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listed on her driver ’ s license. It didn’t help that she resembled the color of death, minus the blue tinge when your time is truly up. Good-natured, always smiling in an uncomprehending way, she wandered through her days in a liquored-up stupor.
    “Did those two get into a brawl?” Fab’s eyes glittered with excitement.
    “Miss January backhanded Score in the head, and he started whining. I guess she felt guilty, because she rolled over and crawled on his lap and kissed his hair a few times. Reminded me of two old cats: lick, lick, fight. I had Shirl check on them. We left him passed out on the bed and her on the couch, both snoring so loud made my ears ring, and I ran for the door.” She imitated the noise interspersed with what sounded like choking noises.
    Shirl nodded her head.
    “Miss January shared with me that she and Score have regular sex, and then she gets out of bed and sleeps on the couch.”
    I burst out laughing at the look of absolute disgust on Fab ’ s face. That was the kind of news I liked to spring on her.
    “Sounds like business as usual. So far you don’t have a single good reason for quitting.” I flicked water on Mac.
    Fab nudged Mac ’ s shoulder.
    “Don’t spread it all over town, but I like you two. I ’ d hate to tie you to your office chair; it ’ s not good for business.”
    Mac grinned at her.
    “I forgot about the Earls––the Canadian tourists. They stayed for two weeks and then paid for an extra week, failing to mention they had a plane to catch and were leaving their grandson behind. He has a shifting story about vague job offers and moving out at the end of the week. Not going to happen; he ’ s not qualified to do anything. I can smell it––he’ll stay until we toss him.”
    “Whether Mr. Earl can come up with the money or not, he needs to get out. Give him one day to pack. If he avoids you or threatens you, call me and I’ll send an evictor over. I’ll call Spoon; he ’ s got a guy who specializes in quiet relocation. I ’ m tired of being burned, and he ’ s not staying for free,” I said.
    “That ’ s not legal,” Shirl sniffed.
    “Who’s he going to complain to?  The sheriff? He’ll be warned about the consequences of calling anyone. There ’ s an organized group of low-lifes that move up and down the Keys, looking for some unsuspecting landlord to rent to them. They pay a month ’ s rent and stay four more for free, while it winds its way through the court system,” I said with disgust.
    “Get your cheap shoes on,” Fab pointed at me. “We’ve got stuff to do.”
    I held up one of my flip-flops.
    “They ’ re inexpensive, but aren’t they cute?”
    Fab turned up her nose.
    “Couldn’t you be a little nicer?” I made a sad face.
    “No,” she laughed at me.
    I stood up.
    “See you later, ladies. Remember the new rule: If you need bail money, it has to be during office hours. No more late night jail runs.”
    Mac walked up the steps of the pool and cannon-balled back in, sending water flying. Shirl screamed something about ruining her heavily-sprayed bouffant, and then started a water fight.

  
    Chapter 11
     
    I slid into a chair at our usual table at Jake’s. Recently, the ‘Reserved’ sign I'd put on the corner table on the deck had been replaced with a tasteful ‘Don’t Sit Here’ plaque. The ceiling fans whirred softly, and white Christmas lights hung from the railings and around the edge of the roof. Friends and family knew they could use our special table anytime they came into the bar.
    Fab went to the kitchen and placed our order as I sat rifling through the mail. Phil came out and set down a pitcher of iced tea. Fab and I didn’t drink in the middle of the day, unless we happened to be arrested or shot at on that particular day.
    “Anyone got a lead on the rest of the body?” Phil asked.
    “How did you find out?” I looked up at her in her usual uniform of butt-cheek shorts, showcasing her long legs to