Chapter 157: 'Short Eyes' the Beginning

The day started with me still undecided about Cheryl. I almost wanted her on board for the new gig, but I also feared the effect it might have on her. It might be best to keep her out of the loop, I thought. What I decided, was not to decide that morning.

I smiled at Cheryl and asked, "How are things hon?" while she found me a Crispy Waffle, Egg, and bacon sandwich bag.

"Things are just fine, we found something to do with the upstairs," she informed me.

"Oh what is that?" I said.

"Seat the overflow, which is what you are. The picnic tables are all full." she said seriously.

"There is no way I can make it up those stairs," I suggested.

"I know, come on I'll find you a space somewhere." she said leading me into the dining room. She was right the table were all filled.

"Tell Jack to get the preacher's guys over to build shelves for standing room only customers," I suggested.

"That is an excellent idea. We are also going to turn the upstairs into another space just like this. You will be able to drive up to the second level parking lot, if all the spaces are taken down here. From that parking lot in back, there are only three steps up to the second level."

"I guess I could manage three outside steps," I admitted. Helen's Sit Down Spot was clumsy, but it had a charm that matched the bag breakfast. It seemed as though I wasn't the only one who thought so. Helen was packing them in.

"Looks like you have about all the business you can handle here," I said.

"We can always do more. The drive through window does just as much as the sit down spot. I am pressing Helen to do a Soup, and Sandwich bar for lunch here." Cheryl said seriously.

"That sounds like a hell of an idea. Something simple. that people can do themselves. It would probably be a real winner." I suggested. "At least it would, if you kept the blue collar pricing." I added.

"We are thinking one trip to the bar. A big bowl of soup and one sandwich with whatever you can get on it, for five bucks plus tax." Cheryl suggested.

"That sounds like a hell of an idea. Well I have to get on over to the mall and walk. Good luck with your idea," I said as I hobbled to the door.

At the mall I hobbled my one lap on each level without seeing Tiny Dancer. We didn't always meet at the mall. As a matter of fact, we missed each other as often as we connected. I wasn't ready to stretch the calf muscle anyway. I was still working on flexing it normally. I was able to put it down enough to limp around a few steps but I needed the crutches to do the full mile.

I was on my way to the car when Mag 7 played from my purse again. I waited until I reached the car. "Hello," I said into the device, which I had come to hate.

"It's me Sarah, I have your notes ready," she sounded excited.

"Now, you do realize that this is not going to happen in day or a week maybe not even for several weeks," I informed her.

"I have lived with this for 2 years, I can live with it a few more weeks. It's the feeling that I am finally doing something that is wonderful. I should never have run away. I should have stood up and fought him." she said.

"Well your chance may be coming soon." I said. "I'm on my way back to the apartment now. I'll stop by and pick up your information. Then, I will see what I can do."

It was no more than twenty minutes before I pulled into the parking lot. As I left the car I could tell that it was getting warmer. I suppose I should be thinking about the courtyard, I thought as I pushed through the security gate. I might let the preacher stew a little more, before I agreed to a meeting. Or maybe someone else would come along to put in a price.

I didn't even get to ring her bell or knock. Sarah Ellen was standing with the notebook in her hand. "Here you go, it is everything I can remember about him."

"Good, I am going to have some friends help me chase all t his down. So don't be surprised how it turns out. Once we start, I can't call them off it." I said.

"I understand and I don't want it stopped until he has paid for what he did to me." Sarah said.

"Sarah, no matter what I can work out, it will never be enough." I said seriously. "You will never feel that you got even. There just is no even in this kind of thing. I do promise you this though, he will feel like he was punished far more than he deserved. They always think that it was no big thing."

"Yeah, I remember him acting like that. Whatever you do will have to be enough," she said.

"Good," I said turning toward my apartment. On the way I had a better idea. I got back in the cruiser and headed to Ed's office. It was also Lucas's office as well.

"Hey guys," I said as I hobbled into the room.

"Well look at you," Ed said. "I'm sorry you got shot, but I'm glad it wasn't worse."

"I'm glad it wasn't worse myself, and this is bad enough." I replied. "So Lucas, are you ready to go to work."

"Why don't you ride with me, while I serve some papers. We can talk while we are at it." I knew that he didn't want Ed to overhear, and I approved. The fewer people who knew, the more room we would have to maneuver.

"Sure, I have missed serving papers," I said. It was a huge lie, but it played well with Ed I'm sure.

"Okay what do you have," Lucas asked. when we were in the car and moving.