Furious

14

The next morning was full of surprises.

The steamer trunk Kris had used to board the Archie showed up along with the second one, which had mysteriously appeared. Captain Luna had dropped them on the pier after Kris left with her police escort. It had taken a while for them to get through customs; there was a reason Abby rarely let the contents of her trade be examined. It also took several calls to get it sent to Senior Chief Inspector Martinez’s home.

Kris suspected she’d better get out fast before more than just her luggage caught up with her.

But the next surprise was delightful.

“Is my great-granddaughter in here somewhere?” came as Estella answered an insistent knock at the door. Senior Inspector Martinez was already on his wrist talking to Inspector Johnson and had a picture of who was at the door before it was answered.

“Gramma Ruth!” Kris shouted. “How’d you know I was here?”

“Young woman, I survived the Iteeche and your grampa Trouble. I can smell a relative if I’m on the same planet with her. Oh, and I keep Bronc supplied with the latest new games and hacker programs. You don’t honestly think he would keep his auntie Ruth from knowing that Kris was back in town?”

Kris breathed a sigh of relief. Bronc to Gramma Ruth, or Gramma Trouble, as she seemed to be today, was a risk Kris could accept.

Gramma Ruth held Kris out at arm’s length for a look. “You don’t seem to be much the worse for letting that scoundrel Ray run you around on his leash.”

“The last bit of trouble I did myself,” Kris admitted.

“Says you. That man could manipulate the sun out of the sky if he felt the need. You headed back to Wardhaven?”

“I’m a fugitive, Gramma, wanted for crimes against humanity on a hundred and fifty plus planets. Do you really want to know where I’m going next?”

“Maybe not. But if you’re headed for Wardhaven, I might be able to arrange for you to see the man you want to see.”

“If I were going to Wardhaven, I have no idea who I’d want to see. Grampa Ray and Father have issued arrest warrants for me, and I don’t think Grampa Al much likes me, either.”

“Why would you want to see them? I mean the man you really want to see.”

“And who would that be?”

“Jack. The fellow you were making cow eyes at the last time you were here.”

“I was not making cow eyes at Jack!”

“Says you. Remember, I’m your Gramma Ruth. I grew up on a farm. I know cow eyes when I see them, girl.”

“Gramma, I really need to be getting out of here. If you’ve found me, people with guns can find me.”

“Piffle. I’m a lot smarter than the average person with a gun. And me with a class to teach in fifteen minutes. Young woman, you have got to quit traipsing around the galaxy and sit a spell with your Gramma Ruth. We need to watch the grass grow.”

“All I ever grow are weeds, Gramma.”

“Says you. Okay, I see that cop eyeing me and his watch. Take care, kiddo,” and with a peck on the cheek, the whirlwind known as Gramma Ruth was gone.

“How am I getting on the Yellow Comet,” Kris asked, “and how soon?”

“In that,” Juan said, pointing at the steamer trunk, “and right away. The sooner you get off this planet, the happier I and a whole lot of elephants above me will be.”

“That sounds like a deal. Will you or Penny lead my trunk aboard?”

“Penny,” Juan said.

The aforementioned intelligence officer came out from the back room, dressed like a wealthy, if nearly hundred-year-old, matron. “What did you say about me, deary? I don’t hear so well.” She was stooped over and struggling with a cane.

Kris let herself be locked into her trunk.

It was just as dark and claustrophobic as before. Kris located her little box of pills, took one, and trusted Penny to get her to someplace safe in the next two or three hours.