Part II: A Funeral
Episode 5: An Awkward Meeting
I glanced at my cell phone as I stumbled out onto the country road that led to the MacCluer estate: 7:00 AM. I didn't have much time. If I could get to the Amtrak station in East Lansing by 8, I could catch a Greyhound to downtown Detroit--from there, I'd have to take a local bus out to Sterling Heights. Unfortunately, MacCluer lived over ten miles from town, so I needed a ride.
A white Ford pickup appeared in the distance. I stuck my thumb out, Kerouac style, trying to conceal the gauge under my jacket. No luck. Five minutes later, a soccer mom in a blue minivan and a gaggle of middle school kids in the back seats cruised by. This hitchhiking thing wasn't happening. My cell read 7:18. An opportunity was about to present itself in the form of a 2007 Crown Vic, the pride of Detroit.
The Vic slowed and I approached the driver's side window, which was rolled down half-way. "Excuse me, Ma'am," I began, "but could you do me a big favor?"
The woman, fortyish with short, bush black hair and Slavic eyes turned her head toward me. Before she had time to reply, I assumed an answer in the affirmative.
"Get the fuck out of the vehicle!" I demanded, pumping the shotgun.
"Fine with me," replied the woman in a Balkan accent. "It's a rental," she added as opened the door and put her hands on top of her head.
That voice, I thought. I've heard that voice before.
"Luma?" I inquired. Her penetrating brown eyes made contact with mine.
"Jim?" she replied, her hands still firmly planted on top of her matted hair.
Luma. Vasilejevic. A Serbian refugee and student of MacCluer's. A mathematician with serious chops.o
"I thought you were in Atlanta?" I asked as I lowered te weapon.
"I was...well, I am," she replied. "I'm visiting Lansing for a special session of SIAM dealing with industrial optimization." She lowered her hands. "Well, it seems that you need a ride."
I hopped in the driver's seat, throwing the shotgun in spacious back seat. Luma turned the ignition and revved the V8. "Where to?" she asked. I had a new partner in crime.
