“Internet coffee shop.”

Jess nodded. “So while you’re sucking down those non-fat lattes you’re trying to break into my system?”

“I wasn’t going to take anything from you. But we need the money.”

Jess let out a breath. “I understand, Carol. But this isn’t the way to go about it.”

Carol looked between her and Smitty. “So now what? Drag me off to jail?”

“You’re thirteen. The best I can hope you get is some time in juvey. And maybe a public caning.”

Confused, she asked, “You’re not going to turn me in?”

“No. I don’t think your mother deserves that. Do you?”

Smitty drank weak coffee and forced down a sub par muffin because that’s how he’d been raised. After twenty minutes of Marie Haier nervously fluttering around them, Jess made their excuses to leave. She said goodbye to the little girl and Marie walked them to his truck.

“I’m so very sorry about all this.”

“Don’t be. There’s only so much you can do when you’ve got a genius for a daughter.” Jess opened her door. “So how’s work going?”

Marie shrugged, looking just like her daughter. “Not bad.”

“Still working at the grocery store?”

“Yes.”

“Ever consider secretarial work?”

“Uh... sure.”

“I’ll have my assistant call you. We just set up a system for Lathan Industries. They’re not far from here. They’re expanding and I think there are openings if you’re interested. They’ll give you on-site training.”

He could see Marie working hard to not get overexcited. She’d been let down before. A lot, he’d reckon. “Yes. I’m interested.”

“Good. My assistant will call you later today with the information.”

“Thank you.”

“Sure.”

Jessie climbed into his truck and closed the door.

“Thank you for the coffee and muffin, Mrs. Haier.”

She smiled at Smitty. “You’re more than welcome.”

Smitty stepped into his truck, started her up, and pulled out. As soon as they got to the corner, Jessie called into her office. First she called Phil. It had to be the strangest conversation he’d heard in a long time.

“The Spanish have sent their Armada to destroy us. Yes. It’s time to call in the fleet. I want them blasted out of the water by the end of next week. Good. Thank you, Admiral.”

When he glanced at her while sitting at a light, she gave him that big dog grin, before dialing her assistant. That, thankfully, was a much more logical discussion. Jessie went over messages, gave instructions on who to call back and who to ignore. As they finished theirconversation, Jessie instructed her assistant to contact the CEO of Lathan Industries and to remind him of how he’d said, “‘I owe you one’. Now it’s time for him to pay up.”

She shut off the phone and Smitty stopped at another light. “I don’t get it.”

“Don’t get what?”

“Why are you helping the Haiers?”

“That poor woman is blissfully average like the rest of us. And she has a daughter with a one hundred and ninety-five IQ.”

Smitty blew out a breath. “Wow.”

“She has no idea what to do with her. And the kid is bitter because her old man bailed. Blah, blah, blah. Let me tell you, nothing is worse than a bored, bitter genius.” Jess stuck her phone back into the pocket of the jacket she wore. “I figure we get the mom straight. Then we can get that kid into some program that will keep that brain of hers occupied. Then when she turns eighteen—that brain will belong to me.”

He glanced at her in surprise. “What?”

“That kid is going to make my company a fortune. I just have to keep her out of federal prison long enough.” She snorted. “What? Did you think I was doing all this out of the goodness of my heart?”

“Well... yeah. I did.”

“She’s not a stray puppy, Smitty.”

“Puppies. Kids. They’re all the same to you when they’re needy.”

She grinned. “Quiet yourself.”

He reached for her with one arm. “Come here, darlin’. Let ol’ Smitty show you how much you’re appreciated.”

“Shut up,” she said again, slapping at his arm.

Laughing, Smitty turned onto the main highway. And as they drove out of town, the skies opened up.

Chapter 19

So busy responding to an e-mail from her phone, Jess didn’t realize that Smitty had pulled over until he said, “Do you ever live outside your head?”

“What?” She looked up and around. “Why did we stop? Wow, it’s really raining.”

“Yeah, it’s really raining. Thought we’d get some lunch and hope that the worst of it will blow over. Interested?”

“Yeah, sure.” She looked around again, getting her bearings. “Uh... not sure we want to stop in this town, though.”

“Why?”

“It’s bear run.”

“The sign said ‘Martin County.’”

“That’s not the name. It’s a bear-run town. Literally, bears run it.”

Smitty shrugged. “So?”

“This isn’t like Smithville. They’re not friendly bears, Smitty. Not friendly at all. They don’t like outsiders.”