Joe, however, was grinning broadly, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Aldo held open the back door of the restaurant and together they walked out into the parking lot. “Enjoy the ride, boys!” he said.

He slapped Joe on the back, then walked back into the restaurant, the door clanging shut behind him. Joe already had the driver’s-side door open and he was about to slide in when Chief snatched the keys from his hand. “I’m driving.” 

Joe’s shoulders slumped, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he ambled over to the passenger side and hopped in. Apparently, he was too excited about riding in the car to care that much about where exactly he was sitting in it. 

Chief slid the key into the ignition and the engine roared to life. Joe pumped his fist. “Let’s go for some ice cream, Chief!”

Chief adjusted the rearview mirror and placed his hands precisely at ten and two on the steering wheel. “First of all,” Chief said slowly, as if explaining a very difficult math equation to a second grader, “did you forget within the past three minutes that we don’t have any money? And second, how exactly do you propose two Chinese guys pull into an ice cream shop in a giant moving pumpkin without getting noticed? We’re supposed to be undercover, remember?” 

“Oh, right,” Joe said. Then he started playing with automatic windows and locks.

Page 143