The Coffin Maker

Chapter 13

James Robert drove the Camry across town, parked in an alley behind a tattoo parlor and went in the back door. Two women sat on a dirty sofa in a small room with a TV and a coffee table. One of them was sprinkling cocaine and another drug on a joint she was making when James Robert walked in.

"Whaddup, JR?" said one of the women, "I'm makin' a squirrel, want some?"

"No thanks, Rosie. I need to see Jake."

"He's with a customer."

"I really need to see him."

"I'll ask," said the other woman who left the room through a door leading to the store. She came back with a stocky man with long black hair sticking out under a bandana, his arms and neck swathed in the images of his trade. His voice was weak and raspy.

"This better be important, James. I don't like to be interrupted when I'm working."

"Yeah, I'm sorry, Jake. I need tags. The vehicle will be on the radar soon."

"Minnesota?"

James Robert nodded.

"It'll cost you three," said Jake.

"Kinda steep," replied James Robert.

"Then don't take 'em," said Jake indifferently. "Look, I gotta get back."

"Okay, I'll take 'em, said James Robert who peeled off the cash from his newly found roll.

"Rosie will get them. If you change 'em here, don't throw the old ones into the dumpster," said Jake who took the cash and left.

"Yeah, thanks Jake."

James Roberts changed the license plates and placed the old ones under the floor mat behind the driver's seat of the Camry. He dialed his friend Krista who worked on the custodian staff at the Mayo Clinic in nearby Rochester to ask if she could take a few days off and go to Chicago with him. She didn't pick up so he left a message that he was headed her way and would get there before she got off work. Learning from past mistakes, he drove the stolen Camry within the speed limit to avoid any unnecessary contact with the State troopers. He exited on Civic Center Drive in Rochester about an hour and a half later and waited behind one of the Mayo buildings for Krista to finish work. She came out at the stroke of four and he got out of the car and called to her. She walked over and said, "I got your message. So you came into some cash and want to show a girl a good time?"

"I thought we might go to Chicago. The Cubs are starting a home stand and I booked a room at the casino," said James Robert.

"Take me to Arlington Park?" asked Krista.

"Sure. Where's your daughter?"

"With my mom. Where's your girlfriend? What's her name?"

"Victoria. We decided to call it quits."

"Fair enough," said Krista. "Take me home and I'll grab a few things. Nice car." She looked in the glove box and opened the plastic folder with the manual and the ownership papers. "Ailsa Craig," she read aloud, "You know her?"

"No." said James Robert.