Touch and Go (A Mercy Watts Short) Read Online Free Page A

likes neither of those monikers. Morty on vacation meant he turned off all his phones and refused to communicate with anyone or go anywhere for three days. He was my last chance.
    “What is it?” I tried to sound as displeased as possible without whacking the phone on the counter.
    “We followed Stevie from the Keys to Miami, but he hopped a plane before we could get to him. He’s on his way home.”
    “Here? He’s coming here?”
    “I know it’s unbelievable, even for Stevie, but he’s on flight 210 United. It arrives at noon.”
    “Why would he do that?”
    “Well, you know Stevie.”
    Yes, I knew Stevie. Mom was his father’s legal secretary and I’d known him all his life. He was a normal kid, if by normal you mean stupid. All in all, he was likable and problem free for a while. Mom quit working for Crown Legal when Dad retired from the police force and opened his agency. She still filled in when his new secretary was ill or on vacation. Big Steve sent Dad a lot of business over the years and was the first pick when his son started to get in trouble. When Stevie was fifteen, he contracted a raging case of gonorrhea. Dad was hired to track down all the girls Stevie had sex with and inform them that they’d been exposed. It wasn’t exactly a thrilling way to get paid, but Dad felt he was obligated to Big Steve.  
    Next Stevie robbed the neighbors. Only Stevie would steal from people then try to sell them back their own DVD players. Dad tracked down the stolen articles and returned them. After that, drugs came into the picture and there were a couple of disappearances. Stevie stole a few cars and generally made a nuisance of himself. Between Dad and Big Steve, his record was kept clean. Still, it was hard to picture Stevie as a criminal. He seemed confused when people were upset with him. Mostly, I thought he was out for a good time and things got out of hand. The way things do when you don’t have two brain cells to rub together.  
    “So you want me to nab Stevie at the airport.”
    “If you don’t mind.”
    Mind. Please. Of course I minded. I could’ve stayed curled up under a quilt with Denzel for the rest of the day, but no.
    “How am I supposed to get him? It’s not like he doesn’t know me.”
    “You’ll think of something. Just don’t hurt him.”
    “Define hurt.”
    “Don’t shoot him.”
    “Like I’d really shoot him, Mother.”
    “Well, I know he irritates you.”
    “A lot of people irritate me, but I haven’t shot anyone yet.”
    “Glad to hear it. Take him to the office. Under no circumstances take him to Olivia.”
    Olivia was Stevie’s mother. She doted on her only son and was convinced he was misunderstood. I liked Olivia, but how much evidence do you need?
    “Like I’d do that.”
    “Well, you know he’s gotten girls to do stupid things before.”
    “Are you saying that you think Stevie Crown can fast-talk me?”
    She started laughing and told Dad what I said. I could hear him chuckle in the background. Mom was still laughing when we hung up. I wasn’t laughing. Stevie was six four and I was five two. I’d have to outsmart him. That wouldn’t be difficult, but I only had two hours to work out a plan and get to the airport.
    What I needed was a partner, but all my usual picks were busy. My boyfriend Pete was working yet another shift in the ER. My best friend Carly was a dim possibility. Carly could be counted on for hosting teas, shopping, and pep talks. Nabbing wayward young criminals wasn’t her bag. I wasn’t even sure she knew how to lie. No, Carly was out. There was Chuck, but he might take a dim view of not arresting Stevie and he still wasn’t answering my calls. Plus, I didn’t want him thinking we were even for Pick. What I needed was a woman. A good-looking woman with flexible morals and time to kill. Claire. She owed me. No, wait a minute, I owed her or were we even? If she did it, I’d definitely owe her. Then I’d have to finish with Evan. There