I waited outside and flirted with Colleen while Hondo went in and read. When he came out we said our goodbyes and walked through the lobby just as Bob-O and Davester came through the entrance.
I gave them the head-nod and a thumbs-up just in case they missed the head-nod. “Good news fellows, no major damage.” I looked around, then went to them and talked in a low voice, “I don’t know if you two are interested, but they’re doing auditions in the meeting room for some big, big movie. Don’t tell anyone I told you.” When we got outside Hondo bopped me on the shoulder.
“Oww.”
“That’s for fooling those two.”
“Hey, they were still on time for their auditions. Besides, it helps me polish my improv skills.”
“That stuff is going to bite you on the ass one of these days, just wait and see.”
“Hah, it might just save my ass one of these days, just wait and see.” Hondo put one arm around my neck in a playful hug. His arms are long and powerful.
I said, “This reminds me of that time in the jungle when that big python wrapped around my neck.”
“You were never in a jungle and you’ve never had a python around your neck. We were in a big bad desert and big, terrible mountains. How soon we forget.”
My great friend’s arm was still there, but only laying on my shoulders. I said, “Yeah, but if a python had ever wrapped around my neck…”
Hondo said, “They told me to expect a callback.”
“They did?”
“They didn’t tell you the same thing? My, my.”
“Crap.”
“Nice of you to congratulate me.”
“Congrats.”
Hondo grinned, “I bet that hurt to say.”
“No more than swallowing a tack.”
“That’s all? Wow, you must really mean it. I thought I felt a lot of emotion there.”
“Very funny, ha-ha. Did you read for the comedy part, because you are a funny, funny man.”
We reached our vehicles and I said, “I’m going to check something out before I come to the office. It shouldn’t take long.”
Hondo said, “Should I give you a…callback if you’re running late?” He laughed and drove off. My friends, they can be so cruel.
**
I took a slow drive in heavy traffic to the car lot where our mystery girl stole the Firebird.
It was early and only a couple of salesmen were there. The lot was a moderate sized one with a good number of neat and clean cars and pickups. There were little colored banners flying from lines running overhead and their flapping noises were constant but not irritating.
One salesman was talking with three of the employees as they washed and wiped down a row of sport cars, including several Firebirds, so I walked over to them. The salesman was Hispanic, as were the washers. He turned to me and smiled, “Morning, I’m Mike Fernandez. You’re our first customer today. Is there anything in particular I can show you?”
He was a little shorter than me, but had good shoulders and wore his brown summer weight suit so that it hung just right. I said, “Were you working here five days ago?”
He looked at me a moment, then said, “Yes, was I supposed to show you a car then? If so, I’m sorry-“
“No, I was just wondering how that girl drove off with one of your Firebirds without someone noticing.”
“You a cop?”