Mango Bob (10 page)

“Before you check the air, look for the correct tire pressure on the sticker inside the driver's door. It'll show the correct pressure for the front and rear.

“Even with your new tires, check the pressure. Tire stores often over-inflate the tires. That'll give a rough ride. Make the coach wander all over the road.

“If you're leaving in the morning, you won't have a chance to get an air gauge. You can use mine.

“After the tires, I check underneath the coach, make sure there are no leaks. Then I check the engine oil and windshield washer fluid.

“These new Ford engines usually won't use any oil between changes, but it is always a good idea to check anyway.

“The windshield washer fluid is pretty important on long trips. You'll need it to clean the bugs and road grime that'll build up on the windshield along the way.

“Inside the coach, I'll do a 'levels check'. That'll tell me whether I need to dump the holding tanks, add fresh water, or need to fill the propane.

“I already know the holding tanks are more than half full, so I'll need to dump them. There's no need carrying around all that extra weight on the road.

“I'll dump the tanks at the dump station near the main gates when we leave this evening.”

Jack wiped his hands, “I'm pretty much done here. We can go do your coach now, but I've got to let Jean know where I'm going. She doesn't it like it when I disappear without telling her.”

23

After telling Jean where he was going, Jack came back out and we started making our way to my campsite.

"We've been camping for fifteen years, and this is the first time anything like this has happened. No one's ever tried to break in before. It just doesn't make sense.

“At first I was mad. Now I'm just curious. Why our coach? Why the utility compartment?

“It's got Jean on edge. She's not scared, just ready to hit the road. The sooner the better.

“When I told her you might be camping with us at Walmart tonight, she said it was a good idea. Better to have someone you know in the camper next door if you were expecting trouble.

“But I'm not expecting trouble. Especially at Walmart. They have cameras monitoring the parking lot, and security guards inside watching the monitors.

“Plus there's a whole lot of witnesses coming and going. Criminals don't like that.”

When we got to my site, Jack smiled. “Well, look at this. You parked it the right way. Even got it in the middle of the pad. I'm impressed.”

I laughed, “Jack, you're a good teacher. I just did what you showed me last night.”

Jack motioned to the front tire. “OK, let's see if your motorhome is ready for the trip. We'll start by checking the tires.”

He unscrewed the valve cap on the passenger side front tire, pushed his air gauge onto the valve, and checked the pressure.

“Just as I suspected. Over-inflated by twenty pounds.”

He turned the air gauge over and used the pointed end to release air from the tire. After a few seconds he checked, and repeated the process until the gauge showed the correct pressure.

“This one is good. You do the other five tires and I'll watch.”

Following Jack's lead, I checked and adjusted the pressure on the rest of the tires. All were over-inflated and I adjusted them to the right pressure. Then I gave the gauge back to Jack.

“Good job. You'll be glad you corrected the pressure. Now let's check the fluids. Open the hood.”

I unlocked the driver door, pulled the handle to unlatch the hood.

Jack pointed, “Grab a paper towel, You'll need it to check the oil.”

With paper towel in hand, I moved to the open hood, found and pulled the dip-stick, and wiped it clean. Slid it back in, and pulled it back out again. The oil was almost clear, the level right where it should be. I showed it to Jack.

“Looks good. Now check the brake fluid, coolant level and washer fluid.”

He waited to see if I could do it on my own.

I could. I'd done this many times with all of the vehicles I'd owned.

Satisfied I had done it correctly, Jack smiled, “Looks like she's been regularly maintained. The engine looks clean, fluid levels are correct, the belts look good. You even have a new battery.”

I nodded as Jack looked under the coach.

“Looks like you have a small water leak in the back somewhere. Probably missing a washer on the fresh water hose. An easy fix.”

We went to the back and opened the utility compartment door. Jack was right. The water hose was leaking where it connected to the coach.

He reached in and hand tightened the hose connection. The leak stopped.

Instead of standing back up he said, “This is different. I don't have this in my coach.”

He was pointing to a small locking cover at the back of the compartment.

“Not sure what that would be. I've never seen anything like that on any of the motorhomes I've owned.

“No reason to have a locking compartment inside the utility bay.”

He looked at me, “Have you noticed this before?“

I hadn't. Even if I had, I wouldn't have known it was unusual.

Jack continued, “Somebody probably added this after the coach left the factory. Maybe it's a safe. But a strange place to put it. Right next to the sewer connection.”

“After you get settled in Florida, you might want to see if any of your keys open this little door. No telling what you might find in there.”

Jack closed the compartment door, and we went inside the coach to check the levels panel.

As before, the levels display showed the battery at 100% and propane at 80%. The black, gray and fresh water tanks showed as nearly empty.

Pointing at the levels, Jack said, “You won't need to dump your tanks. But you'll want to add some fresh water to get the levels up to one quarter full. We can do that now.

Back outside at the utility compartment, Jack pointed to a white handle near the hose connection. “When the water hose is connected, it normally just pressurizes your lines, but doesn't fill your water tank.

“To fill the tank, move that white handle to the 'water fill' position.”

I moved the handle and immediately heard the rush of water running into the tank.

“Give it about four minutes, and you'll have about a quarter tank of water. Then move the handle back to normal.”

As we waited for the tank to fill, I mentioned I'd be taking a cat with me on my trip to Florida.

“A cat? You have a cat?”

“No, it's not mine. I'm delivering it to a friend in Florida. I've actually never seen the cat.”

Jack chuckled, “Let me guess. A woman talked you into taking this cat with you?”

“Yep, you guessed it.”

“Here's some advice. Don't lose the cat.

“People get real attached to their pets and if you lose or harm that cat, you'll never hear the end of it.

“And another bit of advice. Don't use the slide room while the cat's in the coach.

“If the cat's back there when the slide comes in, you're either going to have one seriously pissed off or mangled cat on your hands.”

I hadn't thought about this. But I could see it'd be a problem if the cat got in the way when the slide room was in motion.

“So where's the cat now? I didn't see him when we were inside.”

“Molly from work will be delivering him later this evening.”

“Make sure you get a litter box. And the right kind of food. Cats can be picky.”

Jacked motioned to the water compartment, “Time to turn the water off.”

I turned the water fill handle back to 'normal'. The sound of running water stopped.

Jack pointed to the fuel door, “If you haven't already done so, top off your gas tank when you get to Walmart. You've got a fifty gallon tank, and that'll get you well into Mississippi where fuel prices will be a lot lower.”

Jack wiped his hands, “Looks like you're all set. Anything else I can do for you?”

“Yes. Take my cell number. Call me when you get ready to go to Walmart."

“Will do. I've got to get back to Jean. She's got a few chores waiting for me. I'll call you around five.”

Jack left.

If he was going to call around five, I'd have two hours before we'd leave. I'd use that time to repack the items I'd moved from the storage building. Maybe hang up some clean clothes in the closet.

And call Molly, let her know the drop-off point for Mango Bob was changing.

24

I called Molly. She answered on the third ring.

“Molly, this is Walker. I'm not going to be at Toad Suck park tonight.”

“What! Don't tell me you left without Mango Bob! You promised you'd take him!”

“Molly, calm down. I'm still planning on taking the cat. I'm just not camping at Toad Suck park tonight. I'll be camping at Walmart instead.”

“Walmart? Why Walmart?”

“It's a long story. But I'll be boon-docking in the Walmart parking lot tonight.”

“Boon-docking? What kind of word is that? Never mind. When would be a good time to bring Bob over?”

“Probably some time after six. I'll call you when I get to Walmart.”

“OK, That works for me. Easier for me to get there than to drive all the way to Toad Suck.

“Walker, one thing I forgot to mention this morning. I got a strange phone call from Harvey Tucker yesterday. He's the guy from corporate who pushed the decision to close the Conway plant and move it to Mexico.

"It just so happens he was also the last person who used the Love Bus.

“Anyway, he called and wanted to know if the Love Bus had been sold, and if so, to who.

“I told him it had been sold and you were the buyer.

“He wanted to know if it was still parked in the executive parking lot. When I told him you had already picked it up, he sounded worried.

“He asked if I knew where you were. Said he may have left something in it, and wanted to check to see if it was still there.

“I told him you were camping at Toad Suck Park for the next few days.

“I asked him if he wanted me to contact you, and he said not to bother you, it wasn't that important.

“Then this morning, after you picked up your paycheck, he called me at home. Wanted to make sure you were still camping at the park. I told him as far as I knew, you were.”

I interrupted Molly, “He called yesterday? Is he in town? Did he say he was going out to the park to look for me?”

“No, as far as I know he's still in Boston. He didn't mention anything about going out to the park to look for you.

“He did want to know the make and model of the Love Bus. Not sure why he'd be interested in knowing that.

“If he calls back, you want me to tell him you'll be at Walmart tonight? Give him your phone number?”

“Molly, if he calls back, tell him I'm already on the road and you're not sure where. And if he asks, give him my email address, no phone number.”

“Okay, no problem. Kind of strange for him to be calling.”

“Maybe his girlfriend lost an earring or something. Probably not anything to worry about.

“Molly, I'll call you when I get to Walmart. If Tucker calls back, tell him you think I'm on my way to Texas. Don't tell him I'm going to Florida.”

“OK. Call me from Walmart. Don't leave without Mango Bob.”

The call ended.

So Harvey Tucker from corporate headquarters was interested in the whereabouts of the Love Bus.

According to corporate, it had been months since anyone had used it. Why would Tucker wait this long if he was worried about leaving something in it?

And does Tucker's sudden interest in the Love Bus have anything to do with someone trying to break into Jack's motorhome last night?

His looks exactly like the Love Bus and could be easily mistaken for it.

On the other hand, it all could be just a coincidence.

Still, it's probably good that neither Jack nor I will be camping at Toad Suck Park tonight.

25

I wasn't going to tell Jack about the phone call from Tucker and his interest in the whereabouts of the Love Bus.

No reason to get him riled up over something that might just be a coincidence.

On the other hand, it was an awful strange coincidence. One that made me wonder exactly what Tucker thought he'd left in the motorhome. Something so valuable he'd risk having someone try to steal it in the dark of night.

Maybe it had something to do with that secret locked panel in the utility compartment. The one Jack had pointed out.

I probably needed to see if any of the keys that came with the coach fit that panel. Check to see what might be in there.

But not today. Too many other things to do.

At the moment, I needed to get ready to move to the Walmart parking lot. That meant unhooking from campground power and water, stowing the cords and hoses, locking all the compartment doors, and waiting for Jack's call.