File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents. Lemony Snicket

of rubble that looked like it had once been a newsstand, and Jackie stood beneath a flickering streetlight and waited. I waited, too. We kept waiting and then we kept at it. Both of us waited for almost two hours. Even in my hiding place I felt like a target, or an animal soon to become prey. I don’t know what Jackie felt like, out there where anyone could see. But if anyone saw, nobody came forward. We spent two late hours waiting for nothing, and finally the mechanic came to fetch me.

      “Nobody showed,” Jackie said.

      “I thought nobody would,” I admitted, “but it didn’t hurt to be sure.”

      “Well, you’re a good sport to help me,” Jackie said. “I’ll take you back to your hotel.”

      I shook my head. “Let’s ride around for a while,” I said.

      Jackie smiled. “You like a joyride?”

      “Joyride” is a word for driving around just for fun, but I’d had enough excitement for one evening and said so. “But joyriding is the whole reason for your dog’s disappearance. I think the kidnapper’s had his fun by now, and I’m sure Lysistrata will be returned to you.”

      * * *

      The conclusion to “Ransom Note” is filed under “Loud Dog,” here.