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"Check the glove co to write with"
Skarda opened the glove compartment with one hand--the other was still cuffed to the handle above the door--and found a pencil and a small notebook I took them, returned to the Cherokee, and carefully wrote down the vehicle identification number that I read off of the metal strip attached to the corner of the dashboard When I returned to the Explorer, Skarda said, "Nohat?"
"Watch and learn," I said
Not far from the Maplewood Mall was a community of new and used car dealerships I found one that sold Jeep Cherokees and pulled into the lot I left Skarda waiting in the Explorer while I walked inside I went to the parts and service desk and told the ain I had lockedmy ID--inside my Jeep Cherokee I asked if they could contact the ive them the VIN, ask for the specs, and cut a duplicate key They said that they could, that it would take half an hour Fifty minutes and fifty dollars later, I walked out of the dealership with a new key That’s the part I told a visibly relived Skarda when I returned to the Ford Explorer The part I didn’t tell him was that the dealership had demanded proof of ownership before they cut the key, which I was able to supply with a call to the Minnesota Department of Driver and Vehicle Services because, well, I actually did own the Jeep Cherokee
We drove back to the mall, parked the Explorer, unlocked the Cherokee, slipped inside, and started the engine Yes, I again locked Skarda’s handcuff around the door handle before we drove off Despite that, Skarda was i I’ve ever heard of," he said "I didn’t knoas so easy"
"Like , it requires audacity In any case, it beats the hell out of pulling ignition wires and breaking steering coluas So, where are we going?"
"Why ask me?"
"Hey, pal You’re Plan B, remember I deliver you to your crew and your crew payson your part of the agreement, are you, Dave?"
"No, no, of course not It’s just … fifty thousand dollars"
"Don’t worry about it," I said "I’ll settle for half; take it in cash I’ll scoot up to Canada and lay low until things cool down a bit, give it maybe a couple months just to be on the safe side, then come back forwithwith you, it’s just…"
"You ht not know this about me, pal, but I have a volatile personality"