Chapter 17 - Page 241 - Trouble In Chicago

  "Sure Jim," Simbatu quickly answered. "If nothing else, we can watch television or listen to music."

  "Thanks, Simbatu. I'm sorry for doing this to you and Jackie, but we have a situation here at the plant. We should be back in five days."

  "It's no problem, Jim. But do be careful and have a good trip."

  "We will. If you or Jackie need any money, tell Raymond. He can get it for you." Jim hung up the phone and turned his attention to the shipping manager. "Bill, we're going home to get everything we need for the trip." Jim paused, thinking about what they would need. "Did the driver leave his CB radio in the truck?"

  "I think so. They usually do when they go on vacation."

  "Okay, while we go home, get someone to back the rig up to the dock. I'd like to have it loaded when we get back."

  They drove to Jim's apartment and loaded the car with traveling gear. Jim loaded sheets, blankets, and pillows while Rhasha loaded extra clothes for everyone. They drove back to the factory and unloaded the contents of the car into the truck, a new Freightliner Classic with a fifty-three foot, dry box trailer. South and West Tools was painted in big letters on both sides of the trailer.

  Jim started the engine and, while the motor was warming up, he began his pretrip inspection, checking his gauges and the windshield and mirrors. Everything looked fine on the inside of the truck so he turned the motor off. He turned on his headlights and flashers and got out of the truck to do a walk-around inspection. Rhasha and Shanha joined him. As Jim checked to make sure all the lights were working, he noticed Rhasha was acting strange. She was watching everything Jim did. When he finished checking the tires and walked around the back of the trailer to check the tail and brake lights, Rhasha stuck to him like glue.

  "Sweetheart," Jim asked, "what's wrong?"