Ask the Parrot

6

They stopped at a run-down traditional diner for lunch on the way back. They chose a table beside the large window with its view out to very little Sunday traffic on this secondary road, and after they’d given the waitress their orders, Parker said, “Tell me about the Dennisons.”

“The who? Oh, Cory and Cal? What do you want to know about them for?”

“They came to see me last night. Right after you left.”

“They came— They were at my place?”

“They think I might be one of the missing robbers.”

“Jesus!” Lindahl looked as though he just might jump straight up and out of the diner and run a hundred miles down the road. “What are they gonna do?”

“If I am one of the robbers,” Parker said, “they think I must have a bunch of money on me.”

“But you don’t.”

“But if I was and I did, I could give Cal money to get plastic surgery and an artificial eye.”

“Oh, for—” No longer in a panic, Lindahl now looked as though he’d never heard anything so dumb. “They said that to you? You’re the robber, and give us some of the money?”

“The robber part wasn’t said.”

“But that’s what it was all about. And if you give them the money, they won’t report you? Is that the idea?”

“I suppose so.”

“That’s a Cal idea, all right,” Lindahl said. “He’s jumped off barn roofs since he was a little kid.”

“Cory’s the smart one,” Parker agreed, “but he follows the other one’s lead. They say they’re gonna come back today and talk to you.”

Lindahl was astonished all over again. “Talk to me? About what?”

“Am I really your old friend Ed Smith.”

Lindahl leaned back in the booth and spread his hands. “Well, you really are my old friend Ed Smith. I oughta know who you are.”

“That’s right,” Parker said. As the waitress brought their plates, he said, “Over lunch, we’ll work out the details of that. In case somebody talks to you and then talks to me.”

“Good. We’ll do that.”

“We’ve only got to worry about today,” Parker said, “and then we’re done with it.”

With a surprised laugh, Lindahl said, “That’s right! Just today and tonight. The whole thing, it’s almost over.”