This Extra Bodies episode takes place during Mad House Shadows, book 2 of the Dead Body Girl series.
The Resurrection of Coaty (A Jiro Story)
After careful deliberation with Heinrich, we finally tracked down the professional that was capable of doing the job.
We needed someone who was strategic, and surgical in their skills. Someone who was a master of cutting and coaxing out what we wanted. I had already worked with too many hack jobs to be willing to risk such a high profile mission with just anyone.
I pushed open the glass front door to the little dry cleaning shop, it was really just a front. Hidden within was a maestro of the trade. They wouldn’t just work for anyone, you had to ask for them by name. Only those with an in, could get the ‘Special’ services they offered and this mission required. I hefted the over sized duffel bag onto the counter.
“I need to talk to Lang.”
The woman behind the counter reached for the bag.
“If you are just dropping off dry cleaning, I can take it.”
I place my hand over the top of the duffel and tightened my grip.
“Lang, please.”
The slight woman’s head jerked up. She stared at me a moment, then gave a sharp nod, and hurried into the back.
The wait was long, but I could hear the murmur of two voices talking in back. After a time an old woman limped with a cane to the front counter where I stood. She was short, smaller than Kari, with a withered face whose round cheeks now sagged with age. The wrinkles creasing her forehead nearly covered her eyes completely. For someone that didn’t know, they might have been concerned that the grandmotherly woman was no longer capable of the task. But, I had seen masters at work before, and if anything, her elder years only built confidence that I had come to the right place.
Heinrich’s intel had been right, this person could do the job.
I ripped back the zipper on the bag and up ended the contents onto the counter between us.
“How much for a patch job?”
The old woman sneered, grabbed a pen from a cup beside the ancient cash register, and began poking at the heap I had dumped in front of her.
“You want me to make something in this color?”
I could feel a frown pinching my face.
“No, I want this patched up. Fixed.”
The grandmother peered down at the mound of fabric and scowled at it.
“You want me to make a coat like this?”
My frown deepened.
“No, I want you to mend this coat. This one right here. It has to be the same coat. No replacements, and not too much added in.”
She looked up to me, a frown of her own, shriveling her face even further.
“This? This is an ugly, dirty, torn up coat. I could make you a nice new coat very quick, just a two days. It would fit you like a glove. I will make you a good new coat.”
I huffed out a breath.
“I don’t need a new coat, I need this coat. Mended . . . and maybe the stains removed.”
She scowled, but I scowled harder. I happen to know my scowls were very impressive. Kari often told me so.
Finally she clicked her tongue at me and swiped the coat off the counter into a basket nearby.
“Fine, it will be ready in ten days, come back then.”
My scowl stayed.
“Ten days?”
She flicked her grandmother eyes at me.
“Fine, twenty days. You can get it then. And bring cash, we don’t take credit cards.”
I opened my mouth to complain, but almost instantly snapped it shut again, seeing her elderly eyes flare.
If I kept talking, the coat might just take a year to mend.
I nodded and bowed to the master, and saw my way out of her temple.
Nearly a month to get Kari’s coat fixed. It’s very likely Kari will be out of the hospital by then. I guess I won’t be giving it to her as a welcome home surprise.
But I should have known, you don’t talk back to a granny.
Comments (0)
See all