Free Full Tilt by Janet Evanovich

citizens. Last I heard she was taking ballroom dancing."
    "Why didn't I know that?" Mike asked. "I should do an article on that. Maybe get more seniors in this town involved."
    "I need a break," Jamie told Mike once they sent the front page and Lifestyles section to layout.
    "I need to check on my mom anyway," Mike said, hurrying to his office.
    Jamie called Deedee to check on Beenie's condition.
    "I'm worried about him," Deedee said. "He's been in the bathroom for hours with a girlie magazine. Do you think he's gone straight?"
    "I don't see how," Jamie said. "I thought homosexuality was a genetic thing. You know, once gay, always gay? Maybe he doesn't remember coming out of the closet."
    Deedee sighed. "Sounds complicated. I asked him to go through my catalogs so I could pick out an outfit for Election Day, and he looked at me like I was crazy. I don't know who's going to do my makeup and hair now. I just want my old Beenie back."
    "I'm sure he'll come around," Jamie said before she hung up.
    Mike returned shortly after, assuring Jamie all was well with his mother. "She's doing a lot better. Gave me a scare in the beginning, though."
    "I'm glad to hear it," Jamie said. "Listen, Mike, I have to tell you, I'm impressed with all you've done the past few days. You got a lot accomplished."
    "I realized it was time I took on more responsibility. I guess my mom getting sick was a wake-up call," he added. "I'm just surprised you put up with me for so long."
    "You're a darn good editor, and this newspaper is lucky to have you." Jamie wouldn't tell him how close she'd come to telling him to hit the road at times, but with the salary she offered, she couldn't have afforded to hire a replacement. "Keep up the good work."
    * * * * *
    At three o'clock, Max left the installation crew and climbed into his car. "Are you there, Muffin?" he asked.
    "No, I'm shopping at Saks."
    "I need answers. Someone attacked Deedee's assistant last night."
    "Beenie?" she said.
    "Yeah. Probably the same person who took Deedee's dog." Max quickly filled her in.
    "That sucks," Muffin said. "How's Beenie?"
    "He's okay, but Deedee's worried as hell. Have you got anything on Swamp Dog yet?"
    "I keep bumping into firewalls. There's a record of him serving in Vietnam, but every time I try to dig deeper, I hit a dead end. The government is doing everything in its power to protect that information." She sounded frustrated.
    "Think, Muffin. Sometimes things are not as hard as they seem. You're programmed to think like a computer
and
a human being. There's a reason for that."
    "Max, what the hell are you talking about?"
    "What would a computer do if it couldn't get the information?"
    "It would simply tell you there was no data available."
    "Right. What would
I
do?"
    "You'd say, screw it and find the information anyway."
    "So, Muffin?"
    "Yeah, yeah. Keep looking. What's on your agenda?"
    "I've got to go through three years of the city budget."
    "Good thing you're a speed-reader."
    "By the way, how's it going with the laptop at MIT?"
    "He's not very bright."
    "You're going to be hard-pressed to find anyone brighter than you, dear."
    "What I'd like to know is why it's so important that I learn about Mustangs and replacement parts."
    "Jamie's car was hit a couple of times in the shootings. I'd like to get it repaired." He went on to explain the actual damage, and Jamie's sentimental attachment to the car.
    "I'll get on it right away since it concerns Jamie," Muffin said.
    Max spent the next hour going over the city budget. "I'm going to take a ride, Muffin. I need directions to Highway 24."
    "Where on Highway 24? You got any crossroads, or am I supposed to do this blindly? Forget it, I already know the answer."
    Five minutes later, she ran a printout. "Here are the directions," she said. "What are you looking for?"
    "The sewage treatment facility that never was. A lot of money was allocated for it, and taxpayers are still getting hit. I'd like to know why the city never