Best Defense by Randy Rawls

and Wiles Road. If you have anyone in the area, I could sure use an extra pair of eyes.”
    â€œWhat’s going down?”
    â€œThey emailed and said they’ll have instructions in the center circle of the soccer field at three a.m. I’ll pick them up, then head back to Hammonds’ house. Until then, I’m going home to try to make peace with my mother. She came in today and is not happy I wasn’t there to greet her.”
    Bob said, “I’ll see if anyone is close enough to the intersection to help. Be careful.”
    â€œCareful is my middle name—Beth Careful Bowman.”
    â€œWhat was that about your mother?”
    I gave him the nickel version of her arrival and the reason for it. “Not only was I not home when she arrived, but she says my house is filthy and threatened to clean it.”
    â€œSounds like you’re caught in a lose-lose situation.”
    â€œYou nailed it. At this moment, I’m her least favorite daughter, and she has no others.”
    Bob chuckled. “Don’t expect any help from me. I’d rather step between a lioness and her cub than get caught between a mother and daughter. If you run fast enough, the lioness will give up and go back to her little one. You can’t run fast enough to escape a vengeful mother.”
    â€œYeah, I know. My mother has been outrunning me my whole life.”
    â€œSo, what now?”
    â€œGrocery stores. There are several between here and my house. You know, a Publix on almost every corner. Maybe our kidnapper likes to shop at night. I’ll stop in before heading home to face Mom. That’ll lend truth to my white lie. I told her I had leads to follow. ”
    Bob tsked me. “ Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. Sir Walter Scott’s famous words.”
    â€œYeah. His and my mother’s. It’s her mantra. I’m out of here.”
    I clicked the cell closed, climbed into the car, and backed out of the driveway, heading for Publix, then home. With luck, I would spot the woman, square things with Mom, and get a couple of hours sleep. And Jiminy Cricket would land on my shoulder to provide me with guidance. Yeah, right.
    Driving in the general direction of my house, I stopped at four more Publixes. No luck.
    I was tired, frustrated, and nervous about going home. By now, I figured Mom would have herself worked into a real mad. If only I could stay out until she was asleep, I could avoid her until the morning.
    I checked my watch again. Eleven o’clock. Bob hadn’t called so his people must have come up empty, and he must not have located a backup for me. Nothing left to do but go home and face Mom.
    When I pulled into my driveway, I noticed a couple of things. The first was a red Chrysler convertible. It looked like Mom was planning a fun holiday. Or maybe she was entering her second childhood. I parked my Toyota Camry beside the Chrysler.
    The second thing I noticed was the house was dark. I sighed in relief. I wouldn’t have to face the music tonight.

eleven
    Not knowing where Mom was in the house, I slipped in as quietly as I once did when coming home late from a date. No lights and no noise. She slept like a cat—awake at any change in vibrations. I wanted my small travel clock, the one on my nightstand beside my clock radio. It was battery powered, therefore trustworthy when the power went off. As I passed the guestroom, I peeked in and hoped the lump in the bed was my mother. She chose that moment to snort and turn over. Yep, my mom. All was well.
    After retrieving and setting the travel clock, I tiptoed back into the living room where I curled up in my recliner, hoping to cop a few Z’s. Until the alarm dinged at two a.m., I flipped back and forth. Maybe, I’m not sure, there were a few minutes of unconsciousness during that time.
    _____
    After wiping the sleep from my eyes, I headed out the door, into my car, and stopped