Lassiter

63 Playing Hooky

Granny was frying a big-mouthed, pink hog snapper, head and all, in her largest cast-iron pan. Kip was in the kitchen, grating cabbage for cole slaw.

“What’s with the sunburn, kiddo? Did you play hooky today?”

“You used to cut school to work in a bar.”

“Who told you that?”

“I’m standing on the Fifth Amendment,” Granny said, flipping the fat fish with a spatula. “Snapper was running off the reef, so we took the dinghy out.”

“Kip, until we get past your disciplinary hearing, you can’t cut school,” I said.

“We’re past it, Uncle Jake.”

My look shot him a question, and Kip explained. The Commodore had called him into the office. The esteemed State Attorney and distinguished alumnus Alejandro Castiel had placed a call. Vouched for Kip. Charges dismissed.

“That really pisses me off,” I said.

“Why, Uncle Jake? We won.”

“I don’t want to owe Castiel any favors.”

“Why not?”

“Because I have to do something really shitty to him.”

This time, his look asked the question.

“I have to destroy him.”