“His oldest son came by to see if I needed help. I let him take over the job his father had been doing. He’s a senior now. He told me his dad got hooked on pain medication and was driving them all crazy.”
“I hope he stays away from those cartel men. Don’t make a mistake and trust Jim Randolph. I’ve seen what drugs can do to people. ”
“I know, I’ve seen it also.”
I pulled into the Marlow’s driveway and wondered why we’d never had dinner with them before. Sherry Marlow and Jack met us at the door. They welcomed us into their home and handed us a cold beer.
Sydney and Sandy stepped into the kitchen where we were. Everyone always gathered in their kitchens. After hugging them, I looked at Sydney and smiled. “I hear you two are investigators now. I hope you don’t plan on investigating the cartel who have been hanging around.”
“Julia has already warned us.”
I looked over at Sandy. “I thought you were going to be a teacher?”
She laughed out loud. “I was five when I told you I wanted to be a teacher. How come you have always been able to tell Sydney and me apart?”
“Because Sydney has a scar on her chin, and your eyes are darker, otherwise you two are identical,” I said, smiling.
“What do you remember about Julia?” Sydney asked.
“I remember everything about Julia. Her eyes are hazel, more golden than anything. Her hair is black as night and beautiful, and she doesn’t like me.”
“Why do you always think I don’t like you?” She askedwalking into the kitchen. I watched her as she put together a salad, and then I helped her set the table. I like you just fine, so stop thinking I don’t.
I helped her put the food on the table, and then we all sat down to eat. It was the best time I’ve had since I was a teenager. I may have had to stop myself from staring at Julia, who had her hair up on top of her head. Her neck was beautiful. I would love to hear the noises coming from deep in her throat as I did things to her.
I had to stop thinking about her, like that. I was finding it hard to think about her without getting hard.
“Hawk, tell me what you’ve been up to.”
“I just got back from overseas; we shut down a terror organ snatching ring. The people would go to spots on Earth where natural disasters were disguised as medical help. They were taking any live bodies they could find. They kept them drugged up until they had harvested all their organs.”
“That’s horrible,” Sherry said, looking at her family. “So the family members thought they were killed in the disaster.”
“Some thought that. But some knew it had to be kidnappers who took them. We were able to save many people because we finally received help from other countries. No one wanted to get involved because organ harvesting is more lucrative than any other business.”
“That is so scary. I heard about that. I didn’t know you were involved. Why do you risk your life like that?” Julia whispered as she reached across to take my hand. Until she realized what she was doing, and jerked hers back.
“The same reasonyou risk yours fighting crime. The first time I saw those women and children lying on cots, hooked up to IVs, I knew I wouldn’t stop until they were all lockedup. I’m sure there are more out there; people pay a lot of money for organs.”
“I’m surprised the cartels aren’t doing it in the United States,” Jack said.
“They do it everywhere. Just because we shut one down doesn’t mean more haven’t sprung up all over this earth. They don’t discriminate based on skin color unless they are Kings. I want all of you to stay away from the cartels around here. My buddies are looking into them and will call me when they find something out.”
Julia stood and took out cups. She poured everyone a cup of coffee and then placed the cream and sugar bowl on the table.
“You don’t get to decide who I can or cannot investigate. I live here, and I won’t let the cartel destroy our town.”
“Do you know how I know when you are angry?”
“What are you talking about?” Julia demanded.
“Your ears get red when you become angry.”
“They do not!”
“Yes, they do,” Sydney and Sandy said at the same time. “That’s how we know it’s time to back off.”
My secret crush was going to be harder to leave behind this time, when I had to go.
