Chapter 29
Vroom…vroom, vroom.
Carlita and Mercedes stood on the stoop watching as Dernice’s motorcycle cruised around the corner, the engine’s rumble shaking the pawn shop’s windows.
Luigi, on his custom chrome speed machine, traveled close behind.
Coasting to a stop, Dernice put her kickstand down and removed her helmet. “You’re right on time.”
“Where’s Elvira? I thought she was coming with us.”
“She left early this morning towing her flatbed trailer to go pick up her ride,” Dernice said.
“Who was crazy enough to let her borrow theirs?”
“I don’t think she borrowed one. I think she rented one at the bike shop close to the highway.”
“Over a fifty-dollar bet?” Mercedes chuckled.
“It’s all about winning.” Dernice tapped the side of her forehead. “Elvira hates to lose.”
“I can’t wait to see what she shows up with.”
“Ditto. The fact that she decided to trailer it makes me wonder.” Dernice swung her leg over the side of her bike and reached into her saddlebag.
She pulled her cell phone out and swiped the screen.
“She had better get a move on. We've gotta be at the fairgrounds at nine or risk getting left behind.”
Carlita caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. An EC van, towing a trailer, turned onto the alley. As it drew closer, she spotted Elvira behind the wheel. “There she is now.”
The van came to a stop. Elvira rolled the window down and stuck her head out. “You’re blocking the alley.”
“And you’re almost late,” her sister hollered back.
Elvira motioned for her and Luigi to get out of the way, to which they reluctantly complied. As soon as the path was clear, she continued driving all the way to the end.
Dernice nudged Luigi’s arm. “Did you see what she has?”
“A chopper,” he said. “I thought she was gonna rent a Honda Gold Wing or something along those lines. Can she handle a chopper?”
“I have no idea, but I can’t wait to find out.”
Luigi, Dernice, Carlita and Mercedes strolled to the end of the alley where Elvira was hard at work unstrapping the motorcycle.
Dernice shaded her eyes. “Do you still have your Class M motorcycle license?”
“Sure do. Give me a hand.”
Luigi stepped onto the trailer and steadied the bike while Elvira finished removing the straps. “Why did you pick a chopper?”
“I didn’t have a choice. That’s all the rental place had left.”
“When’s the last time you drove a bike?”
“A coupla years ago.”
“Choppers handle differently than regular bikes. You sure you can handle it?”
Elvira stopped what she was doing and glared at him. “What is this? Fifty questions?”
He shrugged. “Your business, boss lady. Just trying to help.”
“Luigi is right,” Dernice said. “Choppers can be a little tricky to handle.”
“Blah, blah, blah.” Elvira tossed the straps in the back of the van and held out her hand. “I’ll take my fifty bucks.”
“You said you were borrowing it from a friend,” Dernice grumbled.
“Friend, rental. Stop splitting hairs. I have a ride. You owe me money.”
“Fine.” She pulled a handful of crumpled bills from her pocket, counted out two twenties and a ten, and gave them to her sister. “It might be worth the cash to see you drive this thing.”
“I’ll take it from here.” Elvira gripped the handles. With minimal assistance from Luigi, she backed the chopper down the ramp and onto the alley.
“Those ape hangers can give you a sore back.”
Elvira frowned. “Did you call me an ape hanger?”
“Ape hangers are high handlebars.” Luigi lifted his hands. “The position can sometimes cause back pain.”
“I’m not afraid, ape hangers or not.” She swung around in a wide circle so that the chopper faced the opposite direction. “Easy breezy. I need my helmet. It’s on the passenger seat.”
“I’ll get it.” Carlita jogged to the front passenger seat, grabbed the helmet and handed it to Elvira. “Do you want to take a couple of spins around the block to get comfortable before we ride?”
“It might not be a bad idea.” Elvira shifted her weight. Balancing the frame between her thighs, she slid the helmet on and secured the strap. “How do I look?”
“Like a bona fide biker chick,” Mercedes teased. “You want me to take your picture?”
“Sure.” Elvira lifted both thumbs, cocking her chin to the right. “How’s this?”
“You look like an old pro.” Mercedes snapped a few pictures. “I gotta admire you, Elvira. I’m not sure I would be brave enough to drive this kind of motorcycle.”
“Brave or crazy,” Dernice hissed under her breath.
Elvira’s head whipped around. “What did you say?”
“Nothing. I’m talking to myself.”
“I know you've got this under control, but if you want, I can give you a few pointers,” Luigi said.
“I-uh. Yeah. Sure.” Elvira’s cocky confidence quickly faded.
“A chopper bike is built for a relaxed ride.” Luigi held imaginary handlebars and leaned back. “Remember…body leaning back but hands gripping forward.”
“Like this?” Elvira struck a pose.
“You got it. The gearing is a little different too.” He went into a lengthy explanation of the difference between a standard motorcycle and a custom chopper.
Finally, Elvira cut him off. “I got it. I get it. The only way I’m gonna figure this out is if I ride.”
“Fire ‘er up.” Dernice rubbed her palms together. “This, I gotta see.”
Elvira reached for the ignition switch. “Before I forget, Yvonne’s gone.”
“The woman who got sick at Ravello’s and hinted she might sue me no longer works for you?”
“Correct.” Elvira tipped her hand in a downward motion. “I fired her. Caught her sleeping on the job, literally. She won’t be suing you either.”
“How do you know?”
“Because we cut a deal. I told her I would pay her final check and not dock her for snoozing on the job if she stopped threatening to sue you.”
Carlita pressed her hands to her chest. “Do you think she’ll change her mind?”
“No way. I got some other dirt on her, too. She would be an idiot to pursue a lawsuit.”
“Thank you, Elvira.”
“No problem.” She tugged on her helmet’s strap. “That’s what besties are for. To help each other.”
“The good news is we’ve narrowed it down to a single goal…figuring out who the hooded figure was at the hospital,” Mercedes said.
Dernice tapped the top of her watch. “We have a little less than ten minutes before we need to leave if we want to get to the fairgrounds by nine.”
“I’ll take a couple of spins around the block, and then we can ride.” Flipping the ignition switch, Elvira fired up the engine. She twisted the handlebar grip, revving the motor.
With the kickstand up, she gave it a little gas. The chopper lurched forward. Elvira’s head snapped back so fast, Carlita was certain she’d given herself whiplash.
“Whoa.”
“Go easy on the throttle,” Luigi advised. “Like I said, the choppers are geared a little differently than the Harleys and other motorcycles.”
“You should’ve warned me,” she griped.
“I. Never mind.” Luigi shook his head. “All I can say is ease into the ride.”
“Here goes nothing.”
Carlita held her breath, watching as Elvira squeezed the throttle. Off she went at a decent clip all the way to the end of the alley. She tapped the brakes and checked for traffic before veering right and disappearing around the corner.
“She’s going a little fast for her first time,” Mercedes said.
“Hopefully, she comes back in one piece.”