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.