80.
Elmo laughed. “I’d like to say we found you through our clever use of hi-tech spy satellites, computer wizardry, and profiling expertise. But the truth is: Joleen told us when you were coming. We’ve been following you since you arrived in L.A.”
“Sorry, Max.” Joleen walked over to Elmo and put her arm around his waist. “I was hoping you’d never find out.”
“But you shot her.” I pointed at Bev’s arm bandaged and in a sling.
Joleen shrugged. “I tried to help this dumb cow capture you earlier, but once you had the cuff on and were recharged, I knew you were too powerful. We had to get you while you were weak. I had to get her to leave, so I shot her. She’s lucky I didn’t put one in her tiny brain.”
Bev looked like she was about to leap at Joleen, but one glance from Elmo stopped her.
“When you pretended to struggle with Bev for the gun,” I said, “you deliberately shot Marvella in the leg, didn’t you?”
“Like I said, I had to weaken you, get you to bring the cuff to us. Only way to do that was sideline grandma and me. And Bev took the blame for both. Win-win.”
Elmo gave an exaggerated shiver and laughed merrily. “Yikes, she’s brutal. One of the things I love about her. Fact is, our little gal here’s the one who told me about the cuffs in the first place. We’d met briefly when I’d asked your parents to authenticate that Colt. Then, out of the blue, she contacts me about this crazy cuff that turned you into a gladiator. Dude, I nearly crapped my pants!”
Joleen said, “I thought, ‘Who do I know with an interest in history and enough money to make me rich?’ Bingo!” She hugged Elmo. “I made more money from one phone call to this guy than I would make for the rest of my life teaching at a university. I’m sorry it all turned out this way, Max, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“And you’re willing to let them kill us just for the money?” I said.
Joleen frowned. “It’s a lot of money, Max.”
My brain felt like it was smothering inside a plastic bag. I couldn’t process my own feelings or thoughts. On one hand, I was outraged by Joleen’s betrayal, yet part of me was relieved she wasn’t dead because I’d felt like her “death” had been my fault. I knew I had to do something soon. But what?