Stork Raving Mad(92)

“One more thing,” I said. “Where’s Grandfather?”

“Right here!” He stumped in from the living room. “I overheard you talking to that bureaucrat. You think I’ll get my building?”

“Odds are good,” I said. “Meanwhile, I’d really like to come home to a house empty of students.”

“I hear you,” he said. “I’d like to move back to the Caerphilly Inn, but fat chance of that, either. No offense, but your guest room doesn’t quite match a five-star hotel. Still, it’ll have to do till they fix the heating plant.”

“Randall!”

Randall Shiffley loped into the room.

“Thanks,” he said. “Looks like we’ve solved the mystery of why that jerk wasn’t paying me. Maybe I won’t go broke after all.”

“If someone were willing to front you the money to buy that part for the heating plant, how fast could you get the damned thing working?” I asked.

Randall and my grandfather looked at each other.

“I’m not sure we could have it done by the time you get home,” Randall said. “They kick new mothers out of the hospital awfully soon these days. But I’ll do my damnedest.”

“How much money do you need?” my grandfather said.

“Go talk about it somewhere else,” Michael said as he helped me to my feet. “We have a rendezvous with an obstetrician.”

“Meg, can I have the gun now?” Horace asked.

“Okay, Dr. Blanco,” the chief said. “You’re under arrest. Sammy, read him his rights.”

“You have the right to remain silent,” Sammy began.

“I’ll give my statement later,” I said as Michael opened the door.

“Hey,” Randall called. “You still haven’t told us what you’re having. Boys, girls, or a mixed set?”

“Wait and see,” Michael and I said in unison.