Page 55 of Life, Love and the Pursuit of Happiness

“I dated Ann-Margret one time,” Ike said.

“You did not!” his brother Mike corrected. “It was an Ann-Margret look-alike in one of those nostalgia revues.”

“Same thing!” Ike contended.

The two white-haired gentlemen, former psychiatrists, were twins, but they disagreed about everything. Personally, the whole house could use a little head doctoring.

Yep, Salome Jones was going to fit in here just right.

He was packed up and ready to head back to the motel, including the grill and groceries, when a vehicle pulled up out front. To Merrill’s surprise and great pleasure, it was K-4.

“Yo, Geek!”

“You made it,” Merrill said, going up and giving his buddy a man-hug.

“Yep. Finished out my contract on Tuesday and closed out my apartment on Wednesday, and here I am.”

“Any trouble?”

“They tried to talk me into re-upping.”

“And?”

“I was tempted, but, honestly, it’s time for a change.”

“Same for me.”

“I’ll probably need help adjusting to civvy life. I’m already experiencing a little withdrawal. It was a huge adjustment for me when I joined the teams, after Karen died. Seems I’m in for another adjustment back to a nonmilitary regimen.”

K-4’s wife had died of cancer. Merrill had known him from when he’d first arrived in Coronado, and he’d been a basket case of depression and rage.

“Takes time, dude. Best remedy is hard work, and there’s plenty of that here. You have no idea how welcome you are. We’re in desperate need of another diver.”

K-4 nodded. “Any luck so far?”

Merrill shook his head. “A few artifacts that we’re checking out, but nothing yet to indicate any of the Three Saints are down there. I’m hopeful, though. It’s still early days.”

“By the way,” K-4 said, “what’s with those signs I saw coming in? A Labor Day Lollypalooza?”

“This crazy town . . . what can I say? Remember that Grinch fund-raising crap when we were here last Christmas?”

“Who could forget? Even I, a stranger, got nominated . . . and got five frickin’ votes. Just because I frown too much, or so someone contended.”

“You do frown a lot,” Merrill pointed out, and ducked when K-4 attempted to punch him. “Anyhow, the powers that be here are always looking for new ways to raise money without the town going all commercial, like other beach towns. Plus, they had all these decorations left over from the Fourth of July and the Rutledge wedding. Voilà! A Lollypalooza.”

“Don’t they mean Lollapalooza? Or can they just not spell?”

“It’s a deliberate misspelling. And this isn’t going to be a huge music concert. This’ll be more like American Idol on the Outer Banks. A talent contest for homegrown talent. Everything from yodeling to shag dancing.”

K-4 was shaking his head with disbelief.

“Yeah, I know. It boggles the mind.”

“So, you got a room for me here?” He glanced toward the yellow brick and weathered shakes of the Patterson house.

“Actually, one better. At Delilah’s motel. You remember Delilah from the wedding?”

“The blonde babe?”