3 Mango Bay by Bill Myers Read Free Book Online Page B

door and escorted me to the dining table.
    Over dinner, Lucy retold the story of how, in her mind, I had single-handedly saved the cyclist's life. I tried to explain that I hadn't done anything special, nothing heroic.
    But Lucy wasn't having any of it. She told her mom that had I not been there, the man would surely have died.
    Upon hearing the story, Polly was more convinced than ever that I was an undercover cop.
     

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
    The next morning I was up early. Mango Bob hadn't slept well and had patrolled the motorhome all night. Every once in a while he'd let out a worrisome howl, telling me things looked different outside.
    This was to be expected.
    Bob and I had spent most of the last six months camped out in the old boat yard where we were completely surrounded by an eight foot privacy fence. At the boat yard, Bob's view was limited, there were no other people, no pets and no cars to be seen.
    But here at Serenity Cove, Bob could see a new landscape out every window. There were trees above us with birds and squirrels. Motor homes beside us with people and pets. Cars, golf carts, and bicyclists on the driveway in front of us.
    All this new activity required that Bob be on full alert.
    So while neither of us had slept well, Bob's appetite hadn't suffered. By early morning, his food bowl was nearly empty and he felt it important to make me aware of this. He did so by jumping up on the bed and tapping my ear with his paw until he got my attention.
    After getting up and filling his bowl, I ate a quick breakfast of cold cereal drowned in white grape juice. My normal breakfast. Easy to make and easy to clean up.
    Lucy had told me to expect her around eight and I wanted to be ready. So I took a quick shower, shaved and put on clean shirt and shorts.
    Right on schedule, Lucy showed up with the Jeep. She was wearing cargo shorts, a powder blue Columbia fishing shirt, sunglasses, and a dark blue ball cap pulled over her pony tail.
    When I stepped out to greet her, she had a big smile on her face and dangled the keys in my direction.
    “ You want to drive?”
    I shook my head. “Not this morning. I think I'll let you drive while I enjoy the view.”
    “Suits me. But before we leave, make sure you have your driver's license, your insurance card, and your check book.”
    I patted my back pocket where I carried my wallet. “Got it all. I'm ready whenever you are.”
    “Good. Give me a minute to talk to Mom, and I'll be right out.”
    While Lucy visited her mom, I locked up the motorhome and then did a close inspection of the outside of the Jeep.
    While it had looked pretty good the previous evening, it looked even better in the early morning light. No scratches, dents or blemishes. Even though it was several years old, it looked new.
    It was clear the previous owner had taken good care of it. And I was happy to be getting it.
    From behind me, I heard my name. It was Polly, Lucy's mother.
    “ Walker, after you get done with Lucy, come by and see me. There's something I want to talk to you about.”
    “ Sure, no problem.”
    Lucy drove us to the Truck Depot lot in Venice, and introduced me to Ed, the sales manager. She presented him with the sales agreement I had signed the night before.
    At first Ed smiled, then he shook his head. “She let you have it for fourteen? That's crazy. I would've never done that. Should have been a couple thousand more. You got a steal.”
    We went into Ed's office where he started preparing the documents needed to close the deal. “So, how much do you want to put down?”
    I shook my head. “Nothing. I don't want to finance it. I'll write you a check for the full amount. If that's okay.”
    I pulled out my checkbook and waited.
    Ed smiled. “Paying in full does make it easier. Is it a local check?”
    “ Yes, drawn on Sun Trust bank. There's a branch across the street if you want to see if it's good.”
    “ I'm sure it's good. Make it out to Truck Depot. Here's the amount.”
    Ed slid