Shamus JournalsChapter 2
- 2 years ago
- 24
- 0
I was still sitting in the chair when Tran brought me another coffee. She gave me one of the most sensual looks I had ever seen from any woman and I watched her as she went back in the cabin. She had to know I was looking at her cute little rear because she seemed to put an extra little wiggle in it as she walked. I took a sip of my coffee and burned my lip. I was still muttering under my breath when Sandra came out and sat down in the lap that Tran had just vacated.
"Grandpa, I have been talking to the girls this morning and they seem to have accepted their dad's death ok. Tran did a good job of explaining it to them when she got the news. They seemed to be more worried about when their Uncle Harry was going to pick them up. They said other than being grouchy, none of those men touched any of them. They made Tran cook for them and the girls both said they told them when their Uncle came to get them they were in big trouble. They said the leader asked several times where you were. When Tran couldn't tell them they had an argument in their language and your name was mentioned several times. I have a suggestion for you that will help them to relax, if you want to listen to it. I know with the wedding and all I am sure your mind is a million miles away."
"Honey, if your suggestion will make me forget all this marriage stuff then for God's sakes tell me. I could use the distraction."
She busted out laughing again before she answered me.
"I think a nice shopping trip for all of us is in order. The girls and I need to get out for a while. Since Jimmy walked here, we need to drop him at his house to pack a bag as I asked him if he could stay a couple days. I really missed him Grandpa and I hope you're not mad 'cause I asked him to stay."
"Sandra, even if he has a big mouth he is always welcome to come here for a few days at a time. As for the shopping trip, I think that's a great idea because as you know, the team is coming next week and I need to buy some steaks and beer. I need to tell Tran about them too because she doesn't know about them coming yet. Honey, are you ok with me getting married this quick? I really haven't had much time to spend with you unless you count our time on the island."
"Grandpa, if you're happy then so am I. I will make one thing clear to you, I will not call her mother so don't expect me to. I like her but nobody can ever replace my mother in any way."
"I would never even think about asking you to do something like that, Sandra. I think she will be like your grandmother more than being like a mother. Hell, just call her Auntie Tran like the girls do. If there is ever any problem of any kind I want you to promise me you will come and talk to me about it. I don't think there will be but I want to be the first to know if there is. I want your promise on this Sandra."
"I promise Grandpa but she is really nice and she loves the girls. I don't think we will ever have any problems. She is one of the few real people I have ever met. She seems to be just what she is, a woman who is in love with my grandpa. I hope both of you are happy together. If you ever need someone to talk to just remember I am also a woman, just a lot younger than most."
I looked at her and got that impish grin that she knew how to use to throw me off track when she knew I was going to say something. I hugged her to me and kissed her soundly. She giggled and got up, asking me if I was ready to spend part of my old age pension. I slapped her on the butt and she went in the door giggling away. Old age pension my foot. I got up and headed in to get another coffee. I didn't get five feet inside the door before I was surrounded by all of them wanting to know if I was ready to go yet. I looked up and Jimmy was leaning against the kitchen doorway with a big grin on his face.
"I'm ready any time you guys are. Big mouth over there has to ride on the roof though," I said as I went back out the door.
They all caught up to me before I got off the porch giving me hell saying Jimmy was family and family didn't ride on any roof. I stopped in my tracks and was run into by at least two of the girls. I turned around and looked at them in a stern manner before saying anything. Sandra had both fists on her hips like she was getting ready to fight or something and the girls were glaring at me. I looked at Tran and she had a small grin on her face she was trying to hide and it got bigger as I looked at her.
"Ok, no roof. He can walk back because I don't think there's room for him in the unit since he's so big."
That did it. They were all giving me hell and I could hear Tran and Jimmy laughing in the background as they were chewing me out like I was in front of a drill sergeant or something. If they were allowed to cuss, I would be getting an ear full. Dina kicked me in the shin she was so mad. When she realized what she had done, she got the most shocked look on her face and covered her mouth with both hands. Then I lost it as I was hopping around on one leg. I kept hearing her say I'm sorry over and over and I laughed harder every time she said it in such a small voice. Tran finally stepped in saying I was kidding them and Jimmy would ride inside with the rest of us. Jimmy was sitting on the ground with his arms wrapped around his ribs he was laughing so hard. Sandra looked at him then at me and gave me hell saying I was mean to talk like that to her brother and her sisters. I finally got calmed down enough to rub my shin when this little voice spoke up from the back of them.
"I'm sorry I kicked you Uncle Harry but that was mean."
I just took her in my arms and hugged her to me and was hugged in turn by the other two. Tran I noticed was smiling and her eyes were moist as she watched me with them. I opened the doors and told everyone to pile in. They all tried to get in at the same time and it took a couple of minutes for them to sort out who was going to sit where. Jimmy sat in the shotgun seat in the front, with Tran next to me while the girls sat in back. I had everyone buckle up and we were off to town. I stopped and backed up to the cabin and went in to set the alarms then we were off again. I asked them where they all wanted to go and they all wanted to go to Wal-Mart except Jimmy. He wanted to go home because he said he had several things he had to do and he would meet us back at the cabin later. I dropped him off at his house and of course we had to stop at Tran's place so she could pack a few more things. We finally pulled into Wal-Mart about two hours later. The girls were having a very lively discussion about what Navy Seals ate when they were off duty. I got that look from Tran at this news and I told her I would explain it all as we shopped.
When we went inside Tran and I both got a cart and I went to the side and down on one knee facing the girls.
"I want all three of you to listen to me because this is serious. I want all of you to stay close to either me or Tran. After the last two days I don't want any of us to take any chances. If someone should touch you or act funny or try to separate any of you I want all of you to start yelling at the top of your lungs and to hell with what anybody thinks. Whatever you do, all three of you stay together and look out for each other. Don't ever get too far away from Tran or me for any reason, ok? I will be in the grocery side and Tran will stay close to you. If there is any problem yell for me and I will hear you, ok?"
"We will Grandpa and we will protect each other always."
I smiled at them and got a kiss from Tran that they thought was cute or something because they all said ahhh at the same time. I stuck my tongue out at them as I headed for the grocery side. I could hear them laughing as they headed in the other direction. I went through the grocery side like a white tornado grabbing steaks and beer and anything else I thought we would need. I had a cart piled high with what I had grabbed and then went in search of them. I was beginning to worry as I walked down the isles looking for them but as I found out the worry was pointless. They were all in the clothing section trying on clothes and generally making a pain of themselves arguing about what they looked good in. Tran was sitting outside the fitting room and I sat down beside her.
"Harry I love them all but I had forgotten what girls and clothes were like. They have been trying to decide on what dresses to wear to our wedding for the last half hour. I know they have tried on at least a hundred outfits and hated them all."
"Hon, why don't you tell them what you will be wearing and then you can all dress alike?"
"Harry I hate to admit it but that does make a lot of sense to me. There is one problem though, I don't know what I'll be wearing because I haven't given it much thought."
"Why don't you all get your heads together and figure something out while they're here, Tran. Then you all will know what to buy while we are in the store. If this stuff here isn't good enough for you then we can go elsewhere to shop."
"Well Harry, we are not having a big church wedding, thank God so I think we can all find something we agree on. Also, that man over there in the green jacket has been watching all of us. I think he's harmless but I wanted to tell you." She got up and called the girls together and I watched the man she had pointed out from the corner of my eye as they went among the dresses talking. He seemed to me to be watching them too closely for just being a shopper. I sat back on the bench with my head back acting like I was bored to death and kept a close eye on him. I then noticed he wasn't alone because he made a motion to another man who was on the other side of the counter. My neck hair immediately went up as I stood up and walked toward the girls. He was moving to intercept me as was the other man. I got to them first because I was closer and told Tran to take them to the dressing rooms, now. She didn't question just told them to come with her to try on the dresses they were holding. Sandra must have caught the sudden tension in her voice because she helped to get them moving. I walked to the side as they went to the rooms. The two I was watching started to move into the room area so I pulled the Glock and held it at my side and waited to see what they were going to do. Tran was standing outside the two rooms the girls were in and the man moved in on her. I stepped up from the side pushing the gun into him. He froze and didn't take another step and his friend froze in place too.
"I don't know who you are but if you move any closer to them I promise you will be breathing from a straw when you do. Tell your friend to back off and then you and I will have a nice polite little chat."
He looked at his friend and used a sideways motion of his head to tell him to go. His friend looked at him then at me for a moment, then left the area. At least he went to the front of the store out of my sight.
"Now who are you and what do you want with my family?"
"I don't know who you are but we want the guns from the cave, and the sheriff has them. We mean no harm to anyone, but we just want our merchandise back."
"You, my friend, are an asshole. If you had bothered doing your homework you would have found out the sheriff was killed in Florida last week, and the BATF took the guns into Federal custody the same day they were found. I have no idea where they took them but I would guess it was to Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. If you had checked the local papers, you would have known all of this. I don't know who sent you but next time, tell your boss to do his homework. I am going to let you walk away, but if I ever see your face around my family again I will not hesitate to shoot you on the spot. If you want to talk further, I am in the book under Homeland Security as a Special Investigator. I will be taking the security tapes from the store with me and if you're smart, you will get out of the country before they put a pick up order out on you and your friend. Tell your boss to get on the internet because all the information about all of this is public record that anyone can read."
"I think I will take your advice to heart because it sounds like the truth to me, but my boss has the final decision as you know. May I ask your name comrade?"
"My name is Harry Hanson and I was the lead investigator on the case. That's in the records too."
To my surprise he smiled at me, and walked away heading for the front doors. As I watched he was joined by three others besides the two I had already spotted. I waited till they got out the doors then called the Director and filled him in on what just transpired. He was angry at first but then he said the four had been questioned, and they were in the process of arresting some of the others involved. I told him to send someone for the security tapes here because they had all stopped right in front of the cameras to chat before they left. I gave him an accurate description of the two and then a general description of the others. He asked me if I thought I needed extra eyes, and I told him as of this point I didn't think I did but I would call if anything changed. He thanked me and we ended the conversation. I was standing there with my gun still in my hand and when I realized it I put it away hoping the little drama wasn't witnessed by some busybody. I gave Tran the all clear sign and she called the girls back out and they decided they would all wear yellow summer dresses to the wedding. They all had them picked out and to my surprise they all matched. Then they decided they needed shoes so off to the shoe section we went. I hung back, keeping a close eye out, but nothing else disturbed the day. We ended up spending about three hours in the store and had to get another cart before we were through.
I woke the next morning in the chair still gripping the beer bottle in my hand. The sun was barely up but I was wide awake. I set the coffee to brewing and went to the shower, and then I grabbed a shave. I almost passed on doing it 'till I remembered the lunch meeting I had today. I went to the kitchen and marveled about how silent the house was, because I could see all kinds of birds in the trees and even a few crows on the ground in front of the cabin. Man this was great, no crow opera in...
I sat in the captain's office for almost fifteen minutes before Sergeant Chapel showed up to get his keys and when he did, his attitude immediately pissed me off. "I am looking for the ass who ran my relief from the cage and took the keys." "That would be me and if you value your job you better tone it down and do it fast. From now on, you don't leave the cage unless you have a relief and the relief is a deputy. If that don't suit you, then tender your resignation. The attitude will...
I had gotten almost to the garage when I remembered that my unit had no call sign, and I had forgotten to tell Andy how many keys I wanted for each lock change. I did a U-turn and headed back to the department. I came through the front door and there was not a soul in sight. I heard the sound of raised voices coming from Andy's office and headed that way. The sight that greeted my eyes was an impromptu meeting of about all the civilian employees with a few uniforms mixed in. I listened in...
I was headed to Mick's house and listening to the patrol radio and it was dead. There was no traffic to speak of and I wondered how many of the deputies were patrolling, and how many were shooting the breeze at some store or snoozing. It didn't take me long to get to Mick's house and to my surprise it was a small cottage surrounded by flowerbeds. I got out and walked up to the door and knocked loudly. It was answered by a gray-haired lady and she greeted me by name and asked me to come...
I was making good headway with all the junk in the desk and most of it was junk. I found a new NRC code book and set it aside to read and memorize. I also found a little notebook that listed all the payments received from the businesses in town. Thumbing through it, I found the gun shop payoffs and I had to admit they were quite substantial. I set it aside and finished out the cubbyholes in the right side and started on the left. I remembered the cabin and decided to call Shorty and see if he...
When the guys went out, I sat back to think for a little bit. I was realistic and knew I had seventy two hours at the most before I would find out if I was going to be hassled by any of the names on the list in the books. I was going to Reno tonight and make some copies and send the original copy to Floyd and tell him to cover my ass from his end. He was connected and high in the family and a good friend. I had other dealings with him and he always covered me ten ways from Sunday. I knew he...
"Hey Harry, you daydreaming or something? Did you find out if there were any prints on that stuff?" "Yea Shorty, I did and your not gonna believe whose they are. I find it hard to believe that they would have the gall to even attempt it, let alone act on it. The first recorder I found had Pinky's fingerprints on it. The one you found had the intake clerk's prints all over it. I think we better call Andy in with the prosecutor then we will all meet with Pinky and see why he did this....
We made it back to the station and I quickly ducked into my office, hoping I wouldn't hear more about my love life and Tran. I had just got settled in the chair when Shorty came in with one of the Lieutenants on the list and told him why we were letting him go. He didn't seem upset and explained that he had been expecting it with the new leadership. He was pleasant about it and wanted to know if we would give him a good report when he applied to one of the casinos. I told him I would and...
We went back out into the showroom and the clerk was still on the floor with the young deputy standing over him. "Grab your partner and book him for assault on an officer. Have them hold him for seventy two hours for investigation. Then come back to the station and see me or Shorty for a special assignment. Bring your partner with you." "Yes sir, sheriff!" He yanked the clerk up with little effort and marched him out the front door. I saw him speaking into his radio as he went out. We...
The more I thought about the bust tonight the more little details came to mind that I hadn't discussed with the men. I decided I would call them all in and have an operations meeting before we started. I knew we all had cars and all but two were unmarked. I had to make sure we all had walkies and that they were charged. Mine was sitting on the charger so I knew it was charged. Since Jim and Jerry were new to this type of detail, I wanted them to be in the least danger if it went south on...
I just about had all the notes together for the meeting tonight when my phone rang and I about jumped out of my chair. I picked it and it was Sergeant Abrams on the other end. "Sheriff, I just checked my answering machine and there were several messages on it to call you. Have I done something wrong or did I screw up that murder somehow?" "No, Abrams, you haven't screwed up or anything like that. I wanted to know if you wanted some overtime and to help work on a special operation...
I got the milling troopers attention, and asked if their supervisor was there yet? I was told he was on his way and would be there in a few minutes. I watched as still another State Trooper unit pulled up and it was a Sergeant who got out of the car. I called him to the side to speak in private. "Trooper get most of these men of yours out of here. They are tramping over my crime scene and interfering in my investigation." "Now look sheriff, I think this should be a combined bust and...
I took a shower in the bath off of the bedroom and to my surprise, found a cupboard full of towels and other stuff. I found new razors and shave cream, and toothbrushes still in their original packages. I felt like a new man by the time I was finished. I went back out to my office and all the men were already gathered waiting on me. I noticed that Kit's boy was there and was joking with Beau and Shorty. He was built like a football player and sure looked older than his thirteen years. I sat...
Shorty spoke up and ended my thought process. "Harry, this stuff is so far beyond us I hate to think about it. I know a lot of the names on this list, and let me tell you, they will do anything to keep this from coming out for public consumption. I think we need to get that smart ass FBI agent back here with his team and turn it all over to him." "I am going to call my friend in Homeland Security and see if he can't get that ATF team in here tonight. Let me get on the phone with him...
I followed the guys out and watched as they put the mines in the trunk of the car. I told Bob to drive them back to the department and then to take time to eat before coming back. I had to wait for the team to move the bodies and for the refrigerated truck. I was hoping against hope there was maybe only a couple of bodies in the house but I guess deep inside I knew I would be wrong. I had smelled that type of decay before and this was stronger than I had ever smelled. I knew that there would...
I sat until the girl's movie went off and they came out to get me to help tuck them in bed. I made a big production out of it as I always did. I went back to the kitchen and set the coffee pot up for the morning. I remembered my favorite go cup was still in my unit and went to get it. I found it on the floor with a bullet hole through the center of it. To say it was ruined would be an understatement. Now that pissed me of because I had used it for years and it was the only one I had ever...
We went back to the station and I called all the remaining men into the office. I closed the door and told Shorty and Beau to check the office. They started checking and when Bob saw what they were doing he told them to leave it to him. He dug into the bag at his feet and pulled out a small box which he flipped the switch on and it started beeping. I recognized it immediately as a modern sniffer and knew it had only been out for federal use for a year. I watched as he went around the office...
I woke up and there was a beautiful oriental woman sitting in the chair next to my bed. Damn, it was Tran. What the hell was she doing here and in my room? When she saw my eyes open she ran out of the room. I looked around and realized I was in a hospital. Damn but my head hurt. Within a few minutes, two little girls came running in and climbed into my bed with me, and I got all kinds of hugs and kisses from them. Now this was the kind of healing I could get used to. "Uncle Harry, you look...
I sat and sipped my coffee with Tran and the young deputy. She was laughing and kidding around with him as we sat in the lobby. I finally decided I was tired enough to go back to my room and lay down. We all three walked back and the deputy took his station outside of the door and I crawled back into bed. That little bit of exercise had taken more out of me than I ever thought it would have. I was almost asleep when Tran kissed me goodnight. I remember smiling but nothing after that. I woke...
Tran came in wearing jeans and a sweat shirt. She was carrying a small bag and had a paper bag from the drug store. She handed me an ibuprofen and refilled my coffee cup so I could have fresh hot coffee. I had to admit, being home I felt a lot better and my head wasn't hurting. Mark came back in and sat down, sipping his coffee. You would think we were at a wake the way they both were looking at me. "All right you two. What's up?" Mark laughed and looked at Tran and she nodded her head...
"Technically I am not allowed to let you go to work, but since you have all the other commissions and your federal carry permit, I don't see the harm in letting you nose around a little to see what you can find out." "I want to pick up my marked unit from the motor pool and I want someone to call State and find out where the hell is my M-16 they were supposed to return to me two months ago. In one of the units is some chain and locks for my gates and extra mags for my 16. I don't...
I decided I would call Tran from the cabin and explain why I wasn't coming over. I had a few hours of daylight left and I wanted to get the chains on the gates and put the signs up that I had ordered. I got her on the phone and she sounded like she was out of breath. When I asked her about it she informed me she was playing twister with the girls and losing badly. I had to laugh at the picture of a grown woman of our age trying to get into some of the different positions required for the...
I watched as the Trooper pulled up next to Mark's unit and shut it off. I saw who it was immediately and wondered what he wanted. He nodded at Mark, looked at the girls and came straight to me. "Hey Harry. I see you're back at it again. Can't you ever stay out of trouble or at least till your healed?" "What are you doing here? I hadn't heard the State was called in on this." He looked at me and busted up laughing. I just looked at him like he was nuts. "You really don't know do...
I was sitting drinking my first cup when it hit me. I hadn't called Tran to see if she liked the little car. If for some reason Doris hadn't delivered it, I was going to give the whole surprise away. I decided I would wait till I got done with the governor's big press conference. I got my go cup and locked the cabin, set the alarm, and cranked my unit. Yes, I checked it first, and since I had the other problem, Doris had made a few changes to protect me from it happening again. I turned...
I went down in the hole one step at a time, shining the light ahead of me as I went. I noticed dust along the sides of the ramp and grabbed a handful as I went. I was walking and throwing it ahead of me as I walked. I wasn't taking any chances of there being a floor ankle height laser system. If there was, the dust would show it and keep me from breaking the light. Someone had gone to a lot of trouble setting this all up. The ramp had a slight curve to it and came out in the middle of a huge...
I walked back outside and Bob was sitting on a milk carton, holding his head in his hands. I didn't say anything to him, just headed out front to see who else had showed up. Beau was sitting on a chair blocking the doorway as I came up behind him. "Harry, there have to be about thirty feds from a half a dozen departments out there and they all want in. I sure don't envy you your job today. Mark told them all that you were running the investigation and they would have to talk to you. Have...
We made it out of the cave ok, but I noticed that Bob was still talking on his cell to someone. I followed Preacher out the front door. I handed the blocks of explosive off to one of his men, and went to my unit. I immediately locked the folder and book up in the lockbox in the back of my unit. I went over to Mark and the man standing beside him and introduced myself. "I am Steve Johnson from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. From what the sheriff has told me you are in charge...
I went back out to the main part of the casino and into the office to give Butch his gun back. I noticed that there was a Coroner there with him. I handed him back his gun and arched my eyes at him in question. "This is the State Coroner, Harry. Since Porter County doesn't have one assigned yet I called ours in. I will make sure your Glock is returned to you personally. I think we have destroyed one too many of your guns. As soon as the Coroner is done, you're back in business. We turned...
Before we got back to the casino, I turned in the seat and told Butch what I wanted him to do in relation to the illegals. "Butch, I am turning over the search operation to you to run. I want that warehouse found and help given to those poor women and girls. If anyone gives you any shit, call me on my cell and if you need warrants then you will have them. I will put the prosecutor on notice and he will be ready for your call. I have the bus filled with bottles of water coming and if you...
I was still thinking about all that went on in the Chief's office as I drove back to Porter. I went directly to the motor pool to pick up my unit. I parked my Jeep in front again and went inside. Several of the mechanics waved as I walked through the shop. I went up the steps and went into the office, grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down for a minute. "That was quick Harry. Are you ok? Here are your keys and your unit is in the wash bay. I am going to put your name on the floor so you will...
I watched as the SWAT team gathered up the prisoner along with their own wounded. They wasted no time getting them all loaded on the chopper and flying out. I watched as Preacher's Huey landed in the front yard of the smoking house. His team climbed down and came over to us. "Preacher, I want this whole front area cleared of any booby traps. I am not going to let those women out of there until I know it's clear. I also want your pilot to go back and get loaded with the bottles of water...
I made sure I met Hadley at the coffee pot as he came up to the feeding area. "Harry, if I didn't have a family to support I would spend the rest of my life looking for the people that could do this to children. This is one time that I need to go home and hug my kids and my wife. If she saw this, she would be in the hospital with shock. Do you have any idea at all who is shipping these kids to this part of the country?" "I haven't had a chance to go through all the papers I confiscated...
My God! I still couldn't believe I had found my granddaughter among all these poor children. I was going to have to readjust my whole way of thinking and living. I would have to remember I had to think about someone besides myself for a change. The shock of my daughter's death still hadn't set in yet, but I knew it would. To die in a filthy hospital leaving her daughter must have been hard on her. I remember how independent and proud she was when she turned 18. I still remember taking her...
I was deep in thought when I heard the phone ringing. I glanced over at Sandra and she was still sound asleep with a smile on her face. I glanced at the caller ID and it was Mark's cell so I picked it up. "Harry, I am at the office with a supervisor from the INS. He wants that girl you took from the valley. He is having a fit because you kidnapped her, as he put it. He is threatening to have you arrested by his people if you don't bring her in. What do you want me to do?" "You tell him...
I was sitting and looking out the window when Sandra came back into the room. "Grandpa, do you have a small step ladder I can use to finish what I am doing in my room?" "Let me look in the shed, sweetie. I will be right back." I went to the garage, found a small step ladder and carried it back inside and gave it to her. She thanked me and headed back to her room. I was wondering what she needed that for when the phone rang again. I saw by the caller ID it was the State Police so I went...
We were to be really surprised at the girls' condition when I sent Mark to call them for supper. When they showed up in the kitchen, the sight was enough to make a sane man pull his hair out. Dina had a scarf tied around her hair and the only thing it protected was her forehead. Dana was in about the same condition, but she had one side of her face painted white like she lost a battle with a paint roller. Sandra was still looking like she had lost a battle with a paint ball gun. The only...
I dressed in older clothes and went in to wake Sandra. When I shook her and her eyes opened, she smiled at me and said, "Good morning". I turned to leave and the picture was glowing with the sun shining on it. It took me a few minutes to realize she had used some kind of glitter mixed in some of the colors. Talk about a heart stopper. I went down stairs and got my first cup of coffee and sat and thought about it. I still couldn't believe she was so skillful with the way she had put the...
I don't know how long we sat there in silence, but Jimmy came in and addressed me. "Sheriff, Sis sent me in to get you. We found something she thinks you ought to see." He went back out the door before I could give him any answer. I looked at Doris and she was smiling. Jeesh, I could see right now she wasn't going to be any help when it came to those two keeping me running. I went outside and everyone was looking in bay 2, and as I walked over to see what was going on Sandra looked at...
Dammit, here I was in the middle of the old sheriff's greed again. I wondered how much more contraband we were going to find. He still had several properties we hadn't even looked at yet. Well, this time I wasn't going to take any chances. I was going to delegate, and go home to be with my granddaughter. I turned to Charlie and made my intentions clear. "I am turning this over to you, Charlie. I have a scared granddaughter at home and we just got back together. You know what has to be...
"Come on you two, I have somewhere I have to go before five. Jimmy, throw your moped in the back of my unit." He picked it up like it weighed ten pounds and sat it on top of the gun box in back. He grabbed what Sandra called his lunch box, but to me it looked like a small satchel packed too full. Jimmy got in the back and buckled up then Sandra did the same in the front. We went down the drive, and Sandra remarked to Jimmy that this was better than him carrying his moped, her, and his...
I was right. Doris gave me hell about spending that much money on someone I didn't even know. I didn't say anything until we pulled up in front of the steakhouse they had chosen to eat at. I turned in the seat so I could face Doris and still be able to see Sandra and Jimmy as I spoke. She opened her mouth to say something and I just held up my hand for silence. "You been giving me hell since I left the music store. This time you shut your mouth and let me speak. I bought the pair of...
She was still laughing as we got in the house. I went to the kitchen and got a pot of coffee brewing and she grabbed a glass of orange juice. We sat down at the table and sipped our drinks. "I think I am going to fly to Columbus on Monday. I want to get those papers from that box. It's time for me to get some things done that need to be done. Those papers had to be checked by an attorney and certified as your mother's handwriting." "If you think I am going to stay behind then we need...
The rest of the night went by smoothly and we got the girls to bed without anymore mention of the coming dinner. I set the coffee pot and the alarm and fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow. I woke up about fifteen minutes before the alarm went off. I made the trip to the kitchen and turned the pot on and went back to get my shower. I made sure to wear jeans and hiking boots today as we were going back to the motor pool again to try to finish up as much as we could before the...
I locked my unit into four-wheel drive and eased down the hill to the cabin. Looking in the rear view I noticed Mark had waited till I was almost half way down before he started after me. I pulled up to the back of the cabin and parked behind the VW and of course Sandra had to remark on it. "That little car is beautiful, Grandpa. Who does it belong to? I like the picture of the dragon protecting her eggs." "It belongs to Tran, the girls' baby sitter. I thought it was pretty too, and...
I listened to the kids laughing in glee at every musical instrument they found. To put it mildly, I was bored to death. I had watched the kids bounce in and out of the bay for the last hour. I just wished I had their energy. I was about to doze off when Sandra came over to me with Jimmy right behind her. She was holding a hard case that looked like it was for a guitar. "Grandpa, I found what I was looking for. I found a left handed guitar and a mandolin. I want you to buy them so I can...
I got my coffee and took a deep breath and headed back outside. Doris called me to the side before I had gone a hundred feet. "Were you able to help those poor people, Harry?" "They are in the process of getting their permits as we speak. How are the kids doing with the bays?" "We got lucky on one of them. There were two portable sawmills in it and they both were on wheels. They have already been loaded on one of the trailers and headed for the gulch. I am having all the stuff for...
When I got back to town, I went by the shop. The gate was closed and locked, so I headed for Doris and Jimmy's house. I pulled up in front and honked the horn. Sandra came running out and climbed into my unit. "Hey, Grandpa, I see you made it back in time to go to dinner. I think we're all going to enjoy this evening. I know I'm looking forward to it." "I think I am too, sweetie. By the time we get back to the cabin, Mark and the girls should be there. Do you think Dina will have a...
I went walking around the area looking for the kids. I finally found them playing a game, trying to win a big teddy bear. Sandra was cheering him on, trying to get a yellow bear. "Grandpa, Jimmy won me a big bear. I'm going to keep it in my room on the end of the bed. What are we going to do this afternoon, Grandpa?" "I don't know, Sandra, I think we will just go home and relax. Maybe you and Jimmy can practice your music awhile? I don't know about you, but it's going to be a long...
We left the room and went down to the front desk and made arrangements to pick the car up out front. When we climbed in the car, I made sure we were buckled up. We headed for the freeway to go to Eastland Mall. When we got to the mall, the lot was packed full of cars. "Looks like we got a long way to walk honey." After walking for what seemed like 15 minutes we finally made it inside. I let her lead the way and just followed along. After about two hours of window shopping, I was totally...
When we got out to the kitchen, the women were setting the table for dinner. "Ok Harry, since you and Bill have had your man talk, I think it's time for you to catch the rest of us peons up on what you have been doing for the last ten years. Linda has already told me you would be here for her graduation so I won't have to nag you about that." I spent the next hour catching them up on my life. They must have asked a hundred questions before the meal was over. We went into the front room...
I woke up with the phone ringing in my ear. It was our wake up call I had left the night before. I roused Sandra and we got ready to go to breakfast. She was half asleep as we sat down at the table. I ordered for us and she ate everything they set in front of her. I had my usual coffee but with what I knew was coming; I just didn't have any appetite. When I saw Sandra smiling and waving at a little girl at the next table, I knew she was awake and in her usual good spirits. "Honey, before...
Here I was sitting on a pristine white beach on my own island, thinking about how we had arrived here. We had flown from Grove City, Ohio to Miami, Florida landing at a small airport I had never heard of, even though I was from Florida before I had moved to Nevada. Sandra and I stepped out of the plane inside a small hangar and were met by Sean Hadley of the FBI. He hugged Sandra and shook my hand, telling us both there was food inside the office for us. He followed us in and watched while we...
We had just landed back in Florida when Sean walked into the hangar with a big smile on his face. "What are you so happy about?" "The divers just faxed the pictures of the men who were aboard the boat you guys blew up and guess what?" "Well gee there Sherlock, should I be able to read your mind?" Sandra started giggling and Sean gave her a smile before he got around to answering me. "The lawyer and his client were on that tug, Harry. Needless to say you two should be able to go...
I waited for Sandra to finish in the shower and when she came out she had a big smile on her face. I looked at her in a quizzical way and she smiled at me then explained. "You're gonna love this shower, grandpa. It has the massaging head on the shower and it has enough pressure that it almost knocked me down when I stepped under it. I hope they brought me some jeans with those clothes. I hate wearing a dress and trying to be nice just because it's expected by a girl in a dress." "You...
The impromptu concert went on for about another hour with Sandra playing with several different people. The cook came in with refreshments when it was over. Sandra climbed into my lap and promptly fell asleep. I think everyone in the rec room came over and just touched her with smiles on their faces. They all said I was to thank her for all the fun and the great playing she had done all evening. Butter came over and said our room was ready if I wanted to put her to bed. I got up with her in...
We all got loaded up in the Bradleys and left the truck at home. Jimmy was having a ball and he and Sandra were talking a mile a minute as we pulled out. We went down my drive and made the turn to go to Mark's house. The whole time I was thinking about what I was going to say to Tran and the girls. When we pulled into his drive the big gate was open. As I looked out the windshield I saw a man in the tree line. Now who the hell could that be I wondered and immediately the hair went up on the...
When I got to the end of my driveway, I decided to call the Seal team at the chemical plant. When I got their Commander on the line and identified myself to him, he said he was expecting my call. I asked him if he could put someone up on one of the tallest buildings there with binoculars to keep an eye on my cabin. He said it had already been done as they watched out for their own. I had to think for a minute before I realized he was talking about Sandra. Damn, I would never have thought it...
I woke up just before dawn and got dressed without waking Tran by some miracle. I put the shoulder holsters on and the fifty on my belt. I put the extra mags in the vest I was wearing. I had bought it at a gun store and it was made fuller for the shoulder holsters. It had many inside pockets that fit all the mags perfectly. I went down to the kitchen and opened the shelter. I quickly got out several of the sixteens and about a dozen mags for each of them. I hid them around the house, up high...