Dead to Rights

“Some people may laugh to hear this, but selling those cookies marked a real watershed for me. I was scared to death. I didn’t think I’d ever have nerve enough to talk to people and to ask them to buy something from me, but I did. Some of the boxes of cookies went to people I knew, but most of them went to strangers – to people I met at the post office and the grocery store. Over the years I got better at it. The year I was in the seventh grade, I sold five hundred boxes – enough cookies be awarded the prize of two weeks of summer camp at Whispering Pines up on Mount Lemmon. Believe me, that’s a lot of Thin Mints.”

Joa

“I suspect that there are lots of women out there who are just like me, women who, as little girls, made their first foray: into the world of work by selling Girl Scout cookies. Marketing those boxes of cookies is a very real job. It consists of deciding to do something, of setting a goal, and then making it happen.

“So when you look at this picture of a little girl with her Radio Flyer full of cookies, remember, that little red wagon is the vehicle that led to one I drive now-to the one that’s parked outside, at the far end of the parking lot. You’ll know it when you see it. It’s the big white Blazer with the light bar on top and with the insignia of the Cochise County Sheriff Department painted on the door. I see selling that wagonload of cookies as the begi

As Joa

A wall of smoky glass separated the dining room from the lounge area and the bar beyond it. Eleanor was right. Terry’s hair was different, but not that different. Joa

When the applause ended and Maria

Once the ceremony was over, Joa

“Sure,” Maria

“There’s something I have to do. Could you please give Eva Lou and my mother a ride back to town?”

“I’m in the Bug,” Maria

“I will,” Joa

Maria

“A BMW,” Joa

“The Bug will be a big comedown if she’s used to that, but she’ll get over it.”

Which turned out to be not entirely true. “You want me to do what?” Eleanor demanded.

“Shhh,” Joa

“So talk,” Eleanor said. “What’s the big problem?”

“It’s police business.”

“Come on, Eleanor,” Eva Lou said. “If Joa

“We’ll wait,” Eleanor insisted.

“It’s confidential, Mother,” Joa

“We’ll wait in the car.”

“No, you won’t,” Joa

What had worked in regard to the hair appointment didn’t work when it came to the ride back home. The corner of Eleanor’s mouth turned down.

“Well!” she exclaimed in a voice that bristled with indignation. “I never!”

It took time for the women to drain out of the dining room, especially since most of them wanted to pause for word or two with the guest of honor and to admire the photo. To Joa

“Terry?” Joa

“Joa

Joa

Terry didn’t look particularly thrilled. Her tone of voice implied that Joa

The man seated with Terry hurried off his barstool and came around to meet Joa

“Come on now, Terry,” the man urged. “Don’t be so standoffish. Who’s your friend? Why don’t you introduce us?”

“This is Peter,” Terry said without enthusiasm. “Peter Wilkes, my golf pro. And this is Joa

“Joa

Joa

“I remember now. Esther and Myron-Myron is my partner-mentioned something about a special luncheon today. If I’m not mistaken, you were the guest of honor. I hope everything measured up to your expectations.”

As soon as she heard Peter Wilkes’s name, Joa

Peter politely backed away. “If you two will excuse me, I have another lesson coming up in just a few minutes. You shot a great game today, Terry. That back nine was terrific. Keep up the good work.”

“Thanks,” Terry said with a smile. “It was pretty good, wasn’t it?”

Peter Wilkes nodded. “It was a lot better than pretty good.”

“You’ll check for me then on the other?” Terry asked.

Peter looked down at his watch. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to reach him today. But yes, I will check. You can count on it. As soon as I know anything, I’ll let you know.”

Peter Wilkes hurried off in the direction that led out to the pro shop. Joa