Stealing the Dragon

Chapter Twenty-four

San Francisco, present day

“I’d like ten bags of ice, please.”

Cape had stopped at the Safeway in the Marina district, which was open twenty-four hours even though most people finished their grocery shopping by eight. At nearly eleven o’clock, Cape was one of five people in the store.

He smiled pleasantly at the young man behind the checkout aisle, who had been reading one of the tabloid newspapers they kept near the registers. Apparently Oprah had gained weight again.

The young man nodded at Cape, the beads woven into his hair jangling with the motion. His name tag said Rex.

“Havin’ a party?” he asked as he tapped the keys on the register.

“Something like that,” said Cape, glancing at his car through the glass front of the store.

“You want some beer?” asked Rex, his purple fingernails paused above the keys. “Maybe some chips? We got these sour cream ’n onion chips you wouldn’t believe, man, especially after you been partyin’ for a while.”

Cape turned back from the window, his smile evaporated. “They pay you on commission, Rex?”

Rex backed up a step, then snorted. “No, dude, just tryin’ to help you out.”

Cape nodded, grabbing a pack of gum from the rack beside him. “Just this,” he said, trying to keep an edge out of his voice. “And ten bags of ice.”

“Whatever,” said Rex, punching buttons. “You got a club card?”

Cape shook his head. “No, I’ll just pay cash.”

“It’s not a credit card,” replied Rex. “It’s a club card. You type in your phone number, and you get all sorts of free shit. Like, tonight, you might even get a discount on the ice.”

Cape stared at him, wondering if he should go back to his car and get the gun from his glove compartment. Rex stared back, confident in the flawless logic of his suggestion.

“Thanks, anyway,” said Cape evenly. “Just the ice.”

“You still want the gum?” asked Rex. “’Cause I already rang it up. I could void it, but then I’d have to call my manager, and-”

Cape held up his hands. “I want the gum,” he said emphatically, picking it up off the conveyor and handing Rex a twenty before he could say anything else. “Thanks for reminding me.”

Rex smiled and shrugged, pleased at his catch. “No sweat,” he said, handing Cape his change. “You need help out to your car?”

“No,” replied Cape-a little too quickly, he thought. “I’ll manage.”

“Peace,” said Rex, turning back to his tabloid.

Cape used a cart to move the ice to his car, then did a quick scan of the parking lot before opening the trunk.

The expression on the dead bodyguard had not changed. He looked just as surprised that Cape had bought ice as he had looked when Cape first found him. The bags almost filled the trunk, and Cape figured they’d keep things under control for at least a few hours.

Getting behind the wheel again, he fished his cell phone from his jacket and made a short call, then turned out of the parking lot and headed toward Golden Gate Park.