This Much is True - Tia Louise Page 0,78
“Sorry!” She shakes her head like she just woke up from a daze. “Welcome to Royal Roasters. Would you like to try the Buena Vista special?”
“Actually, we’re looking for a guy… Clyde Shaw? I think he lives around here.”
“Oh! Clyde’s right upstairs…” She inhales sharply, almost like she just remembered something.
Twenty dollars and I’ll tell you what.
“Thanks.” I grab Scout’s arm, and we head out of the shop, running first left then right along the sidewalk until we see the entrance to an apartment overhead.
“Hurry,” I hiss, as we press all four of the buzzer buttons until one of them goes off, releasing the front door.
Falling inside, we catch our breaths. Scout grips my upper arms. “You stay here. I don’t know what might happen when we go in there.”
“No way.” My eyes flash. “I’m not letting you do this alone.”
I know what Scout plans to do, and I want to be able to bash Clyde Shaw over the head should things go wrong.
“If anything happened to you, JR would kill me.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me. Or you.”
We find the apartment number and charge up the stairs. I’m right behind him when we get to the landing, and he bangs on the door.
We back up to wait, and my heart is beating so fast, I’m not sure I can breathe. I want to hold out my hand and say wait a minute, but it’s too late.
The door jerks open, and everything stops. A guy dressed in jeans and a beige oxford shirt stands in the doorway. He has a light brown afro and short beard, and he looks like Bob Ross. I half expect him to smile and say it was all a happy accident.
Instead he blinks several times then does break into a smile. I’m completely confused until he speaks.
“Oh my God.” He takes a step back, putting his hand on his chest, seeming star struck. “Are you… Are you… Rod?”
My hand flies to my mask to cover my laugh. I pass it off as a sneeze.
Scout’s entire demeanor changes as he stands beside me. The fight disappears, and he grins. “Sorry, I’ll just put this on…”
He lowers his chin and shakes his hair as he loops the mask over his ears, giving Clyde a little wink. “I see you’ve heard of me.”
“Yes.” Clyde looks like he might faint. “I mean, I’ve seen of you.”
He starts to laugh like a hyena, and my nose wrinkles. Ew.
Scout doesn’t react. He waits, putting a hand on his hip. A few seconds tick past, and suddenly Clyde seems to snap out of it.
“Would you like to come in? I don’t know to what I owe the pleasure…”
“Well, I’ll tell you, Mr. Shaw.” Scout casually swaggers into the apartment. “Or can I call you Clyde?”
“By all means, call me Clyde.”
I close the door and stand back, unsure what’s about to happen.
“My assistant and I are here because I’m in need of supplements… if you know what I mean.”
“Of course. I can get you anything you need—Acapulco Gold, Blue Dream…” He goes to the kitchen, opening and closing cabinets. “Do you need to be calm or energized?”
Scout gives me a glance, slipping his hand into his pocket. I know he’s turning on his voice recorder, and I dig around in my bag for my phone. Clyde is completely ignoring me, and I plan to make the most of it.
“No, Clyde. I need something for my physique.”
Clyde turns to him and pops an eyebrow. “Last I checked, your physique’s doing just fine, Rod.” He chuckles, and I force my face to remain neutral.
Scout walks to the guy, getting just close enough to make me squirmy. “I want to bulk up. I heard you’re the guy to help me.”
“I’m glad to help you… Did you have something particular in mind?”
“HGH. Growth hormone.”
Scout’s gaze levels, but Clyde’s chin pulls back.
He seems to lose all his swoon, and instantly he’s on alert. “Who told you that?”
My heart beats faster, and I’m not sure what to do.
Scout grins, holding out a hand. “Hey, now. Take it easy. Who told me isn’t as important as can you get it?”
He’s quiet, looking from me to Scout. I’m convinced it’s over. We’re going to have to return to Plan A, beating it out of him, and I have no idea if that means we’ll end up in jail or on the news… More like TMZ, Rammin’ Rod Attacks Bob Ross.
“I just like to be careful.” Clyde’s shoulders relax. “I don’t have