"I know zactly what you mean, Lussss," the customer slurred indignantly as he slammed the empty shot glass on the bar. "Ungrateful Kids! They don't 'ppreciate the sacerfices a parent makes for them! Gimme another double!"
Lester would gradually assume Piercely's former duties of providing care for Luscious. He did not yet comprehend the extent of those responsibilities. His obligations to the aged alcoholic would slowly increase until they became a chronic punishment. If Professor Emeritus had learned his conclusion about a degrading strumpet would soon be proven accurate, he could have regained his self-righteous superior smirk, but the stern taskmaster had forever doused any desire for communication from his misguided son.
Captain Smoky Butts silently arrived in the valley. The state trooper hadn't seen the video of the attempted robbery, but he had heard a detailed description of the action on his extremely clear radio and switched off his siren. Smoky was anxious to meet that security guard. The captain parked in the northeast quadrant and took the escalator. He marched into the lobby, saw Max, and asked him for an introduction to Mr. Mick Loneshark.
"If you'll go to The Pancake Palace, Smoky, I'll bring Mick to you as soon as I can pull him away from this crowd."
"Thanks, Max. I'll see you there."
A half-hour later, Mick and Max entered The Palace. Sadie blocked the entrance to the newsmen who were following. The chief introduced them and announced that he must return to his office. "Paperwork," Max offered the single word of explanation. He keyed his radio and ordered his patrolman to pick him up and then strenuously made his way to the exit.
"Can I buy you a cup of coffee, Mr. Loneshark?"
"Yes, thank you, Captain, and please call me Mick." He sat across from the trooper and lit a cigarette. "You don't mind?" Loneshark asked, holding up the burning cigarette.
"Not at all, and it's Smoky," the captain said and lit one of his own as he signaled to Katie for another cup. "Mick, I have seen four replays of your actions in the lobby while I've been waiting here. The news channel has run the scene twice at normal speed, one slow motion version, and a frame-by-frame rendition with experts describing every nuance of your movements. The experts were kind enough to explain exactly what you were planning through each step."
"I'm glad those guys knew what I was planning. I don't remember having time to plan."
"I'll say!" Smoky agreed excitedly. "They've timed the take-downs, Mick. It was eight seconds from the instant you grabbed the first gunman to the moment you were, um, grabbing the girl. Whew! Those were the quickest, slickest moves I've ever seen. You didn't learn those maneuvers in any police academy!"
"Thanks, but honestly, Smoky, it was only a reflex action to that particular set of circumstances. It could probably never happen that way again."
