A Teeny Bit of Trouble by Michael Lee West Page A

you be Aunt Teeny.”
    “He might.”
    “You can’t fix your hurt places by trying to fix hers.”
    “That’s not what I’m doing.”
    “Yes, it is.”
    I lifted my fist. “Don’t head shrink me, Red Butler Hill.”
    “It’s Red to my friends, girlie. You know that.”
    We trudged around the block, checking every alley, and circled back to Pennsylvania Avenue. The rain had slowed and the air smelled fresh, but the thickness of it made it even harder to breathe.
    Red looked at his watch again. “We’ve got fifty-nine seconds until the techs split.”
    I struggled to pull in a breath, my shoulders heaving. “I don’t care about the DNA test. I just want to find her. She could be in danger.”
    “You’re endangering yourself. You’re almost in respiratory arrest.” He grabbed my shoulders and steered me toward Pennsylvania Avenue. “Come on, girlie. We’ve still got one minute.”

 
    seven
    The rain stopped while we walked back to the pharmacy. The Georgia Genetics van was gone. I cut around Red and hurried into the store. Lester was gone. Kendall sat on a stool, flipping through Brides magazine. “You all find Emerson?” she asked without looking up.
    “Negative,” Red said.
    “No one ever does.” Kendall licked her finger and turned a page. “Lester got called away. Something about the funeral. He said to tell you that he’d set up another DNA test.”
    I couldn’t answer because my throat was closing. I grabbed my purse, dragged out my inhaler, and took a puff.
    Kendall flipped another page. “Your boyfriend called. He had a flat tire and he’s waiting for Triple A. I’m supposed to give you all a ride home.”
    The leather screaked as she slid off the stool. She pulled a Hello Kitty key ring from her pocket. “Most of these keys are Lester’s,” she said, her face swelling with pride.
    “He must trust you,” Red said.
    “Yeah, I’m the only one he trusts. He even let me pick the code to his burglar alarm. It’s my birth date—ain’t that cool? My car’s out back. It’s brand-new, a black Mazda. You all go on. Just let me tell Norris I’m leaving.”
    “I’m here,” a deep, nasal voice said.
    I turned, and a tall, gaunt man glided forward. His eyes were pale green, the size of guinea eggs, and they bulged from their sockets. He lifted a bony, raptor-like hand and swiped it over his broad forehead.
    “I’m Dr. Norris Philpot,” he said. He spoke as if his mouth were filled with grapes, and he pronounced Norris like Norrith, squishing the Ss. “Didn’t you used to work at Hoot-erth?”
    I nodded. Years ago I’d waited tables at Hooters. “I’m surprised you remember me.”
    “I ate there every Friday night.” His lips parted, and a glossy strand of saliva stretched between them. “I tipped you extra.”
    Kendall jingled her keys. “I hate to rush you all, but we need to scoot.”
    Red looked relieved and pushed me toward the back door. Norris blocked my way. He gave me a bordering-on-seductive smile that triggered my gag reflex. “What are you doing thith Friday night?” he asked.
    “I’m busy.” I shook my head. “Sorry.”
    “Name the day and I’m yourth.”
    I was too startled to answer. I let out a fake wheeze and grabbed my inhaler to cover my revulsion.
    Red nudged him aside. “She’s got a boyfriend.”
    “I’m talking to Teeny, not you.” Norris twisted around him and gripped my shoulder. “What about tomorrow night? We could thee a movie and go dancing.”
    While he talked, his raptor claw kneaded my flesh. It felt creepy, and I shrank back.
    “Hey, let her go.” Red’s voice carried a switchblade-edge.
    “Thay out of it,” Norris said.
    “Move your hand, athhole,” Red said.
    Norris’s claw rose from my shoulder. He pointed at Kendall. “Get that rattlethnake out of here.”
    *   *   *
    Kendall talked nonstop while she drove toward the farm. “I used to babysit Emerson,” she said. “What a brat.”
    “I thought she went to