Chapter 50

By the time we got everything packed and moved it was after seven. I paid the movers cash and they left happy campers. Steve made sure I didn't need him anymore and he left as well. Sam had gone when Roy showed up.

I called the pizza place and ordered dinner. Tamara and Lena were busy upstairs organizing Lena's room. Roy was outside in the backyard.

I was alone in the kitchen and began to look back on the previous few weeks.

I met Tamara and we meshed together like "peas and carrots" to take a phrase from Forest Gump. Of all the relationships I had ever had, this one felt real. I could just look upon her face for hours and be content.

I thwarted a crooked business deal and in doing so, formed a bond with several interesting and important people. Michael and I had become like brothers. I missed not having him around.

My business relationship with Bob, George, Frank, and Tom had blossomed beyond my imagination. All would hopefully be a part of my business ventures for years to come.

My relationship with my bowling buddies had also become closer. Trish was now working for Tamara. Steve was working for me. Tom was helping Jerry with his DUI.

Tamara had been bouncing ideas off me concerning her business. She wanted to call it Sassy Health & Beauty after her grandmother. I'd been referring to it as Sanger Health & Beauty. Tom corrected us from calling her salons 'franchises' to what they were: 'units' of her overall business. Lawyers... they always get their two cents in. Tom had mentioned to me that if she and I ever married, she would be less likely to take my last name if her business refers to her current last name. 'Sassy' sounded good to me.

My sexual lifestyle had gone from fantasy to reality. I was totally infatuated with Tamara. Her sensuous being was more than I could have ever imagined. Tamara had pushed for Lena to become a part of our love fest. Christina wasn't an everyday part of the loving, but had been brought in to soothe her pain.

The phone interrupted my thoughts; the security guard at the gate was verifying the pizza delivery. I told him yes. The driver was at the door in a few minutes. After paying the driver, I took the pizza to the kitchen.

Roy came in the back door as I entered the kitchen. "John, please be careful when you have anything delivered. You never know who is waiting for an opportunity to do you harm."

"Who would want to do me harm?" I asked.

"From what Dan has told me, there is Lt. Richards. He's on paid leave awaiting the outcome of an investigation. There are three men who you will be testifying against. There is the man we subdued here last night. And last but not least, there is the matter of one James McKenzie. Dan had me do some of the investigation on him. I feel he could be ruthless. After all, you've interfered with a very large business deal," Roy said.

"I guess I never thought about all that. I'll be careful whenever I can. By the way, I have something for you."

I went to my study and retrieved the wrapped package I picked up at the mall. I went back to the kitchen as the girls came down to get dinner.

"I have a little gift for Roy. This is to show my appreciation for last night," I said and handed him the package.

"I... I... can't take any gifts for last night. I was doing my job."

"Yes you were and you did a hell of a job. Consider this a medal, a commendation for above and beyond the call of duty. Now open it."

Tamara joined in, "Yes, open it. I can't wait to see what it is."

Roy opened the wrapping and Tamara exclaimed, "That's a Tag Hauer watch box."

Yes, it was. I bought Roy a 2000 Exclusive with the blue dial and Sapphire crystal. Roy was speechless.

"You don't have to say anything. Please accept it."

"I will. Thank you."

"Good. Now let's eat."

We ate while Lena and Tamara were admiring the watch.

"You have good taste in watches. Why don't you have one for yourself?" asked Tamara.

"I have several watches. The one I wear most of the time is one my mother brought me from Switzerland."

I went upstairs with the girls to help them and we spent the rest of the evening organizing. I ended up going to bed while Tamara was still upstairs. I vaguely remember her snuggling up against me when she came to bed.

Wednesday morning arrived with a knocking at the bedroom door. "Yes?" I said.

"John, Dan just called. He and Tom are on their way. He asked me to wake you and start the coffee," Roy said.

"Thanks, I'll be out in a few minutes."

I looked over a Tamara and she was stretching. She had the purple nightgown on and she looked like royalty. I snuggled back down for a minute and kissed her. "Good morning beautiful, I have to get up. I'll bring you some coffee in a few minutes."

I jumped in the shower and was headed out of the bedroom within five minutes. Tamara was still snuggled up in the covers.

Roy had the coffee ready and was sitting at the breakfast table. "What time does your new watch say?"

He laughed and said it was seven-fifteen. I poured a cup for Tamara and one me. "I'll be right back," I said.

I was on the way back to the kitchen when Dan and Tom walked in the back door.

"What's up?"

Dan started, "I got a call from a friend in Santa Fe. First, the grand jury has no billed you on the incident Sunday. It was a unanimous decision. Internal affairs think there is an impropriety on the parole documents for the dead perpetrator. The dead assailant and the one that tried to run away are kids from Richards' brother's wife's first marriage. Theoretically, Richards is their uncle."

Tom interjected, "If the DA can prove the faxes to the media are definitely from him, then Richards will be fired and possibly face criminal charges."

"How does that affect me?"

"It shouldn't but he could lose it and we saw what that can do to a man. Speaking of which, Jim has been charged with attempted murder. There are some lesser charges but those will probably go away if they go after the attempted murder conviction."

Tom said we needed to go to the study to use the speakerphone. He dialed a number and Frank answered. "Hi, Frank. John, Dan and Tom here."

"Hi, guys. How are you holding up, John?"

"Pretty good, considering," I answered.

"Go ahead Frank," Tom said.

"John, I got a phone call from Mr. Potter. After seeing the news Monday, he doesn't want you involved with his company. I tried to talk to him and explain but he wouldn't listen."

"Shit! I wonder who else is going to break and run. Bob said he talked to Phil and Blaine on Monday; he didn't imply they wanted to break it off."

Everyone was trying to calm me down. "Tom, I want a conference call tomorrow with everyone associated with Eagle. Get a time and let me know."

"Frank, thanks for trying. We'll talk to you later," I said and we disconnected the call. I led us back into the kitchen for refreshments.

"Do you have any good news for me?"

"Well, we know McKenzie is in Mexico. The option expires July 1. That's only a little over two weeks away. Dan has a man on him. If he tries to sneak back into the country, we'll be ready for him."

Tamara came stumbling out of the bedroom. She was in her robe and heading for the coffee pot. "Don't mind me. I need to get more wake-up juice."

"Have you had breakfast?" I asked Dan and Tom.

"No, but we need to run," Tom answered.

"Thanks for coming over to tell me this."

Dan said something that surprised me. "John, you may think we are over emphasizing the security situation but we don't want anything to happen to you."

"I appreciate that. I really do."

They left and I began making breakfast. Sam called and he was thirty minutes away. "Roy, how are you and Sam able to spend so much time here?"

"We are both taking vacation and comp time. We have been doing moonlighting work for Dan for several years. I enjoy being a police officer but the work I do for Dan is sometimes a lot more satisfying. Look at Monday night: I was able to stop something from happening rather than writing the report on it after the fact."

"I understand. When I was in the Marines, I was part of a team that carried out orders that were classified. I sometimes had to do things that I can't talk about. But as you said, some things felt more satisfying."

Roy stuck out his hand and we shook. It's a guy thing; we don't hug. We finished breakfast as Sam came in.

Roy took him out back and they talked for a few minutes. Roy came back in, said goodbye and left.

I told Sam to help himself with breakfast. I went to the bedroom to see how my babydoll was doing. She wasn't in the bed so I headed for the bathroom. The door was closed so I knocked. "Come in," I heard.