Maggie froze, and her mind scrambled for something plausible to say. She almost blurted out that she was related to the Honeycutts when the thought entered her mind that maybe Nana had already put the newly arrived “cousin” together with the stolen car, and informed the police that she was a possible culprit.
“I’m Maggie. I’m related to the Russell girls,” Maggie lied smoothly, extending her hand to Chief Bailey. “Nice to meet you, sir.” The funny thing was, Maggie had been in trouble many times before. Foster kids were the first ones to get fingered if something went missing or somebody got hurt. This was the first time, though, that she was actually guilty of exactly what she was under suspicion for. She felt like her guilt was written in black Sharpie across her forehead.
“Nice girls, Cathy and Shirley. Now are you related on their father’s or mother’s side?”
Maggie smiled and prayed she wasn’t walking right into a trap. “Their mother and my mother are first cousins. I’m just visiting.” Not too close, but close enough for there to be a thin layer of protection. It would be just her luck if both Mr. and Mrs. Russell grew up in Honeyville, their siblings and family trees well known by all who grew up alongside them.
“Hey, Chief! You writin’ a book? The girl didn’t steal a car. She’s been with me all night. Can we go, please? I promised I’d have her home early.” Johnny started to move forward, and Chief Bailey stepped aside and let them pass. They were just about out the door when the chief called out after them.
“Say hello to your mother for me, Johnny.”
Johnny stiffened, and Maggie glanced back in surprise. Clark Bailey must have realized after the words left his mouth how they might be perceived. His cheeks darkened briefly, and he turned away, launching into an immediate interrogation of the next couple in line.
Maggie looked up into Johnny’s face, and his mouth was set in a hard line.
“Johnny?” He glanced down at her. “I know it’s none of my business...but trust me on this. Clark Bailey genuinely likes your mother, and he meant no disrespect.”
Johnny’s eyebrows shot up, and he halted in his tracks. “Is that so?”
“Yes.....it is.” Maggie struggled to find words and finally just sighed and said, “There are plenty of bad guys in the world. I just didn’t want you misjudging one of the good guys.”
“Pretty tight with Chief Bailey, are you? He sure didn’t seem to know who you are. Come to think of it, that “good guy” you defend so readily wouldn’t hesitate to throw your pretty tail in jail if he knew you stole that....” Johnny’s voice faded off as he took note of the cop car, complete with flashing lights, parked beside Mary Smith’s pilfered car. A police officer leaned against it, chewing his finger nails, clearly bored.
“You stole an Edsel?” Johnny’s voice was filled with incredulous mirth, and he covered his mouth as if trying to hold in a belly laugh.
“A what?” Maggie was clueless.
“If you’re going steal a car, baby, at least steal something classy. Shoot! The Edsel is the biggest waste of metal on the road. Mark my words, in a couple years that car isn’t gonna be worth a damn dime.” Johnny squeezed the bridge of his nose as if he were afraid he might start to howl and draw unwanted attention.
“What?” Maggie was baffled. She’d never even heard of an Edsel. “I didn’t steal it to make a buck, silly!” she hissed at him, and whacked him with her little silver purse. She looked back at the car and at Johnny, who was still shaking his head and laughing, albeit silently. She couldn’t help but smile at his enjoyment of the situation. Her smile quickly faded, however, as the gravity of her problem started to sink in. She couldn’t go back to Lizzie’s house. Surely the police would return the car, which solved that problem. But Lizzie was going to be frantic. And Maggie had no place to go. Maggie walked several steps and sank down on the curb, her legs suddenly too weak to stand.
“Hey....hey, Maggie. I’m sorry, Doll. Don’t feel bad. I’m sure you’ll make a better choice on your next heist.” Johnny sank down next to her. “Hey....I’m teasing.” He tipped her chin up with a long finger. “Are you okay?”
Maggie felt the sudden urge to cry and looked away. “I don’t have anywhere to go....and I don’t know what to do. I have no money....I don’t have a set of wheels. Even an....an Ethel?”
“Edsel.”
“Right. Even an Edsel is better than nothing.”
“I see.” Johnny was quiet for a moment, and then he looked at her, and his eyes were soft and his voice gentle. “Well. First things first. Let’s grab something to eat. The Malt stays open late on Prom Night. We’ll beat the rush. Then we’ll find somewhere nice and quiet to have our picnic, and you’ll tell me your story. And then we’ll figure out what to do next.”
Maggie gave him a wobbly smile and a small nod of her head. “Sounds like a plan. Thank you, Johnny.”
Johnny stood, brushing off the black trousers he wore with his white sports coat. He extended his hand and pulled her to her feet beside him. He didn’t release her hand but kept it enveloped in his as he made his way to his car. He opened her door and waited until she was settled before he ran to his own, and without a backwards glance at the police car or the beleaguered Edsel, he spun out of the school parking lot and headed to The Malt.
~13~
A Time to Embrace
“She’s going to be worried about me,” Maggie murmured to herself.
“Who?”
“Lizzie Honeycutt. The car back there? It’s their housekeeper’s car. Lizzie and I thought she would never never notice it was gone. I was going to bring it back, really.”
“You stole the Honeycutt’s housekeeper’s car? Oh, this is rich,” Johnny sighed, a smile playing around his lips. He swung into The Malt’s parking lot.