughts. Besides, we’re not here to reinvent the wheel, Debbie Sue. They have their way of doing things and we have ours. All we’re going to do is tell them what works for the Equalizers. It’s a chance to share methods, that’s all. Just a chance to share methods.”
    Debbie Sue dredged up a smile. “You’re right. We can all learn something from each other.”
    â€œThat’s my girl.” Edwina repositioned her bags with a series of grunts.
    â€œYou’re right. I’ll be fine.” Debbie Sue fell in step with her friend and they entered the hotel lobby.
    A bellhop met Edwina with a cart and relieved her of her burden. “Debbie Sue, give him your stuff.”
    But Debbie Sue was stopped in her tracks, staring at a display board of activities in the hotel. The display spelled out N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION OF P RIVATE I NVESTIGATORS in bold letters, and listed the speakers in smaller type. Debbie Sue’s jaw dropped. “I can’t believe this.”
    â€œWhat?” Edwina said from behind her.
    â€œLook at this.” Debbie Sue stared at the notice, which read, “Investigating for Dummies, presented by the Domestic Equalizers of Dallas, Texas.”
    Edwina came to her side, frowning at the display board. “We’re not from Dallas.”
    â€œI can’t believe this,” Debbie Sue said again, tears springing to her eyes. “I’ve never been so embarrassed.”
    â€œA dummy’s a step down from a clown, right?”
    â€œShut up, Ed. It’s bad enough they’re making fun of us. You don’t have to do it, too.” The