Outside of the burning hardware store, the robed figure directed Mavis to a fancy automobile, then waved for her to get in.
“Hold on, if you want me to take a drive with you, at least tell me your name first,” she protested, hand on the door.
“You may call me Lorenzo,” he said.
“Is that your name?”
“It is,” Lorenzo said after looking around for a moment.
“Then why word it so strangely? ‘You may call me’, seriously, get over yourself. Why do you have to be so bloody mysterious?”
Although Mavis couldn’t see the top of the man’s face, a slight grin appeared beneath the line of his hood. “Because it drives people like you crazy.”
“Oh, so you enjoy it, then. It’s just for fun, is it?”
Lorenzo shrugged and got in the car. Mavis followed.
“So, where are we going?” Mavis asked as Lorenzo turned on the ignition.
“I’ve got to make a quick stop at the hardware store local to Sandringham to get some plumbing supplies. Then we’re off to see the boss. He’s taken quite an interest in you and your… associates.”
“Wait, why couldn’t you have used the building we just set on fire for some plumbing supplies? Cheltenham and Sandringham aren’t exactly next to each other, so this seems like a total waste of time. Surely there were some old plumbing supplies that would have been fine.”
Lorenzo bit his lip. “I didn’t think of it.”
“Great, looks like I’m in excellent hands, then. Can’t wait to meet this boss of yours.” Mavis put her hands together, rubbing the ring on her left hand. “By associates, do you mean my roommates?”
“Is that what you call them?” Lorenzo said. “Yes, I speak of those you share your time with.”
A weird way to word it, but technically not wrong. She wondered just how much he knew about their situation.