Chapter 15

Although my parents had frequently flown when doing their business,

on those occasions they had decided to drive, they took Bertie, who

had been quite spectacular looking and luxurious in her day. She

could hold a ton of people, or anything that my parents could pack.

She was also big and comfortable enough that you easily stretch out

in the back if you found yourself exhausted in the middle of

nowhere. The years had definitely taken a toll on her, but her

current lack of sparkle would probably help me stand out a whole

lot less in small rural towns when asking questions than a brand

new convertible Jag might, not to mention that Bertie had the kind

of space that I might need on my research.

I walked over to Bertie and looked at the

oil sticker on her window, and then I checked the mileage. Her oil

had been changed less than two hundred miles ago. I reached under

the driver’s side floor mat and found the keys. This was where my