Trouble And Money #28

Tammy met more neighbors in one morning than in three years at her apartment complex. It was nice.

Peace O' The Sea Trailer Park - Rye, New Hampshire

They came out trailer by trailer and approached Tammy as she supervised the delivery of some new furniture, a large flat screen, and a refrigerator. She wants to make Conrad's and her environment more like a home than the crash pad it currently is.

It's a cool morning, and the smell of the ocean is beautiful everywhere. You could hear the waves if you stood still and blocked out the side noise of cardinals, blue jays, and gulls. It was almost high tide.

She hoped and prayed a little that he would not mind the improvements.. Would he feel rushed?? Crowded?  

There was never a question of throwing anything away. She would never overstep that much. She would send it back if he did not like the new stuff. She would leave that up to him. 

So the residents at Peace O The Sea are beginning to realize that Connie has a woman in his life, and they are happy for him. Some brought food and beer, and all had great things to say about her man whenever she was outside with Gator.

She raked a little, put food in the bird feeder, and smiled whenever they approached her.

The number one question is, "Where is Connie?" She has to answer, "He was away for work." Offering no more.

The neighbors all had kind words to say about Conrad, and Tammy learned a lot about him by listening to the comments offered by his neighbors.

"We are so happy to see him with someone nice, Tammy." 

"He's alone too much."

"He works so much."

"He always smells good."

"Cmon over and play 45s with us sometime."

​Tammy stood back, smelled the air, and knew this was much better than the one bedroom apartment she just left.

Despite its positive aspects, Peace O' The Sea would still be a hard sell to her mother. Some of the neighbors didn't go to college, and most of them smelled like cigarettes.

Vulcan Laurel Machining - A specialized machine shop.

The pick-up at a small machine shop went well. The cargo is fragile, so Clifton Go West provided a durable box truck with an enhanced suspension. I signed off, agreeing not to go faster than 65MPH, not to brake fast, or make sudden turns, and here's the big one: Make no stops until I get to the delivery point. The cargo is delicate and worth millions of dollars, so it needs a soft ride.

How will the baddies force me off the road?

Two guys loaded the truck. I went inside to use the head, and when I encountered an ITAR (International Traffic In Arms Regulations) clipboard, I signed my name and was buzzed in.

I looked through the glass at a well-lit, computerized, very modern machine shop.  Some of the machines were producing, aided by computers with an overseer.

There were no overseers in the men's room.

(I'm all for Tammy making a house filled with empty beer cans into a home. It's a bold move while Conrad is gone, but Tammy makes bold moves.

Trouble And Money is published Monday through Friday. It is a serial fiction detective story with characters you will love. Read the adventures of Conrad Grange as he solves cases and contends with a harsh world.