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The other strange thing was that her parents, especially her old man, actually seemed to like this garbage hauling Indian boy. Mr. Capshaw, some kinda of freelance investment broker out of San Francisco, measured me up with a single look, smiled and remarked with a casual humor. "You’re a diamond in the rough, but you have potential there, Joey. "

Lori’s mom was slightly more cool toward this workin class boy, one of those mature women who aged gracefully enough that you could still see the girl she used to be. But once I’d begun coming around regular, she invited me to dinner and we were fine after that.

They lived in this exaggerated A-Frame which Mr. Capshaw had partially built himself, getting some local help just to make sure the wiring and plumbing were installed proper. It was set on the West side of the lake road, but the property included a small boat house and dock on the water as well.

As Danny and I drove up the narrow drive, we could see the family working about their decent sized garden out front. Lori gave me a wave as our truck rattled noisily into the cleared gravel lot where an SUV sat idle.

"Hello boys. " even as the father greeted us, I was busy admiring his daughter, decked out in her tied off top and modest but still tight tan hiking shorts. She held a short spade in a way that made me smile so much I’d thought my head would come half off. Her mom, wearing a like outfit on a slightly fuller figure, frowned just abit before getting the joke between us. "You fellas look like you rolled in something bad. "

"Mrs. Weinstein had some trouble, that’s all. " Danny answered back, respectfully for once as Mr. Capshaw actually treated him like an equal and not like dirt. "She’ll be all right, but it was one hell of a ... excuse me ladies, one big mess, for sure. "

"I’m glad of that. " responded the other lightly, gesturing us toward the house. "Let’s see if we can’t get some of that off, shall we? "

He didn’t have to ask twice, even though Danny wanted to get at least a couple more stops done before the sun set, the long afternoon reflecting off the solar panels which seamlessly shingled the sloping sides of the A-Frame.

"You can ditch your duds over there. " our host requested lightly as he pointed to a small table to the left of the door, not wanting brain and blood tracked into the immaculate home. "I don’t think the girls would be too shocked by two men in their drawers, but I’ll get some robes for you, all the same. "

Danny and me, we felt like idiots wrapped in thick terry cloth, especially as Mrs. Capshaw and Lori couldn’t help but giggle as they wandered past the laundry room on the way to the kitchen. But after Mr. Capshaw slipped us some beers, we didn’t mind too much ...

"Nice of you boys to lend Dorcas a hand. " he ventured as we waited for our things to run through the dryer.

"Actually, she kinda took care of the one zombie on her own. " Danny chuckled. "Then Rake showed up to drill the maid as she tried to get back up. "

"That damned association practically begged those thugs to stay around and pop off at anything that walked funny. " Mr. Capshaw lightly ruffled his pepper gray crew in annoyance. "And I told them hiring mercenaries would bring nothing but trouble. The price tends to get higher as the body count gets bigger. "

The Lakeshore Association, Summer people with way too money, bullying their way into the business of several communities here and there. Pushin to change building codes, and when the part-timers moved here permanent, they let Rake in over the objections of the local authorities.

But before they could intervene, both State and regional law had other problems to deal with and Rake got free reign to maim.

"They fleeced Mrs. Weinstein, that’s for sure. " I remarked lightly, lazing for a moment as the women chatted away, rattling pots n pans. "A blank check just isn’t worth much these days, I guess. "

"It isn’t. " Mr. Capshaw shot back with an air of certainty I didn’t much care for. "Denial followed by Accommodation, ending in Anarchy. Lakeshore’s already at Accommodation. I should talk to Arthur real soon. "

With our clothes ready to go, we gave our good-byes to the man, even as he cocked an eyebrow my way. "You sure you won’t stay for early supper? Lori would love to have you hang out. "

"We got a few more stops to make, but thanks Mr. Capshaw, all the same. " Danny answered for the both of us, knowing I’d much rather stay. But Time & Trash was money for us, at least in theory. Still, our host nodded respectfully. "But you can come by later, Joey. " he teased. "Lori, at least, will likely be up until late tonight ... "

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