Jimmy The Kid

14

DORTMUNDER SAID, “What’s taking so long? We been driving for forty-five minutes.”

“I’ve been taking some extra turns and cutbacks,” Murch said, “to confuse the boy’s sense of direction. That’s what they did in the book.”

“In the meantime,” Dortmunder said, “the cops are out looking by now.”

“We should have picked up the detour signs,” Kelp said. “We shouldn’t have left them behind like that.”

“We don’t need them any more,” Dortmunder told him. “And I don’t want to waste any more time.” To Murch he said, “So let’s go straight to the farmhouse. No more extra turns?’

“Well,” Murch said.

Dortmunder looked at him. “What do you mean, well?”

“Well, the fact is,” Murch said. He was blinking a lot as he drove, and looking troubled, even embarrassed. “The fact is,” he said, “I think I took too many extra turns and cutbacks already.”

“You’re lost?”

“Well,” Murch said, “not exactly lost.”

“What do you mean, not exactly lost?”

“Well, there was a road I thought was down this way, and it isn’t here. I can’t seem to find it.”

“If you can’t seem to find the road you’re looking for,” Dortmunder said, “that means you’re lost. Exactly lost.”

“It would help if the sun was out,” Murch said. It was late afternoon now, and the sky was filling with clouds.

“I think it’s gonna rain,” Kelp said.

Dortmunder nodded. “And we’re lost.”

“If I take the next left,” Murch said, “we should be all right.”

“You think so,” Dortmunder said.

“Maybe,” Murch said.