Page 42 of Cops in Space
“Uncle Ben was supposed to fix that.”I reluctantly stepped into the car.
“I’ll have a mechanic take a look at it.”
“That would be great. The last time it made that noise, we got stuck between floors for hours.”The elevator door slid open and we stepped out.“So, what’s Zan’s problem? Does he think every woman should be kept barefoot and pregnant?”
Uncle Saul rubbed his chin.“Basically, yes, and he has trouble trusting the Coletti.”
“Uncle Zarek does have a tendency to take things that don’t belong to him.”
A cynical smile on his mouth, Uncle Saul nodded.“That he does and he has the power to accomplish whatever he sets his mind to.”
“Yep. He’s one scary dude.”The sweet, tangy smell of Uncle Ben’s secret barbecue sauce had my stomach growling.“God, I’m starving.”
Jaxor wriggled frantically.“Want! Want!”
“No!”I tightened my grip on him.“I’m not sure you can have human food. We need to ask your father first.”
“Hungry!”
I pulled the bottle of milk out of my side pocket and stuffed it in Jaxor’s mouth.“Here ya go.”
A growl rumbled in Jaxor’s chest.
“You do not growl at me. Ever,”I admonished.
Jaxor’s tentacles drooped sadly as he drank his milk.
“If your dad says you can eat buffalo steak, I’ll get you some, okay?”
“Kay.”
Gita made gagging noises. “Me no want. Stink.”
“We’ll get you some yummy bugs from the garden.”
The image of a centipede formed in my mind.“Me like.”
“Okey-dokey, let’s go find some.”I grabbed a basket and headed for the garden.
I waved at Uncle Ben as he flipped the burgers on his old gas barbecue grill.
“Don’t forget to get some okra,” he called.
“Will do.”I wasn’t a fan of fried okra.
A glass of Uncle Ben’s 120 proof moonshine in one hand, Captain Zan carefully brushed barbecue sauce over the steaks.
Huh? Zan was already blitzed.
“Your uncle has a mean streak,”Uncle Saul commented.“That moonshine has one hell of a kick.”
I snickered.“Uncle Ben might act mild mannered, but you don’t ever want to piss him off. Tomorrow, Zan is gonna have the hangover of the century.”
“That he will. I’m coming with you; the Oath Defenders usually have an advance scout.”Uncle Saul grabbed a basket.
I smiled at him.“Good. It’s been a while since we’ve talked about the ladies you’re dating. Rumor has it, Marilyn was expecting a ring on her finger and when it failed to materialize, she dumped a glass of Champagne on your head.”
Uncle Saul gave me his death stare.“None of your business.”
