 
Punishing A Good Deed

Table of Content

Title page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Epilogue

Thank you

About the Author

Life's Punishing Path

Punishing Dark & Malicious Intentions

Contact Page

### Punishing a Good Deed

**(A James Anthony Fratino Series)**

By Donald Everetti

Published by Donald Everetti at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Donald Everetti

**Smashwords** **Edition, License Notes**

No part of this book may be used or reproduced without the author's permission and the author claims all rights to this work world wide as permitted by law.

All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the author, D. Everetti, and is an infringement of copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any person or persons, living or dead, events or locals is entirely coincidental unless stated otherwise.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover photo by Jim Champion

This book is dedicated to my wife Munkins; what can I say except thank you for believing. Looking for the blue sky, warm sun, and a place to kick back with you, you're the best!!

With love,

Don
Chapter 1

I'm an idiot. I didn't mean to be one but sometimes you just do things and the next thing you know you're saying to yourself, 'how could I be so stupid!' God I must be some kind of idiot or just plain idiotic to get myself into this kind of mess. Or maybe I just wasn't expecting the unexpected when it unexpectedly happened. My hand freezes on the dial and my body tenses. All thoughts of trying to roll in the last number of the combination vanish as my heart rate picks up a couple of notches.

Houston this is Burglar One. Do you copy?

Houston copies Burglar One. Go ahead.

Houston I'm picking up external noises at this time. Can you give me some verification?

Stand by Burglar One.

I stop and listen for a couple of moments before I get up and open the door to Dick's walk-in closet so I can hear what may be going on downstairs. Concentrating, I close my eyes so I can focus a little bit better. Did I really hear something or am I just imagining it in my mind; which is completely possible with a mind like mine. I faintly hear something and I'm almost certain it's the garage door. If I wasn't imagining it the first time, then it means this time the garage door is coming back down, which tells us something we don't want to recognize is happening. Crap!

Burglar One do you copy?

Yes Houston I copy.

Be advised we're picking up external noises accompanied with alien life forms.

Okay then Houston where are the escape manuals for this mission?

Burglar One be advised that command felt you could do this mission without one so we left it on the desk. As a matter of fact we're looking at it right now.

Houston do you think you might be able to read it to me?

Burglar One the escape manual says Run!

Thanks Houston, that's pretty good advice. I think I'll take it!

No problem Burglar One, we're here to help. Thank you for calling.

Houston Control Center, have a nice day!

It's all about choices; whether good or bad, the ones you make or the people in our lives that we come into contact with make for us. I know all about bad choices and today might be considered a bad choice day. Then there's the rule thing I have. Rule number one: don't get caught burglarizing somebody's house or you will end up eating bad food covered in non-descript bad gravy.

Crap! 30 minutes ago I was sitting in my non-descript Chevy Cavalier, which is painted flat black with black powder coated trim and wheels so it blends in a little bit better with the dark, crappy, wet weather we have here in Western Washington State. I thought it was the right choice to drive it tonight. I thought it would blend in. Small confined areas like the Olympic Peninsula where I live you've got to know how to blend in, bullshit in, and be blind to them while you are looking right dead square at them or talking to them. I call those things my three 'B's. I thought it was a good choice to move here and be closer to my parents up until about five seconds ago. Now I'm not so sure; Florida looks pretty good again to tell you the truth.

I'm running my version of Danny Ocean on a guy named Dick Jameson, in the mid-level section of Bell Hill. He and his wife Shirley live in an upscale neighborhood where people with big bucks live in quiet, peace, and safety; with alarm systems set, top of line security windows and doors that are locked with fairly good locks for the most part. Dick owns the only high-speed auto parts shop for racing and hot-rodding around here. He's also a part 'silent' owner of the only race track we have here in the greater Port Angeles area. At least that's the rumor around town and from what I've heard Dick say when he comes into the casino. He doesn't outright deny it; then again, he doesn't confirm it either.

I figure with all that cash flow there must be some sort of reservoir to hold some of it; like a safe maybe. Safes come in all kinds of assorted shapes, sizes, and models and they're great for stashing cash in. They can be hid just about anywhere you want or can imagine and the only restriction there is to it is how much money do you want to spend to hide your safe and your money from people like me? I thought it might be a good choice to see if I could drain Dick's reservoir of some of that cash flow. Right now it doesn't really seem to be the best of choices that I've made lately. Go figure that one!

I'm sort of stuck at the moment between the proverbial phrase 'rock and hard place' in the situation I now find myself in because my wife Annette knows nothing of my nocturnal ramblings and she's about the only person at this time of night that I could possibly call. I debated whether I should call her or not and the more I think about it the more I realize that time's running out quickly and so are my options. I could take my chances and try to sneak out or I could try to sneak into the spare bedroom and hide in the closet but I might be there all day tomorrow if they don't leave; plus you never can tell when somebody is going to want something out of it and there you are. No, not the best of escape plans. Crap and double crap! It also means that I'm going to have to break rule number two: never tell anyone, ever, that you're a thief, to keep from breaking rule number one: never get caught. The options are a pissed off wife, if I call her with something like this, or five years in prison which will probably piss her off just as much if I get caught in this walk-in closet.

After fumbling around for what seemed like an hour I think I got a text message sent to her phone. After waiting for what seemed to be another hour I realized that she was probably sleeping and had her cell phone off for the night which meant I would have to call the house phone and hope she would hear it and pick up. Getting through was no problem although I don't think she was going to believe me when I told her what she would have to do to help me.

"Hi honey," I whispered into my cell phone as quietly as I could. You never can tell how much volume or how far your voice is going to carry from inside a bedroom closet. Remember these things sometimes happen to people in this business. Well, okay, they happen to me, once in a while, the other people I can't answer for but I bet it happens to some of them some of the time too!

"Hi yourself," she answered sleepily while registering in her mind I was whispering into my cell phone in the middle of the night and I wasn't home yet; also look what time it is. The next round of questions and I better have the answers was about to begin and I didn't have the luxury of a timer to play against; plus I seem to always lose at this game with her every time we play. I had to use the old cut'em off at the pass right at the start.

"Honey, listen to me, do exactly as I say and don't ask any questions okay? I'll explain everything to you later on," I told her.

"Okay, but what's wrong? Where are you?" So much for the 'don't ask questions' part of what I just told her. "Jim, why are you whispering?"

"I am stuck in the closet of a house I'm in the middle of burglarizing on Bell Hill and I need you to help get me out of here," I whispered into the phone.

"Jim, is this some kind of a joke you're trying to pull on me? Good lord Jim, it's the middle of the night!"

"No, it's not a joke!" I whispered at her. "Get in your car and come down to 1534 Ronson Rd. It's on Bell Hill. When you get here and figure out which one it is, drive around the corner and park in the driveway of the house that is being built right behind this one. Then walk around to the back of the house, pick up some baseball sized rocks, probably about five or six should do it, and throw them through the windows and bounce them off the sides of the house. Can you do this for me?" I continued to whisper into the little phone in my hand; willing it to transmit the help I so desperately needed from her.

"What are you up to at this hour on Bell Hill?" she asked me with the voice tone. "Jim, this doesn't sound like one of your pranks. I swear if this one of your pranks I'll kill you buddy-boy! Now what are you up to?"

I swear to God I knew the tone was coming at some point as soon as I made the decision to call; I just didn't think it would be this quick. All guys know we're going to get the tone on something like this. Leastwise any guy that is married, had been married, or has been in a relationship for more than a month knows it.

"Annette I told you I'm burglarizing a house; Dick Jameson's house as a matter of fact. You know the guy that owns the hot-rod shop in front of the race track?"

"Oh okay, I know who you're talking about now, but why are you burglarizing his house Jim?"

"Because I think he has a safe full of money Annette, that's why," I said as I heard someone walking past the closet and go into the bathroom. A few seconds later I heard the water running in the tub in the master bath and then somebody going into the walk-in closet next to mine. I figured it must be Shirley and I was right because she yelled down to Dick telling him not to stay up all night watching a recap of all the games.

"Jim I heard someone yelling in the background, who was that?"

"That's Shirley, Dick's wife. She's getting ready to jump into the tub and she was yelling downstairs to tell Dick not to stay up all night watching recaps of the games he missed this weekend on ESPN," I told her. "They came home a day early Annette. I didn't hear them until the garage door was coming down and by then it was too late to get out," I added.

"Jim, you're serious about this aren't you?" she asked and I could imagine her chewing on her nail and thinking. Then she started tapping on her tooth with her fingernail and that was a sure sign that she was doing some heavy duty thinking.

"Annette I'm about as serious as a major coronary; so either you can help me or I'm going to do about five years!" I hissed into the phone. "Take your pick tonight!"

"Alright already, I'm on my way!" she snipped at me in return. "Where am I going and what do you want me to do when I get there?"

I told her where I was, how to get here, and what I wanted her to do once she got here. She didn't sound too enthused about the escape plan I put together on the fly.

"Throw rocks at the back of their house? Jim, you've got to be kidding? That's your escape plan?" she asked me and for some reason she made it sound ridiculous.

"Honey I'm sort of doing this on the fly at the moment but if you can manage to get one or two through a window I'm sure it will help considerably," I told her.

As soon as I had gotten her promise that she was coming and would do as I asked, I had time to reflect on some of those choices that I had made lately; particularly the one concerning how I got to be sitting in this closet in the middle of the night. Well, let's see. The safe's here for starters and I needed to give it a good checking out since I didn't have time for it the last time I was here. Okay, when I was here the last time I didn't even know if he had a safe for sure, I just figured there was one, good chance he had one, and I would have bet money on this guy having one.

Maybe choosing tonight to come here after work wasn't such a good choice either. I mean Dick said they would be in Portland, Oregon for three days. Geesh, like this is really my fault that they came back a day early? As far as I'm concerned my planning and choices on this one were at 100% up until about twenty minutes ago when everything started turning to crap. That's when the garage door started going up and those little warning bells from Houston Control started screaming in my head _Run Forrest Run. Save Yourself Forrest_. I get a lot of move lines and music lyrics in my head at the most unusual times. Go figure.

You ever take a real good running jump at a creek when you were a kid? Just as soon as that last foot left dry ground you knew, just deep down inside, you knew you were as screwed as the creek was deep and wide because there was no way on God's green earth you were going to make it across without getting wet. You were coming up short on the far side and with all the wing flapping and arm flailing you did, you knew that you were getting just as wet, if not wetter for it. This safe and closet was my creek tonight because I knew as soon as I heard the garage door motor I didn't have enough time to put everything back like it was and get out of the house.

Maybe I should explain how I do this kind job. For starters I do one job a year and I usually take all year to do each one. Time starts on January 1st and runs through December 31st. If I can't safely plan all the aspects and get all the equipment I might need to get in and out undetectable, leaving no trace evidence like fingerprints, hair strands, or shoeprints, I bail out and forget about it. Now according to the audio feed I listened to a couple of days ago these guys weren't supposed be coming home until tomorrow. That was part of the equipment and planning phase I was talking about.

I also have the simple cash rule I follow. I steal only cash and I try to steal as much of it as I can from people who keep a lot of it around and who are likely to try evading paying taxes on it or report it stolen. Hide it any place you want to because within three hundred and sixty five days it's probably going to be mine. I chose to do it this way because there are way too many stupid thieves in prison. Don't think I'm not tempted to steal anything that isn't nailed down because I am. I've been locked up before and I didn't like it very much. That was one of those choices that I made before and it didn't work out too well. Now I try to make the best choices I can on the information made available to me or that I've collected, in any possible way or means.

I next started going over in my head which choice of lies I had available to tell Annette when I was interrupted by a loud thud on the outside of the house. Putting lies aside I started putting my escape route I had planned into motion just in case something like this happened to me. I made for the nearest exit of opportunity. The plan is simple; escape!

Escape routes and plans are all fine, well and good to have in case you get stuck in a closet in the house you are burglarizing. They are even better if you're not going to have to explain them to your wife. Even better, your wife doesn't have to come to Sequim at 3:00 am to throw rocks at the back of a house and through the windows creating a diversion so the owners will hopefully run out to the backyard thus giving our loveable thief the chance to quietly escape and prove to the world that yes we can make like Forrest Gump and save ourselves!

Unfortunately I didn't plan to have Dick's wife Shirley taking a bath as soon as they got home in the bathroom next to the closet I was stuck in or having Dick running around some place downstairs that I couldn't exactly tell where he was at. I didn't want to think of the consequences of getting caught in their bedroom closet while Shirley was taking a bath and hoping that first rock against the side of the house got Dick's attention. I started moving out and started praying at the same time that Shirley didn't come butt- naked out of the bathroom. All I needed was time to get out of the closet and rearrange things like they were so nobody could tell I'd been there; and Annette had another rock bouncing off the house in answer to my prayers.

I was moving in fast-cat mode, quick and quiet, down those stairs when I picked up the sound of Dick coming out of his recliner chair in the living room and heading towards the back door. This means one of two things; he'll intercept me at the hallway if I keep going and he looks up the stairway to his right, or worse, turns left to fetch trusty old Betsy that he keeps in the nightstand drawer next to the bed. Betsy's a 45 caliber automatic that I don't want to meet or two, his attention stays riveted on the backyard as hoped and he doesn't give a second thought to butt-naked Shirley in the tub upstairs.

I clamped down on my fear and waited just above the landing. I heard Dick's footsteps at the intersection of the stairs just before Annette got lucky and heaved one perfectly through what sounded like the small bathroom window off the kitchen, locking in Dick's direction of attention and going to the back door. About this time Lynard Skynard's song _Give Me Three Steps_ kicks in the back of my head and I'm headed towards the front door boogying my way out as another rock thumps the house and Dick starts yelling in a volume that speaks for its self.

Checking the alarm panel on my way out the front door I punch the off button so it doesn't start adding to the racket that's just starting to grow. No use adding to it I figure. Hopefully Dick will think he forgot to reset it when they came in. Another rock slams against the house as I relock and shut the front door and start heading down the street. I pull my cell phone out and hit Annette's name for speed dial.

Annette picks up on the first half ring so she was probably throwing rocks one handed while holding her cell phone up to her ear. "Run for it now; I'm out," I tell her.

"You're goddamn right I'm running you son of a bitch." This was followed by phone silence as she had hung up on me. Not that there was a lot to say at the present time, so I could understand the rest of the conversation would take place later at her convenience.

Figuring I should give her withdrawal some cover, I jogged back up the road a ways, picked up a couple of rocks, and pegged the front door, then front guest bedroom just for good measure.

As you can guess I couldn't wait to get home and start talking my way out of this one, although deep down inside I knew there wasn't a way, so I retrieved the little Cavalier and headed back to the storage unit where I kept it parked. As I drove west on highway 101 to Port Angeles I began trying to figure out what I was going to tell Annette.

I finally started to come down from the adrenaline rush you get from one of these experiences. No matter what, I was going to have to come clean and tell her the truth. There was no way, no lie, to cover this wise guy. Clear. Plain. Simple. The question to ask myself was is she going to stay with me after this? I knew she'd believe me once I showed her everything and told her the truth. On the other hand she was going to be just totally pissed off. Did she love me that much? Marriage vows and all the 'I love you honeys' aren't enough to keep two people together sometimes after throwing rocks at 3:00 am. I had kept a very big part of my life, a very secret part of my life, hidden from her for the five years of our marriage. This, I realized, was just as bad as having a woman on the side and her finding out about it.

The next series of questions and answers was about to begin and I knew who the loser was going to be. I parked the Cavalier in the parking garage, made sure all my equipment I had taken with me was transferred to my pickup and drove the three blocks home.

Is contestant number one ready with her questions? You bet your ass she is! Contestant number two, are you ready with those honest answers? Yes I am.

Please God make it quick and painless I prayed as I got out of my truck and walked up to the front door of our home. 'Crap!' I muttered as I turned the door knob.
Chapter 2

Any guy on the face of this planet that has a wife, significant other, girlfriend, or just plain had a woman pissed off at them knows about _the_ tone of voice. With the tone automatically comes the look women give with it. Your goose is cooked. No way. Nada. Come clean; throw yourselves on mercy of the nearest female around because you lose no matter what. You're wrong, you're wrong, you're wrong!

As I came through the front door Annette was sitting in her favorite chair waiting for me, and of course, giving me the look. Annette is thirty, five years younger than I am. She's 5 feet dead even and weighs exactly 129 lbs. naked and soaking wet, which is how I like her to be most of the time. Her blondish brown hair hangs just past her shoulders a couple of inches and she wears it loose except when she goes to bed. She has a great body with just the most perfect back I've ever seen. The front side is just as great with an almost perfectly flat tummy and the nicest breasts a guy could ask for. God gave her the face of an angel with the cutest smile and piercing hazel eyes that has just a touch of brown around them. At the moment they were boring holes in me. Well, I thought they were.

"I put some coffee on. It'll be done in a minute. Want some?"

At this point only a complete fool would say, "No thanks Annette, I think I'll just head on off to bed. You know, hard night at the old burglar factory," so I kept my mouth shut. Instead I showed how well I knew us as a couple, "please, right about now I could really use some. Especially with the things I have to tell you about. I'll definitely need it," I said as I took my favorite chair for only a few minutes. I knew that I would be moving to the computer chair so I'd be better able to face her and talk to her more directly. Just waiting for a cup of coffee to be brought to you can be an eternity of waiting in the unknown zone when a woman is pissed at you. It's eerie like the _Twilight Zone_ only it's for real. Said coffee was duly delivered with a little blithe smile as I've ever seen. Let the games begin!

Annette decided to get the game started with question number one, "what in the hell was all this 'I'm stuck on Bell Hill, in a closet, in a house I'm burglarizing' bullshit?" she asked me with a look of wonder that said I was stupid too.

Houston, octave range one and two have been reached. Preparing for major blast off at this time. How do you copy?

Copy you in the clear Burglar One. Proceed with operation, 'Come Clean'.

"Come get you!!! Come to Bell Hill and throw rocks at someone's home at 3:00 in the morning? What in the name of god do you think you were doing? You could have gotten both of us arrested! You're an asshole! Do you realize you could have gotten both of us killed?" she asked as she raised her voice in wonder at me.

Houston octave range is off the chart. I say again off the charts. Be advised meltdown highly possible at this altitude.

"Look, it's sort of a long story honey, but basically I find a home or business that I think has a good sum of money, in cash form, and I spend up to a year planning how to steal it without getting caught," I said calmly to her with a shrug like it was nothing. I had started with hard eye contact, low even vocal, steadied and measured. The kind of eye and vocal thing that lets people know that you're real serious. I decided to keep my Jedi eye-vocal thing going, press on, and save the pleading on follow up if I needed it. I probably would, knowing Annette.

"If it doesn't seem worth it after a good checking out I drop it and start planning for the next year. I'm slow, take my time and don't hurry. I don't include anyone else because I don't trust anyone but you in my life and I couldn't tell you because if anything happened, I didn't want to put you through lying to the cops for me," I told her and then looked down like I was ashamed of myself.

Annette looked at me for a moment trying to absorb all that I had told her and put it in order. She gave me a look that I couldn't quite decipher. "Keep going buddy-boy," she told me as she gave me the hand signal thing to keep it coming.

"I've been doing this pretty much since I moved here. Well, okay, since before I moved here," I added just to be truthful. "I've got extra cars garaged in a couple of places; registered in false names. I've got a space under the garage that I keep all my tools and gadgets in, plus the extra money," I said.

"You have extra money? What extra money?" Annette asked raising her eyebrows in shock. "Tell me about this extra money. Where is it? You keep it under the garage you said?"

"I keep the money hidden and then feed it into the system little by little. Not all the extra money comes from doing side jobs with Carl," I said to her.

Carl is my brother-in-law. I do some home remodeling and carpentry on the side for my brother-in-law or for some of the people I work with at the casino. It brings in extra money that we spend in cash form for things like going to the movies, gas, smokes, that sort of thing, plus I keep my eyes open for something along the nocturnal side.

I guess I should also tell you that my name is James Anthony Fratino and that besides being a thief, I work as a floor supervisor, or as most people would know it, as a 'pit boss' at the local casino; Seven Rivers Casino. I've been there for a long time. I always get people telling me I look like a Mafioso from one of the mob movies like _Casino_ or _The Sopranos_ , which is my favorite show. I've got more jewelry than most women will ever own in their lifetime. I wear nice suits, perfectly shinned shoes, shirts of every color made and the ties to go with them. Plus, I now know to accessorize and color coordinate thanks to Annette. The women love it when I give credit to my wife.

I'm only 5'9"and carry 175 lbs. but I've got attitude, the look, plus thirteen years experience in the business to help me handle the customers. I know almost everyone that walks through the doors so I don't get too much grief from people. Also a lot of people seem to think I carry a gun under my left armpit for some reason.

I pick up lots of information there; casinos are great for that. People love to talk about themselves and other peoples business especially after they spend thirteen years associating with you and your business. I keep my eyes and ears open and my mouth shut. I try my best to get along with everyone there; customers and fellow employees both. I like to think that everyone there likes me. More than that, I try to make all of them trust me. I love my job.

"Just how extra is this money?" Annette asked me again with the raised eyebrow look. "How much extra money exactly are we talking about?" her eyes had gotten that dull glint glow that means she's thinking something that I probably won't like very much. My wife may not be into illegal activities, but all women I know like extra money, from anywhere.

"Let's say around fifty thousand extra at the moment. I keep as much as I can for incidentals and you know me, I like to save for a rainy day," I said with a slight smile. Maybe this wasn't going to turn out too bad after all I thought.

"And these tools and gadgets you were mentioning a few minutes ago, what's with those."

"I invest in buying electronic tools and hi-tech monitoring equipment, the latest spying stuff and of course all the new hi-tech clothing you would need these days. I have two cars, a truck, and a motorcycle that I use only for these jobs along with a false identity for all of them and the parking garages."

Annette just sat there and gave me a funny look and then put her face in her hands, resting her elbows on her knees and just inhaled, let out a big sigh, and then shook her head back and forth for a few minutes. When she finally raised her head she just looked at me with a dumbfounded look on her face for a second or so. "So all this stuff you just told me was true? All of this is the truth, the burglaries you've done, the money you've stolen, the cars and your false identities? All of this is true?" The slight strain in her voice told me she believed me.

"Yes, it's all true and I'm sorry I had to drag you into it tonight honey. I really didn't want you to know because it might have put you in jeopardy," I told her with as much sincerity as I could. I sat my coffee cup down and crossed the three feet that separated us, kneeling on my knees in front of her and taking her hands in mine. She startled me when she jerked her hands out of mine

"Don't! Just don't touch me right now when I'm trying to sort this out. I just can't believe I could live with you and have this happening right beneath my nose for the last five years and not have a clue one as to what you were doing!" she told me in exasperation. I ran the Houston launch thing in my mind as I prepared for Annette to go ballistic on me again. But she didn't. That surprised me more than anything right now. "I can't believe that I let myself be talked into that wild stunt tonight. I can't believe you've been doing this bullshit stuff behind my back for five years and not once have I doubted that all you were doing was working at night," she had that I can't believe that you hurt me tone in her voice and look on her face. I was screwed now. I couldn't even look her in the eyes after that. "I'm exhausted, let's go to bed. It's almost 5 am and I can't take any more of this tonight. We'll finish this in the morning."

I followed Annette into the bedroom and we both got ready for bed, slipping under the covers on our own sides. We both turned to each other and exchanged a small kiss good night like we usually do and then turning out our small bedside lights. Like I said before, I'm an idiot. Was my marriage to Annette over? I fell into a troubled sleep worrying about how bad I had screwed things up between us. Go figure.
Chapter 3

I woke up around 10:00 am and the bed was empty on Annette's side. I got up and went into the bathroom and went through my morning routine like all of us do. I came out and went to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Annette was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in front of her. We exchanged glances as I fixed my own and then took a seat across from her. Our house isn't all that big so we have a small dining table set in the kitchen which is used for all our meals unless we're eating on TV trays in the living room. "Good morning honey, how are you?" I asked.

Annette inhaled and let out a big breath as she answered, "I'm okay I guess. I'm just trying to sort this all out in my head. I feel betrayed and used and cheated. I'm scared the cops are going to come and arrest us for last night. What if somebody saw my car and got the license plate number? That guy could have caught you in his house and shot you. Could have killed you and gotten me killed, arrested or both."

Although the last part of both of us getting killed and arrested at the same time sounded stupid when you thought about it I wasn't about to tell her that right now. She sounded hurt and scared. Now wasn't the time to say she was stupid. "I know. I'm sorry I got you involved."

"I know you are," she told me putting a hand over mine and giving it a couple of small pats. I felt a little better from this gesture. Who knows, maybe she was taking this better than I thought.

"Look, believe it or not I try to take every step I can to keep things like that from happening. I have equipment I set up and monitor them real good before I go strolling into somebody's house. Dick and Shirley were out of town and weren't supposed to be home until tomorrow afternoon."

"But they did come home early and look at the results from it. This has to stop and I mean now Jim." The look and tone were starting to develop on Annette's face. She was starting to get pissed again.

"You want me stop now? Right this minute type stop now?" I asked her. "I still have field equipment down at his house."

"Yes, if you still want to be married to me you better stop it right now and I do mean this very second right now. I also want to see this money and your little hideaway you have; now, please and you're not going back for any reason, you can just let your field gear go."

"I can't let the stuff stay there, there are things in the house, outside the house, in the attic and under the floors. I have listening and recording units I need to remove so no one ever finds them. They find this stuff they'll turn it into the cops and it could lead back to me." Annette gave me the look, with crossed arms, so I knew it wasn't the time to push my reasoning or thinking for going back to Dick's house. I gave up and gave her a 'come on' wave with my hand and headed out to the garage.

Our house is small and so is our garage. It's only eighteen feet by twenty feet. Like the rest of the house, the garage and the family room needed some serious work to bring them up to code. The garage had a dirt floor in it when I bought the place. Whoever built the family room and the garage had done it without a permit or the brains to do the job the right way. Basically I've had to rebuild the place little by little and with the extra money I've come by I've been able to do all the remodeling and upgrades first class. When I got to the garage I figured out where I wanted to put the work benches and cabinets first, then after I got my inspection from the building department I poured the foundation footings. After they were done I rebuilt all the walls because they were rotting and were out of plumb and the roof needed to be leveled. After all that stuff was done and before I poured the concrete slab for the floor, I dug out a ten foot by eight foot room to go beneath the slab. I made the walls and floor out of concrete, put in electrical outlets and lights. I installed a two foot by two foot wall safe in one of the walls embedded in a two foot concrete casing. Just in case someone found it and decided to pull it from the wall. When I poured the slab I had already back filled around the walls and laid one inch plywood sheeting over the top with temporary supports beneath while the concrete was curing.

I located the entry underneath one of the work benches and formed it to sit one inch under the top of the concrete, then filled it with dirt to the top so after the slab was poured I could get my final inspection from the building inspector. He'd never know it was there even if he was standing on top of it. In fact he did stand on the very spot for the entrance and never knew it. With the building inspector gone for good I closed the garage doors, hit the lights and got down to the business of finishing the interior. The wiring was done so I insulated the ceiling and walls then hung the drywall, taped, textured, and then painted it flat white except for where the work bench was going to be mounted.

If you're going to have a secret room entrance you have to be able to access it easily and leave no traces of it. That means you can't be dragging a work bench back and forth from against the wall because you'll be leaving some rather large permanent scuff marks and grooving in the concrete from all that back and forth movement. Can't have people seeing something like that; especially the cops. Eventually someone would be over sometime and notice the scuffing and would wonder about it. So, what do you use on a four foot work bench that you actually want to put all kinds of tools and junk in, that's probably going to add a couple of hundred pounds, that has to be movable, and you can still actually use it as intended? My answer was a hydraulic fluid hinge of course. Built by a steel fabrication company I found in Texas on the internet. Two foot by three foot and tapered down to ten inches with a twelve inch wide mounting plate to attach it to the six inch stud wall and backing. I used a set of kitchen cabinets I took out of a remodel I did that were still in real good condition. I mounted them using large lag bolts with washers. That way I could use large bolts on the work bench and hinge without them looking out of place from the other ones in case anyone ever got to looking at them. Lastly I installed an electronic solenoid catch and release unit like they have for security doors and gates. Works perfect.
Chapter 4

I had hidden the switch for the solenoid release in the control box for an electric motor driven hoist. Instead of having a release hook for the load I took it off the unit and just wired the solenoid to it instead, then mounted it on the wall away from the work bench. The type I bought had a double tap safety feature built into the release button so you couldn't just hit it once to release the load and kill someone and unless you used one all the time or were familiar with hoist motors, you weren't getting into my secret room. It was with some pride when I told Annette 'please dear, hit that orange button twice if you would'. From the look on her face I could tell she was wondering about it.

I had been leaning on the work bench until she hit the button and when she did you could just barely hear an audible click. I just stepped away and with a grand flourish of my index finger I pulled the work bench away from the wall and watched as it silently floated towards her. It was one of those moments like in the commercials when they list what everything costs and at the end they say 'And the look on her face, priceless'. I could tell she didn't know what to say so I just gave Annette the 'come on' wave and headed down the steps, flipping the light switch on as I went. She stood at the top for a couple of seconds taking in the view from above before warily venturing down the steps. I was standing next to one of the shelves that ran from floor to ceiling holding numerous gadgets and gear as she came down.

"Close the door would you? We wouldn't want somebody coming in the garage and seeing the entrance."

Annette glanced up, looked back at me and asked, "We can still open it from down here can't we?"

"Of course we can. You don't think I'd be smart enough to make sure I couldn't get out? And if the electricity goes out it can still be opened manually." I went up past her a couple of steps and swung the work bench back in place, listening for the faint click that would tell me it was closed and we were safe.

Annette stood there and looked around the room a few times taking it all in. She walked over to one of the shelves and picked up what was a small remote video camera, turning it over in her hands then setting it down for another one that was a wireless receiver that picked up both picture and sound up to a range of a hundred yards. Then she moved across the room to another set of shelves that held the clothing, shoes, backpacks, tote bags, and other military type gear like Nomex outfits for silent night work. When she went to the last shelf she didn't touch anything. Annette just stood where she was and looked over the floor to ceiling shelves that held most of the tools that I used on my nocturnal cash flow jobs. It was also the one where I kept my guns with silencers and my knives.

Annette finally looked at me standing next to the wall safe. I knew she had already seen it because you can't miss a two foot black wall safe sitting in the middle of a concrete wall fifty-five inches up from the floor. But for some reason we just both looked at each other for what seemed like a couple of minutes, but was probably more like thirty seconds before she narrowed her eyes and gave me the look and said with that real quiet voice that scares all men alike, "open the safe."

I looked at her a moment more trying to discern the look on her face and I turned my back to her and worked the two dials on the safe and had it opened for her in about a minute. I swung the door back with a flourish of the hand thing presenting the safe to her for inspection much like a lackey would for a royal queen about to inspect the royal treasury at the palace. I was going to say 'come on don't be shy. It isn't booby trapped' but Annette walked right up to the safe, looked in, then started taking all the money out and sitting it on the center work bench. Then she checked the safe again, like she was looking for hidden panels and false fronts. Satisfied the safe was empty she turned back to the money, put her hands on it, and then closed her eyes like she was contemplating or thinking about something. She took a big breath, held it for a second, and then slowly started exhaling while shaking her head back and forth. Soft laughter started as she shook her head back and forth, growing in volume and approaching a rip-roarious state until it finally fell off to the soft laughter it started at.

When Annette stopped laughing she looked me in the eyes and told me; "You are a complete asshole, you know that. I can't believe my eyes, and now, I can't believe in you or us for that matter. You must think that I and everyone else on the Olympic Peninsula, and this town, are just plain dumb simpletons that you can just go around and break into their homes and business' any time you want to. Do you really believe that you're that much smarter than the cops? Do you think that you're smarter than the insurance investigators that get sent out to check up on these types of things before they pay off some claim?"

I started to give her my answers to her questions, which I thought were out of line, given what I'd told her so far about how I planned and operated, but Annette threw up her hand at me in the stop sign mode; "Shut up and don't say a word buddy-boy if you know what's good for you because I don't want to hear it right now. Now, let's count this money and see exactly how much is here. Then we're going to have a nice little talk, you and me, about your second job."

There was really nothing I could do was there? So I did what any smart husband would do at this point and said, "Okay Annette, anything you say dear. I'm just going to sit in this chair and watch you count $53,600 in various sums of twenties, fifties, and hundred dollar bills." I mean I'm going to get another verbal ass kicking aren't I? So you really couldn't expect me not to say anything after she told me to shut up could you? I tell you the commercial thing kicks in inside my head and as her jaw hits the floor and the look on her face? Priceless! Me? I just smile. Women; go figure.
Chapter 5

Some days you just can't get a break to save your butt no matter what. Today was one of those days for me just as sure as an alligator is going to bite my ass if I'm in his swamp trying to drain it. Oh sure, I got them there pumps running Uncle Jed except I need more of them there garden hoses. You do know who Jethro Bodine is don't you? Try to keep up here with the television stuff OK? Anyway, right now Annette is my swamp, and my alligator, and she's getting ready to chew me a new asshole if you know what I mean.

We've moved back into the kitchen and poured some coffee and were sitting down at the kitchen table where I figure Annette's about to have a nice little talk with me about things like trust, marriage, breaking the law, having guns with silencers on them, lying by omission, which by the way, is one of her favorites, and last but not least; drum roll at this point please, having $53,600 in twenties, fifties, and hundred dollar bills in my secret hideaway, in my secret safe, and not telling her about it. For the ass whooping we are about to receive we thank thee O' Lord. Amen.

Come on, what's a little blasphemy at this point in my life? Like God's not already pissed at me with all bullshit I've pulled in my life. They don't make confessionals that big at the church and besides the priests would have to be on heavy doses of speed to just stay awake long enough to hear about all the sins I've committed. Okay they'd probably stay awake if I went dressed like an alter boy. Come on that was funny. Unless you're the alter boy!

"Okay, I've lied to you by omission by not telling you about all this stuff and I was wrong not to tell you. So what's next for us? What's on your mind honey?" I asked her just to get the conversation started.

"I'm having a hard time accepting all of this and trying to understand it. All the lying and deceit for the whole time we've been married; how could you be this way? What did I do marry some kind of psycho who keeps secrets like this? Whether you realize it or not James A. Fratino this is some serious fucked up shit you've gotten us both into and I don't like it one bit." I did tell you my name was James didn't I?

"Well, how do you like the money?" I asked in what was probably my cocky tone of 'Oh Yeah'? Okay it was my cocky tone so what are you going to do, verbally bitch slap me?

"James you're an asshole!" Annette replied giving me the look. "Everybody likes money in case you haven't noticed. I like money. Money makes the world go around as they say, but this money is the kind of money that gets people thrown in jail for long periods of time or gets you killed in case you haven't thought about that part in your secret little life that you've kept from me." Annette always calls me by my given name when she's really pissed off.

"The money isn't the issue here James, it's about this whole robbery and burglary stuff you've been doing, it's about this secret room and all the equipment, the guns with silencers on them for god's sake!" Annette said to me with that pleading, exasperated look that, with all the arm waving added in, told me she was just getting warmed up. Yep; should of kept my mouth shut but she was going to reach this level anyway. I'm a guy, go figure.

"What were you planning on doing with those guns? Were you planning on killing a cop or some home owner that walked in unexpectedly and caught you in the middle of robbing them?" she asked. When I started to reply she held up the stop sign hand and continued on. "That's scary when you think about it James. From this day forward you've got to stop it. You used me in a burglary last night when those people came home early and you couldn't get out of their house. We both could have gone to jail over that little stunt there just in case that brain of yours hasn't figured out that small detail. Plus that's a fairly big felony isn't it?"

"Annette, honey, baby," I said in my best 'oh baby' soothing voice I had. "Come on now. You can't believe I'd go carrying guns around with me when I'm doing something like this do you? The whole point of taking a year to do these jobs is to make sure nothing goes wrong and nobody gets hurt, them or me. I make the best use I can of the surveillance equipment that's available on the market today. I spend a lot of money to ensure everybody's gone and I have all the time in the world to do my thing," I said.

"James I can't believe those words just came out of you mouth," Annette said with her withering tone and look. "You're talking about a major felony like it was a part time job at Wal-Mart. Good lord Jim, get a reality check on this and realize you're talking major crime here, you're breaking into homes and business and stealing fairly large sums of cash from these people and that is some very serious stuff." Annette had a very serious, pissed off look on her face and the Jedi-tone was definitely working on me because I knew she was really pissed off at the moment. Maybe she didn't like the Annette, honey thing. Usually works on her. Go figure!

"Look, I realize you're pissed at me for keeping this stuff from you and for getting you involved last night. I promise you it won't happen again honey," I told Annette trying to smooth things over. I'm sorry, you are wrong again contestant number two.

"You're god dammed right I'm pissed off at you and you're also right in assuming it won't happen again James A. Fratino because you're never going to do this again if you want to be married to me!" Annette said and continued on before I could say anything. "You're never going back to that house again. I don't care if there's a million dollars in that man's safe. You're going to get rid of those guns and all of your little toys down there in your little hidey-hole secret room," she told me using the double handed, two fingered, quote-unquote thing that people tend to do when they're mocking you. "Do I make myself perfectly clear and understandable on this subject Mr. James Fratino?"

What could I say at this point except what any smart man would say when you know your wife is just totally pissed off at him? "Yes dear, I understand you perfectly on this. No amount of money is worth losing you. You have my word on this honey."

"Now we're going to take five thousand of this money and put it in the checking account today. I'll use it to catch up on some bills and credit card payments. Then we'll put some in the savings account next month and spread the rest around in cash expenses instead of using the checking account or credit cards for the next couple of months," she told me with a wicked smile forming on that sweet little cherub face of hers. I knew there was more to come and Annette wasn't one to disappoint.

"What else?" I asked.

"For being such a screw up and putting me through all this, plus the major lying behind it all, I think you're taking me to Las Vegas for seven days to a really, really, nice hotel and casino," she told me as she got up from her chair and plopped down on top of me. She had that wicked smile still on her face. You know what? From that smile and her sitting on my lap I got the distinct impression that Vegas might not be such a punishment after all. Coming clean? Go figure!
Chapter 6

Las Vegas is a nice getaway place when you have unlimited money. OK so part of the $53,600 isn't a great deal of unlimited money. Annette decided to allocate $10,000 to our little getaway and that isn't a great deal of money to take to Las Vegas for five days. Actually after she got done booking a vacation package deal, which included a nice suite with a very large two person garden style Jacuzzi hot tub, I was feeling about fourteen hundred dollars lighter. That was after she went through all the bargain websites. We booked the package deal for the Bellagio Resort Hotel and Casino which is an extremely nice place. We'd never been there before and if you haven't been definitely go.

The Bellagio is where they filmed the fountain scenes for the _Ocean's Eleven_ movie so I sort of liked that with me being a thief. It gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling inside me whenever I see that movie. Anyway, the place has all this marble and columns with arches and domed glass roofs with nice plants everywhere to make you think you're really in some place like Italy or something to that effect. The room we stayed in was especially nice compared to what we usually stay in due to the fact we're not real big on gambling and no I didn't get a complementary room or package deal even if I am a pit boss in a casino. I wouldn't want one anyway because I'm the type of person who likes to keep a low profile wherever I'm at. Smart criminals learn at an early age to blend in. That's the three B's thing I was talking about earlier.

It was a cold thirty-eight degrees that week when we left Port Angeles on the short Kenmore Air flight to Seattle, then on to Las Vegas where we got off the plane to a warm and balmy fifty-five degrees. It was like summertime for us after being in Western Washington during a cold and rainy fall season where the days are short and dark and the nights are longer, darker, and rainier if that's possible. Great weather for being a thief; it keeps most people indoors watching the TV.

We set our daily gambling allowance at five hundred dollars each, which is four hundred more than we would usually give ourselves when we're in Las Vegas or Laughlin for a week. Like I said we're not big on gambling. If we can't make money on our allowance then we shouldn't be on the tables. I'm a fairly good card counter on one and two deck pitch games and I've taught Annette the basics so we can play along together with her following my lead. We don't play to win everything in the casino's bank, but we play progressively and conservatively, that way we don't attract attention, but can still increase our bets or lower them depending on the count of the deck. We don't always make a lot of money, but then we don't lose a lot either. Thing of it is we always have a great time together whenever we're out of town relaxing.

Annette took some of her nice dresses and I brought a couple suits and slacks to wear when we went out to dinner and hitting the table games. Annette looked as beautiful and radiant as I've ever seen her the week we were at the Bellagio. We had some long earnest talks in the garden tub and continued them in the bedroom where we finally ran out of words and the passion took over and did the talking for us. Did I mention that my wife is the most beautiful woman in the world and I love her very, very, much? Seems like everything in our relationship was patched up and I was finally forgiven by the time we left Las Vegas...then we got home.
Chapter 7

The New Year was upon me this morning as I rolled out of bed and went through the usual routine of getting the day started. I was in a mood that said I was pissed off deep down inside of me, at myself and at my world. The mood was an ongoing thing I'd had for the last month. All morning I grumbled and growled at Annette. When she asked if we were going out to my parents to visit I grumbled and growled. We had plans for a date night and I growled about taking her to see _National Treasure-Book of Secrets_ at the Deer Park Cinema and out to dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Fiesta Jalisco. Irregardless of the grumbling, date night was still on and out we went.

Three quarters of the way through Nicholas Cage outsmarting everybody he came across, plus outsmarting everybody that came before him in history, it hit me. I had an itch that had to be scratched. I was born in the mid-west where there's a lot of scratching to be done. You scratch in the winter from dry skin. You scratch in the summer from chiggers, poison ivy, and mosquitoes. Your mom tells you not to scratch because it will only make it worse, plus it will spread. What happens? You scratch anyway. You have to scratch even though you know it's wrong. You promised your mom and yourself you wouldn't scratch and you really meant it at the time you made the promise. You can fight the urge all you want but it's always in the back of your mind and no matter how strong you are the urge will finally win out and without even thinking about it the next thing you know your fingers have taken on a mind of their own and those nails of yours are dug in deep enough to make even the dog jealous. I knew I had to scratch, badly.

I was going back to Dick Jameson's house to pull my equipment even though I had promised Annette I would never go back. I just couldn't walk away without closing down the job like the professional I had become over the years. You don't leave anything behind to be found at a later date or time by the owner or some kind of hired help they might have or someone they might hire to do repairs or something like that. People find things and turn them into the cops. From one job it's no big deal but after a few times the cops are going to have a lead on our lovable thief who leaves high tech cameras and listening devices around after the job is finished. Can't have that now can we? No we can't.

I made a few passes by Dick's place for about a week driving by on my way to work then afterwards when I knew I had some time to do a walk by or a drive by. I've always kept a small pair of binoculars in all my cars and trucks and although they weren't made for night vision they work pretty well for brief periods of surveillance. I'd pull the car over at any vantage point and spend ten or fifteen minutes looking over his house and the neighbors for anything different from the last time I was here. New motion detector lights maybe? Is that a new dog in the yard? Any patrol cars making neighborhood spot checks? After being almost caught the last time I was here I wasn't taking any chances at this stage of the game. I planned to creep up and retrieve my remote video and audio receivers I'd placed outside and far enough away where I thought they wouldn't be found and tied into the job.

Anyone at anytime can find external receiving equipment whether it's the homeowner or the eight year old neighbor kid out looking to build a fort or shoot his new BB gun. If I could get the receiver tapes I'd know if there was any chance of getting inside to pull the rest of the transmitters and cameras that I'd placed around the house, the attic, and underneath in the crawl space. After seven days of random and short term surveillance I felt comfortable enough with the house and the neighborhood to pull the receivers. I decided on January twenty-first, there would be a full moon for three days from today but living here it would help me navigate better in the darkness crawling on my stomach to get the receivers tapes back.
Chapter 8

January twenty-first fell on a Monday which turned out to be my Friday at work. I also had the closing shift as floor supervisor which means I wasn't supposed to get off until 3 am. Everything was checked off my insurance list, so I felt pretty comfortable about going on 'Mission Retrieval' to recover my remote equipment. I love running around in the middle of the night taking care of business. When I got off work it was about twenty-seven degrees with no wind or cloud cover. The moon was as full as it was supposed to be and I just couldn't see any reason not to go, so off I went.

I was driving our car since I'd put my other ones up for sale as per Annette's instructions. I parked the car pointing down towards Miller Rd. at the bottom of Bell Hill on Doe Run Rd. where it curves around up to Fox Hollow Rd. I had already changed into my ninja night clothes in the parking lot at work, so with one last look around I put the car keys under the seat and got out of the car.

I walked to the intersection of Doe Run Rd. and Fox Hollow Rd. and started cutting across the field heading southwest that would take me towards Ronson Rd. where Dick lived. The way I was going would take me in-between the back of the houses on both roads and bring me out to the northeast corner of Dick's property. The lots are large and there are no street lights here to cut down on the darkness. All I had was the moon for light and that was plenty for what I would be doing tonight.

When you're crawling around in cold, crisp, frozen, field grass it sounds very loud. The colder it is the louder it sounds so twenty-seven degrees sounds like the Fourth Of July Parade down Main Street. Here I am trying to do my version of Sammy the Sniper and all I can think about is how loud I'm being and feeling like an elephant in the parade that's now trying to dance its way through a frozen field in the middle of the night. I don't see how those guys in sniper training can do it quietly. Those guys have got to practice a lot I bet. Me, I just got to be the best I can be and work with what I got to work with. I needed forty-five minutes to traverse the property, do what I had to do and get out.

I came up on Dick's house from the east side approaching with caution, staying low and slow just from years of habit. I'd hidden both the audio and video receiving units in a camouflaged plastic container that I had placed under some low brush. I'd placed some rocks around three sides leaving the front open and then covered it up real good with clumps of long wild grass. I found the box right where I had hidden it. From the look of the immediate area I could tell no one else had found my hiding spot. I lay on the cold ground watching Dick's house and his neighbors for about ten minutes just to get a feel of anything that might be out of place. Something might be wrong. No, everything felt right in the Jedi-Ninja force tonight. I replaced the receiver unit with one of the spares I kept on hand and silently slipped away and made my way back to where I had left the car thinking to myself that I had to quit watching _Nick at Night_.

I pulled into the Carlsborg Texaco mini-mart gas station and parked where I wasn't too obvious but didn't look like I was hiding and changed back into the suit I'd worn to work. I put my duffel bag in one of the cabinets in the garage after the door came down and went to bed. As I climbed into the bed and lightly kissed Annette on her forehead I thought to myself that what she didn't know wouldn't kill me.
Chapter 9

Annette and one of her girlfriends went to the Silverdale mall the next morning because our end of the peninsula doesn't have enough of a population base to support one. That meant I had at least five hours to review the audio and video on the receiver units I'd recovered from Dick's house the night before. Annette had made me put all my electronic equipment for sale on E-Bay, that way she could make sure I was trying to really sell it all, plus it was part of my plea bargain deal I cut with her in the hot tub while we were in Las Vegas. Go figure!

Anyway none of the equipment had sold yet so I was still able to run the tapes in the players meant for them. I had installed a small button camera with exceptional resolution in Dick's closet in hopes of catching all the combination numbers to his safe when he opened it. As of today it hadn't paid off completely because I still needed the middle set of the combination, but hey, it never hurts to check does it? Besides I promised Annette I wasn't going to rob the guy, right?

I was running the video through a slow loop cycle watching for the missing set of dial numbers while listening to the audio play back and I must not have been paying a whole lot of attention to the audio part because it finally came around in my mind that Dick was talking on the phone, or his cell phone, to someone and they were discussing something about the casino and the slot machine jackpot payoffs and how good they expected to do on them.

Start of conversation:

" _What a great deal to finally have player's club cards like they have in Las Vegas. Great deal, love it!"_

Pause: (Listening to other person) "Been winning some good money too!"

Pause: "Can't wait until we start winning those Mega-Jackpots!"

Pause: "Aren't any chance of them catching on now is there?

Pause: "Look, let's meet later next week and go over that new card system you're working on."

Pause: "Is that about ready to go for a try out?"

Pause: "Great, give me a call next week and we'll get together."

End of conversation:

There's that itch again and I don't have any way of scratching this one because as a rule I don't tap phones. Okay I don't have any phone tapping equipment at all. When I was younger and starting a life of crime I was given some real good advice and lots of it. For the most part it seems to have stuck or I just saw so many screw-ups by others that I didn't want that kind of grief in my life.

One: keep it simple-keep it to yourself. Take for instance phone tapping. You tap somebody's phone, the wrong somebody's phone and they find out about it, you could be permanently screwed. I might put a microphone in your house to eavesdrop on you in hopes of finding out where you keep your money, that's pretty much safe and okay. You find it you're probably going to think your wife or your girlfriend put it there to see if you're lying and cheating on her. Unless you're a bigger thief than I am you're not going to sweep for listening devices.

Or lets say you tap a phone that's already been tapped by your local or federal agency on somebody that's of interest in something a lot bigger than you know about. You didn't take your time to do the homework or surveillance. Now the local or federal agency has you and it's the end of your career as a Danny Ocean wannabe, or maybe this; the guy's phone you tapped finds out and they don't know how much you know about them and what they're doing, or who you are. All Mr. Big cares about is that you become a non-person. Don't laugh, I'm serious here. People get real dead over money, real quick. I usually don't care about whom steals from whom or the reasons they steal at all for that matter. People steal and that's a fact of life and has been one since Ugg ripped off Lee's best club.

Two: don't steal from family or friends. Never. And don't get caught stealing from me. Never. So what it comes down to is this; do I let this go and give Dick and Mr. Unknown a pass on ripping off the casino or do I do something about it? If I do something about it, what do I do? Do I change up the way I've done business all these years and take down both of them for as much cash as possible since they're stealing it from the casino anyway? Or do I go Mr. Upright citizen and employee of the year and snitch these guys off to the casino and the state? If I snitch, how would I explain how I came by the information and would they believe me? Would I be able to get a pass from all the law enforcement agencies involved for me doing my version of the Danny Ocean thing myself? I'd have to give them the tapes at some point. And the biggest question of all, drum roll at this point if you please, what could I possibly tell Annette that would keep her from walking out on me for breaking my word to her after we made the plea bargain deal in the Las Vegas hot tub?

Either way I thought about it I didn't like it. This was going to take a lot of thinking. I knew I had to do something about it. I just didn't know what I was going to do. I just couldn't let it go. As I put everything away and stashed the tapes in the safe it sort of dawned on me that this might be one of those moral dilemma things like you see in the movies. Go figure!
Chapter 10

I mulled things over for a few days then decided that I needed some expert advice on electronics and computers. All the new slot machines they manufacture these days are nothing but flashing interface graphics to make the customer see something happening on the screen and your basic computer motherboards with hi-end video boards. From what I know of our slot machines at the casino they're wired into our master server upstairs, operated in a series of five machines, and are a random generated number payout on the jackpots.

Random generated number machines are slot machines that are played even though no one is playing them. The master program keeps on generating numbers and winners over and over twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, never closed for holidays, so if you walk up and win it's because the computer says it's time for a pay-out on that particular game.

Our slot machines don't pay money on the pay-off return, just credits. When you hit the cash-out button on the machine, you receive a printed paper ticket that you then take to the slot cage to redeem for cash, or as we hope, insert in the next readily available machine of your choice. Thank you for choosing Seven Rivers Casino to have your gaming experience of being a winner!

You now know as much as I do about slot machines. Therein lays the reason to seek expert help and do some homework before I make any decisions on what course of action to take. I took the Microsoft Office Expert course up at Peninsula College a couple of years back and that seemed to be where I should go to get some expert advice on my problem.

Cal Ralston is one of the computer program instructors there and as far as I'm concerned the guy has entirely too much time on his hands. This guy thinks, lives, breathes, and probably goes to the church of the Holy Computer Geek. You ask Cal a question you better have a brain or a tape recorder in your pocket because the next thing you know the guy has left you looking stupid if you don't understand and can't keep up. God knows the man went over stuff with me two or three times and was always smiling and patient. This guy is so smart his kid Tommy turned out to be some kind of computer genius program writer on algorithmic flow charts that's used in data bases. Go figure!

I called Cal and made an appointment for Friday morning since that's open lab day for his classes. Students can work on projects for their computer classes, build or repair computer equipment, or get advice on stuff. I fall into the last category; so I waited until 9:00 am so the people doing important work could get his input on their projects and get started before I took up his time with my questions.

Cal Ralston is fifty-five or close to it and looks the part of the college professor to me. He always wears glasses and button up shirts; long or short sleeved depending on time and temperature of year. Sometimes he wears a pullover sweater in winter. Cal has short blond hair with a touch of gray that's starting to show. He isn't chubby or fat but has the frame and weight that says soon he'll be one Twinkie away from doing the Lean Cuisine thing, if you know what I mean.

When I walked into the lab I found Cal in the middle of about seven or eight people whom I took to be students although I couldn't really tell since they ranged anywhere from geeky eighteen with acne to hippie sixty-five with ponytails and wrinkles. They looked like a setting from Star Trek all huddled and hunched around one computer screen watching one geek play a video combat game.

After watching and listening a few minutes I started to notice the computer setup. The thing had clear plastic one inch hoses pumping some kind of bluish liquid through a clear plastic box with a temperature gauge on it that ran in and out of a massive CPU that had a fan on it big enough to be on my uncle Frankie's Caddie.

"Holy Captain James T. Kirk!" I said in hushed wonderment.

Cal looked over and smiled like a proud parent who just had a baby. "Well James what do you think of our new toy?"

"Who turned you loose without a keeper on this project and what the hell is this setup anyway?"

"We ordered this game and it requires the fastest and biggest micro-processor and the biggest video game card just to run it. The bigger and faster it is, the better the game plays. But we keep on burning up CPUs so we ordered this baby online."

"Yeah, that part I follow, but what's with the Frankenstein fluid?" I asked.

"Coolant," Cal said with another proud parent smile. "That processor really heats up with this game, so we devised a coolant system in hopes of dissipating the heat and getting the game to maximum speed. Plus I have to spend the funding money on something don't I?"

"In other words we need more lithium crystals captain?" I said.

"Yes Mr. Scott, more lithium crystals," Cal said laughing along with me at the take off of Star Trek. "Come into my office and tell me what's on your mind besides space."

We went into Cal's office and I made myself comfortable in the chair opposite from him. "First, let me ask you to keep whatever we talk about to yourself. Okay?" I asked. "I've come into to some information concerning the casino and I'd hate for anything to get around or get back to them and start a bunch of bullshit over something that might be nothing. Know what I mean?"

Cal inputted this into his computer brain, nodded sagely and wisely, "no problem, shoot."

"Slots... if a person was going to run a cheat or scam using the player club cards how would they do it?

Cal thought about this for a minute or so before answering. "What makes you think they're using the club cards? Didn't you guys just install those systems in the last month? I wouldn't think anybody would be able to get into the machines using the cards unless they were geniuses."

This wasn't exactly what I wanted or expected to hear. I thought he'd launch into one of his lectures on computer programming and faults. "This is exactly why I came to you, the genius of computer geniuses," I told him.

"The computer has built in anti-cheating devices or software installed right from the factory I'd assume. These are the pseudorandom generator machines?" Cal asked.

I thought for a second before nodding my head in agreement. "Okay, then the number sequence will repeat it self eventually. Sooner if the programming on them was done poorly. I would imagine the slot machines are controlled by EPROM computer chips and from studies done in the past on EPROM chip performance and durability I'd say they are pretty much tamper proof. About the only way to interrupt the pseudorandom number generators, or the EPROM chip, is to direct microwaves at it to disrupt its proper function. Got a microwave transmitter in your pocket?" I shook my head. "No? Then I doubt seriously that you have a problem with your machines."

"But what about the club card thing?" I asked.

"What, those cards with simple magnetic strips, so they can encode your name or other information on them? They are just like the ones they use for time clocks on your ID badge at work," Cal explained to me. "You swipe it and the reader reads your name on it and says James Fratino showed up for work today. Early, bright eyed, and bushy tailed I hope," a smiling Cal told me.

I thought this over for a minute. I went over the conversation I had heard on the receiver tape in my mind. It didn't add up with what Cal had just told me. There was something wrong. Was there something I'd missed on the tape? People just don't talk about things like that or in that way unless there was something going on.

"You want to tell me more about why you think somebody's cheating the slot machines at the casino?" Cal asked. "I did promise to keep it to myself and I will you know."

"Not right now but what I've got to go on tells me somebody is doing or planning to do something with those machines. How about I keep you posted on things? I need more information on these people. Would you have some time to see me again next Friday?"

"Sure thing, in the mean time I'll do some rooting around on the computer and see what I can find out on slot machines and how they're programmed; what makes them tick. Maybe I can find some published papers or articles on the subject," Cal told me.

"Okay I'll see you next Friday morning about the same time?" I asked.

Cal stood up and offered his hand to me. I shook his hand as he said, "Friday morning it is James."
Chapter 11

I went back to Dick's house three nights later and swapped out the receiver units with some new replacements after I'd done some spot surveillance first. I used the same routine as last time, only a little earlier because my shift at work was earlier. I planned to review the tapes in a few days, as soon as Annette was gone for a few hours. Then I was going to have to make some decisions based on what, if anything was on the tapes.

First on the list of decisions was how to tell Annette I broke the 'Hot Tub Plea Bargain Agreement' I made with her in Las Vegas. No matter what I told her she was going to go ballistic over this. Next on the list was how do I handle this with the casino and not get thrown into jail myself? I must have broken at least a couple of laws in obtaining this information. Okay I broke a whole shit load of laws, so what's new with that? Go figure!

What I needed was some guidance on casino policy and state gaming laws. The law part I could look up on the Internet. I needed somebody to explain to me what would happen if I came forward and snitched about something I wasn't completely sure about. This moral thing isn't easy. I mean I got morals, I get mine at Wal-Mart; every time they go on sale I stock up. Sometimes I even throw in some scruples just for good measure. Problem is they don't have any instructions with them on how to use the morals and scruples the right way.

The first thing that I had heard from the tapes that I had just picked up was the following:

" _What do you mean we need to meet somewhere?"_

Pause: "Really. Care to explain?"

Pause: "OK, when and where."

Pause: "OK. I'll be there."

End of conversation with Mr. Unknown.

I was running the receiver tapes and I was wishing I'd ordered a few phone tap units from my supplier in Essex, England. I could have ordered some but it would have taken two weeks the way I received things in a roundabout way plus Annette had taken all the money from my safe so I had no way of paying for it anyway. Go figure!

I sure would like to know when and where Dick and Mr. Unknown were meeting so I could listen in on the conversation with a parabolic handheld unit if possible. Damn the luck of it all. I was positive now that Dick and Mr. Unknown were up to no good. I just wished they would have stayed on the phone longer and talked more. Maybe they met and talked serious business in person and not on the phone. No way could they know I was onto something. I know if it was me I'd keep anything like that out of the house and away from the wife unless Dick's wife was in on it too. No way. Shirley just didn't seem the criminal type of wife but then again Dick didn't seem like that either. Sure, I figured him to be stashing cash away from the speed shop and from his end on the racetrack. That was why I'd chosen him for my next job but I never figured him to run a cheat on the casino. But then again, how much will people go to when it comes to making more money? I was going to have to talk to someone at the casino and feel them out on what would happen if I made this a formal investigation. Then I was going to have a talk with Annette. I just needed to have my ducks in a row and my story in order. Morals; go figure!
Chapter 12

I decided to talk to one of the guys in the Tribal Gaming Department that I knew rather than go to upper management with this one. I figured that I would run this as a 'what if this happened' type of a hypothetical thing. This way you get to ask some questions and get some answers; hopefully without anyone thinking anything is wrong in casino world. I was lucky that Conroy Williams, an ex-cop, had the same shift as mine. We get along pretty good, all things considered...ex-cop and the semi-reformed criminal. They know that I have what is termed as a 'colorful' past at the casino. Lots of people there have past lives and the mistakes that go with them; as long as the mistakes weren't too big or too often, the state of Washington and Seven Rivers Casino, in their infinite wisdom, will grant the reformed individual a gaming license.

We were half way through the closing shift when I ran into Conroy as I going on a coffee break. "Hey Con, how you doing these days?" I asked as we walked towards each other.

"Hey yourself Jimmy, what's up is what you see, which is absolutely nothing tonight."

"Got time for a cup of coffee and shoot the bull for a few in the club? You know, do the kill time routine?"

"Yeah, twist my arm and you buy; why not?"

We settled into one of the booths and ordered our coffee from the waitress. We chatted about the mundane casino small talk until the coffee was delivered. "Look Con I got this hypothetical thing we were debating in the pit earlier tonight because we had nothing better to do. Mikey was saying that you could probably take one of those new players' club cards and encode it to jimmy the slot machines so that it would disrupt the sequencing and make payouts." I had neglected to tell Con that I was the one to start the conversation. "Naturally I told him it was probably impossible and I was sure they'd be nabbed by you guys in no time flat."

"Well, all things considered, and Mike being a rocket scientist who just so happens to work for Seven Rivers Casino, I'd say that if it didn't explode, the slot machine would probably go through the roof, come back down and land on him, hastening his quick apprehension by the diligent Tribal Gaming forces," Con told me with the straightest face he could put on right before we both started laughing stitches at the absurdity of Mike jimmying anything.

Once we got over the laughter I pressed on, "think anybody's going to take a run at the machines with something like that?" I asked with a serious look on my face.

"It could happen. Maybe not exactly like that. But you know as well as I do people are capable of trying all kinds of shit when it comes to money. Anything for a free ride and usually it's to jail," Con told me while he stirred his coffee and shot me a look that said a bunch.

"How would you guys handle something like that? You know, say somebody comes to you and said so-and-so might be running a cheat. What would you guys do about it? Do you have to call the State Commission Board or would it get handled by an in-house investigation?"

Con leaned back in the booth some and eyed me over like every cop I've ever seen getting ready to interview a suspect. I'm old school; this would be nothing for me. "What do you know Jimmy? You heard something we should know about? Because if you do I want you to tell me now before it gets away from you and becomes a complete cluster fuck for you and my department."

"No Con I haven't heard anything about a run at the machines. Just bullshitting with Mike got me to thinking about how you guys handle business. We never hear anything about the way your department works; that's all. You guys are like the ghost police one hears about but nobody exactly knows about for sure."

Con kept eyeing me across the table, holding eye contact and trying to look inside me. I know he didn't believe me. "If you did hear or see something you would come to me with it wouldn't you Jimmy?" Con had just told me he didn't really buy the five pounds of bullshit in a three pound bag that I was trying to sell him.

"Of course I'd come straight to you if something like that was happening. This is my job here were talking about and I'd hate to lose it for nothing."

"Okay," Con told me, "for a minute there it sounded like you knew something but was too afraid to come all the way out with it. I didn't mean to go all cop on you. Okay?"

"Hey Con, come on will you? We both know what would happen to me for holding out on the casino. They'd be thinking I have something to do with it or some part of the action on it. No, it would be just too much trouble. I'd be sitting on your door first thing if I ever heard of anything in the way of cheating!"

"Jimmy you're a good guy and everybody here at work respects you for being a straight-up guy with all the employees, from the upper management down to the night crew cleaners; I didn't mean to say you weren't honest. I guess sometimes it's hard to put the cop away when I'm talking to a fellow co-worker. That cop stuff just kicks in with certain body language. No hard feelings?" Con asked.

"Forget about it Con," I said. "I just got curious that's all. I've worked here for thirteen years and never once thought about that end of the business. Talking with Mike just got me interested in something I didn't know much about. I wouldn't want you to get into trouble for telling me secret ghosts police policy stuff or whatever it is you guys do."

"Ghost police, that's good," Con said as he flagged the waitress and signaled for more coffee. "Here's the way it works, Okay?"

I shrugged my shoulders and flat palmed my hands. That's the Italian equivalent of 'okay, so tell me what you got'.

"Let's say you come to me because you thought you saw someone cheating or you saw something that maybe my department might be interested in. We don't have to notify the state gaming board but we probably would as a courtesy; and if we needed some of their resources they'd already be onboard and up to speed with us. If we needed to put unknown players with them to watch what they're doing, we could ask for state gaming agents to sit, play, and watch. But we'd start our own investigation right away and allocate cameras and surveillance to watch them. Our case against them starts as soon as you tell us the who and the why. People call us all the time and talk bullshit about the dealers cheating them on blackjack or they call and say their ex-wife or husband is counting cards. They know of keno employees who are injecting helium into the keno balls or injecting air into our balls, all kinds of bullshit all the time." Con had said the helium thing and we both started laughing. Injecting air...it was just too much of a mental visual to keep from laughing and we were both rolling in our chairs.

"Con you're a fucking comedy king," I told him in-between fits of laughter.

"Yeah, come by and field phone calls for a week will ya?" Con said as he wiped the tears from his eyes with his coffee napkin. "That pretty much what you wanted to hear?" he asked.

"Yeah, I can always use a good laugh or two. Thanks Con; I didn't mean to pry into business. I'll keep this to myself," I told him.

"No problem. I have to get back to my office," he said rising from his chair.

He stood next to the table for a second looking down at me before he spoke. "Look Jimmy, you get a tic in the little finger on your left hand when you lie. When you're ready to talk to me about whatever this is come by and we'll talk privately."

I looked down at my left hand for the offending finger tic? No way. I looked up at Con, "I don't have a tic in my little finger," I stated indigently.

Con had started walking away from the table. He paused, then turned back to me and smiled, "you do now Jimmy. You do now. Come see me."

He knew! The cop knew! I couldn't believe it. The ex-cop had tricked me. But I had to smile as I looked at my left hand. Not only was he funny, he was good. Go figure that one.
Chapter 13

I pulled up the hood on my sweatshirt as I made my way across campus for my Friday morning appointment with Cal. The January cold weather that blows in off the Strait of Juan de Fuca was bitter cold this morning. I was following a herd of young ladies through the double glass door and caught a whiff of the mixture of the perfume they wore as the doors opened and the warm air inside was sucked out into the cold of a grey, overcast day. It sort of reminded me why I liked going to college.

Cal wasn't in the lab so I checked his office where I found him on the phone. He held up a finger signaling to give him a minute then pointed to the spare chair I had occupied the last time I was here.

"Have geek will seek. What's up Mr. Knows All-Tells All?" I said by way of greeting. "You get a chance to check on that player club card thing we were talking about last week?"

"To tell you the truth Jim I completely forgot about it until you walked through the door just now," Cal said with an apologetic face. "With getting the semester classes started, the lab projects and faculty meetings, I haven't had a chance to do any research on it. I'm sorry Jim," Cal said.

"No sweat. Maybe I'll stop by next week and check if that's okay with you?"

"That would be great Jim. Any more light you can shed on why you think someone is trying to rig the slot machines?"

"Not think, I know. I just can't figure out how they're doing it and until I do I can't go to the casino with it. Like I said before, I'd rather not say anything about who it is to anyone right now. I haven't even told my wife," I told Cal as I rose and offered my hand to him. We shook hands and I headed out the door.

As I reached the door I turned to Cal and looked him in the eyes. "From what it sounds like they've hit the machines on a small try-out scale. I think they're gearing up to hit the big progressive jackpots next. I could use some help on this in a serious way. See you next week Cal." I was out the door and gone before he could reply.

As I walked back across campus to the parking lot I thought it was odd that Cal hadn't done any research on this problem of mine. Granted the guy is busy with work and his own life but something like this I just couldn't understand why he wasn't hooked on trying to figure out how it could possibly be done. It was the only reason I went to him in the first place. People like Cal live and breathe computer problems before anything else... I have to wonder why he didn't seem that interested.
Chapter 14

I'd been keeping tabs on Dick by swapping out the receiving equipment every couple of days and doing spot surveillance whenever I could find the spare time. What I really needed was another person to help with close surveillance; another pair of eyes, maybe follow him around some and see where he went and who he saw. If Annette caught me there was no way I could talk my way out of going back on my word after the 'Hot Tub Plea Bargain Agreement'. For some reason I don't think she would understand my position on this. Hell, even I didn't understand my position on this. Go figure!

I definitely needed some help on this as I was way out of my league on this one. I really wanted to know who he met with after that conversation on the phone but there wasn't anything more on the audio recordings that I'd retrieved since the first one. Sure there was talk, but it was pretty general and mundane without any reference to the slot scam, casino, or anything illegal for that matter. It's like they had dropped the whole idea which didn't seem logical to me. The only thing I could come up with was (1) the phone call was a one time fluke and I had gotten lucky (2) something had gone wrong with the mechanics of scam or (3) they knew someone was on to them.

I had to lend more credence to the first two after thinking it through a few times. I had gotten lucky on the phone call. There wasn't really anything I could remember from previous recordings and since I didn't keep them due to their incriminating nature, I couldn't go back and check them.

On the second recording all that was there was someone saying to Dick they needed to meet with him. There was nothing illegal about that when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of evidence; plus, there must be just tons of computer mechanics taken into account and tons of variable problems to overcome just on the basics of a scam of this scale. They would have to have everything just right for it to work, and if something went wrong, it was back to the drawing board every time.

What I needed was Cal Ralston, computer genius, but Cal was busy with the school thing and hadn't had time to look into my little problem yet. I could go to my buddy Conroy in Tribal Gaming but that didn't seem to be the way to go just yet plus I still needed to tell Annette about this before she found out some other way. Not that she would but after the closet caper episode I couldn't be sure. Women, go figure.
Chapter 15

There's no good way to tell a woman bad news except to just come right out and tell her. When I had gotten home last night I went down to the safe to retrieve the recordings and the player and brought them into the house. I sat them on the kitchen table then went to bed saying a little prayer that Annette would show me some mercy in the morning. God knows I was dreading the confrontation but I saw no way out of it, besides I could use her input and thoughts right about now because I was getting nowhere.

Annette was more than ready for me when I came into the kitchen the following morning. She heard me get up and had my coffee sitting at the table across from her. The offending equipment was sitting in-between us looking as guilty as I felt at the moment. I suddenly lost what nerve I'd had. "Good morning honey," I said as I sat down across from her.

"Good morning yourself and what's with this stuff? I hope you found somebody to buy it and the rest of that junk."

"Ah...no not really honey," I started to say something else but the look on Annette's face said she was completely crushed, hurt.

"Just tell me and don't lie to me James." The way Annette said it, the look and sound of resignation in her voice, it just tore at me. No backing out now.

"I guess I should just play this and let you hear what's on it before we say anything else, plus I think it will be easier for me to explain then," I told her as I plugged the unit in.

I'll give Annette this much, she sat and listened to what was on the recording without saying a word. I skipped most of what was useless and just played what I thought were the important phone conversations.

When I was done we sat across from each other, neither of us speaking. I was waiting for Annette to say something while she sat waiting for me to explain. Annette just sat there and looked like the Rock of Gibraltar, unmoving. I finally got the hint.

"Well, what do you think?" I asked like the fool I am.

"I think you lied to me again James," Annette replied in a small quiet voice.

"Yeah, but what do you think of what's on there?"

"What's on there? What's on there is a bunch of nothing. What's on there is you lying and deceiving and going back on your word; you know the one gave me. That's what's on there," Annette said.

I started to open my mouth but she cut me off with the stop sign hand. I didn't stand a chance now and I knew it. "How could you do it? When we were in Las Vegas you promised me that you wouldn't go back to that man's house. You promised me that there would be no more of this sneaking around, burglarizing, silenced gun toting, ninja dressing, and crawling around in the middle of the night shit.! Now you play some stupid tape and expect me to believe some more stupid bullshit from you?" Annette was on the roll and there was no stopping her.

Gosh Uncle Jed, nobody told me there weren't no way to turn that gall-darn steamroller off! Well Jethro, that's one you just have to learn on your own boy. Annette had continued while I was in Beverly Hillbilly land. Good thing she didn't know I was gone or she would be _more_ pissed-off, if that was possible. Go figure!

"James I just don't follow your thinking here. Would you care to take a shot at explaining to me just what it was you were doing and thinking at this particular stupid point in your life? Not that I'm going to believe you, but you might want to try." The sweet sarcastic smile she gave me said the 'tigress' was still hungry.

"Look while we were in Las Vegas, even before we went there, I tried to explain why I needed to go back and pull the equipment. It is in the best interest of both of us; if it's gone no one can come across it and turn it in to the cops. You might think you're safe because we walked away and never went back but we won't be completely safe until I pull all the equipment that is still there." I looked at Annette and gave her my best Jedi mind control pitch. "I tried my best to sensibly talk you into believing what I know is right about this type of life. Well you won me over and got me thinking no one would find the equipment that was left behind and I followed your lead."

"What made you change your mind?"

"I realized you didn't know what you were talking about. You were wrong on this one and I was right. We were sitting in the theatre watching _National Treasure_ and I just realized I couldn't walk away and leave the job unfinished, and that is what this was, a job unfinished. Every time I've done a job, whether its carpentry, burglary or my job at the casino, I have always done the best job I could possibly do. You know me; I'm my own worst critic when it comes to any kind of work."

We were looking at each other as I told Annette this and I saw the truth register on her face. She knew I was right on the work thing. She started to say something but hesitated. I decided to keep going. "Every time I have stolen from someone they've never had a clue it was me or how it was done. I've gotten in and out every time and never once have I had to leave any equipment behind. It's unsafe. It's an opening to come back at me later. I just can't have that."

Annette had put her elbows on the table and was resting her head in her hands. I got up out of my chair and came around to her getting down on one knee. I gently laid one hand on her leg and draped the other arm around her chair. Annette responded by lowering her hands from her face and looked at me. I had hurt her feelings and betrayed her trust in me. I could see it in her eyes. It's all or nothing time.

"Yes I went back. I had to or it would have eaten away at me. Maybe you don't think there was anything on there that says Dick and this other guy is cheating the casino but I do and I can't let it go or give these guys a pass on this because it's wrong. I have to do something about it and that means figuring out how they are doing it and being able to prove it. Then I take it to the casino. Without the proof I'll look like an asshole if I say anything first."

"How do you plan to get this so-called proof you're talking about?" Annette asked as she looked at me. "And I'll add here and now that there will be _no_ stealing from these people even if they _have_ stolen the money from the casino. Just because they stole the money it doesn't give _you_ the right to steal it from them," she emphasized for me.

"James, why can't you just turn this over to the casino? Or maybe call somebody from the State Gaming Commission and let them handle it? This is out of your league or better yet, your area of expertise, with something this serious, plus understanding the electronics of it is way past you. God James you can't even work the remote for the TV or the DVD player without my help." Annette gave me a funny look because I had started chuckling as she said the last part. "What's so funny about this?" she asked me raising an eyebrow.

"It's nothing honey. I'll be fine with the electronics end of it."

"No James, tell me what's so funny?"

"Well I was just finding it funny because you always take the remotes away from me before I get a chance to figure them out for myself, then you're always clicking around for me because you don't want to wait for me to do it. You are way better at it than I am because you never let me have the remote long enough to figure it out for myself," I said with more laughter.

I continued once more after my laughter tapered off, "don't worry about it. I went up to the college and talked to Calvin Ralston a couple of times already and he's looking into it for me. And with both of us working on this together, plus with what Cal comes up with, we should be able to figure this out," I tried to reassure her.

Recognition registered on her face as the implication of what I had just said dawned on her, "No way!" she gasped out. "No way on God's green earth James A. Fratino are you going to get me involved in this. Don't even ask. Don't even think about it. What are you thinking that I'm as stupid as you are?"

The shock of asking her had her little foot stamping on the floor followed by a little toe tapping. Her blood was up, eyes wide open, and her face was flushed. To tell you the truth she looked quite alluring and sexy with her breasts heaving up and down. Then I realized that she wasn't mad at all. I think she was kind of excited by the thought of doing something sneaky and on the sly.

"I can't do it without you Annette," I told her as I moved in and put my arms around her and snuggled into her neck just below the ear; her weak spot. "I need your help on this honey," I cooed softly in her ear. "And besides this might get me that promotion and pay raise at work. One would think that they'd be more than grateful," I said as I lightly kissed below the ear as I stroked and rubbed her back. My hand was lightly working its way up under her shirt feeling the heat of her skin.

"Jim you dolt," she murmured as I move around to kiss her on the lips. "You'll get us both killed over this you nutcase," she said while returning my kisses and stroking while adding some of her own to the mix.

"Na, I don't think so. But maybe we should go talk in private about it for awhile; like in our bedroom where it's real private," I told her as I finally got the hooks released on her bra and moved around to cup and fondle her breast.

Annette opened her eyes and looked up at me questioningly. Her hand was rubbing slow circles on my chest. "Okay, but only to talk," she said in a husky whisper. Talk my ass. Go figure!

It took a lot more kissing with some real serious tongue moves thrown in to convince Annette that we had to nail these guys. But after we thrashed it around between us for a few hours she agreed to help me, but there was some stipulations and restrictions she had insisted on if I wanted her help and there was no way around them. The short hairs on my arms and neck got goose bumps as I got to thinking I was over the year time limit on this one big time. When I get the bumps something bad usually happens to me. Always has, always does. We drifted into an afternoon nap sexually sedated and intertwined in each others arms with one of my hands cupping her breast. It was the only bump I thought of as I drifted off.
Chapter 16

"How does this thing work and what's it for?" Annette asked me as she held up a small five inch parabolic dish with headphones and recording leads dangling from her fingers.

"It's an MRHF-150M handheld or stand mount parabolic dish that you can run on batteries or it can be plugged into a cigarette lighter. It can be place in a tree or a bush, suction cupped on to a car, stuff like that. The leads you're holding in your other hand plug into a recorder that I'm looking for," I said as I turned back to the shelves looking for the correct one for that particular unit. "When I find the damn thing we'll put new batteries in it and you can give it a test run down at Wal-Mart," I told her over my shoulder which turned out to be her face as she had moved up next to me. She sure was light on her feet I thought. I hadn't heard her moving across the concrete floor.

"Wal-Mart?" she asked in a puzzled voice.

"Yep, Wal-Mart is a good place to try it out because there's lots of people coming and going. We'll sit in the parking lot and eavesdrop on their conversations while you get the feel for how the dish works," I said with a grin. "It's got a range of three hundred feet," I added.

"Is something funny there buddy-boy?" she asked.

"Yeah, you doing a snooper. I still can't believe I talked you into this. If I would have known you were this easy, besides sex easy, I would have tried talking you into this a long time ago," I said with a smile as I kissed her lightly on the lips. I turned back to the shelves and finally found what I was looking for.

We jumped in the car and headed to Wal-Mart. As we were driving there Annette looked over at me for a few minutes. I knew the look. "What?" I asked as I returned the look.

"Where do you get all this stuff from?" she said crinkling her nose up at me. "And why did you buy it in the first place. I mean, what's it all for? Why didn't you go into becoming a private investigator? You could have done it with all the equipment you've bought and accumulated but instead you've used your time and your mind for illegal actives." Annette was looking at the parabolic dish, turning it over and around in her hands, while she was talking to me. Although we'd talked a lot lately concerning my criminal background I could tell she was still trying to understand how and why I turned out to be who I am and who it was she was married to.

We pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot and found a place where we could sit and listen without drawing too much undue attention to ourselves. I plugged the dish into the car's lighter so it would charge the batteries if needed. No telling how worn down they were from sitting on the shelf. I watched Annette pointing the dish around the parking lot and knew I owed her more of a detailed explanation.

"I bought most of my equipment from a shop in Sussex, England. All the high end electronics anyway. They ship it to a postal box store in Miami, Florida where I do have a private investigators license that's renewable every three years. You can't buy a lot of this stuff in country with all the regulations and laws against eavesdropping and wiretapping. From there it gets shipped to my cousin in Indianapolis. Then he ships it to me. It's a round about way but after 9-11 I figured the Feds would be scrutinizing all electronics coming into the country from over seas." Annette was playing with the dish and would look over at me for a moment then go back to the dish.

"When I pulled my first robbery I had a pair of binoculars and a set of lock picks I had been practicing with for about two weeks. It wasn't much to work with, but I got the safe, found I couldn't open it, so I dragged it out and took it with me. I got it open in a few days and found $150,000 inside."

Annette looked like she was going to ask me a question, but thought better of it. I continued on with my narration of the past. "Instead of running around, being associated with a bunch of drug dealers for what amounted to chump change and a real 75% chance of getting busted and thrown in prison, or shot and killed in the process of trying to make some chump change, I thought a one person operation was a safe way to go. So I quit hanging out with these people on a regular basis, used them when I could to my benefit, and kept giving them vague answers and lies to their questions of 'what have you been up to'.

"That was your first burglary?" Annette asked as she reached down and grabbed the bar in front of the seat so she could slide it back and stretch out some and get comfortable. "Your very first burglary; $150,000, you steal the safe and take it with you? Come on, you're bullshitting me right?"

"I guess the real first time was a fluke because I didn't know what I was looking at for the longest time. I was about sixteen years old and just getting acquainted with doing bad things and trying to work out my feelings about right and wrong. I questioned whether I was a bad person because I like doing these things, which I know were wrong, but boy they make me feel good when I do them anyway."

I looked over at Annette and looked her in the eye as I was talking. "I was working at a house with my boss early on a weekend, two acre lots, big houses, nice houses that you know, come with money. Anyway I'm upstairs smoking on the balcony and I see this neighbor get into a row boat, row out to the middle of his small lake where he has two white buoys set in the middle about ten feet or so apart."

"How early is early we're talking here?" Annette interrupted.

"I don't know. Let's say it was probably six in the morning and we were just getting set up to start working."

"Why so early on a weekend?" Annette asked interrupting yet again.

"Jesus Christ in the space shuttle cargo bay Annette!" I fumed. "Are you going to let me tell you this myself or are we going to play 20 questions and answers?"

"Honey don't you know this is just the warm up round we're doing here?" She gave me a slight smile with an adorable, shy giggle and then batted her eyelashes at me like a little tart. "Besides, you know how much I like playing the question and answer game with you. Well we're going to play quite a bit more now because of your recent past actions so you better get used to it," she said as she reached over and lightly kissed me on the lips and patted my cheek.

As she leaned back in the seat she started chuckling and the looked at me and added "Okay, continue with the story buddy-boy." Annette put the headphones on and powered the unit. She pointed it out the window and started aiming at people.

"Anyway this guy in the row boat sort of looks around for a few minutes then starts pulling one of the buoys up and into the boat. Connected to it is some black thing I figure is an anchor. Then he puts a different anchor back on, drops it over the side and moves on to the other buoy where he repeats the process again, then rows back to his little dock and takes the anchors into the shed."

"So what? What's the big deal about some guy and boat anchors?" Annette asked as she zeroed in on another couple headed to their car.

"It didn't look right to me the way he went about it," I told her. "So the next few weekends we were there I kept checking him out, plus I brought a small pair of binoculars with me."

I looked over at the unit in her hand. "You've got it set on audio and the two on the right are the distortion filter setting in case you get background clutter and the other one is a frequency filter in case you get electronic background static or chatter from other handheld radios, TV's, CD players, stuff like that," I said showing her how to adjust the settings. She smiled and shook her head that she understood and motioned for me to continue.

"After the job was done I'd go back up there and camp out for the weekend off this fire road that ran in back of the development. I'd hide out in this little shelter I made at night with my binoculars and wind up alarm clock so I could wake up early and check this guy out."

"What happened?" Annette asked without looking at me as she was checking and adjusting the dish.

"Well, after about three months of off and on spot checking I see this guy load up his truck and camper. I figure they must be going down to the desert because he loads up a dune buggy and dirt bikes along with the entire stuff people take with them. Then I remember it's the Fourth of July holiday. This guy has to be going for at least three days is the way I see it.

"So what did you do?" Annette asked giving me a quick look before turning her attention back to what she was doing.

"I waited until they left and then waited until I figured they wouldn't be coming back for something they had forgotten and decided they really had to have with them; say about six hours I waited to make my move."

"You waited six hours to make sure they weren't coming back for something they had forgotten. Isn't that sort of a long time to wait?"

"Actually I thought it wasn't long enough because I sure as hell didn't want to get caught and I had to wait anyway for it to get dark so the neighbors wouldn't see me out on the lake in this guy's row boat. So when it got full dark I snuck down to the house, jumped in the row boat, and went out and pulled the buoys up to see what was tied to them."

"What was there?" Annette asked with just a touch of excitement in her voice.

"A waterproof canvas bag was the anchor. I didn't know it then, but it was the kind the military use for underwater work. I opened it up and there was just a shit load of hundred dollar bills with rubber bands around them in zip-loc bags. Inside, at the bottom of the bag, was a gold bar he was using to weight it down."

"So you took all the money and the gold bars didn't you?" Annette said with just a slight touch of wonder in her voice this time. She was into this. I could tell she was hooked on this story.

"I started to but then I remembered I didn't have anything to weight it down with. I didn't know what was in there to begin with, so I left the gold bars and just took the money from both bags and got out of there as quick as I could. I took off my tee shirt, tied the bottom and stuffed all the money down the neck of the shirt and packed it back out to the fire road. When I got there I cleaned up every thing and took it with me. It took me a couple of trips because I'd parked my Volkswagen Bug a couple of miles away and walked in. I didn't want to leave any traces that I was anywhere close to that place."

"So what did you do next with all that money? Did you go back for the gold bars? You did go back for the gold bars didn't you?" Annette asked with her eyes alight and her face flushed with excitement.

I shook my head slowly from side to side. "Nope, didn't go back for the gold but I did go back the next afternoon to brush out the tracks on the fire road and where the shelter was set up. At dark I took a small flashlight and went down to the pond to check for footprints. I took a small towel to wipe down the oars and any place else that I might have touched. I had some time to think about the gold and the more I thought about it the more glad I was that I left it there. It would have raised too many questions trying to get rid of it. If the guy was a criminal he probably would have caught wind of it sooner or later. And I knew I couldn't keep it around me; it wasn't a smart move at my age. How do you explain gold bars when you're a sixteen year old kid? No, I was happy with the three hundred and eighty thousand in cash."

Annette had a shocked look on her face when I told her how much cash there was. I waited for her to say something, but when she didn't I just smiled and started the car. We'd been there for around forty five minutes and I figured that was enough time with the parabolic dish.

"That's when I started thinking about keeping my eyes and ears open for things like this. Naturally I evolved and got better at it. I started looking and thinking about who would keep a lot of cash around. I figured I didn't have to steal every day or even once a week. I thought if I just take my time and do one first-rate job a year it would be more than enough for me. Greed gets people put in jail or killed. The more I thought about it, the more I thought I could do it and do it exceptionally well this way."

Annette still had that shocked look on her face. "Come on," I told her as we drove out of the parking lot, "I'll take you to where I keep the cars and truck. I want you to switch vehicles at least once a day when you are tailing Dick around so he doesn't catch on and besides, it's a little safer if you do it that way. Okay?"

Annette had finally found her voice, "Sure okay," she said in a small distracted voice as we drove towards the first garage. Women; go Figure.
Chapter 17

For the next few days I worked on getting Annette set up and going on what became known to us as 'The Dick Tail Job'. That was how we wound up referring and relating to everything when it came to Annette's part of this job. Naturally the moniker got shortened to just the 'Dick Job' with the appropriate laughter, winks, smirks, and silly giggles at the right time to make doing something illegal seem normal and sane. People can, and will, convince themselves that what they are doing that's illegal is okay, given the proper reasoning skills. They don't have to be the greatest skills either, judging from some of the people you see on the evening news or read about in the newspapers. Gosh Uncle Jed when I saw the sign it said 'Silent Alarm System' and I was just as quiet as I could be!

I showed Annette how to dress properly. We went shopping and bought her some dark clothes and good rubber soled shoes in case she needed to be out of the car or truck at night and not be seen or heard. I was all against her getting out period for any reason but you never can tell in situations like this where you have an inexperienced person doing a peep and creep.

"Number one rule of thumb is to bail and sail if you think you're in over your head on this, or the cops come, or somebody comes out of their home or business to see what you're up to," I told Annette for what was probably the tenth time as we stood in the sporting goods section of Wal-Mart looking for a ski mask that would fit her and still make her look stunningly beautiful at the same time. Okay I just threw in the stunningly beautiful part on my own there.

We went to the Big 5 Sporting Goods store and picked up a set of long range walkie-talkies so we could stay in touch while she watched Dick when he was gone from the house and I was breaking into it again. I wanted to go back and rifle around in his desk and file cabinets again just to make sure I didn't miss something relating to ripping off the casino while I was trying to rip off his safe in the closet; plus I wanted to break into the speed shop and check it out just in case there was something he was stupid enough to keep there. I didn't really think so, but you never can tell with the way people think. And finally after thrashing it around with Annette we decided to leave the racetrack alone, or as a possible last resort, since Dick was just the silent partner and probably wouldn't be stupid enough to keep any incriminating proof there. I also had to promise Annette that I would only look for what we needed concerning the casino and keep my hands off of all safes, cash, or anything else if buddy-boy knew what was good for him and his marriage to one Annette Fratino.

"People keep stuff they want to keep safe and hidden in safe places; like safes for instance," I told Annette. "One is obligated to look in said safes for incriminating evidence to nail the bad guys and reap promotions and pay raises at work."

I got the look in return from Annette and when I didn't answer quick enough for her it turned into the long look, which is the look only given longer until the idiot realizes he's supposed to say 'yes dear I understand completely and you can trust me'. Go figure!

On my nights off we spent one of them going up to Dick's house. I showed Annette where the receiver units I had stashed outside were and how to switch them out with replacements. I could tell the highlight of the evening was when we had to crawl the last part in the cold, wet field grass and weeds to get there undetected.

When we got home I showed her how to do the playback after we got out of the shower and warmed up with some coffee. By the time we headed off to bed I figured she was as ready as I could get her in that short amount of time. I tried to tell her everything I knew about observing houses and neighborhoods, about being silent and unseen, how to blend in and look like you belong where you are without raising suspicion.

Run if anything goes wrong and then call me. Leave the car or truck; they can be thrown away when it comes down to it. God, so many things for her to remember and more I think she needs to know before I'll feel good about her taking part in this. But as they say, 'the die is cast' and I've gotten her into this because I really believe I needed Annette's help to get to the bottom of this; whatever 'this' is.

Annette says she's fine doing this with me since I have convinced her it's for the right reasons and there is no proof unless we get the proof to nail these guys and turn it over to the proper authorities and the casino. Then my part of it is done and my days of doing my version of Danny Ocean come to a complete and permanent end if I know what's good for me.

We went to bed as ready as we will ever be. I'm freed up to do some checking on things while Annette covers my back. Tomorrow's Friday and I plan on going up to the college to talk to Cal again to see if he's come up with anything yet. I need help, I need options, and I need to catch a break here quick so we can wrap this up. I'm in way over my time limit of one year with this guy but I tell myself the situation has changed the rules and it's going to be okay in the end. But for some reason deep down inside of me I don't believe myself for one minute. Go figure!
Chapter 18

I slept in which is actually hard for me to do since I usually sleep four, maybe five hours at a time if I'm lucky. I grabbed a quick cup of coffee, kissed Annette bye, and headed out the door hoping she would be okay as she started her first day of keeping tabs on Dick's comings and goings around town.

I found Cal in his office with a couple of students so I took a quick tour of the labs just to check out what people were working on plus I wanted to see if they had a new monster cooler hooked up running that CPU for the game they were playing the last time I was here. No luck. The only thing that was interesting was some geeky guy and girl was working on their version of 'The Computer of Frankenstein' that had a gazillion wires running from three motherboards sitting bare in their platform bases.

It looked like they were wired in a series, to what looked like a stripped down to the frame, thirty inch flat screen TV. I didn't ask them because I probably wouldn't have understood the answers they gave me anyway. I hate smart people. For all I know they could have been working on the college's transporter system or a plasma field shield generator. Go figure!

I dropped back by Cal's office just as the students of higher learning were leaving, catching Cal in the middle of packing his tote bag. Which meant to me he was leaving for the day.

"Hey Cal, what's up with all the packing this early in the day? I would have thought you had a full day of classes," I told him as I stepped into his office.

"Hey there yourself Jimmy, what are you up to?" Cal replied with a big smile on his face. "Not today. As you can see I'm going to call it an early one. We're headed over to Seattle to watch my son Tom race this weekend so we thought we'd go over a day early and grab a nice motel for the weekend before they were all gone."

"I just swung by to see if you got information on anything yet?" I asked getting a no headshake in return. "I'm sort of hitting some blanks here and I could really use some help from someone," I said. "Or better yet somebody who's like a brain surgeon with these slot machines and programming that can explain to me what's going on inside of them and how they work. You know the nuts and bolts basics of them."

"Come on, let's walk and talk on my way out to the parking lot. We'll kill two programs with one click."

When I gave him the 'I'm stupid and have no clue what you're talking about' look Cal filled in the blank for me. "Instead of the 'two birds with one stone' adage, it's what the kids in the lab classes say these days. It's sort of stuck around, plus it sounds appropriate to me for some reason," he said with a big smile on his face as he picked up his tote bag and headed for the door.

Cal said his 'hello's' and 'good-bye's' to people on our way out of the building along with stopping to talk with another faculty member about spending some grant money on a nanotechnology something or another. When we finally got out of the building we had a chance to talk about my problem.

"Cal, I can't find anything on the internet that I can use. It's like a forbidden taboo subject or some kind of secret society only certain people can join if they know the secret password and handshake. There is nothing out there except sanitized, general stuff for the public to see. The guys in control are totally in control of everything including what information is out there." I must have sounded like a defeated cry baby to him.

"Jim I haven't had much spare time lately but I did some quick checking myself for a few minutes here and there after you came in the last week. You're right about the internet information because I couldn't find too much myself when I looked."

"That makes me feel a little better because I've spent hours trying every combination of words on advanced searches on every search engine I could find. And I mean I spent some hours on this and I can't get anywhere." I felt somewhat better knowing Cal couldn't find anything either.

"Sure you don't want to tell me more about this than you have?" I shook my head no. "Have you talked to anyone at the casino? You must know somebody at the casino you can ask for help on this and to keep quiet after all the years you been working there."

I shook my head no again. "How about going to the state gaming people? What about going to them and asking for their help on this?" Cal asked.

I shook my head no once again. "Then maybe you better go and talk to your bosses at the casino and tell them what you know." he told me then went on as I started to open my mouth. "You may think it's something, but it's nothing really. Then again it maybe something really important and you might be screwing it up by keeping it to yourself. It sounds like this may be way out of your league Jimmy and I'm getting the feeling that you may need some serious help on this; help that's out of my realm of knowledge on this problem of yours."

Cal stopped and looked at me. "Computers and casinos are intertwined in day to day business, but the casino business itself is something I can't tell you about except in general terms." Cal told me with that kindly professor look on his face. We'd reached his car.

"I can't do it Cal," I told him, "I can't go to the upper management with this until I have something more than what I've got. I can't go to anyone in the casino because I'm afraid they'll go and snitch me out to upper management. And as far as the state gaming people go I might as well go to upper management myself because that's the first phone call they'll make as soon as I get off the phone with them. No, I'm on my own for now, but thanks for the advice anyway." I told Cal offering him my hand to shake before I left.

I had stuck my hands in my jacket pockets and turned to leave when Cal stopped me. "Hold up a minute Jim," Cal said from behind me.

I turned back around and closed the distance between us to a couple of feet. He had an uncertain look on his face. "It isn't a big secret or nothing like that but Tommy's done some consulting for Seven Rivers once in a while, done some troubleshooting for them when it's too much for their IT people or they need a fresh set of eyes on a problem with their computer systems.

"Okay I'm listening and liking this Cal." I was starting to get a rush from hearing these words. This was the break I needed right now. "But why hold out on me until now? I mean, you could have told me this stuff when I first came to you. Why didn't you tell me then?" I had to ask, to know.

"There's sort of an unspoken confidentiality agreement between Tommy and Seven Rivers Casino. Hell I trained all their tech people that work there, or have worked there, to some extent anyway. So I don't want to throw my son and his consulting firm to the wolves, and then on the street, because he lost his reputation due to a confidentiality breech." Cal let me absorb that part. When he saw I understood he continued. "And you're right about the other tech people that work there going to their boss. We both know they're supposed to do that when approached with something like this."

"So where does this help me in my little problem?"

"My son Tommy is good buddies with Bart Sampers and another guy that works in the IT department at Seven Rivers. Let me talk with Tommy this weekend and see what he says on your problem, okay? If anybody can help you figure out how someone could cheat or rig a slot machine, Tommy and Bart are the ones to do it. It really would have to be all done in the programming part of it, no matter where it's hidden."

"This is great news Cal. This is just what the doctor ordered for the sick puppies that are trying to rip off my casino."

Cal gave me long looking over before he continued. Something was on his mind. I could tell. "Jim I don't want you to think that I don't trust you or anything like that for not saying anything the first time you came to me with this," he told me, "but I got to look out for Tommy's best interest. He's my son. You understand don't you?"

"Sure Cal, I understand completely," I told him. "I understand and I'm really grateful that you'll go the extra mile for me."

"No problem." Cal told me. "Now let me get out of here before all the ferries to Seattle sail without my wife and me."

"You got it Cal. My partner and I will continue on this end and keep trying to nail down something concrete."

"You got a partner now? I thought you were working on this alone."

"I needed some help on this one." I said. "Split up the surveillance and all the work. I couldn't be in two places at the same time," I said as I headed towards my car with a light step and a smile on my face that probably went from ear to ear.

"Stop by next week sometime and I'll have something to tell you," Cal called to me as I walked away. I just waved my hand over my head to let him know I had heard him. I needed to get into the car and out of the cold wind; I was freezing. I also needed to get on the walkie-talkie to Annette and give her the good news. Cal, go figure!
Chapter 19

Having a set of walkie-talkies can be a lot of fun especially if the person on the other end has a sense of humor. When it comes down to it I don't have a sense of humor so much as I do a sense of sickness. I got lucky because Annette is just as sick as I am. Plus she is quick; real quick. She hadn't been on the job that long, but I thought I would check on her just in case. So I decided to ten-four her or whatever it is you are supposed to do with someone when you're using walkie-talkies.

"This is Big Red Dick Eight, to Dick Orbiter. Do you copulate? I repeat; this is Big Red Dick Eight to Dick Orbiter. Do you copulate?" I said holding the transmit button down while trying not to laugh.

"Sir; I don't know who you are but I'm requesting that you keep this channel clear. I'm expecting a transmission from my husband, Needle Dick the Bug Fucker, over," she replied.

I tried my best not to laugh when I answered her, but couldn't help it because when she answered me she had pinched her nose before talking. If you haven't pinched your nose and talked at the same time while talking to someone when you were a kid, forget it then. I kept trying not to laugh but it was a lost cause.

"This is Big Red Dick Eight and you're supposed to call me that lady. And remember you're Dick Orbiter," I told her in between snorts and guffaws of laughter. "And remember you're supposed to be ready for docking at any time. Copulate? Over," I added.

"Oh, Big Red Dick Eight huh? I'm Soooo... sorry! Oh look. There's a little bug outside my window. It looks a little bit like my husband except its penis is lots bigger than his is. Maybe it's got a foot fetish and I should stomp on it just like I'm going to stick my foot up my husband's ass for being an asshole and getting us busted by the FCC for misusing radio waves or something, over." Annette didn't pinch her nose that time but it was still hilarious. "And Needle Dick, you can forget about docking with anything, anytime soon, except your Florida Fingers and Palm launch pad. Copulate yourself?" she said in her best sweetie-pie, girlie voice.

Busted; she laughed. I love her for moments like this. These are the moments that bind a relationship until you can get home to tie them up proper. "Dick Orbiter I don't think you have to worry about the FCC at present time, as they're too busy chasing calls from the Camel Jockey Club and other assorted terrorist, plus I want you to remember these babies we're using are the Cobra GMRS model, eighteen mile range, ten encrypted channels, two-way radios that were on sale for $49.99 plus tax at Big 5 Sporting Goods. Now, how does it get any better than that for security? Copulate?"

"Needle Dick, remember who it was that encrypted these things and be glad I didn't leave it for you to do or we'd both be in trouble. Now, I'm busy working here. Did you want something or did you just call to try and match wits you nit-wit? Copulate yourself, over," came her reply.

The humor was still evident in her voice. For some reason I wanted to be with her in the car right now, talking to her, watching her speak the words as she was saying them to me. I put the feelings aside and answered her. "I was just checking in with you, that's all, you know, what's going on, how's it going, where you at, that sort of thing, over."

"I'm sitting across the street from the Performance Shop. You know who got here about a half an hour ago, followed by a guy in a fast and furious Honda Civic, metallic blue, who works for him because he's behind the counter doing stuff or he's robbing him, your pick. The binoculars you gave me work great, the dish thing picks up everything that goes by on the road and I'm going to have to pee in the next hour from all the coffee. Over to you Needle."

While I was imagining her sitting in the car and getting ready to answer her, she came back over the walkie-talkie. "By the way Needle Dick you forgot to call me by my code name or call sign or whatever, over," she added.

"Excuse me for forgetting FCC protocols and procedures there Dickey O., sounds like you're on top of things there. Leave anytime you want to, you know what he's driving. If the car's not there when you get back it's no big deal, pick him up later or tomorrow. Follow him if he leaves. Also make note of anybody that looks like they're there for more than car parts. Basically keep in mind to not to get noticed, over to you Dick Orbiter."

"Needle, what are you doing? Any changes in your plans for the day? Over."

"No, same plan with the same timeline. Your cell phone on and charged in case I need to call you on it? Back to you Orbiter," I told her.

"I'm good to go here so I'll talk to you later, out...I mean over."

I had a few calls to make, plus take a couple of runs by Dick's house. I also had to renew the tags on the motorcycle so I had to send that off in the mail. You can do lots of things through the mail and the internet these days that you couldn't do ten or fifteen years ago. I had pleaded my case to Annette for some money to buy a couple of GPS tracking units and she agreed that we could probably use them. She drew the line at phone tapping units. No way. It was probably the only time I've ever really considered using them, figuring it would simplify things and keep Annette's participation limited to the bare necessities. She was in for keeping tabs on Dick but didn't want any part of a federal prison sentence from it. I had to admit, I agreed on the prison part for sure.

I had a lot of things on my list to take care of before I went to work tonight and only about six hours to do them in. I locked the front door and headed for the post office for stamps before heading to Sequim and Bell Hill. I needed batteries for the various sized flashlights I keep around and some for the electronic equipment so I stopped at Wal-Mart first and got those. Then I made the ten minute drive to Bell Hill taking the Sequim Avenue exit and then turning left on Miller Rd. to head up to Bell Hill proper. I drove slowly by once checking out Dick's house as best as I could without stopping. Nothing out of the ordinary, the curtains were opened to let the light in, garage door was up and a Lexus that I took to be Shirley's was parked inside. A couple of the neighbors were working on their lawns and flower beds getting ready for the spring seeding and planting.

I decided that I would go to the Sequim post office for stamps and to mail off the registration for the motorcycle and mail off some money to my cousin for handling the go-between on the mail from Florida. I'd ordered the GPS units from England my usual way, through the internet and paid for them using a credit card with the business name of my Florida investigation firm on it. I'd requested priority express shipping hoping they would be here in less than five days. I use one of the Mail Box services you see in strip malls that offer shipping and receiving, faxing and post office boxes. You pay them for their service and they'll forward your mail and packages to you from Florida to any part of the country. It works for me.

I went back up to Bell Hill and found a place to park where I could watch Dick's house with my binoculars. I tried to call Annette on the walkie-talkies but the range was too great and we could barely make out what we were saying to each other. I called her on her cell phone and got an update on the Performance Shop from her. I asked if she wanted to meet for lunch but she decided to stick with the surveillance on Dick.

I watched Dick's house and the neighbors for a couple of hours then went for a drive around Sequim to kill some time. I stopped at Tootsie's drive-thru for one of their famous burgers and fries. When I went back I parked in a different place so I could watch the back of his house this time and get a different view of the neighbors.

After I finished my lunch I decided to take stroll through the neighborhood on foot so I could do a walk-by on Dick's place before going home to get ready for work. By the time I was done with my surveillance and the walk-by it was 3:00 pm, and time to start heading home to get ready for work. From what I saw of Dick's neighborhood and his house I felt confident and comfortable about going back into his house for another look around as soon as they were going to be gone long enough for me to do so. I would do a couple of more drive bys on my way to work and one on my way home each day until the bugs picked up the information that they'd be gone long enough for me to get in and out undetected. I'd swap out the receiver units every night so long as it was safe to do so and wait for Dick and Shirley to leave.

I drove back to Port Angeles and got a hold of Annette; nothing unusual to report. I decided to take an hour nap before getting ready for work. We just needed to wait now, everything was in place. We just needed that one break on this then we'd be off and running.
Chapter 20

I had been at work for an hour and I hadn't heard about the $30,000 winner on the five cent Evergreen Carousel progressive jackpot, at least not until one of the slot supervisors came by the blackjack pit looking for Big Darryl to sign-off on the final paperwork. I called his office for her.

Big Darryl is the casinos shift manager for nights. Nothing happens at the casino without Big Darryl knowing about it or signing off on it. At the very least you better get Big Darryl's verbal okay on something important before you do it or you're going to be real sorry for not doing so later on. I know I've had Big Darryl chew on my ass so many times in the last thirteen years that I'm surprised that I have any ass left. But Big Darryl has come to like me over the years. After a few bullshitting sessions, over a few drinks, comparing notes on life stories, we found that we have a lot of common ground we've both walked.

Big Darryl is called Big Darryl because he's big. Played college football in Pennsylvania and has the height and weight for it. Darryl still carries it well even thirty years later and who knows how many Las Vegas parties piled on top of that. I think I've mentioned that quite a few people in the casino industry have colorful past lives haven't I? Big Darryl and some of the other people in upper management at Seven Rivers seem to have more cultural color, in the flavor of Italian let's say, than what I think you'd find in other types of upper management. Probably Mc Donald's is a good comparison to use here. I doubt their upper management profiles are filled with former Las Vegas casino employees. Go figure!

We've been to a couple of weddings together, a couple of training sessions, I've been to his house to help him work on some stuff, we've been out gambling and drinking a few times also. Since then Big Darryl has sort of taken me under his wing and became my rabbi at the casino.

A rabbi gives you guidance and instruction on the job and makes sure not too many people give you grief. When I have a problem come up I can go and talk about it with him and together he helps me find a way to handle it. Now-a-days the ass chewing's I get are more like a friendly talk on casino business and how I should handle myself in the future when these situations arise. If I do something I think I could catch some heat on, later after I've thought about it, I'll call Big Darryl or go find him before he hears about it first. I'll tell him what happened, what I did, and ask how he wants me to deal with it. He usually tells me not to worry about it and if something comes up on it he'll take care of it. Thanks for the heads up, go back to work. (Makes the sign of the cross at me; go and sin no more my son.)

I pumped as much information out of the slot supervisor as I reasonably could before sending her off to Big Darryl's office to have her paperwork singed off. The important thing I learned was the big winner's name and that she had booked a few more winners than what I thought was normal for the last month. And the big winner's name you ask? Shirley Jameson. Of course there could be another Shirley Jameson out there somewhere on the Olympic Peninsula but I seriously doubted it. No, it had to be my Shirley.

You can usually set your watch by casino routine that everybody falls into after you've worked there for a while. Shift managers are no different and are slightly more predictable because of the demand on their time from all the different departments that mangers have to keep their eyes on during their shifts. So under the pretext of doing my employee evaluations on my next break I asked big Darryl if I could get some evaluation forms out of his office while I had him on the phone for the slot supervisor.

"You can do that anytime later on tonight, you want to join me for dinner in the restaurant instead, my treat," Big Darryl asked with a short laugh because being a shift manager it never cost him anything except a tip for the kids that worked the restaurant.

"Thanks, but no thanks. Annette and I had a cozy little lunch together right before I came to work," I lied to him, "but let's get together later on when it slows down and have some coffee, ok?" I asked him. That was fine with Big Darryl and we agreed on coffee at midnight. We did the midnight coffee thing on a regular basis.

On my next break I snuck a peek in the restaurant just to make sure Big Darryl was there and in the middle of dinner before heading into his office and sitting down at the computer. He was already logged on for the night as usual so it was only a moment before I had all the slot departments' winners for the last month on the screen in front of me. And sure enough there was Shirley and Dick both listed on the $1,000 plus sheet. It had them totaled for slightly over $18,000 so far for this month. Not bad, but highly suspicious to me once you added in Shirley's $30,000 win today, plus tracking their combined buy-ins it looked like they were way ahead of Seven Rivers Casino for the last month.

I highlighted Dick and Shirley and sent the totals, plus the whole tracking sheet for the month to the printer. I then closed the screens I'd been using. Annette would be interested to see this. I grabbed the printouts, folded them, then stuck them in between a handful of evaluation forms and headed out the door in less than seven minutes.

I took the rest of my break in the parking lot having a smoke and filling Annette in on what I had learned. I put the tracking sheet printout in the car, had another smoke which I wasn't supposed to do, and then headed quickly to my locker to put away the evaluation forms before heading back to the blackjack pit and work. Things were getting interesting for me on this little project and I was itching to find out who the other person or persons were that were involved on the casino end of it. There was no doubt now that there was inside action on this scam because that's what it exactly was; a scam to rip off the casino, my casino. And I was going to catch them and make them pay for it.

I was going to Dick's after work and switch out the receiver units like I have been doing every night lately and Annette was going to be watching Dick during the day and tailing him when he left his shop. I felt like we needed to be doing more and I was racking my brains out on the problem when it hit me. We needed to be taking pictures of everybody that came in and out of Dick's shop and the vehicles they were driving. We also needed to set up a remote still camera on a timer to see who came and went at Dick and Shirley's house since it was almost impossible to be there ourselves all the time.

Annette's girlfriend Paula was a pretty good amateur photographer in her own right, with all the equipment and knowledge to get us set up quickly and tell us what we needed in the bare bones basics. It would probably be quicker than doing the internet research in our spare time which was getting sparser by the day with this project. The problem was would Annette be able to get the information out of her without her catching on that we were up to something. Annette sure as hell couldn't bring her in on it. I'd run these little thoughts by Annette in the morning over coffee as we went over the game plan for the day. I went from doing a simple burglary on a guy's house to doing the I Spy thing; just call me James, James 'Bond' Fratino!
Chapter 21

"OK, any doubts I had before about this little escapade you've gotten me into are pretty much gone," Annette told me over the top of her coffee cup as we sat across from each other at the kitchen table. "This is very compelling stuff you stole off Big Darryl's computer last night. I sure hope they don't find out you took this and lose your job over it," she said tapping her index finger on the printout sheets while giving me the look. The look came across as I'd better not lose my job.

"Well it's just what we needed as far as I'm concerned and when you compare it with the totals from some of our other constant money players it sort of stands out doesn't it?" I pointed out again for at least the third time.

"They're only in for $1200 combined and out for about $48,000. I just can't imagine that somebody, somewhere, in that casino isn't looking at this and not having alarms go off in their head," Annette said as she got up and stepped over to the coffee pot motioning at me if I wanted another refill on mine.

"You'd think someone is looking out for something like this," I said as I held out my cup for another refill. "I just can't imagine that they don't have some kind of built in program with the new tracking database that would notify or alert them to the differences on something of this scale."

"You don't really think they would be that stupid do you?" Annette asked as she looked over the tracking sheets once more. "I mean anybody with a brain in this business would program that in first thing. They've had these player's club cards and computer tracking systems forever it seems like, at least I've always been a club card member ever since the first time I went to Las Vegas. I just have a hard time accepting that Seven Rivers isn't looking at it and saying the same things as we are Jim," Annette told me with some concern in her voice.

"God honey, I'd hope so," I replied. "I would hate to be the person who let this one get past me and then have somebody else point it out at one of the management's weekly or monthly meetings upstairs," I said while rolling my eyes up and shaking my body a little for emphasis on getting caught with my pants down while I was on the job.

Annette looked at me, thinking for a few moments before she spoke. "Jim, maybe you should go to Big Darryl with this now and lay it out for him and see what he says about it or go to Conroy in Tribal Gaming and talk to him, maybe he'll keep it to himself if he doesn't think there's enough to hold water at this point," Annette told me, the look of concern and the sound of it, evident in her voice.

"Right, I'll get right in there and say: 'by the way, I just so happened to be in Big Darryl's office last night stealing a copy tracking sheet because I was in the middle of a burglary at Dick Jameson's house, when lo and behold, I came across what I thought was a plan to steal from the casino, so I just thought I'd check it out first before I came to you with it'. How I'm doing so far honey?" I asked Annette with my smart ass tone of voice.

"Jim you know what I meant you smart ass," Annette said with a big sigh. "Things could get out of control and away from us pretty fast."

"Nothings going to get away from us so long as you don't tell Paula anything about why you need her to give you the quick lesson on photo surveillance and how to work the gear once we buy it."

"Jimmy I'm going to have to tell her something. I mean you just can't come up to a friend and say 'help me here on this camera stuff' and not expect her to ask questions. Hello, Mister-Wise-Guy-Thief, these things don't happen between girlfriends. Okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, already with the girlfriend code of conduct, such as it may be or whatever. God Annette talk to her, she might help you, even if you can't tell her what it's for right now. All I'm saying here is take a run at her and see how it goes down; you never know she might help without asking too many questions. Just handle it the way you feel is best; she's your girlfriend so you should be able to figure something out without telling her the _truth_ ," I told her with a little emphasis added in.

I don't know about you other guys out there, but me and most of my guy friends that I know, you go up to them and say 'look man I got something happening on this thing I'm working on and I could sort of use your help on this and tell me what I need to know. I got a problem though because I can't tell you what it's for or what I'm doing right now, but believe me I'll tell you as soon as I can. By the way, I'm not doing any of that touchy, feely, bonding crap with you, so forget it man. We'll get together after the thing is done, head down to the bar for some beers and pool and I'll tell you all about it. Okay man? Alrighty then, later'. In Guy World that's the way we handle things most of the time. In Girl World they've got to bond and get all touchy, feely and make sure their hormones are color coordinating and having lunch on Tuesday. Women, go figure!

Annette's known Paula for ten or fifteen years. They went to college together and were both studying for their teaching degrees when they met. They did their teacher aid classes at the same elementary school, then studied together for their credential's test for the State School Board. They both passed and have been friends ever since.

Annette was in a car wreck shortly before she was supposed to start her last semester. It did some damage to her spine and nervous system that they couldn't fix completely and has sort of left her with phantom pains on the left side of her body and back. She has a nervous tic in her right arm and hand now every so often, the kind where I wouldn't like her to be pointing a loaded gun at me. She'd be pointing it at my head and I'd be too afraid the tic would kick in and there goes my dick, shot by the tic. Messed her up enough to realize she wasn't going to be a teacher anytime soon.

Paula went on to get her credentials from the state and landed a fairly good job here on the Olympic Peninsula, where she also landed Dennis, who is also a teacher and a good guy all around. We do Christmas, birthdays, Fourth of July, and summertime barbeque get-togethers on a regular basis throughout the year, as much as possible, considering all the other family obligations we and our friends have.

But on the whole I don't think Paula likes me all that much for some reason. Sure she's polite to me and talks to me at our little gatherings and functions. She and Dennis always get me nice gifts for my birthday and Christmas. We've done the same for them yet there's something lying just beneath the surface between us that gives me pause to feel this way. Just a look or a tone of voice when we're talking alone together gives me the impression that she thinks I'm not good enough to be in the same room with her. Maybe she thinks I'm not good enough to be with Annette and that she deserves better than a casino person.

I've spoken with Annette about it a couple of times but Annette just laughs it off and tells me Paula really does like me, that's just the way she comes off to me and means nothing by it. Annette went so far as to say I might be just a little bit intimidated by Paula's confidence in herself as a woman. Go figure! So long as Annette gets Paula to help a little on this I don't care how she does it or what she tells her, so long as it isn't the truth.

We spent some time going over the receiver tapes and all we got was Shirley being all gushy and fawning over Dick. She just couldn't believe she was that lucky lately on those slot machines Dick picked out for her to play. How did Dickey Dearest know which ones were going to pay out? Had Dickey Dearest gone to a fortune teller or something? Yes Shirley, I think Dickey Dearest has been going to a fortune teller.

"Hello Jim, ground control to Jim. Anybody home in there?" Annette was asking me. I'd been lost in my own thoughts and hadn't been listening to her.

"I'm sorry honey," I said, "I was lost in a train of thought and wasn't listening to you; sorry," I said shrugging my shoulders for her while giving her the palms up and spread. That's Italian for no excuse, what do you expect?

"I was saying that we must be missing something here, that there has to be more to this than a player's club card connection. I mean this Dick guy might know how to do the Two Fast-Two Furious thing on cars and stuff but we're talking serious computer programming here." Annette had her serious look and Jedi tone going on. "Plus this just doesn't add up for me either with looking at these tracking sheets you brought home. Somebody in the computer programming somewhere has their hands in it."

Annette stopped talking in the middle of what she had been saying as a new train of thought took over. I held my hand up in front of her face and snapped my fingers a couple of times. Seemed to work as the synapses in her brain reattached themselves and she was able to speak again. "Jim, do you think there's any way this could be coming from the manufactures end? Maybe somebody at the factory is in with somebody here?" she asked with a touch of awe-like wonder as the thought took hold of her and ran through her mind's eye.

I stopped and thought for a minute considering the possibility. "No way," I said, "Bally's and the other game manufactures out there have to be above reproach or their credibility and their business is destroyed. They catch somebody in their house doing this, they're very dead, very quickly I'd say."

"But look at the amount of money they could possibly steal," Annette said.

I could tell she was turning this one over in her head. The idea had a hold on her. "Forget about it," I told her. "They probably pay those geeks that work for them two tons of money to begin with. Secondly; the geeks probably get off on the designing and inventing new game stuff more you know, the freedom to create their art, that kind of stuff."

We just looked at each other for a minute or two, each one of us thinking our own thoughts before Annette spoke. "They can't be using the club cards to do this Jim. I don't think it's possible. This is a computer hack or an insider in the programming department at the casino," she told me tapping her finger on the kitchen table for emphasis. "Somebody is feeding somebody else information for some reason and I think maybe you, Mr. James Fratino, should give some serious consideration to talking to somebody who can deal with this at Seven Rivers Casino."

I thought about this for a moment before answering her, weighing what she'd just said on the scales of reason in my mind. "Let me nose around some more at work and see what I can come up with first. Let's say about two weeks; give me two weeks. You borrow a couple of cameras from Paula or get her to help you if you can. The GPS units should be here any day and those will be a big help I think. And I really want to take another shot at searching Dick's house one more time; before I was just looking for the combination to the safe. Now that I know something is going on with the casino I'll really take a good look at everything there," I told Annette.

Annette was thinking about it; thinking about the two weeks. "Plus I think you're right about me being wrong with this player's club card thing," I said. "Even with the phone conversation thrown in, it just doesn't feel right," I added.

Annette thought it over for a few moments before rendering her verdict. "Two weeks? Promise me you'll go to Big Darryl or upper management at the end of two weeks and drop this? I swear to God Jim, you've got to give me your word on this," Annette said. I could tell she was kind of serious about the promise thing too.

"Okay, I promise at the end of two weeks I'll talk to Big Darryl." I said making the sign of the cross solemnly across my chest, giving her my imitation of the Pope thing that I do once in a while.

Annette got a severe look on her face and shook her finger at me. "Jim, God's going to kick you in your balls for that when He gets His hands on you." I started to say something witty but she continued on. "And remember this Mr. Wise-Guy; you also promised me no more thieving. You remember that?" she asked me with the tone and her look.

I understood all too well and answered accordingly, "Yes dear. I understand perfectly; 100% clear on this. You have my word on it," I promised her. Go figure!
Chapter 22

I had two weeks and no more. Not much time in my book, but Annette had put her foot down and if I didn't keep my word she'd put her foot up my ass. We'd split up about ten o'clock after our talk and making our plan for the day. She was to continue watching Dick at the Performance Shop and meet Paula for a late lunch to try and enlist her help one way or another. I was going to the post office box I kept to see if the GPS units had come in yet. Then I was going to keep tabs on Shirley and see where she went and what she did. It wasn't that much fun as far as I was concerned because I got bored.

She went to the casino; presumably to pick up her check or cash because she was only there for about fifteen minutes and then headed to the bank; most likely to make a deposit or cash the check. I was hoping for the cash and a stash myself, but that was just wishful thinking on my part. After that it was a trip to the hair salon with a facial included to make herself look good for Dick. Maybe Dick was going to get lucky tonight. There was a cheery thought, Dick and Shirley getting all hot and worked up while watching Dancing with the Stars. Please, stop me. I tell you sometimes binoculars and beauty parlors are a bad combination with an active imagination.

After that it was trip to Safeway for a little shopping to get wine and some groceries. I know because I followed Shirley inside the store just for something to do plus I got to shoot the bull with some casino customers I saw while I was in there. I thought it made for good cover. If anyone wondered why I didn't have a cart or groceries they kept it to themselves. After that our girl Shirley headed home probably to tidy up the house before Dick got home. Although in all fairness Shirley keeps one hell of a clean house. I know; remember I've been in their home a couple of times. Okay, so I invited myself in a couple of times, big deal.

I talked to Annette a couple of times to check in with her and give her some progress reports, that plus I was bored to death and to tell you the truth I sort of missed being with and talking things over with her. Annette didn't have anything interesting to report and it was sort of slow at the Performance Shop since it was the middle of the week in small town America. It sounded to me like she was bored to death also, and to think they make this follow you around, I Spy stuff seem glamorous on TV and in the movies. Who thinks this stuff up and do they give them free drugs to help with their thinking when they come up with this shit? Give me a simple burglary any day of the week over following someone around and keeping track of them.

Burglaries are, on the whole, a simple affair once you develop your style and targets. Most people that I rob aren't filthy rich and live in big houses and drive a powdered blue Mercedes Benz around town. Believe me I'd love to take their money but its more trouble than what it's worth most of the time. Generally the people I rob are the ones who live in modest homes in modest neighborhoods and own the laundromat down the street, the local porn store, the popular night club, or the restaurant that serves our favorite Italian dishes. It's the people who take the cash home every night and hide it in their garage under a stack of old newspapers. How about the extra freezer in the garage that you keep all that Costco meat in that you bought in bulk? Sometimes it's in the mattress because they like old movies and think that it's such an obvious place that a thief would never look there.

Sure some of it goes to the bank, probably most of it does as soon as you get around to making that deposit that covers your overhead operating expenses for the month. Maybe you only put enough in the bank to look good on paper and show the IRS that you're only breaking even after that overhead and paying your taxes like the good up-standing Sammy Citizen that you're supposed to be.

Huh? Hello? Do I look that stupid to you? Please, in the name of all that's the American Way of life don't expect me or most people for that matter, to believe that you aren't skimming and stashing some of that fine American Way currency in your garage or mattress when you think that nobody's looking do you? I'm watching you bring that money home from the bar after closing every night and leaving just enough in the safe there, if you even have one, for the opening till the next day. Then, when you get home, you spend an extra twenty minutes or so putting the car away before you go in the house? I don't think so old chum. I think you're stashing that cash in the garage under the old newspapers or in the extra freezer tucked away and wrapped up like a rump roast ready for shipping to yours truly, Me!

Most people are lazy and become fairly complacent as time goes by and nothing serious happens. That safe I was going to have installed at home? I'll have that done next month because I've been too busy lately at work. Until then it should be safe enough wrapped up and disguised as a rump roast in the extra freezer in the garage. A year later and I'm the one that's screwing your rump roasted there buddy. Thank You! I rely on people to be lazy and incompetent. I hope that some nickel and dime thief doesn't come into the bar or restaurant and rob you of $200 and change, because then you might just get that home or business safe that you've been putting off for over a year. Then what would I do?

Now people that have safes installed in their homes or business are the smart ones and those take a little more time and investigating on my part to get into. That's the primary reason that I decided to work on a time frame of one year and use electronic listening and video recording devices to help make my job of burglarizing those homes and business easier and safer for all parties involved.

A year gives me plenty of time to get to know my mark, the neighbors around them and the neighborhood in general. I can walk away anytime I get the feeling that the approach is too hard or the mark is too sporadic in their comings and goings and I can't trust them to be gone long enough for me to spend the quality time in their home or business that I need or they deserve. And when it comes to safes or inventive hiding places for money you just don't want to walk in and be rushed to try and find them.

I have a few tricks for opening a safe but I'd rather not use them unless I absolutely have to. Most people keep the combination for the safe in the original paperwork that the safe came with, which is usually kept in the file cabinet. Sometimes it's listed with the last will and testament so the loved one can get into the safe if you suddenly die and can't give it to them yourself. The rolodex is another good one, but usually in code. Same with the personal phone and address book, also usually in code. Once you get used to looking for things like that it gets easier after a while. Maybe they tape it to a bottom or back of a drawer in the desk. That bookshelf has a couple of books on investing that extra money. How about looking in those books first, before you start checking the ones on the top shelf and working your way downward? But enough of thinking about the easy things in life, here I am supposed to be watching Shirley and I'm off daydreaming like some ex-con. Hell with it. I decided to head up to Port Angeles and see if I couldn't catch Cal before he leaves for the day.

I called Annette on the walkie-talkie and got the static and bad reception like I did the last time I tried from Bell Hill. I switched to the cell phone, gave her a quick up-date and told her I was headed up to Peninsula College to see if I could touch base with Cal. If I didn't see her before I left for work I'd call her on my first break. The Performance Shop sits right on Highway 101 and the racetrack is located just a ways behind it nestled in with a couple of trucking business and a wrecking yard. Some storage rental units went in a couple years ago and there's even a few homes scattered around. Annette was parked across the street above the Conestoga RV Campground where she had a clear view above the traffic on the highway and still wasn't too noticeable. It was a pretty good spot for watching Dick's shop.

It looked to me like Annette was on the 'Dick Job' and keeping her eye on the place as I passed by on the highway going up to the college. I hoped Paula agreed to help us without giving Annette too much grief when she saw her at their late lunch today. You can always buy a camera with a telephoto lens and hope for the best on your own, learn as you go type things, or you can ask for help from someone who knows. As the saying goes, 'always ask the teacher for help' and I believe this was one time we needed to ask the teacher rather than stumble around with the problem of trying to figure it out on our own wasting time and energy. Since Annette was so worried about what she was going to tell Paula to get her to help us, it made me wonder what she actually did tell her. I'd have to remember to ask.
Chapter 23

Cal was leaving the building when I spotted him. When he had closed the distance to about five feet he finally recognized me and I fell into step next to him when he reached the spot where I waited for him.

"Cal," I said by a way of greeting as we walked side by side on the way towards the parking lot.

"James."

"How was your weekend in Seattle?" I asked.

"Fun, we had a good time. Not too much rain or cloud cover this weekend and Tommy took third place, plus fastest track time for a rookie running in his class," he told me. The pride was clearly evident in his voice; that and the ear to ear smile on his face.

"That's great," I replied with all the enthusiasm I could muster and still sound convincing, "weekend get-away, little sunshine, plus your kid's a winner on top of it. It sounds like you're living the American dream Cal. It doesn't get much better than that," I said chuckling and slapping him on the shoulder.

"Thanks Jim."

"Speaking of which, did you get a chance to talk to Tommy about my little problem?"

Cal's face clouded over as his view was directed toward the ground in front of his feet. I knew what that meant. I wasn't going to like what he had to say and Cal didn't want to say it. "Yeah, I talked to Tommy about it this weekend, went over your problem that you think you're having at the casino."

"Well, what's he think about it?" I asked cutting in on Cal while he was talking. I could tell Cal thought it was rude. "Sorry Cal, I got a little over-anxious there. Next time I'm in your class give me a C- for it."

"What he thinks about it is that he can't get involved in something that isn't sanctioned by Seven Rivers Casino and lose the consulting work he does for them. Plus he can't really have something like that hanging over his company's head. It gets out and it could be bad for his business." Cal scuffed his feet back and forth a few times on the pavement, which is body language for 'Gee I'd really like to help you out but you know how it is don't you'?

"Yeah Cal, I understand what your saying and I know how it is. Thanks for bringing up the subject with him anyway. It was worth a shot," I said while trying not to sound dejected. "How about Bart Sampers? Did Tommy say anything about me talking with him on the QT?"

"Tommy said he didn't think Bart would talk to you either. Said it was way out of channels and procedures and he'd probably have to report it to management if you approached him on it. You know, cover his ass."

"Well I got a paper trail started on it and a couple of other directions I can go for now," I said rubbing my chin in deep thought on this new development.

"But there is a little bright side here if you want to hear it?" Cal said.

"Sure thing; I'll look for a silver lining in this thunder cloud. I'll take all the help I can get right now."

"Tommy said to tell you to forget about the player's club cards for running any kind of scam on the slot machines. There's no possible way it could work with all the built in safe guards in those machines or the programs that run and monitor them from the main servers. To do it someone would have to rewrite all the programming for the machines and it would show up right away. They'd get caught first time a machine paid off suspiciously. Sorry Jim, wish I could help you out more on this one."

"Cal, just talking to Tommy about it for me was a great help. At least now I know not to go barging in and coming out looking like a complete fool over this." I said and continued, "Thanks Cal; I owe you one on this. I'll stop by next week and let you know how I'm doing with it okay?"

"Fine with me Jim, you just be careful and don't lose your job."

We shook hands and made a few more small pleasantries as we walked out to our cars. I waved to Cal one last time as I got in the car and started it up. I figured I'd go home and catch an hour nap before work tonight as I was leaving the parking lot. But once more something didn't sit right with the conversation between Cal and me. I couldn't put my finger on it and it eludes me on the edge of my thoughts, I know it's there but I can't seem to pull it up. It's simple. Nothing that was real tough or cryptic. Some small thing that will finally hit me when I least expect it to. It's just driving me bug crazy. I'll just let it sit and simmer on the back burner of the old brain for a while. Maybe it'll come to me later at work.

I checked in with Annette when I didn't see her sitting above the Conestoga RV Campground in her usual spot. "Dick Orbiter, come in Dick Orbiter, do you read me or need me; over." I said into the walkie-talkie.

"I hear you loud and clear Needle Dick. What's up, over," was the reply from Annette.

"Where and what are you doing?" I asked her.

"I'm following Dick around town while he does some errands. Right now he's in the credit union with some guy he met here and they're talking with some credit union guy who has a very nice office. I bet his wife or one of the women that work here picked out the colors and furniture. And you forgot to say over again; over." Annette admonished me.

I would have loved to do the comedy routine with Annette but I didn't have the time right at the moment to indulge in the pleasure. "Okay; over." I said.

"Okay over what? Over."

"I was overing my over where I forgot to say over; over" I told her.

"You were hovering over your rover? Over."

For some strange reason I got a visual of banging Annette doggie style. I'm a guy, go figure! I put the thought away and filed it under Use Later/Real Soon. "Never mind, we'll get to it later. But do get the license plate number of the guy Dick is meeting with okay? Don't forget to use the dish, see if you can hear what they're saying. And by the way, I didn't have much luck with Cal. I'm headed home to take a short nap and then head to work; over."

"How bad was it? Over."

"Well basically the short version is Tommy won't talk to me that Bart guy probably won't talk to me and he said I was pissing up a rope on the player club card angle; over," I said. The frustration in my voice must have been clearly evident.

"Oh, my poor baby, what a let down that must have been. But just think, in two weeks it will all be over and you won't have to worry about it ever again; over." Annette said using her 'poor baby' sarcasm voice on me.

I hate it when she does that to me. Bitch! "Yeah, yeah, I hear you on your two weeks dear. I'll call you later on from work. Love you; over."

"Got it, love you too Needle. Out," she said.

I turned off the walkie-talkie and headed home. Maybe something would come to me later. It seemed I was just missing that small something that would pull it all together or at least somewhat closer. Two weeks...umm.
Chapter 24

I headed to work still thinking of that elusive something that I was missing here. Oh well. I'd only been on the property for maybe ten minutes when one of the dealers came up and asked me if I knew the lady that had hit the jackpot on the Clear River Carousel thirty minutes ago.

"No Charlie, as a matter of fact I just got here. Is Big Darryl on the floor yet to sign off on it?"

"No Jimmy, Martha's still has the floor and it sounds like she's sort of waiting for Big Darryl because there's a problem or something on the payout," Charlie told me in a confidential, hushed voice.

Martha Nelson is our daytime shift manager. She opens the casino in the mornings and runs the place until she turns it over to Big Darryl when he arrives for the night shift. She basically has the same job as him with the same casino savvy and experience or she wouldn't have the job.

"Charlie my man you got to understand that the only problem we have here at Seven Rivers Casino of Fun and Happiness right now is that we're getting hit on the slots like there's no tomorrow for substantial money. The only problem with paying out is we want to make sure everything is square with the win, the machine, and we're square with the State Gaming. That's all." I told him as I closed my locker and made sure I looked as bitch as a bitch could look.

"Remember," I added as I looked at myself in the full length mirror, "these customers basically pay for the money that goes off those machines on the winners that hit. Casinos don't like paying free money, the non-winners pay for it." I told him as I looked myself over in the mirror one last time before leaving. "Anybody wants me," I told Charlie as I straightened my tie and checked my hair, "I'll be getting my cup of coffee and then heading to the blackjack pit okay?" Charlie just nodded his okay.

I went to the Bingo Bay Deli and helped myself to a large coffee, heavy on the creamer with three sugar packets; it sort of smoothes out the rough edges of the taste. I came around the corner of the hallway and Big Darryl and Martha were talking quietly. So I slowed and approached with caution, slowly walking and sipping on my coffee as I came up to them. "Martha, Big Darryl, how you two doing today?" I asked them.

"As if you don't already know James," Martha told me. Was that a little bite I heard in her voice? Oh well, must be the strain of the job at times like these.

I started moving around them making like I was headed to the blackjack pit and could care less what they had going on between them. Big Darryl's voice spoke softly to my back as I was moving away from them. "Hold up a minute Jim; we want to talk to you in the office for a minute or two?"

"Sure, fine by me," I said to them and started towards the office down the hall. Martha and Big Darryl were close behind me. I held the door open for them and stood standing as they took their chairs.

"Sit down Jim," Big Darryl said motioning to the spare chair across from his desk. Darryl and Martha exchanged a few small looks for a minute or two that told me they didn't know how to approach me with what they wanted to say or ask me. That's the casino business in a nut shell right there, it's either asking or telling somebody something.

"What's up?" I asked since it seemed like we were stalled or something. I figured that I might as well get the ball rolling.

"You hear about the big win on Clear River?" Big Darryl asked. Things always get abbreviated on the job. If I would've had time to read the situation first I could have come back with the 'no but if you hum a few bars and don't mind off key singing' routine, but for some reason I didn't think Big Darryl was in the mood for the wise guy routine with Martha in the office with us.

I decided to play safe and sane this time and not go for the bonus round. "Only about thirty seconds after I got out of my car. You guys know how fast word travels here," I told Big Darryl and Martha as I looked back and fourth between them. After a few seconds of silence I couldn't stand it. "Why? Is there a casino somewhere missing a customer?" That broke the ice for sure.

"You're going to be somebody's customer if you don't shut up when we're trying to talk to you from here on out," Big Darryl told me looking a little stern. Maybe it was because Martha was with us. "What we're trying to ask here is if you know the woman Jim."

"I don't know, no one has mentioned a name to me. The only person I really talked to was the new kid Charlie and he was just asking me if I knew who she was." I told them as I looked back and forth between them. "Who is it?" I asked. "Toss the name out there and let's see if I know it. If I don't know it right off maybe it's in my little black book. Is this supposed to be a semi-regular customer from Seattle or something that doesn't come but three or four times a year?" I asked.

I'm sort of a walking customer data base, plus I got three little black notebooks I've kept track of customers in since the first day I made promotion to floor supervisor. Everybody comes to me asking for somebody's name that is on this table or remember that 'guy and his wife from Port Townsend? What were their names? That's right! I knew you'd remember good old Doris and Delmont's name once I described them to you. Thanks Jim!' No problem, glad to help, team player, boy genius.

"Her name is Sherry Walmond and she is from Port Angeles," Big Darryl told me. "Just got a players club card last week, nobody so far remembers her coming in and playing the table games or the slot machines."

"I talked to her after she hit the Clear River winner," Martha told me. "She's not a bad looking woman, single, says she just started coming back in, used to come into the casino once in a while right after we first opened. Sort of got a familiar look but I just couldn't tell. You know what I mean Jim, I just couldn't tell about her."

While I was listening to Martha give me the run down, Big Darryl was on the offending computer from last night's tech theft that I made, pulling her stats up on the player data base. "Take a look Jim and tell us what you think," he said rolling out of the way so I could see the picture of her Washington State Driver's License that we take when they get their player's club card.

I looked at the picture on the license for a long time. Looked at the address and thought about where Sherry Walmond lived in town and ran her through my mental database of where I might have seen her. Although she didn't look familiar right at the moment that didn't mean I wouldn't remember her from somewhere else. Maybe where she worked if she had a job? Had I seen her at the gas station or Wal-Mart sometime? Had I seen her in the casino in the last thirteen years?

She wasn't bad looking as Martha had pointed out earlier. I'm pretty good with remembering the women if I do say so myself. After what seemed like an hour of scrutinizing the driver's license and doing the mental database thing I came up with a zero, a bit unusual for me, but not unheard of either.

"Sorry but I'm getting nothing out of this one and I think I would remember her if I had ever seen her before," I said to Martha and then looking over the picture one last time, just to make sure. "Do you guys think this is a cheat or something funny with it?" I asked.

They exchanged glances a couple of times then Big Darryl gave her a slight nod. With all these glances and the looks back and forth, and with the nods thrown in, somebody could get sick in here if we didn't watch out.

"No. I don't really think it's a cheat so much as just being in the right place at the right time. I'm inclined to think she just walked in and plunked a $20.00 ticket into the Clear River Carousel and got lucky to the tune of about $30,000 after taxes," Martha told me.

She continued with her narration of the win. "She really didn't seem nervous or appear to be hiding anything after she hit the progressive jackpot, just thrilled like anybody else that wins that much money on $20.00. She tipped the slot people a $1,000, thanked everyone she came into contact with, didn't have any reservations what so ever when we asked for her social security card for taxes when we asked for it. Just smiled and handed it over pretty as you please," Martha sighed as she finished up her version of the win.

"So you guys sign off the win, talk to Frank, and tomorrow she comes back for her check?" I asked as I looked back and forth at them. I was starting to get dizzy from all the back and forth we were all doing.

"Sure, the win looks and smells legitimate so we have to gladly smile and hand her the check as we shake her hand," Martha said.

"So I'm here just to see if I can add some kind of background gaming history for you in case I recognized her from in the past huh?"

"That's about it Jim. History, if you had any on her. Something rings a bell in your memory later let us know, okay?" Martha said as she stood up signaling that she and Big Darryl were done with me.

"Okay, I'm off to earn my keep. Talk to you guys later," I said as I stood up and headed out the door to go to the blackjack pit and another night of fun and happiness.

I decided to do a little prying on the job tonight and talk to everyone I could that might have some information I might be able to use, even if it seemed like nothing at the time. Who knows, I might be able to come up with something later when I went back over it in my mind or when I talked it over with Annette in the morning. Annette's got a quick mind and two heads are better than one.

I moved around the casino floor on my breaks talking to slot supervisors and attendants, both pumping them casually about the recent big wins and player's winning in general. When I got the chance I'd ask the surveillance camera crew what they thought while I had them on the phone checking on some small dealing procedure that wasn't being done to casino or state gaming regulation standards. Cameras are always on, always watching.

"Sounded like Big Darryl and Martha are just a little concerned about the big winners they've had lately. They running you guys ragged reviewing all that footage? See anything funny or suspicious looking? No? Well keep it to yourself, but they had me in the office picking my brain on today's big winner. They wanted to know if I had a line on this one. Yeah. Keep me posted will you, but quietly? Thanks."

I move over to the players' club card booth on one of my breaks and talked to Betty who just happened to be the only one there and all alone at the time. I casually pumped her for information.

"None of us have a clue as to how this stuff works, except we enter the information from their I.D. card here on the keyboard and it spits out the club card out of the machine over there," Betty told me as she pointed to the card making machinery like it was an alien invention... blond and she's a woman...I didn't think I'd be getting much more from her and decided to move on.

Then I saw it, there it was; jackpot payoff for me maybe. There was Big Mike, the slot technician, working on one of the Dancing Bears twenty-five cent machines two rows over from the dice table. He had the front flipped up and what looked like half of the insides to me spread out on a work cart next to him. It looked like he was going to be there for a while working on that one. How he got those huge hands and arms of his in those machines and worked on all that small stuff in them was beyond me. He was almost as big as Big Darryl.

Mike usually worked the day shift on the machines, keeping the circuits changed or polished or whatever it is that slot technician's do to keep the machines up and taking your money. It was unusual to see him here at night but I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. If he didn't get the machine fixed and leave before my next break I'd casually saunter over and try to have a chat with him about the inner workings of slot machines and the relationship of players' club cards to them.

I moved around the blackjack pit for the next hour doing my job of keeping my eyes on the tables and trying to keep one eye on Mike and his slot machine. I'd glance over every so often to make sure he was still there and was surprised when I realized he was gone ten minuets later. Damn!

I left to go on my break and was headed to the back bar to grab a cup of coffee when I saw Mike come out of the service door with his cart loaded with stuff and heading for another machine on the back wall this time. I got my coffee and took my time giving Mike a chance to open his machine and get it torn apart before I went over. People tended to talk more when they are in the middle of something and like what they're doing. Most people want to share how smart they are with you if you show the interest. I was hoping Mike was the same way.

He saw me coming when I was about fifteen feet away from him and a smile lit up his face, "Jimmy how you doing?"

"I'm okay Mike. How about yourself and the family? Everybody doing well? How's that new baby of yours?" I asked him.

"Everybody is great and the baby's growing by leaps and bounds as they say." The smile on his face got bigger at the mention of the new addition to his family. Everybody loves a new baby.

"So what happened here, burn up a wire on this one paying out all those big winners lately? And tell me, why are you here tonight? I thought you only worked days now?"

"Nah, I'm just changing out some printers tonight that we've had some paper jamming problems with. Cheaper just to change them out. Carol's over in Seattle with the baby visiting her parents for a couple of days and I thought I'd come in and catch up on a few of these machines tonight while she and the baby were gone." Mike had a look on his face as he told me why he was here. Like he was cheating on his wife by being at work tonight and maybe he felt guilty.

"So this is what the inside of one of these things look like huh? This is the first time I've ever seen one open and up close. Looks like a lot of stuff crammed in there. You must be a genius to keep track of all those inner workings," I told Mike, hoping he would open up. Mike didn't disappoint me.

"You never seen the inside of one these machines yet?" Mike asked me like I was from another planet.

"Nope, first one I've seen up close and opened. How do they work; if it's okay for me to ask and for you to tell me? I wouldn't want you to get into any trouble telling me something you shouldn't be."

"Well basically it's just a laptop computer in a box. That's the motherboard mounted on the back wall with a Celeron processor and a standard CAT-Five hook up just like the one you have at home. You do have a computer at home with high speed internet don't you?" Mike asked me with another planet look. I assured him we did indeed on both questions.

"Up here mounted on the front is the printer for the slot tickets when you cash out. On the other side opposite is the ticket input unit running into this validation processor. It runs the code on the bottom of the ticket and checks to make sure it's legitimate and you purchased it from Seven Rivers Casino before you can play. Follow me so far Jim? Stop me if I'm going too fast for a blackjack pit supervisor," Mike said enjoying giving me a lesson and sharing his knowledge.

"I follow, oh mighty machine man who knows all," I said giving Mike the biggest grin possible. Now for the jackpot question I needed to move on to the semifinalist round. "So tell me, how do the players' club cards work with these machines?"

"That's really simple." Mike said with that beaming smile of a teacher whose star pupil just asked him to calculate the light speed to planet Neuron for him. "See the slot card gets inserted into the card reader up here on the front, when you push it in there's a wheel in it that reads the magnetic strip, which in turn goes through this validation processor and retrieves all your information from the servers upstairs. The information then comes back to the machine and says 'hi so and so, welcome to Seven Rivers Casino, you have so many points on your club card to date'. Then when you're done playing this machine it takes that information and sends it back upstairs to the club card server and stores the information until you go to another machine or come back in next time," Mike told me as he finished changing the ticket printer and locking the slot machine back down.

"So let me get this right. The club cards are hooked into the slot machine only to retrieve and input information to their own server upstairs?" Mike smiled giving me the thumbs up sign "Nobody could use them to cheat the machines out of a win then?"

"Nope, the cards have their own severs on their own system. Can't cross over with the built in bells and whistles to the theoretical pay-win severs. This is marketing's database only," he said.

"Then how could somebody cheat these machines?" I asked. I'm sure the wonder and true interest was evident in my voice because Mike continued on with the lesson.

"The only way somebody could cheat these machines is to hack into the system onsite because they're all wired in parallel with each other, and they're all in-house wired, stand alone machines, in accordance with state gaming regulations. Nothing goes out of the building on these class III machines," Mike said.

"All the machines are class III huh?" I asked. "Do some of them go off property Mike?"

"Sure," Mike said to me and looked around at the other machines we had in our building. "You see the machines over there, the class II models?" I nodded my head. "Those are all class II bingo machines. They can be tied-in in house, in state, or nationwide with other tribal casinos," Mike explained.

I didn't even look at Mike as he gave me the run down on the class II machines. My mind was going into light speed, headed to planet Neuron as I finally convinced myself and realized that whoever was feeding the winners to Dick and friends were working inside the casino. I felt that I was one question away from making the finalist round and I decide to go for the win.

I turned and gave Mike the go ahead question with the biggest grin and smirk I could come up with. "High speed broadband internet encrypted, satellite relay broadband encrypted, or just plain old land line?" I asked.

"High speed, broadband internet," Mike said furrowing his forehead in thought. "I don't know about the encryption though. You'd have to ask the techs upstairs in the programming of the security on these."

"Mike thanks for the lesson on our slot machines. You sure do know your business inside and out," I told Mike as I offered my hand for him to shake.

Mike was shaking my hand when he dropped the bomb. "Glad to show you around Jimmy. You know they'll probably fry the landline to us from Nebraska if the Fir Mountain mega jackpot goes this week in our casino," Mike told me nodding his head towards the Fir Mountain machine. "Stop by anytime you see me on the floor. It was good talking to you again."

I couldn't have answered Mike if I had wanted to. Don't know if I even acknowledged him as I had just landed again on the planet Neuron and was out of touch with our universe until further notice. Go figure! I didn't envy Big Darryl's or Martha's job when it came to explaining the big wins we've had lately on the progressive slot carousels to Frank.

Frank Capolli is our general manager at Seven Rivers Casino and the man who signs my paychecks. The word on Frank is he was born in Sicily and came to the states when he was two years old. The word also is that he was born with a pair of dice in one hand and a bankroll in the other one. The man is old school casino all the way and knows more about the business of gaming than any other person west of the Mississippi River. I tend to believe this since Big Darryl told me most of this at different times, usually after a great deal of alcohol had been consumed. He isn't a big bullshitter when he's telling you something to teach you. I had enough on my own plate to worry about without worrying about what Big Darryl and Martha were going to tell Frank when they spoke to him.

For the moment I was going to worry about what Conroy and Big Darryl were talking about while they were eyeing me and Mike on the slot carousel. I made like nothing was out of the ordinary while I headed back to the blackjack pit and back to work. If there was a problem with me talking to Mike I'm sure I'll hear about it from Big Darryl when we have coffee together as usual later on tonight. Until then, why worry as the song goes, or something to that effect.
Chapter 25

After fixing my mistakes on a couple of game opener/closer forms I had made when I was closing tables at the end of shift I was running late this night when I left the casino. If I make the mistakes I have to fix them. I also get a little note from upstairs called a write-up for being a screw-up. Date, table number, name of game, exact total of all chip money in the chip tray on the table; all have to be right for the money counters in the soft-count department of the casino cage the next morning when they do their money counting thing. I'm expecting two love notes from upstairs to come back down to Big Darryl's office for me. I don't think that when Big Darryl reads them to me they're going to say what a stellar employee Jim Fratino is.

Big Darryl got to leave and I had to stay with my buddy Conroy who watched me like a hawk while I was fixing the paperwork on the tables and reopening them up and then inserting the new paperwork on the table for the morning shift and then relocking the tables for the night. I felt like Conroy was giving me the cop look all night. Now here we were; just me, him, and security staff, in a shut down casino, with all those cameras on us in the middle of the night. It sort of felt like I was going through a booking procedure or something; with him standing over me giving me the stare while I redid the paperwork. It's his job to watch me while I corrected the paperwork with security and sent it off to have multiple copies made for all departments that needed a copy of my screw ups.

I was tempted to try and slip into Big Darryl's office so I could print out all the addresses of the winners on the slots for the last two weeks so I could check each one out. That was until Conroy walked me out to the back door making small talk with me that his heart wasn't into. Ex-cops; go figure.

Then I had to change into my black ninja outfit at John Wayne Marina for my night time creep up to Dick and Shirley's house to swap out the receiver units when it started to rain. I figured it was probably safer to go down to John Wayne Marina to change since Conroy would've put the parking lot surveillance cameras on my car. I imagined something along the lines of 'look what this nut is doing out in the parking lot'. I had the feeling there was a good chance of this happening. This is great, just frigging great. The night was finishing up on the plus side. Who wants to go crawling around in the middle of the night in a field of wet grass and weeds on their stomach? I know I sure as hell didn't want to.

Everything in Western Washington that's west of the Cascade Mountains has moss, rust if it's metal, or some type of fungus growing on it from the constant moisture it's exposed to. By the time I got home it was 5:50 am and I was amped up, wet, cold to the bone, and just plain tired all at the same time. I didn't think I would get to sleep, but as soon as my head hit the pillow I was down for the count and out cold.

I slept until 10:00 am and when I finally got up I felt groggy and burned out. I had to force myself into some semblance of action for the day. I would have crawled back into bed except Annette had left me a note saying she'd left at 7:30 to meet Paula to go over camera stuff. Buzz her later on the walkie-talkies or cell phone. I felt guilty when I wanted to go back to bed after reading her note. I also wondered what she'd told Paula.

I'd reviewed the tapes I brought home last night just to start off the day productively I told myself. There wasn't anything useful on them, just run of the mill life stuff that every household in America goes through every day. The only thing interesting was Dick getting into his safe and his head was still getting in the way of the missing part of the combination. It was just my luck, go figure.

I did some things I'd been putting off for the last couple of days like calling my brother-in-law back; I had a set of plans for a room addition for him. Then I called to make a doctor appointment for my yearly physical, another appointment to have my teeth cleaned and making another one to have my work truck put in the shop to see if they could find out why it was making a strange ticking sound until it warmed up. Strange ticking sounds are not good for me, especially in my vehicles. Sometimes I really hate doing the menial every day things that get in the way of planning a good solid burglary that you're trying your best to set up properly.

I got a hold of my brother-in-law and made plans to meet him and the owners for lunch at their house. That way we could go over the plans right there, at the house, and get some feedback for what would work or what wouldn't work if they didn't like the plans I'd drawn up for them, listen to the owner's input and feedback, and try to come to some sort of agreement with them. I ordered two extra large pizza's with an assortment of toppings, chiefs salads and garlic bread with dipping sauce. My brother-in-law wanted this contract really bad it seemed so I figured the pizzas and salads combined with a little sit down working lunch on the plans wasn't a bad idea. Carl thought it was an excellent idea since I was paying for the food. I made plans to meet at their house at 1:00 pm so Carl and I could tag team them with the sales pitch we had worked out over the last few years.

I called Annette on the walkie-talkies to check in with her and make plans to see her for a late lunch about three o'clock if she could get away. She said three o'clock was fine with her. I was to meet her in the bar at Traylor's Restaurant. I finally forced myself into the shower and the caffeine induced wake-up-rush from the four cups of coffee I'd powered down was finally kicking in.

I drove down to the Sequim post office to check my mail and see if the GPS units had come in. We could really use them right about now. We got lucky because they came in. The luckiest part of the luck was they had sent an extra unit with the two I'd purchased. One of those I Spy specials that the wholesaler will throw in once in a while I guess. Keep the extra unit for only two hundred and fifty dollars or return in this postage free padded envelope at no cost to you. Since I paid almost six hundred a piece for the two I ordered I thought what the hell, sold!

The software CD for downloading the satellite tracking and mapping programs to the computer looked fairly easy in the booklet that came with the units. I thought I'd leave that for Annette to play with tonight while I was at work. Annette's self taught on the computer and she's really good at working with them. I went to college to learn how to work them and she can still make me look like an idiot on one.

I drove back to Port Angeles and met with Carl and the homeowners for our working lunch. The pizzas and salads must have done the trick because they loved the preliminary drawings as they were and gave Carl an advance check to get the permits and start the job. I was five minutes late in getting to Taylor's for my late lunch with Annette. After the pizza lunch I had with Carl and the homeowners I was going to be stuffed by the time I finished my second lunch of the day with her, but it was going to be worth it just for the smile she gave me when I walked in. I went over to her table and gave her a gentle kiss before I took my seat to join her.

She cocked her head at me and wrinkled her nose sniffing, "I smell pizza all of a sudden, have you been eating pizza?"

"I met with Carl and the people on that room addition at their house. I ordered a couple of pizzas and salads delivered from Domino's for everyone; works every time. Carl got the start up check and I only had one piece of pepperoni. I didn't want to spoil my lunch with you."

We ordered lunch and made the usual small talk until the food arrived. I gave Annette the basic paperwork on the GPS units and brought one in for her to look at. She looked them over as we ate our lunch.

"This thing is pretty small," she said turning it over in her hands and weighing it. "It's amazing how small they can make stuff like this now a days huh? And the back of it's a magnet strong enough to hold it on a car, truck, or whatever you attach it to. Thirty years ago this probably would have weighed a pound."

"For what they charged for those units they should walk over to the car and jump up there and mount themselves," I said. "They also sent an extra unit as a bonus round offer for another $250.00. I figure it might come in handy in case we need it, never can tell with something like this that we've gotten ourselves into." I gave her the opened palms up hand thing; the silent go figure thing.

Annette went back to the paperwork and CD, looking through it and giving it some thought. "You want this downloaded on the home computer or your laptop for the mobility? Or we can download on both using the same key codes and encryption for each unit they sent us?"

"Let's do both just so we have our bases covered. We'll probably need to buy an antenna dish for the laptop, preferably a strong one with high-gain capabilities to receive from the satellite since we'll be out of the house wouldn't you think?" I asked as she pored over the material spread out on the table in front of us.

"Yeah, going to need one of those for sure just to make sure we get a good signal from the satellite. I'll find out which satellite is the closest one we can receive from when I get home and start downloading the programs. Give me a few hours to play with this and I should have it up and running with the encryption on it," she said with a small grin on her face. She liked the new toys I'd brought home to play with.

"Great. I'll take two with me tonight when I go to work. You can track me around the casino and see how pin-point accurate these really are and tonight when I go up to Dick and Shirley's to swap out the units up there, I'll sneak up and put one on Dick's truck if it's parked in the driveway."

"Do you need to get batteries for these or did they come with them from the manufacture?" Annette asked me as she once again held the little GPS tracking unit in between her thumb and forefinger. It was almost the size of a Zippo lighter, only about a third the thickness and height of one. More along the size of a memory stick for a camera.

"What does the little instruction booklet say? And while were on the subject, what did Paula say when you asked her about the camera stuff?" I'd almost forgotten about Annette talking to Paula.

"She said okay," Annette replied a little absently, still looking through the booklet.

"Okay," I said waiting for more information on the subject. After a few moments when I realized there would be no more information forthcoming I decided a little prompting might be in order. "Annette honey, what did you tell her and what did she say in reply?"

"You really don't want to know the details," Annette said lowering the booklet and looking over the top of it at me. She raised the booklet back up to where her face was hidden once more.

I had to think about this one for a few moments. "Don't want to know the details?" What kind of answer was that? I was definitely an inquiring mind. I wanted to know. "Annette honey, give," I ordered her. "How much did you tell her about this to get her to help us?"

Annette lowered the booklet and put on her stern face. "She's helping us and that should be good enough for you," she told me. "And believe me; you really don't want to know the details of what we talked about. Besides it was just girl stuff, you know how it is," Annette told me in that 'confidence of just us girls thing' type of voice along with giving me the look.

I could tell sterner measurers were called for. "If you don't tell me I'll do the green bean thing," I threatened her pointing to the green beans that were on my plate. I've been known to put vegetables and other assorted things in my nose while we were out in public.

"No. And you're not doing the 'green bean thing' either so just forget about it buddy-boy," she said with the 'I mean business' look back on her face.

I crossed my arms dramatically and cocked one eyebrow at her in defiance.

"No. Don't ask and please don't stick vegetables or anything else that's handy in your nose. Please?" Annette had gone to the pleading-while-I-was pouting look and voice. Whatever she and Paula had talked about she wanted to keep between them. Annette doesn't use it very often. She usually keeps it tucked away for special occasions, of which this must be one.

"Okay. You girls can keep it to yourselves if that's what you really want. I was just asking is all." I decided to just let it go. "So did Paula tell you what kind of camera equipment we needed to get?"

"She did better than that," Annette told me with a little smile. "She loaned us some of her equipment for as long as we needed it. She gave me the rundown on how it all works and everything. And she loaned me this really cool Nikon with a remote still timer and automatic long range lens adjustments built into it," Annette said excitedly.

"Good. We can go find a place tomorrow morning and set it up. Somewhere out of the way where we can hide it and sill get a long shot of Dick's house. We'll need to cover it up to protect it from the rain and sun, that's if there's any sun," I thoughtfully replied while rubbing my chin. I decided I needed to shave too.

Annette had suddenly developed a funny look on her face when I told her about going to Dick's tomorrow. "What? What's wrong Annette honey?" I asked. "Food hit your stomach the wrong way?" Annette didn't look well.

"No, I'm fine, I think. Maybe it's just the coffee," she said. "Look there's no need for you to get up early after you get home so late from the casino and then going to Dick's house afterwards to change out the receiver. I'm perfectly capable of going up there and finding a spot for the camera on my own. Why don't you just sleep in and I'll take care of it?"

Something wasn't right. It took me a minute of looking her in the eyes before it hit me. Damn! "Wait a minute honey. You didn't happen to tell Paula you thought I was cheating on you and that's why you needed the advice on the camera stuff did you?"

Annette bit her lower lip and stamped her foot on the floor. She'd been making sporadic eye contact as I asked her. She was busted and she knew it. (The foot stamp was a complete case clincher your honor. The prosecution rests its case!).

"Tell daddy all about it honey." I said pitching her some grief. This could actually be fun if I handled it the right way.

"I didn't mean to tell Paula you were cheating on me. She just sort of assumed it when I was being vague about what I really needed it for. We were talking and then she just blurted out 'oh my god you think he's cheating on you and you want to catch him red handed' and what was I supposed to say to that. You told me to tell her anything except the truth about what we were doing."

Annette was edging towards the 'this is entirely your fault' tone of voice. And she was right. I decided to let her finish first before I agreed with her.

"So it was just easier to let her think that." Annette looked down at her plate as she pushed around some of the food left on it. "I'm sorry Jimmy; I didn't mean to lie or mislead her," she said as she looked back up at me. "But boy when she thought you were cheating on me she was more than willing to help nail you to the wall. You might be right Jim; I don't think Paula likes you very much for some reason."

"Honey its simple when you think about it. I have a penis and she's jealous of me sticking it in you," I told her for the shock value that didn't work. That one went right over Annette's head. "So you two are going to set up the long range camera yourselves?" I asked as I reached across the table for Annette's hand. I took it gently in mine and caressed hers with my thumb, lightly stroking it.

"We already did it this morning when I left early. It's all set up and ready to go. We just need to pull the memory stick whenever we want to check what's on it."

"That's fine." I told her as I kept my eyes locked on hers. "Let's go home and take a nap together."

"But what about keeping my eye on Dick this afternoon?

"Honey, that's exactly what I was thinking about," I said as I stood up and threw a fifty dollar bill on the table to cover our lunch and a tip.
Chapter 26

It was raining like there'd be no tomorrow when I left for work. I had gotten soaked going down to Wal-Mart for batteries to put in the GPS units since they didn't come with them; extra large watch batteries no less. But the rain was coming down in torrents with the wind whipping the trees so bad they were throwing bits and pieces plus an occasional large branch or two onto the road every once in a while just to keep the drivers alert and on their toes.

I had ran back into the house to give Annette the batteries and when I saw her sitting at her computer in a loose fitting and reveling robe that I knew contained only skin beneath it. I'd left the car running with the heater on full blast. Damn, how much gas was in the tank of the car? But the more important question was how much sick leave did I have on the books and how pissed would they be if I called in this late before my shift. She was very tempting sitting there naked underneath that silky, slinky, short robe. Damn!

I gave Annette the batteries and a couple of short pecks on the lips that turned into deep probing kisses with some soft groping around inside her robe until she slapped me lightly on the face and reminded me that I had to leave for work. She finally got the batteries in the backs of the GPS units I was taking with me after I quit trying to molest her. Kill joy.

"Okay, I got your unit code numbers off the backs copied down and as soon as the software finishes downloading I should be able to acquire a satellite signal for the mapping program," she told me as she stood up and gave me what I thought of as one of the sexiest kisses she'd ever given me. "Now, off to work and call me when you're almost there; I should be tracking you by then if everything works like it's supposed to," she told me as I crossed the room to the front door.

I turned to her. "You know Annette I'm the luckiest man alive to have you. If I was to die right this moment I just wanted you to know that. God I love you woman," I told her as I went to open the door.

Annette sprang across the room and gave me another short, but sweet kiss, plus the sexiest smile to go with it. "Damn right you're lucky buddy-boy and remember that I love you. Okay?"

"Most definitely Mrs. Fratino; I most definitely will," I told her as I closed the door and ran to the car trying to avoid as many rain drops as possible. Washington State weather; go figure.

The rain only seemed to get worse as I drove towards Sequim and the night was shaping up to be worse than the forecast on the news made it out to be. Well I wouldn't have to worry about anyone spotting me tonight when I went crawling around up at Dick's house.

I called Annette as I drove past Sequim and she had me tracking on both units with no apparent problems. She had me shut off one unit and leave the other one on so she could watch the tracking process while I walked around at the casino. One of the features on these was tracking within 1.5 meters to any given map coordinates. She should be able to tell where I was just about any place in the casino with the rough map we'd drawn in bed together this afternoon. It wasn't accurate by any means but it would work for the purpose we needed it to tonight.

Annette was also plotting out the winners that I had brought home from the casino on a map of Port Angeles tonight. Filching the tracking sheet out of Big Darryl's office just might pay off if I could find the connection on it to cheating the casino out of slot winners. I'd have to pay each one a special visit and check them out. I didn't have enough audio units to plant at each of the winners' homes, but I had enough to do a select group. That had been Annette's idea as we lay in bed this afternoon while we were drawing a rough map of the casino on a legal pad.

I was headed to the blackjack pit with my starter cup of coffee for the night when I saw Dick and Shirley sitting on the Dancing Bears quarter carousel... interesting. I was more than mildly interested when Big Darryl came in the pit and pointed out the blond sitting at the Lucky Sevens dollar carousel. It was none other than our lucky jackpot winner Sherry Walmond of Port Angeles. Coincidence you might say. Could be coincidence but I didn't think so.

"So that's our lucky girl?"

"Yes it is. Ever see her in the casino before?"

I looked her over carefully, walking casually down the blackjack pit and returning before answering Big Darryl. "Nope, far as I can tell I've never seen her before today and I think I'd remember her if I had. Looks a lot better in person than the picture they have on her drivers' license."

Big Darryl just looked at me and smiled

"Is she booking any winners today?" I asked him and he just shook his head no.

"I see Dick and Shirley Jameson are here too. Must be trying to catch another big one, continue the winning streak." Big Darryl just shrugged his shoulders in answer to me.

"Well aren't you just the Chatty Chet today."

"If one of these guys hit us for another big winner on my shift tonight and I'll have plenty to say to somebody. They've been dumping money back in since they came in the door and I hope it stays that way," was his parting reply as he turned and left the pit.

Christ, talk about being in a bad mood. Big Darryl was not into the wise guy routine tonight; mental note... use setting number eight on wise guy routine. I decided I had better go easy on him tonight if I knew what was good for me.

I sort of kept my eyes on Sherry, Shirley, and Dick until they left the casino. They didn't hit any big winners, just enough to keep playing on for a while before they had to feed more money into the monkey on their backs. Like Tony Soprano always said as he shrugged his shoulders; a bunch of degenerate gamblers, go figure.

All things considered the night was going pretty good in casino world for me. It was my Friday night again, I'd gotten to play Wrestle Mania with Annette this afternoon, and help sell a room addition for my brother-in-law. Yep, it was going _real_ good tonight.

Even with Conroy following me around on my breaks as I stopped and talked to other employees or customers didn't bother me. Sometimes I saw him and at other times I just knew he was there hovering out of my radar range, still checking me out. I wasn't sure why Conroy was following me around the casino for the past week, except it had to do with the conversation we had on the way the casino would handle a cheating scam on the slots and the winners we'd been having lately for large money. I didn't think I was being investigated as part of any cheating scam or 'ring' that might be hitting the casino, not officially anyway, but Con had his nose open and was keeping on my trail just to see what I was up to.

The winners were too big and they were starting to develop a pattern that I could see. And if I could see it, so could the casino management. They weren't stupid, they had put Conroy on it and they expect results and soon. If Sherry Walmond or Dick and Shirley hit another big winner in the next day or two the casino would be all over Con for answers and call the state into tearing apart the lives of anyone who was a big winner in the last month.

As I was going on break I got lucky. Con went flying past me headed for the front door; his handheld radio squawking radio talk as he went by at mach speed. Something was up. As I looked on most of the security staff was running for the front door and the ones left were spreading themselves out through the casino floor to take up the slack where people had left. My luck came in as I saw Big Darryl heading out the door. I followed the crowd out the front to see what was up. When something exciting happens at work I'm just as curious as the next person.

The crowd was gathering at the entrance to Seven Rivers Casino of Fun and Happiness where there'd been a rather serious accident on Highway 101 and our entrance. Great, the traffic on the highway would be stopped until they could clear the wreck. This looked to be a bad one. Probably an hour, maybe two, before they got it cleared. This means the casino was going to fill up fast with no way around the accident. Highway 101 is basically the only main road on the Olympic Peninsula unless you know the fire and logging roads that cut across it and have a Land Rover that you're not afraid of scratching up a little.

I headed for Big Darryl's office and the computer that held the information I needed to put all of this together. I casually strolled down the hallway with my cup of coffee and went into the office and shut the door. As soon as I had the door shut I went into quick mode and jumped on the computer. I scrolled through the accounts, then by month where I found the link for monthly winners. Just to be on the safe side I took the complete last quarter through today. That should work for now I told myself as I hit the printer icon and paper started spitting out. No, it won't I thought. I scrolled back through to until I got the accounts listing sheet then went through the drop down menus until I found the one for quarterly tax winners. This should work; it has all the mailing addresses for all those lucky winners. I hit the printer icon once more for the little machine to work its magic for me. Hey, anytime I don't have to look a bunch of people up in a phonebook to find out where they live is magic for me.

After what seemed like an hour but was only eight and a half minutes by my watch, I was done and folding the filched documents to put in my jacket pocket. I grabbed some more evaluation forms for one of my hands and my put my coffee in the other and exited Big Darryl's office. I promptly went back in just to make sure I had shut down his computer and printer. Okay taken care of.

The casino was filling up from the accident out front by the time I got back from my break. We opened more blackjack tables to accommodate the crowd coming in as they were starting to fill up the restaurant and slot machines too. We stayed fairly busy for the rest of the night because once people sit down to play they have a hard time getting up to leave. It's especially the young, single customers that don't have wives, husbands, or children to encourage them with whining, or better yet, a divorce. That's always my favorite.

I called Annette on my next break to see how the GPS unit and software program was working out. Fine, but I looked like an ant running around on the map when she zoomed in.

"It works and that's all we care about," I told her. We talked for a few more minutes then I had to get back to the blackjack pit and to work. We said our 'good-byes,' 'I love-you-too's,' and 'see you in the mornings'.

I was just a little tired as I left the casino, but all in all it had been a fairly good night for me. Conroy had pretty much left me alone after the accident, I had filched the accounts listing sheets that I thought would help tie some pieces together, and it was my Friday night.

The rain had tapered off to a steady downpour which I considered a bonus since I had to now go crawl around in a field and retrieve the receiver units. Now I was just going to get half drowned in the middle of the night. As I turned left to head back to Port Angeles I was glad there were not any serious injuries in tonight's accident out front. Looked a lot worse than what it actually was, thank God. I drove along thinking about Annette and just going over in my head how ironic life is sometimes. Just letting my thoughts ramble around all the things we'd been doing together lately and how much I enjoyed her company, especially doing the creep and peep on Dick. We were going to nail him and whoever else was involved in running this cheat on the casino, and that's what it had to be, a cheat. It was that plain and simple.

As I passed the Sequim Bay Lodge I saw a pick-up truck waiting with it's headlights on high beam waiting for me to pass so they could turn onto the highway. I hoped they'd remember to dim their headlights once they were behind me on the road. After that I didn't pay it much attention. That was until the fool decided to pass me in the no passing section of the road about an eighth of a mile past the Lodge. What an idiot I thought as the truck sped up and pulled along side of me. There was no place to pull over in case another car came around the curve in the road that was coming up quick and on the right all there was going to be was a guard rail if this idiot didn't get past me fast.

I decided to slow down and let this jerk get by me because the road was getting narrower and the guardrail was coming up faster than I would have liked. That's when the driver of the truck swerved into me with no warning and shoved me into the guardrail at fifty-five miles an hour.

The beginning of the guardrail was tapered off into the ground where the road was cut into the hill, creating a steep slope on the downside to which I was now flying airborne over at fifty-five miles per hour. The impact with the guardrail had launched me out into the trees that grew along side the road. The last thing I thought of was that there must have been a deer trying to cross the road, and damn, those new windshield wipers sure do work great! Then I crashed into the trees and everything went black very quickly.
Chapter 27

DAY: 1

Wow! I must have made it on the space shuttle. So this is what it's like to be in outer space, cool! Man there's not too much feeling at all in these space suits. Man, this is pretty cool! Houston? Do you read me Houston? Come in Houston, ground control. Is anybody there? Huh, everybody must be out to lunch or something. Oh well.

DAY: 2

Are you there Houston? Hello, Houston, is anybody there? My com- link must be on the fritz because I can't HEAR YOU!!! GODDAMNITT HOUSTON WHERE ARE YOU!!! Okay. I'm just going to float over here and check out this bright light that I'm going to assume is the planet Neuron. I'm firing my jet-pack thrusters at this time. See you on the other side Houston. Out.

DAY: 3

Houston? Houston where are you? And where's the International Space Station? I don't see the space shuttle either! Oh my god, I'M LOST IN SPACE!!! Houston I want to come home. I don't like it out here by myself anymore. My com-link doesn't work for some reason and I'm starting to get scared a little bit. There's that bright light again! Houston I think I see the lights on the International Space Station. That's it! That must be the International Space Station! Houston I'm going to fire my jet-pack thrusters again in hopes of making it there this time! If you can hear me Houston, wish me luck, I think I'm going to need it! TALLY-HO!!!

DAY: 4

Houston, this is getting scary out here. I want to come home now. I don't think I want to go on the space shuttle again. HOUSTON, I WANT TO COME HOME NOW!!! And I mean RIGHT THIS MINUTE!!!

DAY: 5

#im? C#n yo# hEA# mE J#M?

Houston? Is that really you? Thank you Houston. Thank you God. Houston where have you been? I can barely hear you and you're breaking up.

J#m! Op#N yO#R E#eS #IM! JI# FR#T##N! #AN Y#u H#AR mE?!

Yes Houston, I hear you, but your transmission is badly garbled and I can barely understand you. But yes by God I HEAR YOU!!! THANK GOD FOR SPACE COMMUNICATION HOUSTON!!! But what is it you want me to do Houston?

Op#N yO#R E#eS ##M!

Houston, my eyes are open. I can see space clearly now and I can tell you there's nothing out here but the planet Neuron. Kind of peaceful really, once you get used to being alone and get over being scared. I was scared, but just a little bit.

J#m pl##Se Op## yO#R E#eS F#o M#. IT#S m# Annette, J#m Ho#Ey. Ple##E OP#n yO#R #ye# Fo# M#. J#m, if Y#u DO#'t #oMe B#ck SoO# I'# go#n# T# H#Ve T# Un#l#G Y#U! Jim, pl##SE Op#n yO#R Ey#s F#r Me!

Annette? Annette honey is that really you at Houston? What are you doing there at Houston? You're supposed to be at home waiting for me to come home from work aren't you? Hey, wait one nano-space minute here. I am on my way home aren't I? Well, aren't I? Annette, how do I get home from outer space? Can you tell me how? Baby I could really, really use your help. Can you turn on a beacon or homing device like they use on TV to guide me back to you? I don't think Houston can help me, and to tell you the truth, I feel sort of scared still. But, just a little bit, not too much. Please Annette, help me get home and I promise I'll never go into outer space again, I swear! Annette? Annette, are you there?

DAY: 6

Houston I'm not alone in my space suit! Something just grabbed my hand! There it is again! Do you read me Houston?

"Jim? Do you hear me Jim? Please open your eyes Jim. Jim, can you open your eyes for me, please, honey? It's me Annette, Jim."

"Annette? Yes Annette I can hear you loud and clear. I'm coming home Annette. Thanks for turning on the homing device like they have on TV for me. I should be home any day now."

DAY: 7

"Jim, open your eyes. James Fratino, open your eyes right now or I'm really going to get pissed off!"

I could barely see Annette for the glare in my eyes and I sure wish she'd quit yelling at me when I'm this hung over. God, I haven't felt this bad from a hangover in years. I must have really gotten drunk last night. Annette can just yell at me later, I'm going back to sleep and see if I can't get rid of this hangover.
Chapter 28

I opened my eyes to a dimly lit room. Every bone and joint in my body hurt and I hadn't even moved yet. I closed my eyes for a while and when I opened them again things were a little bit clearer. I'm in a hospital room. That's where I'm at. And there sitting across from me asleep in a reclining chair is Annette. Yep, a hospital room for sure. I'd recognize that smell anywhere in the world because all hospitals are required to have that smell.

I moved my head to look around and the pain hit me like a shock wave, washing over my body, starting at my head and rippling down to my toes; I almost got sick. God what happened to me? How did I get in this situation? And the bonus round question this time... is Annette pissed off at me? I vaguely remember her saying something about being, or getting, pissed off at me for something, whatever it is I did or didn't do. God what happened? How long have I been here? I closed my eyes for a minute trying to think.

"Welcome back sleepy head," Annette said to me as I opened my eyes again. I must have gone back to sleep last night when I closed my eyes because it was daylight outside and plenty bright in the room.

"What happened?" I croaked. I must not have swallowed for days because my throat felt like sandpaper. "Water," I managed to whisper. Annette held one of those plastic covered hospital cups with a straw sticking out of it. I tried to suck on the straw as hard as I could, but I didn't get very much in my mouth, but what I did get tasted wonderful and refreshing.

The smile Annette had on her face dimmed and tears started pouring out of her beautiful eyes. "Oh god Jim, you were in the worst accident they'd ever seen on the highway. You hit a guardrail and went off the road into the trees up at Sequim Bay Lodge. You were trapped in the car overnight, wedged in the trees fifteen feet off the ground," Annette told me in between crying sobs and sniffing her nose to keep the snot from running out of it. That's my girl, cool, composed, and beautiful at all times.

"When I woke up and saw that you hadn't come home I got worried. I tried your cell phone. I checked the answering machine on the home phone and there were no calls on it or my cell phone. I finally got on the computer and checked on the GPS unit and there you were on the map, but not moving."

Annette grabbed a couple of more tissues out of the box on the tray the hospital had so kindly provided. She blew her nose a couple of times before telling me more. "I called the State Patrol and they sent a patrol car out there and they found you wedged up in between the trees."

Annette was crying and sobbing and sniffing the whole time she tried to tell me. "Oh Jim, by the time I got there they had the highway blocked off at John Wayne Marina where you turn on White Feather and down at Sequim Bay Road. I drove on the shoulder of the road to go around traffic until a trooper stopped me and wouldn't let me go any farther."

Annette needed more tissues and nose blowing before continuing on. "I guess I got a little hysterical with the patrolman that stopped me. He finally got on the radio to somebody and finally after what seemed like an hour they sent another patrol car up to get me and bring me down to the crash site."

Annette stopped to blow her nose again. She'd pretty much stopped crying though. "They brought two mobile cranes in or something like that from a job site nearby to bring you down from the trees. They had to cut their way into where you were from the bottom of the hill. One of the state investigators said that if it had been any further in, it would have taken them all day to get you out."

"Water," I muttered again. My throat still felt like sandpaper and nothing Annette was saying made sense.

Annette was holding the cup again for me as the doctor came through the door. When he saw I was awake he smiled. "You are one lucky guy Mr. Fratino. Welcome back from the land of the dead. And I do mean dead. I heard they resuscitated you twice before you got here and then we had a go at you a couple of times on the operating table while we were working on you," he said moving to my chart and checking it over.

"I'm Doctor Willis and I'll be your primary doctor while you're here at Harborview Medical Center," he told me putting the chart down and grabbing my wrist and shoving a thermometer in my mouth the old fashioned way. "I'll go get the day nurse and be right back," Dr Willis said with a big smile.

I locked eyes with Annette and asked "bad?"

"The car was completely totaled Jim." She was sort of avoiding looking at me. "But don't worry about the car Jim we have great insurance. I already talked to our agent and they're going to cover everything!" She said with a big beaming smile on her face. Then she blew her nose again.

I tried to roll my eyes at her, but it felt like it didn't work for some reason. She knew what I had meant, "Me?"

Annette's eyes welled up with tears again and she broke down, crying and sobbing uncontrollably, unable to talk. The doctor and the day nurse came in the room and the nurse escorted Annette out of the room, trying to comfort her. As the doctor closed the door after them he turned and came back into my view.

He pulled the chair up beside my bed and looked me in the eye when he spoke. "You are, without a doubt Mr. Fratino, one of the luckiest son-of-a-bitches I've ever seen in my life," he told me. "Would you like to know how lucky you are?"

"Yes," I whispered.

Dr. Willis looked me over for a second before coming back to look me in the eye again. "Okay. I'll give you the short version without all the medical talk mumbo jumbo if that's okay with you?"

"Okay,"

"Fine then," he smiled at me. "First you've been in a coma for a week. Nobody here at Harborview thought you were going to make it, let alone come out of the coma. Your wife Annette was the only one who was sure. Never gave up hope." Dr Willis thought for a second then continued on. "Both your legs have been broken, left one in two places. We put screws in those. Pelvis has some slight fracturing but it should mend itself with no problems. Left arm broken also. And the left hand, ditto. No pins or screws in those."

He grabbed the chart and started flipping through it. "Lets see, spleen removed, it ruptured, appendix removed, also ruptured. Left lung collapsed, punctured by one of you ribs. By the way you have five broke ribs for sure and maybe more once we get clear pictures, all the blood in there you know." He ran down the chart some more before speaking again. "Want to see how bad you look?"

"Yes," at least I think I did.

Dr. Willis left and returned a moment later with a mirror and stood at the end of the bed. When he thought I was ready he flipped it over so I could see myself.

"Bad," I bemoaned as I looked at myself and I did look pretty bad.

"Bad, yes, but we can fix you up Mr. Fratino. Your back is broken, but not badly, no problem there...the problem is in your face, head and neck. You used your face to flatten out the steering wheel on impact, bent it completely over and then tried to stop the steering column with your torso, hence the ruptured organs. Your left ear and a good amount of flesh around it ripped away from your skull. We've gotten it reattached and the plastic surgeon is waiting to have a go at you as soon as I give him the okay. And don't worry about the facial bruising and swelling, those will go down pretty soon and you'll be able to see out of your left eye again."

"How's the vision in your right eye today?" Dr. Willis asked as he pulled out a small pin light, focusing on my eye as he shoved some swollen tissue out of his way. He shined the light up and down and back and forth. A couple of 'ah-huhs' here and there from the good doctor told me I was getting better already.

I started silently crying from the pain as soon as he had touched my head and almost passed out when he started prying open my left eye.

"Good, looks like that eye is clear and responding nicely. It's going to be fine I think. I want you to rest today. Tomorrow I'm going to send you back for some permanent surgery if I feel your strength is up for it. Okay?" Dr. Willis asked.

"Yes," was all I was able to reply and then by some miracle I was able to say the word "Move?"

"No, I don't think you'll be moving around very much in that full body cast while it's on you. But don't worry; we'll get that off of you as soon as possible," he said as got up and moved towards the door. He came back into my line of sight, smiled at me and said. "Don't go any where you're not supposed to, okay?"

"Okay," I croaked. Great, another wise guy; go figure.

Dr. Willis was gone for the day and so was I. I moved in and out of semi-consciousness for the rest of the day and most of the night. Nurse Nancy must have kept the drugs on high volume or my body was still in shock because I didn't feel a thing until the next morning. Then I really started hurting. Dr. Willis decided to postponed the surgery for another day giving me a little more time to stabilize before they went back to work on my body.

My parents had come over as soon as they'd heard about the accident and stayed at a nearby hotel waiting to see me one way or another. My mom was so happy to see me alive that she smiled and cried at the same time, the whole time they were allowed to see me, which was the first time since the accident.

My dad's my dad, what can I say? I had to hear about the last time I wrecked my car and how history seems to repeat itself with me behind the wheel of a car. I totaled a car pretty good when I was a kid so I guess I'll never hear the end of this one or that one; although he did tell me that I have a flair for demolishing perfectly good vehicles. From him that was a compliment I think.

Being a patient in the Intensive Care Unit at any hospital has its perks. Like they don't let people just come into your room when you're feeling and looking like crap both at the same time. Mom and Dad were limited on how much time they could see me a day. That was fine with me as I couldn't move or hardly talk after having a tube down my throat for a week helping me breathe. I didn't much feel like having company and entertaining. All I could basically do was croak one or two word conversations.

Annette had a room at the same hotel as my parents but she mainly stayed in my room and slept in the reclining chair while I was in the IC unit. Paula had brought her over some clothes from the house and she'd been showering and changing at the hotel when she had the chance to sneak out for a few minutes.

I woke up at 4:30 am thirsty and in pain. Annette was sleeping in the chair across from me half curled up with a blanket covering her and a pillow half tucked under her head. I was contemplating trying to reach my trusty cup with my right hand but when I tried the effort was just too much; pain shot throughout my body from just trying to move. And those were the parts that supposedly worked okay.

Night Nurse Nancy came through the door. She came over and checked on me and saw that I was awake. "Water," I rasped and she brought me my plastic covered cup with the straw sticking out of it.

"Would you like for me to get some ice to put in this for you?"

Damn right I would lady. Do you know how good that would feel right about now? "Please?" I muttered to her.

Night Nurse Nancy left and returned a few minutes later with my plastic cup filled with ice water. She held the cup for me as I drank greedily of the refreshing liquid. I gave her a big sigh of satisfaction after I had drunk my fill.

"Tastes pretty good doesn't it?" she asked. "It's your body trying to heal itself up and get better."

"Thanks," I whispered. I was exhausted from the effort it took just to drink the water and my head was spinning but damn, it was worth it.

"I'll check back with you in a while and see if you're ready for some more. Water is all you'll get until after they are done operating on you today." Night Nurse Nancy brushed the hair off my face for me as a bonus. She was probably in cahoots with my mom. It was something she would have done for me when I was a kid.

"Thanks," I whisper.

Night Nurse Nancy left and I closed my eyes in relief for a moment. When I opened them up Annette was sitting in the chair next to me so I must have nodded out for a few minutes.

"How are you feeling Jim?" she asked. "You want some more ice water?" Night Nurse Nancy and I must have woken her up with our chatty conversation we were having earlier.

"Please." Annette gave me a long drink and then sat the cup back on the tray and took my hand. "Talk," I croaked at her.

"Okay Jim, what do you want to talk about?"

"Accident," I mumbled.

"Well there's not that much left to tell you about the accident except you were trapped in the car for almost nine hours by the time they got you out and airlifted you here to Harborview. That and the fact you almost killed yourself in the process," she said. "Do you remember what happened?"

"Truck," I croaked.

"You were hit by a truck Jim?" Annette's eyes got a little bigger as she asked and the concern showed as well.

I had to think and choose my words carefully as I was only using one at a time in conversations with people. "Forced," I mumbled to her.

Annette stuck a finger nail on her lip and started tapping. She doesn't do that unless she's done something she doesn't want to tell me about. Or some other girl thing that guys have absolutely no clue about. "Jim, are you saying that someone in a pickup truck ran you off the road?"

"Yes," I whispered after a moment of thinking it over.

"By accident and they didn't even stop to see if you were alive afterwards?" She had that shocked look in her eyes that someone could just drive away from the scene of an accident like that and not stop and help.

"I guess," I managed to get two words out this time.

"Oh, my God! That's terrible Jim."

"Give," I asked her keeping eye contact and holding it. Annette reached for my plastic cup and I took the offered drink of ice water. "Tell me," I demanded as she went to set the cup down. She hesitated ever so slightly. She was busted. " _Tell me_ ," I croaked with more emphasis this time and she finally gave it up.

"The investigator from the Washington State Patrol was here a couple of days ago wanting to get a statement from you about the accident if you were up to it," Annette told me.

"And?" I asked in my croakier voice. Good god, what was I going to have to do here? Play twenty questions or something with her to get her to tell me what was going on.

"They asked me a bunch of questions about why you had two GPS tracking units in your pocket and why you had the duffel bag with the receiver units and your ninja outfit in it in the car." Annette told me as she looked from my face to her lap.

She was worried about the state investigator. "I told them we were worried about getting the car or truck stolen, so we were going install them if they worked like they were supposed to. As for the duffel bag and what it contained, I didn't know anything about it. They would have to ask you about it when and if you were up to it."

The concerned look was on her face. "He also asked about some papers that they found in your suit coat pocket with peoples names and addresses on them from the casino."

The worry and concern was out in the open now. "He thinks you're a thief Jim. He didn't say anything outright, but I could tell by the way he was questioning me about it that that's what he thought." Annette was really worried about this state investigator guy.

"Don't worry about it," I managed to rasp out the words.

"Damn it Jim, I am worried about it!" Annette shot back at me in a quiet whisper. "He was asking Dr. Willis if your blood work showed any illegal drugs and if you had any needle marks on your arms or body!" she hissed. "Dr. Willis and I had a talk. I said I didn't want the investigator talking to you until you were out of intensive care and they operated on you. Dr. Willis wouldn't let him in to see you and said he'd have to make an appointment with him to interview you while you were under his care. He didn't like that very much." Annette finally had it out in the open and off her chest.

"God Jim, what are we going to do? I'm really worried about this guy. What are you going to tell him when he comes back to talk to you and you know he is coming back," Annette hissed at me in her quiet whisper.

"Don't know."

"Goddamn it James A. Fratino, you better figure something out!" Annette glared at me. "And I mean soon goddamn it!"

"Okay," I croaked back at her. "Geeze, give me a break here or something will you." I said as I close my eyes and tried to think. I was rescued as Night Nurse Nancy came in to check my monitors and make sure I hadn't expired in the last twenty or thirty minutes since she last looked in on me. Annette left me alone and went back to the chair to watch the early news and I went back to sleep for a while.

They came and transferred me later on that morning to a regular room and prepped me for the operation to repair the torn muscles in my leg and thigh. I passed out as they were cutting the body cast off of me or they had slipped me a Mickey in my IV tube when I wasn't looking. Either way it worked out for me because I don't remember anything until I woke up in my new room after it was all over. It was nighttime again because it was dark outside my window and I just laid there and went back out to la-la land. I vaguely remember Annette being there and holding my and talking to me.

Hospitals... got to hate them; go figure.
Chapter 29

After the operation to fix the muscles in my left leg Dr. Willis left the body cast off and encased my left foot to the upper thigh in a fiberglass cast. The right foot and leg got a cast up to the knee. My pelvis had gotten off lucky. If it would have broken I would have stayed in the body cast for a full month at the very least.

Left hand and lower arm were also encased up to the elbow in the fiberglass 'racing shell' as the doctors liked to tell the children stuck on the same floor as me. I can't tell you how many times I heard how lucky I was to be alive. Simply amazing what damage the human body can take and still function.

The following week Dr. Willis had a little impromptu meeting with Annette and me in my room after I had come back from the neurologist. I had another MRI done just to check for blood clots or hemorrhaging that might be happening on a small scale. Dr. Willis said there was nothing there but he could have told me that without the two thousand dollar pictures to back him up. Then he started laughing. Comedian Doctor Seeks Work In Seattle Area. Please Call 1-800-Krc-MeUp. Go figure.

Dr. Willis told us he'd been contacted by the Washington State Patrol Investigative Trooper Mr. Henry Montgomery in regards to interviewing me concerning my traffic accident. Please do this at the soonest convenient time to avoid legal action. Thank You!

I finally met with said Investigative Trooper Mr. Montgomery the following Monday at 9:00 am. It wasn't an interview at all really. It was more along the lines of a recorded statement from me on what happened the night of my accident and Mr. Montgomery didn't really buy my version of the way it happened. He seemed to suggest that I fell asleep on my way home from work rather than someone was trying to pass me in a no passing zone. The reason I felt that way was the way he kept coming back to it again and again. We'd move on to a different question then all of a sudden he'd be asking me again if I was sure I hadn't fallen asleep at the wheel. He finally pissed me off and my throat was starting to hurt again.

When he asked me a question that he'd already asked me I told him to move on. "We went over that one, remember? My answer is the same as the last time."

When he asked me a question twice; I started answering with a question of my own, "You interview the people at the Sequim Bay Lodge?"

Another question that I had already answered; "haven't you ever heard of people trying to pass in a no passing zone before this?"

Trooper Montgomery then asked me about the zippered bag they found in my car. "I don't know anything about a zippered bag in my car. Why, do you think somebody was hiding in the back seat of my car and smacked me in the head with their zippered bag? Are you suggesting that someone tried to carjack me with a zippered bag instead of a gun? Simply amazing!"

By this time Trooper Montgomery was thoroughly pissed off at me and I think he would have had arrested me if he could have. He was very close to losing his temper when Dr. Willis stepped in and asked if there were any more pertinent questions concerning my accident. When Trooper Montgomery replied that he had no more questions at this time, Dr Willis asked him to leave so that I could rest.

As Trooper Montgomery was leaving he turned and reached into his jacket pocket producing his business card. As he left it on my tray he informed me that he'd be back when I felt like talking. I told him I would have my lawyer call him to come into his office for the next interview.

Trooper Montgomery didn't like me. I could tell that I had ruffled his feathers some by not being intimidated by him or his questions. He probably didn't get that very often from Sammy Citizen. Dr. Willis loved it. We both made eye contact and started laughing after the door swung shut behind him. Annette didn't think it was so funny and gave us both the look, after which Dr. Willis made an excuse to leave; chicken.

The swelling in my face had started to go down leaving me with black and yellow bruising to match the rest of my body. I felt like a cheap tattoo all over. The plastic surgeon was waiting to have a go at me as soon as I was healed up enough for him to work on my left ear and eye area. So was the physical therapist. Between the plastic surgeon and the physical therapist that I'd be seeing as soon as the casts were off, I was looking at another month or two of seeing somebody on a weekly bases and numerous trips back to Harborview. They made arrangements for me to do physical therapy back on the Olympic Peninsula so I could go home as soon as possible which wouldn't be soon enough to suit me.

I had decided send Annette home a few days after the interview with Trooper Montgomery. I didn't see any reason for her to be here seven days a week, twenty- four hours a day. She had Paula and Dennis come over and spend the weekend and then take her home. Dennis came and stayed with me at the hospital and visited while Annette and Paula went to the mall shopping. He and Paula had taken Annette out to dinner on Friday night and a movie afterwards, giving Annette a chance to see something else besides the inside of my hospital room.

I had Annette pick up a few things at the mall for me, like some books and magazines to read, so I didn't get too bored. I had her buy me a pair of cheap sunglasses because my room was pretty sunny but I didn't want the curtains closed. I craved the outside world the longer I was in the hospital and the sunlight helped alleviate the boredom and depression that being confined does to a person.

Annette cried when it was time for them to go. I admit I got a little misty eyed myself; I was going to miss her. She'd been there since the Life Flight helicopter ride from the crash site and had been there everyday for me stepping and fetching at my beck and call.

"Hey, you'll be back in a few days anyway, plus you need to get the truck or the Caviler to drive when you're here the next time," I told her as she lingered at the side of my bed.

"Jim I'm just afraid you'll get in trouble hanging out with Dr. Willis without me to keep my eye on both of you wise guys," she said giving me another kiss and stroking my hair as she smiled at me.

"Go," I told her, "I'm fine by myself, plus I will have my cell phone on. I'll call you constantly to cry and snivel numerous times on a daily basis."

As Annette gave me another long hug and I mouthed the word, 'hookers' to Dennis which made him snicker and earned me the look and an eye roll from Paula. I thanked them for coming over and for all that they had done. A couple of more short kisses and hugs, then Annette was gone and I was left alone. I'd never felt as immediately depressed as I did at that moment.

I didn't have long to be alone. Conroy Williams came to see me the following Monday morning. I was reading with my sunglasses on and the TV on low with Drew Carey and _The Price Is Right_ as background noise. It took me a few minutes to realize someone was standing in the door.

"Mind if I come in?" Con asked me.

"Con, come on in and sit down. What are you doing over here?" I asked as I waved him into the room and the recliner chair. "Have a seat and take a load off. Annette just went home yesterday so I'm here all by my lonesome. What's up?"

"I thought I'd come in and see if we could finish our conversation that we started a few weeks back. The one we had about somebody cheating us on the slot machines. Remember that one?" Con asked me in what was an all business manner.

"Yeah Con, I remember sitting there having coffee with you and bullshitting with you about that. What's that got to do with anything?" I added.

Before Con could answer there was a knock on the door and there stood a very beautiful woman filling the doorway. She had blond hair with just the slightest trace of red in it and she was dressed in a charcoal grey dress and matching jacket that only helped men to notice her without her trying to attract the attention that I was sure she got. "Mind if I come in?" she asked as she walked into my room without waiting for an answer.

"Jimmy Fratino I'd like you to meet Cheryl Morgan from the Washington State Gaming Commission. Cheryl's working with me on investigating what we believe to be cheating on all the big slot winners we've been having at Seven Rivers Casino in the last month or so," Con said as a way of introduction.

"Mrs. Morgan, a pleasure to meet you," I said as I offered her my good right hand to shake. "Please, sit down and make yourself at home since my good buddy Con has decided to sandbag me here."

"It's Miss Morgan and what did you mean by that comment Mr. Fratino?" she asked puzzled by my reaction and not sure how to interpret it.

"It's just that Mr. Williams here," I said nodding my head to Con "didn't tell me we were going to joined by a beautiful woman from our state's Gaming Commission today Miss Morgan. If I'd known we were going to have you here with us I would have at least combed my hair," I said with a big smile.

That confused her and Conroy started chuckling. "Jimmy here had long hair up until his accident," Con told her. "What did I tell you Cheryl? Is this guy all smoked mirrors and grease or what?" he said with another chuckle.

"Cheryl, meet Jimmy, Jimmy meet Cheryl. I've known both of you for a few years now so we're all going to be friends and get along. Okay?" Con asked.

"Fine with me, that's what I'm here for," Cheryl said.

I nodded my head in agreement and said nothing. Another cop with an ex-cop sitting in my room, time to play the game again. I wondered if State Trooper Montgomery was going to walk in any moment and join us.

"So Jim, what can you tell us that will help in our investigation?" Cheryl asked me as she opened a folder and started to take notes. "Conroy says you have some information for us that may help."

"I'm sorry that you came all the way from Olympia for nothing Miss Morgan. I don't really have any kind of information that I know of that can help with the investigation. I'm sorry," I told her as I looked at Con and then back at her.

"Come on Jimmy. We both know that you didn't just come up with that 'what if' theory you threw at me a couple of weeks ago. I know that was a smoke screen and you know that I know it was," Con told me, he was going to get some cop attitude very quickly here with me.

"With all due respect Con, fuck you. You're wasting Miss Morgan's time here and trying to lean on me for something that I really know nothing about. If you would have called me and talked to me first, I could have told you the same thing on the phone," I told him with some heat. I must be stupid, or look stupid, or something stupid. Every time somebody assumes I know something, they also assume I'm stupid enough to just open my mouth and blab what I know to the whole world. I don't think so. All I know is that it pisses me off to no extent.

I turned to Miss Morgan. "I apologize for my choice of words, or lack of choosing them, but I really was just bullshitting with Con and running a 'what if' theory past him. We'd just gotten our players' club program installed and I was shooting the breeze with another employee when the conversation turned technical and we asked each other if it was possible to run a cheat on the slots through the players' club card," I told Miss Morgan as I kept eye contact with her.

I noticed her eyes were almost the same coloring as Annette's. Not even twenty-four hours and I missed her badly. "When I saw Conroy a few minutes later, I had a cup of coffee with him and ran it past him. That's all it was. A 'what if' question," I told her as I looked over at Conroy.

"You know Mr. Fratino that withholding any information concerning an ongoing investigation constitutes a criminal offence and could lead to the suspension of your gaming license, plus criminal charges if it was found that you were keeping vital information from us," she stated as she made notes in the folder that I assumed contained all my history in the years I'd worked at Seven Rivers Casino. Miss Morgan looked up at me as she finished writing my statement in the folder.

"Oh Miss Morgan I fully understand what you just told me and what's written in between the lines here."

"And what's written in between the lines here Mr. Fratino?" she asked.

"That someone, or a group of people, is running a cheat at Seven Rivers Casino of Fun and Happiness and nobody has a clue as to how that's happening. And the casino must be bleeding money or you guys wouldn't be in here fishing for information. No matter how slim it might be," I told her.

"I told you Cheryl. All smoked mirrors and grease," Conroy grimly told her. "But as far as I'm concerned Jimmy is in no way connected to any cheating. I'll give you that Jimmy, right in front of Cheryl; no way you're a thief in my book," Conroy added for my benefit.

"Thanks Con." I said to him. And I meant it.

Miss Morgan pulled out her cell phone and flipped it open. After looking at it for a moment she asked to be excused to make a call because she wasn't getting any reception on her cell. She got up to leave and extended her hand.

As I took it she told me in parting; "Thank you for your time Mr. Fratino. Conroy and I were hoping you'd be able to shed some light onto this for us. If you think of anything that might help us, contact Conroy or myself at this number," she said as she flipped open the folder again and pulled a business card that had been paper clipped to it and handed it to me. "I am sorry about your accident; it must be a very traumatic event for you. I hope you'll be well soon and back to work at Seven Rivers Casino."

She nodded to Con, gave me a smile and walked out the door. Con and I looked at each other for a moment. "Damn it Jimmy what was that all about?" he asked and then went on before I could answer. "I know you got a lead on something or you wouldn't be going around the casino lately grilling everybody in the different departments on how things work and who won what" he said.

I shrugged my good shoulder and palmed up for him.

"Look Jimmy, we had a meeting the other day; Frank, Martha, Big Darryl and me, just the four of us. We know you swiped a printout of all the winners for the last month from Big Darryl's office the night of your wreck."

The cards were being laid on the table for me to see. And I saw that he hadn't shared this information with Miss Morgan either. They wanted something from me. What? "Keep going," I told him motioning with my hand.

"Give us what you know. Help your casino. We'll keep it in-house and we'll handle it from here. You testify for us if we need you. You're out of your league on this one Jimmy. We have the resources and the money to throw at this. You don't. If you don't give me something Jimmy; it's going to get hard on you."

"And if I don't?"

"Then Frank Capolli is going to throw you to the dogs Jimmy. He told me to tell you that real plain and simple. If I go back tomorrow morning and don't tell them something, then you're fired and considered involved. You'll never set foot in a casino again; as an employee or as a customer in any place in the country. Frank Capolli said to tell you that he'd personally see to that himself, with great pleasure." Conroy had concern in his voice now as he spoke on Mr. Capolli's behalf.

I gave careful consideration to what Conroy had said before I answered him. This was real important. Plus he was right. I was way out of my league here. I was stumbling around in the dark or I had been up until the car wreck. Now I wasn't doing anything useful for anybody laid up in Harborview. But what could I tell him that he could use. I couldn't very well tell him how I got my information now could I? And what did I really know? Half of an illegally taped phone conversation wasn't much to give Frank. Although I had to admit, I was worried that I had gotten busted stealing the computer printouts from Big Darryl's office. That right there was enough to get me fired on the spot.

There must be cameras hidden somewhere although I was never able to spot them when I tried to find them over the years as I sat in the office bullshitting with Big Darryl. After a while I must have fooled myself into thinking they weren't there. Smart Jimmy, real smart. And testify in court? Sure thing just let me slit my throat for you.

Don't tell and I lose my job for sure. They know I didn't have anything to do with the casino getting cheated. If I do tell and have to testify in court then I'm leaving myself open to be investigated on a string of burglaries over ten years that will get me life in prison on their 'Three Strikes' law in Washington State. Damn, I'm an idiot for getting myself in this fix. I can't wait to explain this one to Annette. I was screwed either way I went on this one.

One question I need answered before I made up my mind. "Con, I got one question I need answered first."

He considered this request for a moment. "Shoot."

"You guys have been checking everybody out in the casino that could remotely be involved in this and came up empty every time haven't you?"

"Yeah, it's been a complete zip on everybody so far. Now give Jimmy."

"What I know is that if I tell you, you got to give me your word that I don't have to go to court and testify." I said.

"No deal Jimmy."

"Damn it Con, all I got is one half of a phone conversation between Dick Jameson and some guy he was talking to. I didn't hear him use the other guys name and all they talked about was the players' club cards and they couldn't wait to start winning. Then Dick went on to ask the other person if they were sure they wouldn't get caught or any chance of the casino figuring it out."

"And how did you come up with this information?" Con asked me as he leaned forward in his chair.

"That's what I can't tell you Con," I told him in exasperation.

"You want to explain that to me Jimmy."

"If I tell you how I came up with this, I loose something very important in my life if I testify in court. And I'm not ready to lose that part of my life and sacrifice it for Seven Rivers Casino."

"That's all you got? That's what you want me to take back to Frank Capolli and say "this is it from Jimmy" when I'm in there tomorrow morning?" he asked me.

"That's the breaking news from Jim Fratino; live at Harborview Medical Center," I said. "Did you take a look at Bart Sampers?" I added.

"We've looked at everybody sideways? Why do you say Bart Sampers?"

"When I started snooping I went up to Peninsula College and talked to one of my old instructors up there. I didn't know shit from shineola about slots, club cards, or nothing," I said to Con in a dejected voice. "One thing leads to another and he suggests if I get a chance to talk to Bart Sampers, except he probably won't talk to me because it's out of channels and he'll probably snitch me out to upper management, so forget about talking to him or the other brain techs upstairs."

"You know Bart at all?" Con asks me.

"Nah, never met him. If I ran into him on the street, I couldn't tell you what he looked like. He was trained up at the college is all I know, plus he's smart."

"So you're saying you won't testify in court because Annette will have you by your short hairs huh?"

I just nodded my head up and down in way of answer. No harm in letting him think what he wants to think.

"You're banging Dick's wife and you don't want Annette to find out. Goddamn it Jimmy, you sure are an idiot!" Con said clearly frustrated with what he thought was my dilemma. Con started laughing. "Let me guess. You were hiding in the closet or under the bed, right?"

"Something like that Con. I guess I can't put much past an old cop like you now, can I?"

"No Jimmy, most people can't, so don't be too hard on yourself." Conroy got up to leave. "And Jimmy, don't go sneaking around dressed up like some guy from the movies when you get out of here. Leave the investigating to people who know how to do it. Okay?"

When I gave him the puzzled look he continued. "They found a duffel bag in your car with all these dark clothes, latex gloves, and stuff in it like you're playing some PI on TV. Plus the GPS tracking units you had in your pockets. Leave it alone, okay?"

"What are you going to tell Frank?"

"Don't worry about it. I think you're safe on this one. It sounds like you don't know much of anything anyway and I'll talk to Mr. Capolli myself in private so it doesn't get around you're banging Shirley. I'll leave that part out when I talk to the rest of them."

"And Miss Morgan? What about her?"

"I'll take care of her, no problem there Jimmy."

"One more thing Con. I don't have a tic in my little finger."

He started laughing. "No you don't Jimmy, but I got you to look didn't I? That's what tipped me off to you; it was the look."

I laughed at myself with him as he walked out...cops; go figure.
Chapter 30

Annette wasn't very happy when I told her about my visit from Conroy and Miss Morgan of the Washington State Gaming Commission when I talked to her later that day. I was glad she went home. It made the 'I told you so' much easier to take on the phone. Okay so I'm a chicken. All men are when it comes to our wives chewing us out. I just couldn't wait until she came over this weekend and chewed on me in person. Maybe I could get Dr. Willis to give me an overdose just before she got here.

I kept running the casino problem over in my head. If they were checking everybody out and everybody was checking out, the question for the bonus round was; who had it figured out? Who has, or maybe has had, it figured out from the beginning? The more I thought about it from that way, the more sense it made to me. But where do Dick and Shirley fit into it? Do they even fit in? Or are they just really that lucky and it is just coincidence? No. The phone call, even one sided, tells me that at least Dick is involved some way or another. The phone call is what rings my bell on him. He's involved with someone at the casino and they know that the casino has a very slim chance of finding out how they're doing it and catching them.

Conroy pretty much dismissed what I told him as nothing more than someone wanting to play private investigator with an active imagination that's on overtime. Conroy will go back and pass on what I told him and I bet they basically blow it off too. Sure, they were going to look at it, toss it around some, but finally they'll blow it off because Bart Sampers comes up clean as fresh snow. But then again, Conroy wouldn't have told me if he was coming up dirty either. I put Bart Sampers down on the list as a long shot.

The casino has probably had specialists coming in from all over the place running systems checks and tearing the servers apart. Add in the ones the Gaming Commission are sending in to check up on what the other ones are checking on and it must be a mad house in the technical arena upstairs. If anything was there to find I was sure they'd find it without my help wouldn't they? But then again they'd been looking at it since they first had their suspicions right? And they'd been looking at it for what, probably three or four weeks? So why send Conroy Williams over to see me now? If they knew I was digging around at work, then they know I didn't have anything to do with the cheat. Conroy either was sent or came on his own. Any way that I looked at the facts and the more I looked at them, it totaled up that Conroy was here seeing me just to leave no stone unturned. That means they were coming up with zeros on their investigation of the problem.

Annette was going to go ballistic with me. I waited until Thursday morning to spring it on her. She caught on real quick when I asked her to bring my laptop computer with her when she came over for the weekend.

"Why, you won't be able to use it very well one handed and I don't think they have WI-FI available in the hospital rooms do they?"

"It doesn't matter, were not using the internet anyway," I told her.

"Then what do you need it for?"

"I want you to download all the pictures you took of the Dick Job and all of the long-range pictures from their house so we can go over them together."

"Jim you promised to drop all of this after two weeks and it's been over two weeks. Do I need to remind you of the promise you made to me?"

"I've been in the hospital and that shouldn't count towards the two weeks really now should it?" I asked her.

"Jim, you really don't want to go there with me about this right now. You made a promise to me and besides you're not in any kind of shape right now to do anything about this," she pointed out.

I laid out the basics of what I had in mind. I'll give Annette this; she may not agree with me on things, but at least she's opened minded enough to hear me out before she tells me no. Even if she was planning on telling me no, regardless of what I told her.

"What did they do with my ninja bag and the papers I had on me from the casino?" I asked.

I was struck with another thought. "Hey, any idea what happened to that stuff or the GPS units I had in my pockets?"

"When they were working on you at the crash site they emptied out your pockets and put everything in a plastic baggie. I was given that at the hospital by one of the emergency room nurses after they admitted you," she said and then continued on. "All your jewelry, your money clip, your cell phone, the casino papers, and the GPS units were in it. I left the cell with you after Paula picked up the charger when she stopped by the house to get me some clothes on her way over here. The rest I took home with me."

"No idea what happened to my bag?" I asked again.

"No and nobody has said anything about it to me either. The only thing I've heard about it was from that Mr. Montgomery when he was interviewing you at the hospital that day," she said.

"Would you do me a favor and call, or better yet, stop by the State Patrol office there on the highway and get my bag back." I asked her. "There's no reason for them to hold it that I can think of and there's nothing illegal that was in it so they should give it back to you." I added.

"Jim, why don't you just drop this and let the people who do investigating for a living handle it?" she said with a big sigh into the phone.

"Annette, could you just bring the pictures and the papers for me to look over? Pretty please?" I asked as nicely as I could without actually begging. "Hey, while I'm thinking about it, have you gone back to Dick's and pulled the receiving units lately and checked to see what's on them?" I asked as the thunder bolt registered in my brain. I'd forgotten all about them.

"No I haven't but I guess if it makes you quit pestering me on this stuff I'll do it. Then you and I are going to have another long talk tomorrow afternoon about all this," Annette told me. My mind was processing some possibilities on this and I didn't answer quickly enough for Annette. "Jim, do you hear and understand me?"

"Yes I hear you Annette and I understand completely."

Annette gave another big sigh into the phone and said; "For some reason Jim I don't think you really do. Call me later tonight if you want to or can think of anything else you want me to do before tomorrow. I've got some things to do today, plus get things ready for you tomorrow, so I'm going to be in and out for the rest of the day."

"Okay, I'll call you later just to check in with you tonight." I didn't say anything for a few seconds. I was thinking about her. "Annette, I just want you to know that I love you. And I know I'm putting some impositions on you by asking you to do these things that you really don't want to do."

"Jim I just want you to put this stuff behind you and to work on getting better," she told me as she cut me off. "You promised. Remember?"

"Honey, I remember," I said to her and I really did. "I just want to check on a few things that's all. If I do find any thing I'll turn it over to Conroy and Miss Morgan. I'm sort of trapped here so it's not like I could do anything anyway."

"Well I'm glad to hear you making some sense about this finally."

"Yes dear, I hear you loud and clear." We said our good-byes and I promised to call her later on that evening just to check in and say good-night. I spent the rest of the day reading and sleeping after I saw the plastic surgeon and Dr. Willis right after lunch.

I called Annette around 10:00 pm just to say I loved her. She filled me in on how her day went in general and we talked about how my day went at the hospital. We talked for half an hour. I got to tell her I loved her before we hung up for the night. She was going up to Dick's house around 1:00 am and had some things to do before she left. "See you sometime tomorrow then." I told her.

"Don't be letting me hear you were lifting Night Nurse Nancy's skirt there buddy-boy," Annette fired at me and we both had a good laugh over it.

"I won't. I'm saving my one good arm for you when I get out of here," I said. "Love you. See you tomorrow honey."

"I love you too. Good night Jim."

I laid there running things over in my mind some more before I went to sleep. The last thing I thought of before I drifted off was that I was going to be happy to get out of the hospital and into physical therapy.

Annette was waiting for me in my room when I got back from having a new cast put on my left leg. They'd taken the stitches out where they had operated on my muscles and pronounced the work and prognosis as excellent. As a result they decided to shorten the cast on that leg to just below my knee so they could start me on some physical therapy the next day. Annette didn't look too happy either, which was probably my fault anyway.

"Hi babe, what's the matter, bad traffic on the way over?" I asked.

Annette sat silent for a moment or two before getting up and closing the door. "I went up to Dick's house last night and got the receiver units like you asked. I also downloaded all the pictures that I'd taken from following Dick around town, from sitting across the highway at his shop, plus the ones of his house with the long range camera." Annette told me this while conveying a sense of concern while she did it.

"The ninja bag?" I asked.

"I called and left a message with that Mr. Montgomery guy but he hasn't called me back yet," Annette said while playing with the strap on her purse. It's a definite sign of worry.

"Annette honey is there something wrong?" I asked her. In return I got a head nod and increased strap fiddling from her. "You want to tell me what the problem is honey?" I got a concerned eye balling for my answer and that's not like her at all. "Just tell me." I said with a big sigh.

"I played the tapes this morning after I got up, while I was having a cup of coffee." Annette's voice was dripping with concern now. I waited for the rest. "Jim, Dick was talking on the phone to somebody and it sounded like they ran you off the road or had someone do it for him. God Jim, they tried to kill you!" she said and started to breakdown.

I laid there and tried to figure out what she meant by the trying to 'kill me part'. Annette didn't completely breakdown on me, but I could tell she was really worried to the point that she might freak out on this soon. "Huh, go figure that one out. Maybe you should play it back for me and we can go over it together. You did bring the player with you didn't you?" I asked.

Annette started filling me in on small details about the recording and the pictures she'd taken. She forgot to bring the hand held parabolic dish unit so I could listen to it although I doubted there was anything worth listening to after I questioned Annette about what she thought was on it. She finally got the player unit and the laptop both out of the travel bag and set up while giving me rundown. We listened to it and I had Annette play it three more times for me. No doubt about it in my mind after hearing it the fourth time; Dick wanted me dead, him and/or someone else did.

Annette ran through the all the pictures for me but they didn't show Dick with anyone I knew. They showed people going into his shop with some of them two or more times which I figured was normal for having a business of his kind. Some pictures showed him doing the normal business errands and having lunch with different people.

The ones from his house didn't show any suspicious activity or people visiting at odd hours where you'd think there was something funny going on. There were some pick-up trucks scattered here and there and those I gave a good long look at, but again, I didn't see anything that looked like the truck that ran me off the road. The accident happened so quickly that I don't know if I would recognize it if it was parked next to me at Wal-Mart and we were the only two in the parking lot.

"Jim we need to call the cops on this. This is way too unreal with somebody trying to kill you," Annette said as I started looking through the pictures again.

I stopped what I was doing and looked at her, "No, bad idea there Annette."

"Goddamn it James you got to!"

"Got to tell them what Annette? Look guys somebody tried to kill me and here's the tape I got illegally because I'm a thief. I don't think so dear. I'm not going there because 'there' means jail for at least five years. No thank you, I'll pass on that one," I told her while I tried to think of how serious this was.

"Jim, you're in no condition to do anything about this yourself and even if you were I wouldn't let you. You're not Jim Rockford or James Bond for that matter buddy-boy, so you better plan on talking to the cops because I'm not sitting around while he tries to kill you again for sticking your nose in something that doesn't concern you!" Annette told me trying to control her temper and her volume. I think she was just a little bit pissed off and scared on top of it.

"Annette calm down and don't lose control. I'm thinking maybe I should call Conroy and see if we couldn't get him to come over here tomorrow and run this by him," I suggested to her. "After all, he's an ex-cop and this proves to him that I was onto something after all. Maybe he'll know how to handle this without me going to prison."

I put in a call to Conroy and got his voice mail so I left a message for him to call me and left my cell phone number. I might as well tell him what I could and hope he could use the information I had to help solve the slot scam at the casino.

Conroy got back to me early that evening and we made plans for him to come over to Seattle and see me on Sunday. It was as soon as he could get away and make the time. I made it clear I wanted to see him alone and not with Miss Morgan. Meanwhile Annette and I had a strained visit for the next two days. She was edgy and worried that somebody had tried to kill me by running me off the road on my way home from work. Every time I brought the subject up or mentioned the casino she made it plain to me that she wanted this over and done with for good. I'd never seen her like this. Usually she was pretty unflappable about things happening in our lives and took whatever happened in stride and dealt with it as it came. But then again, no one had tried to kill one of us either, at least up to this point in our lives.

I spent my alone time thinking about what I was going to tell Conroy when he came over Sunday. Any way I looked at it; it didn't look good for yours truly. I figured no matter what, my time as the Midnight Rambler had come to an end and I hoped I could slide by one more time and cheat fate by not going to prison. The choices we make define our future. Go figure!
Chapter 31

When Conroy walked into my room early Sunday afternoon I hit him with both barrels of the verbal shotgun as soon as he sat down. "Conroy you cocksucker, if I had a gun right now I'd kill you where you were sitting and wouldn't blink an eye over it!" I told him with as much steel as I could put into it.

That shocked him for only a moment and then he propelled himself out of the chair and had a hold of my flimsy hospital gown by the front in no time flat. I hadn't expected this reaction from him and it took me by surprise, but only for a moment. Annette gave a startled gasp because that's all she had time for before Conroy was on me, but it was enough to remind him that we weren't alone in the room.

He loosened his hold on me and let me lie back on the bed. "You better explain that and real quick, and watch what you say to me from here on. Nobody talks to me like that and I stand for it." Conroy was a little pissed with me.

"Play the tape for him honey and maybe he'll understand why I'm so pissed at him," I asked Annette as I kept my eyes locked with Conroy's.

Annette played the tape as I watched Conroy's eyes for a hint of surprise. When she was through it the first time I saw the confusion on his face, and by the time she'd ran it twice, a look of surprise and the shock was there also, plus there was something else I thought; guilt maybe.

"I guess I should take that tape with me when I leave. It sort of proves there's someone working with Dick Jameson at the casino in the tech and programming department upstairs. Where did you get the tape, or more specifically, how did you get that tape?" Conroy asked looking between me and Annette.

"No tape."

"Jimmy we need that tape to help build a case against this Dick Jameson character and whoever he's working with at the casino. I need to turn that over to Morgan at the State Gaming Commission for evidence and I imagine the State Patrol will want to take a look at it in regards to your accident," Conroy told us as he looked between Annette and me trying to convince us and looking to Annette for help with me.

"No Con, the tape is being tossed over the side of the Hood Canal Bridge when Annette goes home tonight," I told him. "You know as well as I do now that my accident was a result of someone in the tech department upstairs working with this guy Jameson. And this guy and Dick Jameson wouldn't have tried to kill me if you hadn't gone around the casino and started asking for reports on me for snooping around in the different departments." I told him this while I was looking him in the eyes. We both knew that it was true.

"I had to Jimmy; it's my job at the casino, remember?" Conroy reminded me.

"I know that Con. But I don't have any contact or interaction with the people upstairs in the technical department and that's where all this comes from. It's the people who do the programming and the theoretical win-lose spreadsheets on our main computers and servers is where this is coming from, not some low level worker in the slot department that I was talking to." I was starting to get pissed again at Con for making a mistake that was unintended.

"Jimmy, Annette, I'm really sorry that doing my job got you hurt but how was I to know?" Conroy spread his hand in supplication of forgiveness from us. "Besides, here you are running around the casino making like you're Jim Rockford or something and not coming to me with this, what was I supposed to think?" Conroy gave us a puzzled look as Annette and I both looked at each other and started laughing.

"What's so funny about that?" Conroy asked clearly thinking we were laughing at him.

"I was just telling Jim the same exact thing only with more emphasis the other day. Wasn't I Jim?" Annette told Con with chuckle and a genuine smile I hadn't seen in days. It seemed to lighten the mood between all of us.

"She most certainly was Con."

"I guess it's not going to do me any good to ask how you came up with that tape is there?"

"Correct on that one. Let's just say it was obtained under questionable circumstances, which we all know won't be allowed in a court of law. So it doesn't do anybody any good except for the knowing of what happened to me wasn't an accident."

"Yeah, I guess you're right, but I had to try," Con said with a chuckle. "You mind if I tell Morgan about it?"

"Tell her if you want but I won't talk to her about it. I just wanted to have you hear it so you knew I wasn't blowing smoke at you on this whole mess," I told him. I decided I didn't have anything to lose by asking how the casino was doing. All he could do was brush me off with some placating bullshit if he didn't want to tell me anything; so I asked.

"Well Jimmy I may not have a job there if we can't figure out what's wrong at the casino. Your buddy Dick hit another $30,000 jackpot the other day, then to top it off that Sherry Walmond woman hit the Flying Raven progressive for $87,000 the very next day." The worry was plain on Con's face as he told us this. I sort of felt bad for him.

"How did Frank take it?" I asked. If Frank Capolli was going nuts over this I wouldn't want to be in the same room with him when he was told about more of it.

"He put it to me very simple and it wasn't sweet. Know what I mean? I don't have much time left there if I don't get this figured out...and I mean soon, real soon." This was a lot of weight on his shoulders to bear, but it was his job to do it. I felt sorrier for the guy than I did two minutes ago.

"Any help with the State Gaming people or the outside technicians they've brought in to look things over?" I asked, searching for any ray of sunshine for Con in the gloom he faced alone.

"We've had more outside troubleshooters coming in and checking what everybody else has already checked and rechecked. Cheryl Morgan and her people are busting their asses on this one and sparing no expense in the investigation of it. They dug through everybody's background that's over a $5,000 winner. They've looked at every employee at the casino and ran new background checks just to make sure nothing slipped through the first time."

Con let out a long breath, shook his head and looked at the floor. When he raised his head again I couldn't read his face, but I didn't like what I did see. It could have been determination or resignation that was there. Either way it went he was out of a job real soon.

Con picked up where he left off. "Any way you look at it all of us have come up empty on this investigation. Cheryl tore your background apart twice and subpoenaed your bank and tax records since you started working there." Con told us. "Don't worry, you weren't the only one. They also did mine." he added with a smile.

"Con, the only way they're going to figure this out is to follow the money like they do on TV and tie these people together with whoever it is that's giving them the winning edge." I know it sounded stupid, but it was the only thing that made sense to me logically.

"I hope they're following Dick Jameson around twenty four/seven and looking at everybody he comes into contact with. He's the lead player in this that you guys know of and the key to the whole slot machine cheat. Somewhere there's someone that he has to talk to or meet with. I've heard two one sided conversations from this guy and Dick Jameson, the tie to it is there, if you guys stay on top of him," I said.

I finished my little speech and I lay back on the bed for a moment, my back was killing me from trying to sit up. Annette came over and slipped another pillow behind me and then used the controls to raise the bed up some; I felt better immediately.

"He comes up clean Jimmy, we've looked at both him and his wife on this real hard and there's nothing that looks bad. They've been spending money in Seven Rivers Casino since it first opened and now they're being rewarded by the gods of luck or something. I don't know. I just don't know," Con said with a heavy voice.

"Can't you get Morgan to put a tap on his phone, subpoena his phone records or something like that?" I asked knowing the answer already.

"You know as well as I do that there's not enough evidence to warrant phone surveillance or request any of the major winners phone records in federal court on what we've got. Our systems are coming up clean so it's just plain old lucky winners as far as a judge would look at it." Con explained to us. "We've looked at that angle first thing with the State Gaming Commission when we thought we were sure something funny would turn up in the system's programming. Thought we'd find that somebody had tampered with the computer programming and then we could request records of their phones and surveillance on them, whoever it might be."

Annette and I looked at each other for a moment. I was tempted to come clean with Con and tell him everything I knew, which wasn't much as far as I was concerned. But I resisted the urge. To tell him all would be to let him in on my secret and I just didn't trust him enough. After all he was a retired cop and may appreciate my help, and he might really like me as a co-worker, but would his principles and morals force him to tell the local and state authorities about me? I couldn't take that chance.

I was looking at a minimum of at least five years in state prison if I got hung on any burglaries that I had committed, or ones they thought I'd committed, even if I hadn't done them. As far as I knew I was an unknown to the local authorities and I wanted it to stay that way. I'd never seen any of my burglaries reported in the local papers so far. Maybe the people I robbed weren't reporting it to the police or the police were keeping it to themselves hoping to get a lead on me another way. It would be like opening my mouth to somebody or a partner in crime giving me up if they got busted for something else and wanted to cut a deal for a lighter sentence. I couldn't take the chance. They would just have to wait for their shot at me because that's why I've worked alone all these years. The number one rule in crime; keep it to yourself and keep your mouth shut. Cops; go figure!

"God Con, I wish there was something else I could tell you that would help you out on this one but what I told you and what you heard on the tape was about it for me." I told him after a few moments of silence in the room.

"That's okay Jimmy, I appreciate the help you've given us so far and I really am sorry about you getting hurt because of me. Who would have known that somebody would have tried to run you off the road because of it?" Con said spreading his hands palms up and shrugging his shoulders, giving me the universal go figure sign.

"That's okay Con. I'm sorry I busted your chops over it as soon as you got here. I knew it wasn't done intentionally and I figured you couldn't have known what the end results would be anyway. I'm sorry I threatened you over it. You have enough on your plate as it is without me giving you extra grief on something you didn't know anything about." I offered Con my hand and he came around the bed to shake it.

As Conroy shook my hand he looked back and fourth between me and Annette. "I've got to go. Give me a call, either one of you, if anything comes up that might help us. And Jimmy, watch out for that tic in your little finger," Conroy said laughing and patted me on the shoulder as he opened the door and walked out. Conroy, I was really to starting to like him, go figure!
Chapter 32

I got sprung from Harborview after being kept prisoner for almost two months. I'd spent the remainder of my time after Con left working with my physical therapist, who I must say in all honesty I thought was a man hating lesbian. Okay maybe she wasn't but the way she treated me lead me to believe she was. Even though she told me she was married and wore a diamond ring the size of Mt. Rainer I just couldn't believe any man could be married to a woman who took that much pleasure in hurting another man. Maybe she was Avenger Woman or something in her spare time after work and needed to keep up on her skills by practicing on me. No matter what she threw at me, I tried to do my best not to fail or I'd hear her snicker behind me and say, "is that the best you can do today Jim?" or something to that effect.

I was given a wheelchair and a walker, of which I was told I had to master both before I could leave the hospital. I had gotten pretty good at scooting around backwards in the wheelchair; very good, now work on going forward. If you can't go forward, you're in no condition to leave yet. Avenger Woman was a real bitch when it came time for me to master the Walker of Death.

First they took me to the physical therapy room and put me on the parallel bars to see if I could walk at all. I actually thought I did pretty well my first time out. They only had to catch me four or five times in the ten minutes it took to traverse the length of ten feet. Dr. Willis had installed a special cast on my left arm and hand to make using the walker easier for me.

"Sorry but until you can master the walker, you can't leave." Good god, what a bitch.

But I did get some fun out of the experience when I ran into some of the old geezers and they asked me the universal question, "What happened to you young man?"

"I fell and broke my hip in the nursing home over in Port Angeles." I'd start them off with that and then, adding quickly I'd say. "Just pray you don't come down with Jennings's Gene Reversal like I did." I'd roll my eyes up in the universal go figure gesture setting the hook.

"Jennings's Gene Reversal?" they'd ask; pause for a moment before asking the bonus round question, "I've never heard of it. What is it?"

"Well, you have this dormant gene in your DNA strand and when you hit a certain age it kicks in and starts making you younger again. It's like one in ten million chances," I'd say in a conspiratorially low whisper. I'd usually get the eyeball look from them before they swallowed the hook completely.

"Well how old are you?" someone always had to ask.

"I turned eighty-two last month. I came down with the JGR disease six years ago and now look at me. I don't know how much more of this poking and prodding I can stand." I'd whisper, making them strain their hearing aid batteries to hear my every word. The shocked look on their faces was priceless as they eyeballed me once more.

"Well if you broke your hip how come you got those casts on your arm and legs? What happened?" they'd ask.

"Well don't tell anybody," I'd say looking around to see if anyone was listening. "I talked this young nurse into going out with me last week before they shipped me back to the nursing home where I live. We snuck out, one thing led to another and I talked her into letting me drive her car and we sort of had this wreck."

"What do you mean, sort of?"

"Well, she was on top of me while we were having sex when I wrecked her car," I'd whisper quietly to them. "Now they want to ship me to that Masters and Johnson's sex clinic in New York in two weeks when I get out of here. With that JGR disease you heal real quickly."

I would start to get up then I'd ask, "You know that redheaded physical therapist...everyone knew her.

"Sure I know her, why?"

"Could you tell her I can't make it tonight if you see her? My grandchildren decided to come over and visit this evening. Thanks," I said with a smile as I finished getting up and hobbling on my merry way. Geezers, go figure!

I worked for two weeks on the parallel bars before I could master walking or what I considered hobbling along like a crab in three casts. A week later they put a short cast on my left foot to make walking easier and removed the one on my right foot completely. I had to wear one of those elastic bandages on it for support, but that was okay with me. I was getting closer to getting out of the hospital and that was all that mattered to me.

After I was able to demonstrate that I could walk with the walker and not fall on my ass I was given the okay to be discharged by Dr. Willis and Avenger Woman. Turns out her name was Angelina so I wasn't to far off with the Avenger Woman thing. The name tag helped a lot too.

Annette picked me up on a Saturday morning and brought me home after a stop at the nearest Burger King we could find so I could eat a Whopper that was actually hot. The large chocolate shake wasn't bad either. Home, you can't go wrong with going home as far as I'm concerned after you've been in a hospital for two months having strangers look after your bodily needs and watching you drool all over yourself while you're semi-unconscious. Not to mention the fact that their spying on you in the middle of the night. That opens a whole realm of questions as to what did I do in my sleep last night?

I was given plenty of drugs in the hospital and plenty of prescriptions to help me along with easing the pain after I got home. I left them on the dresser for the most part, taking them only when I needed them really bad. I'd gotten a prescription for some sleeping pills and I took those nightly to help me sleep through the night; I didn't want to be waking up every twenty minutes anytime I moved or tried to move.

The physical therapy had started the following Monday morning at 9:00 am sharp. I found that out by being ten minutes late the first time we went. Physical therapy was every other day with weekends off for recovery from the torture they put you through during the week. Between the physical therapy and appointments with the doctors back at Harborview for my back, doctors for plastic surgery on my left ear, and my primary doctor in Port Angeles, I was kept pretty busy for the next two months with the job of getting healthy again. And a job is what it turned out to be.

I focused myself on getting better every day so I could do something about Dick and this other guy, whoever he was, for running me off the road and trying to kill me. Sorry, but I just can't let this one slide by and not do anything about it. I pushed myself at physical therapy and started exercising in anyway I could in my spare time, which I seemed to have plenty of.

Annette bought me a set of hand weights at Wal-Mart and I started out with those, working my way up in weight. Annette had a treadmill and exercise bike in our family room off the garage that became our gym. We had a TV and stereo in it with plenty of room for both of us to workout at the same time and not get in each other's way. Quality time together; go figure.

I pushed myself on the treadmill and exercise bike each day, spending more time on each of them, each time I got on them. Both of us wound up getting in the best shape we'd ever been in. We had started walking around the neighborhood as soon as the cast came off my left leg. Annette started me out slow, up around the corner then back home, halfway around the block, then back home. I finally made it around the block and we started expanding the walks to every other evening and had a little course that covered about a mile in the neighborhood. I got to where I looked forward to our evening walks together holding hands and strolling around the neighborhood, waving to people and occasionally stopping for a few minutes to bullshit with someone we knew. The only time we postponed our walks was when it was raining too hard to make it enjoyable for us.

The more my physical health improved the more I thought about nailing Dick and this other guy, whoever he was. They still hadn't made any progress on finding out who was running the cheat on the slot machines at Seven Rivers Casino. By now they probably weren't even sure if there was a cheat going on to begin with and maybe these people really were just getting lucky on the machines. Possible, but I don't think so in the realm of gambling in the real world.

I had talked to Con a couple of times since I'd gotten out of the hospital and he had nothing to say about it that was very encouraging except the investigation was still ongoing and to ask me if I'd heard anything new. But then again he probably wouldn't have told me if they'd busted the case wide open and everybody had confessed like they were talking to a priest. At least he still had his job which was encouraging and I was happy for him on that.

We started going on short day trips around the peninsula area on nice days when I didn't have therapy or doctors appointments, which were getting fewer and fewer the better I got. We'd stop in the casino sometimes on our way back from doctors' appointments in Seattle or maybe a trip to the Silverdale Mall. All the gang at work seemed glad to see me and would ask when I was coming back to work.

I loved spending the time with Annette on our outings and it seemed our relationship had never been better. We went to the movies, out to dinner, and walks on the beach. We went to Ocean Shores where we had gotten married on the beach and had a three day mini vacation of relaxing by ourselves and exploring the area. We also explored each other that weekend in depths we hadn't been to for a while. I used my mental file of Save for later/Real soon and emptied that sucker out completely that weekend. Theme music from _Rocky_ number one is appropriate at this time thank you!

So I was getting better quickly in the physical and mental health departments from my accident. The doctors' appointments were rapidly coming to an end soon along with physical therapy sessions that I had been plowing my way through. Everyone was pleased with my progress and the drive behind it. The plastic surgeon had done a pretty good job of fixing the spot where my left ear had almost been ripped off and was healing up nicely according to him and Dr. Willis the last time I saw them.

They had done a skin graft over the tear areas on the side of my face and just below the ear on my neck so I wouldn't look like Frankenstein's brother or something. The graft didn't look right to me because there was some discoloring and I was thinking maybe I'd have to cover the area with a tattoo, but they assured me that over time the discoloring would go away and I would look pretty much normal again. Good thing I'm married because I'd hate having to explain the splotch to every woman I hit on.

My hair was growing back out from where they had to shave it to work on my head. I used to have a ponytail that hung down my back a ways and it would probably take another year or two to grow it back out again to the length it used to be. But it's just hair so no big deal with that. The thing of it was I was just about ready to go back to work as soon as all the doctors signed off on me and said I was physically fit enough to return to work. I needed their signoffs but they wanted me to wait until June eighteenth as my final release date and to take it slow for the first couple of weeks after I went back to work. Fine with me, just get me back to work whatever the conditions as soon as possible please.

I saw the neurologist one last time and they did an MRI on my head and spine basically to check the cracks in my skull and the stress fractures in four places in the spine I received from trying to impale myself with the steering column of the car. The prognosis for both to finish healing without any further complications looked excellent he said barring any undue traumatic events. He complimented me on my regime of physical therapy combined with all the exercising and the walking I'd done in promoting the healing to my spine so well, so fast. Once again I was told how lucky I had been. Thank you, I've never heard that before.

I'd been forming a plan in my head for the last couple of months concerning certain people and how to deal with them. If I waited to see if they got nailed by the State Gaming Commission and the appropriate law enforcement agencies I might be waiting till hell froze over, if not longer. Okay, it wasn't much of a plan but it was something. I guess most people wouldn't call 'winging it' a plan, but it was all I could come up with for the time being until firm and solid came to my mind.
Chapter 33

The application to transfer my Florida State investigator's license to Washington State went through fairly quickly I thought because it only took one week for the approval to go through. Computers; gotta love them, plus I had gotten to retain my Florida License of Investigation as long as I kept renewing it and paying any fees and taxes that were applicable. I was covered with my buddy Vince taking care of that end of it in Florida from a deal we'd made years ago when we'd hooked up and did some business back then. Long story, don't ask because we don't have the time to go into it now.

Annette wasn't very happy about it because she knew exactly where I was going with it. We were currently standing in the kitchen where she had trapped me against the kitchen counter, waving the offending official paperwork in my face that had come in the mail only minutes before. I'd requested an application for a concealed weapons permit a few weeks earlier and it had, unfortunately, arrived in the mail with my approval for a Washington State Investigator's licenses at the same time. Annette pissed off? Go figure.

"So when were you going to tell me about this, you lying son of a bitch?" Annette asked me again as she smacked me on the chest with the papers in her hand once more while glaring at me. "We had an agreement, you promised me and you did it again, you lying cocksucker!" I hoped the neighbors were enjoying this more than I was because I was sure they could hear Annette as well as I could.

"I knew you were going to get mad and all pissed off at me and I just didn't know how to explain it to you or talk to you about it." I said in my defense which wasn't much of one, but the only one I could think of at the moment. "I really didn't think they'd approve the license transfer, let alone the concealed weapons permit, so I just took a shot at it and sent them off to see what happened. Besides, how was I supposed to know they'd come back approved and you'd open the mail and read them before I got a chance to talk it over with you first?"

I was starting to feel a roll coming on here so I went with it. Besides, she was already mad so what did I really have to lose? "It's not like I had the chance to sit down and say, 'look I've been giving some thought to transferring my investigators license to this state, so I went and sent off the paperwork to see what would happen on it before I ran this idea I had by you' but no, you get the mail and then come in here calling me names and giving me grief before we can even calmly talk about it." I said with as much hurt in my voice as I could to make it sound genuine and still believable, plus I had to keep my voice steady and calm with just enough voice inflection of anger at the right moments.

"And where did you come up with this high IQ idea buddy-boy?" Annette asked, her voice lowering by a couple of decibels on the bitch scale.

I might have a shot on pulling this off I thought to myself so I took the next step. "Actually honey it was your idea," I told her as I calmly added just a slight touch of smugness to the statement.

Annette registered some shock on her face and I could see her searching the memory banks in that sharp mind of hers. "You want to run that by me one more time there sport? I thought I just heard you tell me that this harebrained idea of yours was actually mine." Annette was still searching her memory banks looking for the missing link in this evolution.

Anything works here as long as she doesn't have to accept responsibility for me going in this direction. I'd been running a couple of scenarios over in my head on how to approach Annette with the idea of still going after Dick and his buddy. No matter how I approached it in my mind, I always envisioned Annette saying 'no' as the way of talking it over when I was done pitching my idea at her.

It was remotely possible that this might work; Annette's idea. I mean, how could that be bad if it was her idea to begin with? If it's her idea, then it must have some credibility to it right? In guy world this sounds good to us as a best defense. "Yes dear, your idea and thank you very much for it," I said with a straight face.

Annette gave me her look that was all squinty eyed. She gave me the palm up, finger waving for give me more than that. She was still clueless on how this was her idea. "Wal-Mart parking lot, we're sitting in the car and I'm telling you my life's story while you're playing with the parabolic dish," I said to her. Slight memory jogs registering on her face. "You asked me why I didn't do something else like go into business for myself as a private investigator with all that equipment I had. So, I've been running that idea through my head off and on since you started working the Dick Job with me." I explained to her.

I continued on before she could get a grip on it and start tearing it apart. "I don't know about you but I've really enjoyed doing this with you and the times we've spent just talking things over, well it's been just great I thought," I said to her as I moved to the kitchen table taking a chair. I motioned for Annette to join me and she took the chair next to mine.

"Wait just one minute here Jim. You're saying we should start our own private investigation firm and go into business together?" Annette asked as the realization of what I was saying finally hit her.

"Yeah and why not? You and I go into business together. It's not like you have a job or anything because of your back. This would be fairly easy on you physically and we could be doing something together." I kept the pitch to the personal side of being with Annette, leaving the Dick Job out of it for the time being.

"This is my idea huh?" Annette was running it through her head some more. I could see her turning it over a few times in her mind.

"It was just something that I'd been mulling over in the back of my mind. Then when I was in the hospital I got to thinking more about it. I thought I'd just do some preliminary checking on the licenses and then sit down with you and run it by you."

I got up and poured us both a cup of coffee as I kept explaining my idea to her. "Now here you are all pissed off at me like I was trying to go behind your back or something and that was the farthest thing from my mind. I just didn't know how to approach you yet without it sounding like some half baked scheme that I hadn't put any thought into instead of a business plan," I told her as I handed her the coffee cup as we locked eyes.

Time to throw the last life preserver I had and see how it floated. "I haven't even had a chance to talk to an accountant yet or write out a full business expense plan or I guess a partial one since I'm sure there will be things I wouldn't think of but you would have on it. I know it sounds pretty stupid and harebrained anyway doesn't it? I just thought that maybe it might be something you might enjoy doing together with me." I added as a last minute flier.

"You think we should go into business together? And you're saying you weren't trying to pull anything sneaky behind my back and I should believe that you really want to open a private investigation business with me?" Annette asked me sounding just a little bit suspicious of my intent.

"Well honey if I was trying to be sneaky about it and go behind your back I could have just had the paperwork sent to my post office box instead of our home address couldn't I?" I told her as I looked her in the eyes. I must have put our home address on the applications without thinking about it at the time. Oh well it works for me here I guess.

"That's true," Annette said mulling all this over in her mind. I know she didn't know whether to believe me or not on this one.

"Annette it's just an idea you put in my head a while back and it just sort of grew on me. We don't have to do this by any means if you don't think this is a direction you want to go in. And I don't want to do it without you by my side. Plus, I really think I _don't_ want to do it at all if you think I was being dishonest with you," I added as an afterthought.

"No Jim that's not it at all," Annette told me rubbing her chin as she thought about it. "It's just that you've taken me by surprise here with this idea and I never thought that you might take that question from the Wal-Mart parking lot and turn it into us starting our own business," Annette said thoughtfully to me. "I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions and getting mad first instead of asking you about it and talking to you. I just assumed the worst," she said and then added to her thoughts on the subject. "Remember Jim there's a lot you didn't tell me that added a completely whole new way of me looking at you, so there's some trust issues involved here on my part."

"I'm sorry that I've given you reasons in the past to doubt my motives on this now. I understand it's my own fault for you doubting me." I said raising my hands up in surrender and accepting responsibility for my past actions regarding me keeping the fact that I was a thief from her. "This was just something that I was looking into and I hadn't had the chance to figure out yet on how to approach you with it without it sounding like some half baked idea that I really hadn't put any thought into. I was going to approach you with a little bit more than just this," I said motioning to the offending paperwork lying on the table in front of us.

"And just what else were you going to approach me with to show that you really mean that you're serious about this?" Annette asked while cocking her eyebrow up at me.

She was trying to shake me on my story. Good luck. If nothing else I can think pretty quickly on the fly when I needed to. "Well after I found out about transferring the license or what it took to receive one in this state I was going to work up a preliminary business cost outline and list what it would take for us to run this type of business. Questions like should we form a corporation for taxes and liability insurance? How much would that cost per year?"

I continued on ticking off ideas on my fingers for emphasis as I went. "How much will it cost for a small office space to rent?" I grabbed my thumb. "How much will it cost for office equipment and supplies?" I said with the index finger. "What about the expense of training seminars or industry related workshops?" I asked Annette with my middle finger. "What about the cost of advertising our business in the phonebook and having our own web page?" I asked with another finger. "And for that matter, while we're on the subject, how much per year for utilities and the basic phone service for faxing?" I asked with my little finger. I was out of fingers and bright ideas to throw at Annette for the moment, but I was sure I could come up with more in a few moments if given the chance.

Annette seemed to be satisfied with my answers so far when she spoke next. "I'm sorry I yelled at you Jim. I didn't realized until just now how much thought you'd put into this beforehand," she said as she reached across the short space that separated us and took my hand in hers smiling at me. "I apologize for doubting your motives; I just never would have thought that you would want to start a business together with me and be concerned how I might feel about me not working because of my back."

"Well I do, but like I said before, it was your question that got me to thinking about it more and turning it over in my mind while I was in the hospital." I said to her as I patted her hand in mine. "There were a lot of pros and cons concerning going into business as a married couple I had to think over. And I don't want you to make a decision on this without thinking it through real good first. It might seem like a great idea at the moment, but after you think about it, and through it, it might not be something that you think we should do," I added.

"I'm really impressed with the thought you've put into this Jim and I'm flattered that you would want to do this at all with me," Annette said with a beaming smile at me. "I'll definitely give this some serious consideration and thought for a few days first, if that's okay with you, before giving you an answer?"

"That's fine with me," I said as I looked at my watch. "Why don't we put some comfortable clothes on and go for a walk down on the Waterfront Trail. We can talk about it some more and plus, if you're a good girl, we can stop at the Dairy Queen afterwards and I'll buy you a big cone or something." I said as I leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"That will be fine with me also Mr. Fratino. Plus if you're a very good boy, and buy me a big cone afterwards, you might get lucky when we get back home," Annette said with a big smile on her face. She leaned over and gave me a quick kiss.

We changed clothes and went for our walk on the Waterfront Trail that runs along the Port Angeles harbor and around to Ediz Hook on the other side of the harbor where the Coast Guard station is located. We only went as far as the Nippon Paper mill which is only about halfway from our starting point at The Landing Mall located on the waterfront.

As we walked along we talked more about going into business together, covering the different pros and cons of working together as we took in the sights of the gulls wheeling in the air and boats passing by on the waters of the harbor. Annette wasn't very happy that I was looking into carrying a gun or the reasoning behind it. She was more than unhappy still of continuing a run at Dick Jameson after they had tried to have me killed and wanted to just let the State Gaming Commission handle him and whoever he was working with.

"We get a license for doing investigation work doesn't mean we have to get concealed weapons permits. I can live without those but it wouldn't hurt to have them," I explained to Annette.

"But why won't you just let this thing go with Dick?"

"Because I find it intriguing that these guys found a way to beat the casino and I want to know how they did it." I went on to explain why I thought they were going to get away with it clean as could be. Plus the fact they would, and could do it, with little chance of getting caught in the foreseeable future.

"They don't have a clue one on anything concrete to take to a local or state judge for them to grant a warrant to dig deeper with. Nobody's hiding and nobody's running," I told her holding her hand as we walked along. "If I go back to work at the casino there's always the chance that these guys might take another shot at trying to kill me if they still think I'm a threat to them whether it's real or imagined," I reasoned.

"So you think either way it's still a good idea to open our own business together regardless of the outcome huh?" Annette had stated it as good as I could have, if not better. Either way I was going to need a job. We might as well go into business on our own and approach the casino with idea of opening our own investigation to run parallel to the state's investigation, offer to do ours for a minimum fee if we solved the case while I continued working there full-time and we do the investigation in our spare time.

"Yeah; I think it is. How much longer do you want me working nights, weekends, and major holiday at Seven Rivers Casino of Fun and Happiness instead of spending them with you and my family? Plus getting into business gives us legitimate creditability to take a run at Dick instead of sneaking around," I said as we headed back to the car.

"Then if we cracked this thing it would be a really big boost for the business from being in all the papers and on the news huh?"

"Yeah; it would definitely help put us on the map and people tend to remember those types of things in the future when they're looking for an investigation firm." I agreed as we walked along.

"No guns whatsoever." Annette told me glancing over to look at my face as she said it.

"Okay no guns, fine." I told her meeting her eyes and looking into them.

"I'll think about this and give you an answer later on if that's still okay with you?"

"Again that's fine with me," I replied as we passed another couple going in the other direction walking their dogs. They looked familiar to me but a lot of people do from working at the casino. They smiled and nodded as they passed us. They were just another couple of regular citizens; out to enjoy the afternoon's weather for a walk with their dogs.

We strolled into the Dairy Queen and got ourselves each a cone and took a seat by the window to enjoy the view while we munched our cones and people watched. We didn't talk about opening our own investigation firm any more after our walk ended. I'd just have to let Annette make the decision on her own and not badger her or seem like I was impatient about getting an answer from her one way or another on it. I just put it out of my mind for now. I was going back to work at the casino in a few days anyway. My unplanned vacation was coming to an end and I was ready to do something with my time besides working out with exercise equipment, lifting some weights, and going for walks. Even getting in good health can become boring I guess. Life; go figure.
Chapter 34

I went back to work three days later. I had brought my release forms from all the doctors in the previous week and had a meeting with Big Darryl Galuchia about coming back to work full-time starting this week. Going back to work after a traumatic accident can be traumatic all over again for a person when you have to explain what happened to you over, and over, and over again. When you have four hundred co-workers and you know most of them, well you have a lot of questions to answer about what happened. Luckily after a few days the novelty of me coming back to work wore off and I was content to hang back and let the rumors take over. I was then able to concentrate on doing my job of hanging out in the blackjack pit and looking like I was doing something when I really wasn't. Have I mentioned before that I love my job? I have the easiest job in the world when it comes to getting paid for doing almost nothing.

Con was still on the job and came by the first day to welcome me back and tell me once more how lucky I was. I also saw Miss Morgan of the State Gaming Commission talking to Con later that night in the hallway just before I saw her out walking the casino floor. She was trying to be incognito as she floated around drawing everyone's attention just by her good looks. Maybe she was acting as a decoy and the other agents were watching the people watching her. Anyway, I was pretty much left alone for the most part by anyone who had talked to me before when I was pumping them for information. I was being avoided like I had the plague while I was gone which I was pretty sure would have been cured while I was in the hospital after all the drugs and antibiotics they'd given me while I was there. Most supervisors from the other departments said a polite hello, how's it going, and then ignored me for the most part. When I asked Big Darryl if we were on for coffee later he begged off saying he had too much paperwork to catch up on, maybe tomorrow.

It slowly dawned on me that I was off limits and I was to be given no information. I imagined that everyone had been given subtle warnings and hints that I was to be allowed to work, not allowed to gather information. In all fairness I should have seen that coming and had it figured out before I walked in the door my first day back. After I got over being mad about it, then feeling sorry for myself, it made perfect sense when I looked at it from the casino's perspective.

They were investigating the slot machine winnings and players, along with having the Gaming Commission investigate the winners and players, plus added to that was the Gaming Commission probably investigating everybody that had anything to do with anything concerning those slot machines and you can see why they wouldn't want any help from yours truly. Fine with me, I'd probably hear enough through the rumor mill anyway without sticking my nose into it on my own. I had also given Annette my word and I planned on sticking to it.

Annette still hadn't said anything about opening our own investigation firm yet and I was content to let it go until she made up her mind on it one way or another without me badgering her about it. She knew I was still itching to get at Dick and whoever else he was working with on this for trying to kill me. I made no bones about that aspect along with the other valid reasons I gave her for doing it.

Dick and Shirley were still coming in and playing the machines on a regular basis along with Sherry Walmond once in a while. They didn't come strolling in together arm in arm but were there often enough at the same time. But then again lots of the other winners from my purloined list came in too. From what I picked up from the rumor mill it seemed like they had still been hitting some fairly good winners on a regular basis compared to the other players that had won jackpots. The investigation must not be going anywhere because they weren't barred from the casino or under arrest with their pictures plastered all over the newspapers saying they'd been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

All in all things were falling back in to the same old routine at work and after a couple of days it was as if I'd never left. Well, if you don't count Dick coming up and talking to me that is.

I was in the restaurant on my dinner break sitting in the back corner watching a basketball game while I munched on a salad and a small cut of steak as Dick and Shirley approached my table. I thought they were going to take a table by mine and order something to eat; instead they walked up to my table and stood there for a moment waiting for me to acknowledge them before Dick spoke. It was sort of an awkward moment because I was caught off guard momentarily by them coming to my table and standing there waiting for me to look up at them. After trying to have me killed, or at least having knowledge of someone wanting me dead, or being a part of some conspiracy where somebody wanted me dead, it was just too much of a shock to my system to have them standing at my table looking at me while I had a big chunk of salad half way to my mouth.

I recovered admirably after a few seconds and rose from my seat just in case they were going to shoot me or something. I wasn't going to take it sitting down this time as I still had my steak knife and salad fork in my hands. Although I must admit I didn't really see Dick or Shirley as the type to be toting guns around the casino to shoot people with.

"How are you doing Jim? Heard about that bad car accident you were in a couple of months back and we just wanted to say it's good to see you recovered and back to work," Dick told me as Shirley stood next to him smiling at me.

"I'm okay I guess and it's good to be back at work." I said trying to discern why they were even talking to me after trying to have me killed. The guy must have some set of balls, Shirley too for that matter. We stood there looking at each other for a couple of seconds to see who was going to speak next.

I decided to show them my balls and see if they wanted to try and kick them again. "So I heard you been pulling down some big winners while I was away." I said as looked between them for a reaction. "Tell me, what are you going to do with all that money?"

"We really haven't figured that part out yet but we're working on it," Dick replied.

"You know Dick if people didn't know you as well as we do here at Seven Rivers Casino they might be inclined to think that you might have an inside track on those slot winners and think there was something funny going on." I said as I smiled the biggest smile I could throw at them as I rocked back and forth on the balls of my feet. Dick's faced clouded over and Shirley's developed a frown like she didn't know how to take that last statement from me.

"Don't take me wrong Dick," I said as I spread my hands at him as I continued talking, "It's just that when you get winners like that all it takes is one person to cause you more grief than what it's worth. Know what I mean?"

"I know exactly what you mean." Dick said as he handed Shirley some money out of his pocket. "Honey I forgot to get my keno numbers before we came in. Could I get you run over there and get them for me?" Dick asked.

After Shirley left and was out of ear shot he continued. "Some people might think something funny might be going on but they're wrong. And then again some people might want to keep their noses out of business that they don't belong in; that way they don't get hurt really bad if you know what I mean Jim?" Dick said as we stared each other down for a moment or two.

After a moment a smile crossed his face and he continued on. "But that would be only if something funny was going on right?"

"Dick I didn't know you were such a comedian." I told him as I slapped him on the shoulder in a playful manner as I walked by him and fished some money out of my clip to throw on the table to leave for a tip. "But I'll definitely remember that the next time I need a good laugh. And I'll be seeing you around Dick, which you can count on." I said as I walked away from him not looking back.

Rule number one when you're jerking somebody's chain is not getting mad and losing your cool. You lose the upper hand as soon as you show the chump that you're not in control of yourself or your emotions in a confrontational situation. So if rule one is don't lose your cool, then rule number two is to needle the shit out of the other person and start bugging the hell out of them every chance you get.

With rule number two lodged firmly in my mind I got a cup of coffee and headed to the back entrance and outside to have a smoke and to figure out my plan of attack to needle Dick and Shirley. I came up with nothing.

Con was standing out back bullshitting with a couple of guys I hadn't seen before at the casino. That means one of two things; they're new since I had my accident, which is possible because of the high employee turnover rate of the gaming industry or they were talking to Con because they worked for the Gaming Commission and the lovely Miss Morgan. My money is on number two because they looked to be too friendly with Con for just standing there bullshitting with him.

Usually employees gather in little groups or knots of people when they're on their breaks and talk about the mundane life of the casino. I was proved right a few minutes later as they took their leave of Con and headed for the surveillance entrance which has limited access and is off limits to the regular casino employee. They were probably headed back upstairs to the surveillance department to review the endless miles of video tape or to run cameras on the players that were on the gaming floor tonight. With the way the casino was taking hits lately it was probably both I figured.

I caught Con's attention with a nod of my head and walked to the edge of the parking lot where we wouldn't be bothered by somebody walking out the back door and wanting to join in our conversation. Con drifted over as I lit another smoke and stared at the ground.

"What's up Jim?" Con asked as he approached me.

"If you run the cameras back fifteen minutes from now in the restaurant you'll see Dick Jameson and his wife Shirley approach me while I was eating my dinner."

"Anything good happen or did they just stop by to say hello."

"He made veiled threats to me after he sent Shirley to Keno. Before that it was just to say they'd heard about my accident and glad to see me back at work." I filled in the blanks for Con by starting at the beginning and relating the conversation word for word as the best I could. "I just wanted you to know he approached me and I have nothing to do with the guy. I figured it was one of those things I should make you aware of under the circumstances."

Con looked me over for a minute digesting what I'd told him before he spoke. "Jimmy, are you afraid he's going to take another shot at you? Him and whoever this mystery guy he's working with?" I detected a note of real concern in his voice for me.

"Nah, I'm not worried so much as I am pissed off about it." I told Con as I crushed out my smoke. "Besides I'll be looking forward to these guys taking another shot at me. This time they won't catch me unprepared. I'll be looking out for them all the time." I added with a little smile.

"Jim you know what Annette's going to do to you if she catches you fucking around with these guys and getting hurt again don't you?" Con asked.

He'd been in the hospital when Annette had laid down the law after we'd played the tape for him where Dick and his unknown partner had talked about running me off the road. Annette had basically threatened to put me back in the hospital herself if I didn't leave this to the proper authorities. If I hadn't understood her meaning at least Con had. Annette has that kind of effect on people.

"No Con I think I'll leave this one up to you and Morgan while I sit on the side and see what happens. I just wanted to let you know that this guy came and talked to me, just to keep it on the up and up, if you know what I mean? I thought it was the right thing to do with the investigation going on here at the casino."

"You did the right thing Jimmy by coming to me with this. I'll talk to Cheryl Morgan and then we'll take a look at the tapes and make a log notation of the contact. Is there anything else that's on your mind that you'd like to share with me, off the record or on the record, for that matter?" Con asked as we started drifting back to the door. I had to go back to work real soon.

"Nope, that was it Con. Just thought I'd keep you informed is all. Just do me a favor and nail these bastards for me soon." I said as I headed into the casino and back to the blackjack pit.

I knew Con was watching me as I walked away and he was trying to figure out this new piece to the jigsaw puzzle we had going. Why would Dick even want to make a veiled threat to me at this point in the game? Doesn't this guy know he's miles ahead of the game by keeping his mouth shut? Why say anything at all? What's to be gained by it? Shirley didn't seem to be aware of what was going on, if anything she looked confused by the exchange of words between us. No, Shirley doesn't have a clue that Dick might be involved in something illegal and had tried to have me killed on top of it. She's clueless as far as I'm concerned.

I'll have to figure out a way to needle Dick just because it will be fun for a while. Not enough for him to want to kill me any more than he already does, but just enough to piss him off some more and get under his skin a bit.

I put all this on the back burner as I went back to work and was occupied by the noisy hum of a blackjack pit and all the back and forth chatter of people being busy at the job of losing their hard earned money and acting like they really were enjoying it. The roulette wheel was taking a beating from the players and the dice table was beating the players for everything they put on the line. I must have sighed heavily without thinking about it as I took all the sights and sounds in because Big Darryl asked me what the sigh was for. He had snuck up behind me without me knowing he was there. For a large man he moves quietly on his feet. It's like he glides over the carpet or something without making a sound.

"Nothing Darryl, just thinking it's good to be home is all," I said not even turning to look at him, I just smiled to myself and told him. "It's just good to be home."

I was contented for the time being with just doing my job and watching the people win or lose their money on the tables as fate saw fit for each individual. There's a calming effect that all the chaotic chatter and intense feelings of the people gambling has on me for some reason. I'll be standing there watching one game while I'm listening to the table talk and interaction of the players on the game right behind me. I see where one person loses even though they play their hand correctly, every time, and the person right next to them can't lose a hand no matter how stupid they play their cards.

For some odd reason the ebb and flow of people winning and losing their money is like the rhythm of a heart beat to me. It feels perfectly natural for me and I understand the deep seated need they have deep down inside of them to gamble away their life savings, the inheritance money Uncle Jed left to them from the oil wells, and the payroll check they just received this afternoon for forty hours of work.

Who knows them better than someone who's willing risks their freedom and their life to break into a home or business to steal the most amount of money they possibly can once each year? Yes, I know you and relate to you. I understand the thrill of winning you seek so hard every time you put your hard earned money down on the table and hit that fourteen against the dealers' face card showing. But unlike you, I crave anonymity and the darkness of the night to hide in. I like playing my game version of _Jeopardy_ alone and by myself when no one thinks I'm watching them. For me it's a game of out-smarting the people and the police when they are called in to investigate a burglary I've committed.

I like to take the money and leave no trace as to who did it or how it was done, except that it's now gone. And by the way, thank you for all the information that you impart with your blathering spiel about your all important lives and the money you make in your business and what so-and-so is doing with their lives and business when you don't realize that you're giving out information that people like myself can use against you.

'How good is business these days?' I'll ask. 'That good you say.' Well we'll just have to do something about that I say to myself as I shake your hand and clap you on the back as I walk away thinking about taking a run at you next year. If you sound that good to me maybe I'll put you on the short list of the top five prospects for my next year's project.

The whooping and ringing of a slot machine jackpot payout brought me out of the little day dream I'd been having and back into the real world of Sammy the Citizen that I'd promised Annette I would be. No more 'creep across the dark side' of people's lawns, if I may take a little quote at this time from the 38 Special CD. It was a promise I intended to keep if I wanted to keep my marriage to Annette intact.

I walked down to the bottom of the pit to see if I could tell who had hit the jackpot payout and on what machine they'd won on. There was already a large cluster of people gathering around the lucky winner, with more streaming over by the second as they were caught up by the scent of a winner, as sharks are drawn to the scent of blood in the water from the injured in a ship wreck. My own ship got a sinking feeling as I tried to peer over and through the gathering group, as they ebbed and flowed around the lucky big winner as they offered their support and congratulations on the big score.

They were on the Bull Elk progressive slot machine and it had the highest progressive payout that Seven Rivers had ever been a part of. I say that because the Bull Elk progressive machines are tied into all the other tribal casinos in the western United States and are administered by the main tribe in Oklahoma. All payouts are verified, checked, double checked, and then revivified before any winners are paid one penny of the jackpot they'd won on those machines.

I saw Big Darryl walking towards the knot of people gathered around the winning machine with its offending ringing of bells and flashing lights. He was escorted to the offending machine by the slot supervisor for the night shift, like a hangman escorts the condemned to the scaffold. Like he couldn't have found it by himself? But I'll say this for Big Darryl Galuchia; he is the consummate casino manager when it comes to putting on a good face in the worst of situations, and when Dick Jamison stood up smiling from ear to ear Big Darryl didn't miss a beat as he offered Dick his hand to shake with a big smile on his face to match Dick's.

I knew deep down inside the last thing Big Darryl wanted to do at that time was to shake Dick's hand and smile like he really meant it. Not when there was a huge internal investigation being ran alongside a state Gaming Commission investigation where everybody who worked at Seven Rivers Casino was suspect along with every customer that walked through the doors. But as they say, 'the show must go on' and like I was saying a moment ago, Big Darryl was going along with the show like nothing else mattered in the world except showing all those smiling customers that Seven Rivers Casino of Fun and Happiness was more than willing to spread the happiness to all those that came through our casino doors.

I saw the lovely Miss Morgan standing off to one side discreetly shielded by the slot cashier's cage observing the festivities while her two junior agents covered the throng of people from different places on adjacent carousels. Needless to say Miss Morgan looked just a little unhappy as she silently viewed the throng of well wishers while absently chewing one of her immaculately manicured nails.

From the look on her face that nail polish had about a ten minute life span left to it. We made eye contact and she realized I was checking her out because she guiltily quit gnawing on her fingernail. She rolled her eyes at me and I shrugged my shoulders at her in return. She returned to watching Dick and Shirley, who had finally made it through the crowd to join Dick at his side, smiling from ear to ear.

I turned around and walked back up the pit. I had a job to do and it didn't include me gawking at some slot winner. I watched my games and ran down my table counts checking to see how much they were up or down on the win-loss category for the past two hours. When Big Darryl asked for a win-loss check I planned to have the answers for him tonight in case he was in a bad mood after that big hit on the Bull Elk machines. Sure, he's going to make like it's nothing to the customers and the other employees, but then again some of us know different.

They made an announcement about a half hour later saying one of our lucky customers had won $482,000 on the Bull Elk machines. Everybody started clapping on the casino floor as they asked for a round of applause for the big winner and offered congratulations on behalf of Seven Rivers Casino. I figured Dick clears $300,000 plus change after they get done with taxes at 28%. Nobody is that lucky, that often, and we all know it.

After they got done with all the checking and verifying at the slot machines Big Darryl and the night shift slot manager escorted Dick and Shirley up to the main cage to fill out the paperwork for state and federal taxes and get all the signatures on the required forms so the payout process could begin. The way I understood it, the payout had to be verified by the good folks in Oklahoma, along with their state gaming commission in conjunction with our state gaming commission, plus the IRS and anybody else federal that needed to stick their nose in it before Dick could collect any money.

I was sitting in my regular booth at the back bar having a cup of coffee going over this in my mind when Big Darryl slid in across from me. The waitress was there within a minute with a cup of coffee for him. We eyed each other as she silently left the cup of coffee and walked away.

"I saw you standing down at the end of the pit watching after Dick Jameson hit the Bull Elk," he said to me. I started to reply but he held up his hand and continued before I could. "What I want to know is what you think about it and the reason why you think that way?" he asked as he folded his hands together on the table in front of his coffee.

I'm sure Con had a nice little talk with the upper management after we had our little talk in my hospital room that one day concerning what I knew. What he told them I could only guess at this point. I decided to just play nice and cautious for the time being and see what, if anything, Big Darryl really wanted from yours truly. "I think something smells wrong with it and nobody's that lucky that often as Dick and Shirley have been for the last six months or so. Why, what's on your mind?"

"I think something smells funny too," he said as he kept eye contact with me. "I just wish a certain person could produce some evidence, but I hear this certain person is maybe restricted by word of honor from doing anything about it," Big Darryl paused for a moment then added; "if you know what I mean, in situation like this, that is?" he raised his eyebrows at me as he added this last part.

"Yeah, that word of honor thing really gets to some people in the worst way at the worst of times from what I understand," I replied as non-committal as I could. Big Darryl nodded his head in agreement with me as he took a sip of his coffee.

"How long does it take before the payout gets verified and the money goes out to Dick?"

"About a month if everything checks out okay, it may be longer if necessary," Big Darryl said as he sat his coffee cup back down. He was still looking at me like I was missing something. Then it clicked in my head.

"Then I would suggest that maybe somebody talk to someone about this 'honor restriction' thing and suggest that they could use some outside help from them. See if they could find a way to work it out where the 'honoree' doesn't feel dishonored and still get the help you need from the person doing the word of honor thing," I said as he nodded his head in understanding once more. "If you know what I mean in a situation like this, that is?" I added just to make sure he understood what needed to be done.

"Yeah, I know exactly what you mean and I know just the person to talk to about it," Big Darryl said as he got up to leave. He started to walk away but paused as he thought of something else to say to me. "I would want this person to watch out for their ass on this as I wouldn't want this person to get themselves killed or put back in the hospital again considering they just barely survived a car accident a couple of months ago. From what I understand the 'honoree' can get some bad attitude and I wouldn't want to cross her path when she gets pissed off," he said continuing to look at me until it clicked what he was saying without actually saying anything else.

"I think the person you have in mind won't be blindsided the second time around," I said. "Plus, I hear you don't want to cross him either with his background," I added looking Big Darryl in the eye just to make sure he understood me on that count.

"Good. Just see that he watches his ass for me okay?" Big Darryl said as he turned and walked away without looking back. He left without finishing his cup of coffee which is unusual for him. He must be pissed off at somebody...go figure.
Chapter 35

I woke up feeling sluggish and tired. I laid in bed for a while trying to get myself motivated and going but it wasn't doing any good so I just stayed where I was and tried to go back to sleep. Hell with it and who cares anyway? That didn't work either. I realized the house was too quiet and Annette must have gone out to run some errands or something like that. I rolled over on my back and looked at the clock that sat on my dresser. It said 10:15. No wonder I felt sluggish and tired. I usually get up by nine at the latest, even on a bad day where I've had to stay late at the casino going over paperwork or reviewing film on a questionable customer. This isn't like me. Where has my get up and go gone to? Maybe I'd lost it at work last night?

I lay there for another fifteen minutes pondering the mysteries of why some people don't get out of bed and do something other than lying in bed all day. It didn't come to me in some flash of insight like they show in TV. No great revelations suddenly revealed themselves to me either, proving once again to me that I'm not some great thinker or philosopher and that I should just get out of bed and start doing something. I smelled coffee as I headed for the bathroom so I made a detour to the kitchen to get a cup before heading to the shower. I fixed myself a cup and took it with me. Don't laugh, steamed coffee works just fine for me.

I got a second cup after I put my pants on and headed back into the bathroom to brush my teeth and run a brush through my hair. It was growing back out slowly after my hospital haircut, which I don't recommend to anyone unless your left ear has been halfway ripped off and then I guess its okay. 'Please give me the shitty Frankenstein cut if you could? And don't forget those hasty large stitches. I'm so counting on that bold scaring look you know.' I said to myself again as I looked in the mirror for the umpteenth time. The hell with it as far as I was concerned, the plastic surgeon had done the best job he could with what he had to work with at the time, which at the time was some skin off my ass. I guess it would blend in eventually and look okay, if not, go figure, I said to myself as I picked up my coffee and went in search of the morning paper to read.

Annette had told me numerous times already during the course of my hospital stay and the recovery after the skin graft not to worry about it too much. She said that most people could already tell just by looking at me that I was an asshole. To tell you the truth it didn't help too much. I guess that's because when she said it, she started laughing, wound up with tears in her eyes, and almost peeing her pants. Comedians; everyone thinks they're one.

I spent the next two hours puttering around the house and garage doing some minor stuff I'd been putting off like everyone does when they get too busy to take the time to put things back where you got them from. I filed some paperwork that needed to be filed and picked up some of the clutter that had accumulated for the last week around the house. I checked my e-mail account and deleted the junk mail that had accumulated there. I'd moved to the garage to return screwdrivers, channel lock pliers, and assorted small tools back to their respective places that had gathered in the house and the family room and hadn't been returned yet.

I'd opened the roll-up door for the fresh air and light before I started to put things away. I was standing at the work bench with the screwdrivers in my hand when Annette pulled into the garage. She had a stony look on her face that had me puzzled until Conroy pulled up in the driveway a couple of seconds behind her. This may not bode well for yours truly if you know what I mean.

Annette got out of her car and came over to stand by me as Conroy got out of his and sauntered into the garage to join us. What this was about I had no idea, but for Conroy to be here at lunchtime after closing the casino with me last night it must be important. He must have gotten up early for him to be here now. Annette gave me a light kiss on the lips as a greeting and Conroy nodded to me.

"What's up Con? Awful early for you to be up and about isn't it?" I asked as I looked between them for a clue as to what was going on.

"Con called this morning and we agreed to meet for coffee at Joshua's so we wouldn't wake you up." Annette said as I looked between them for answers once more. "Let's go into the house; we'll talk about what Con and I had already discussed and I'll fix us lunch."

"That works for me Jimmy. I don't know about you, but I could definitely use something to eat right about now," Con said as he smiled at me and turned to follow Annette into the house.

"Sure, good for me too I guess," I answered as I laid the tools on the workbench and followed them into the house. I was thinking that I was glad I'd picked up some of the clutter earlier. This was the first time Conroy had been to our home and I didn't want him to think we were slobs or something like that. We really aren't slobs or nothing and we like to think our house is presentable to people no matter when someone shows up.

This was the first time someone from the casino was at our house that was going to be talking to upper management after they left. I don't care what you say but a good first impression of your home goes a long way in determining how people perceive you and your family. Plus Conroy was definitely going to be talking to some part of upper management after we got done talking about whatever it was we had to talk about.

"Con have a seat anywhere. Can I get you a cup of coffee, maybe soda, anything?" Annette asked from the kitchen.

"Maybe a soda with lunch when it's ready and anything you fix is fine with me," Conroy replied as he sat down in one of the recliners.

"Jim honey, can I get anything for you?"

"No Annette I'm fine until lunch I guess." I said taking the computer chair so I would be directly across from Conroy, making it easier to talk to him face to face while Annette prepared lunch.

"Con why don't you go over what we talked about with Jim while I fix lunch? I hope you don't mind sub sandwiches and some finger food?" Annette asked Conroy from the kitchen where she was bent over looking into the refrigerator and pulling out the things she would need.

"Okay with me or we can wait until you're done fixing the food and then sit down and talk it over while we eat."

"Nah, go on ahead. I can hear it all from here while I'm doing this and if you leave anything out I can always jump in," Annette told him as she crossed to the counter with an armload of lettuce, tomatoes, mustard, and a package of assorted lunch meat, sitting it down and returning to the refrigerator for more.

"The casino needs your help if you're up to it Jimmy. I called Annette this morning to run it by her before talking to you because I know how she feels about you getting involved in something like this after what you went through with the crash and all." Conroy had scooted to the edge of the chair, his arms rested on his knees with his hands clasped together in front of him. He looked dead serious.

Okay, he probably was since he was here in our home after talking to Annette first. "I take it this has something to do with my buddy Dick Jameson and the slot machine scam he's running?" I asked with just a hint of sarcasm.

"Yes it does, but I don't want you to think for one minute that Dick Jameson is the brains behind this. It could be anyone." Con said pointing his finger at me for emphasis. He continued on before I could say anything else. "Don't make the mistake of going after just him and not everyone involved in this cheat because we think this is bigger than what we first thought. We need information on anybody that we can lay our hands on at this point in the investigation. Everybody we look at comes up whistle-clean and we can't find any ties to anyone that works at Seven Rivers Casino." Conroy had a serious tone to his voice and body language I had rarely seen.

"How's the state's investigation going?" I knew the answer but had to ask anyway.

"I'm here aren't I? That should tell you exactly how it's going on the state's end of it."

"They sign-off on you coming to us and asking for our help on this?" I figured it was best to get it out in the open exactly where this request was coming from and who was involved in it.

"Con, Jim, lunch is ready. Come on into the kitchen and have a seat, we'll finish this while we're eating," Annette told us. She hadn't said a word the whole time she was in the kitchen fixing the sandwiches, but I'm sure she was paying attention to every word we said.

We moved to the kitchen table and took our seats as Annette brought a cup of coffee for me and a soft drink for Conroy. Once we got settled in Conroy picked up where he left off. "To answer your question, which by the way, Annette asked me when we had coffee earlier this morning, is no the state knows nothing of Seven Rivers Casino coming to you and Annette and asking for your help in this matter."

Conroy bit into his sandwich and chewed slowly as he looked between us. He seemed to be weighing what he wanted to say next. "Cheryl Morgan still has both of you under investigation and to tell you the truth there was some question of a large influx of money into your banking accounts that she finds suspicious, along with a zero balance on most of your credit cards."

He looked between us to see what our reaction was to this accusation and what it would tell him, which wasn't much from what I could tell. The money from the safe was mostly dispersed through the bank accounts and credit cards after we came back from Las Vegas. Plus Annette and I had both agreed to claim the extra money on our income taxes as gambling winnings and extra income from doing carpentry side jobs in my spare time. We were covered ten ways to Sunday, so we did not have a problem in that area.

If you're going to steal and do criminal things that brings in extra money the best way to stay out of trouble is to pay taxes on that extra money. Set up a dummy business or something to show where that extra money came from. Claim it as gambling winnings after you go to Las Vegas or Atlantic City. The IRS doesn't really care if your steal a little bit of money here and there as long as they get their cut of the proceeds.

"I'm sure the state pulled our federal income taxes, along with our banking history, and our credit card payment history a long time ago and they're fine with it or they would have said something by now don't you think?" Annette asked Conroy as she plucked a potato chip out of the bowl and popped it in her mouth.

She chewed on the chip for a moment or two thinking and then got a serious look on her face and tilted her head to the side and asked Conroy, "So what's the question about the money? That was before the casino started having a problem wasn't it?"

"They can't tell where that money came from." Conroy took a long swallow of his coke before continuing. "Sure you guys claimed gambling winnings from your stay in Las Vegas, and extra income under various listings on your IRS form, but there's no record of you two winning forty-thousand at the Bellagio Resort and Casino last November.

Annette started to say something but Conroy cut her off with a hand wave that said it didn't matter. "Now that doesn't mean a damn thing to anybody really when it comes to Las Vegas, where you walk out of one casino and be in another one in less than two minutes, win five or ten grand and walk out the door and go do the same thing in the next casino. It happens, we know it, and we don't have a problem with it." Conroy smiled. "No matter where that money came from you two were at least smart enough to have it sent to your bank from the Bellagio's cashier's cage."

"In other words Morgan just doesn't like it but there's nothing she can do about it right?" Annette asked Conroy.

"Correct on both counts, plus I don't think she likes your husband very much since he stonewalled her when we went to go see him that time in the hospital." Conroy gave a cop look at me that said he was still pissed off about some of the stuff that happened while I was there.

"Sorry Con. I didn't mean to get under your skin or hers but I had to figure things out first before I opened my mouth too far to get my foot back out. I really didn't mean to offend you or her. Plus you got to remember they whacked me out on the far side with all the pain meds they were giving me at the time man." I gave him the palm rocker as way of apology, back and forth with my hand to let him know I was messed up at the time, just in case he didn't know that already.

"Yeah Jimmy I know, I was a cop, remember? Anyway, no offence taken, but at the time I was a little pissed off at you." Conroy waved me off when I started to say more on the subject, signaling it was in the past and forgiven. "Forget about it." he told me.

"Okay what now?" I asked looking between them. "You two discuss how we're going to set this up so we don't get fried by the local law enforcement agencies for doing this?"

"Cheryl Morgan, in the course of investigating both of you, turned up the fact that you Jimmy hold a current private investigator's license in the state of Florida and you are also listed as a consultant, non-monetary, vice president of the Dechinzo Investigation Corporation. There's a mouth full when you say it huh?" Conroy laughed at the last part like it was some kind of tongue twister. "Care to explain some of that to me; I'd really be interested to hear how that one came about."

I exchanged glances with Annette and then smiled at Conroy, "Not enough time, long time ago, and yes, you would be interested if I was inclined to tell you, which I'm not."

Conroy gave me a hurt look and shrugged his shoulders at Annette. Obviously they had already discussed this earlier. "I told Con that we had discussed and given some thought as to opening our own private investigation firm and that we have already transferred your license from Florida," Annette told me. "I also informed Con that we'd need a signed basic retainer agreement with the tribe and the casino to start an investigation with a full detailed agreement to be signed within seven working days or we wouldn't be able to take the investigation on in good faith."

I mulled this over for a minute before I spoke. It sounded as if Annette had covered the basics when she met Con for coffee this morning but I still had a few things on my mind. "Okay Con here's the deal. One: we notify the State Gaming Commission just because I'll feel better about it. Two: we do the retainer as soon as we get business license and the bonding in place. Three: I get to take a leave of absence, carte blanche, plus come and go at the casino as I please. Four: we get access to any and all records and information we deem necessary to the investigation, including employee information. Five: our fee will be $250.00 per day, per person, plus expenses. Also we get a 10% recovery bonus on anything that is recovered," I told him.

Con had listened closely as I had ticked off on my fingers the stipulations for us doing this investigation and his eyes sort of got bigger at the mention of the ten percent recovery bonus. He looked between us for a moment or two before he spoke; thinking about what he was going to say. "I'll run this by Frank and the powers to be reckoned with and get back to you on this. I can't say how this is going to play out but I do know they want you to look into this for them."

He sounded somewhat doubtful. It must be because they weren't expecting a full fledged investigation with contracts that included all the bells and whistles with it. They probably figured that they could get me to nose around just enough to get things stirred up to the boiling point of getting myself almost killed again and then stepping in at the right time and busting my buddy Dick and not having to pay anything for it. No thanks all the same. I might be wearing part of my ass on the side of my face but that doesn't mean I'm a stupid asshole that you can take advantage of now does it? All I know is that I wasn't going to jeopardize my freedom by getting thrown in jail for running up against a law enforcement agency by doing a half baked investigation that gets us thrown into jail for stalking or trespassing on private property.

"Okay, run this by Mr. Capolli and the tribe and get back to us as soon as possible. If I'm not here you can talk to Annette, she's my partner and half owner in this business so she speaks for me and our company in all things relating to it."

"You got it Jim; no problem."

"Con, we do this, we do it right," I told him evenly as I made eye contact so he'd know how serious I was. "No half assed running around getting into needless trouble or getting thrown into jail because the local law doesn't know what we're doing. If we do this, we do this the right way, all the way, from the beginning."

"I understand what you are saying and I agree 100% with your thinking on how to approach this problem for the casino." Con said as he rose from his chair. "I think you two are just the right people to look into this problem for us and I'll lay it out for them just like you want and exactly how you put it to me," Con said as he made his way to the front door where he stopped and offered us his hand to shake.

"Let us know what their decision is and thank you for inviting me for coffee this morning and talking to me about this first. I really appreciate the thought," Annette said as she shook Con's hand.

"It was my pleasure Annette," Con told her then turned and headed for his car.

We stood at the front and waved good bye as Con backed out of the driveway and drove down the street. Annette and I both looked at each other for a few moments then she shrugged her shoulders at me, 'go figure' she said as she turned and walked back into the house. "Come on, help me clean up and the then we need to make a shopping list." Annette called to me from the kitchen.

I continued to look down the street where a non-descript Chevy sedan was backed into a driveway. I normally wouldn't have given it a second thought but I thought I saw a flash of light off of something inside it. I also thought the house where it was sitting at was vacant and up for sale the last time I had looked. Maybe we were getting new neighbors. The again maybe we weren't.
Chapter 36

Annette and I spent the next few days putting things together for the business. After Conroy had left we sat down to make a list of things we needed to do starting with what we felt was the most important first; getting a business license and bond insurance. I also called my old business associate Vince, who is still in Florida, from the pay phone down the street at the IGS store. I informed him of what was going on and that I was going into business for myself. We got caught up on each others lives, promised each other that we'd stay in touch more often, and talked about getting together in the near future for a vacation with our families. After twenty minutes of lying to each other, and twenty-five dollars in quarters, I got his blessing and a promise of help if I ever called in the favor he owed me.

In our discussions of my past I had filled Annette in on most of Florida, but left out some of it, if you know what I mean. There's just some stuff a person does in their lives, before they meet that special person they wind up spending their life with, that you're just not going to tell them under any circumstances. Florida is tucked away in its own little corner of my trunk of stuff that I really don't want anyone to know about. I might tell you a little bit of it here and there but I'm not ever going to tell anyone all of it. I think it's one of those things where you would've had to have been there to truly understand it.

Annette was gracious enough to understand why I was taking $25.00 in quarters to the pay phone and not ask any questions. Or maybe she was just tired of asking the questions about my past and getting some wild, unbelievable story from me in return and had just accepted the fact in her own mind that she had married some antisocial, psychotic whose idea of a part-time job is breaking into peoples homes and trying to steal as much cash as possible instead of working at Wal-Mart like a normal drone of a person would. She just rolled her eyes up in her head and gave it a slight shake as I told her I was going down to the corner store to call Florida since our phone might be tapped.

We went down and got a business license and then went to see our insurance agent about getting insured and bonded for an investigation firm. It cost us a big chunk of dough for the insurance and bond but it's one of those things you have got to have if you're going to do it legal.

The business name discussion caused some dissention between us as I wanted to call the firm 'Fairly Honest Freddie's Investigations' and Annette had her heart set on 'Fratino Investigations'. I'll let you guess who got their way on that one.

Annette called the phone company and made arrangements to have another line with its own number installed in the spare bedroom which was being turned into the temporary office until we could find office space downtown. It was stocked with a file cabinet, answering machine and the phone to go with it, large corkboard, desk, lamp for the desk, desk baskets, and assorted miscellaneous stuff you need for an office at home and we were all set. Oh yeah, one new computer with printer, computer desk, and don't forget the two types of paper you might need for writing those business letters on that nice bonded paper, plus your regular computer paper.

It just made perfect sense to move the temporary office into the spare bedroom since I was doing all the moving. Plus the bonus of moving it all out once we found office space downtown would allow for only one actual move. After three trips to Costco and Office Depot to get everything Annette thought we might conceivably need I was ready to hit the meds I had left over from the accident. When I mentioned something to Annette about wanting to go home she just smirked at me and told me to 'man up and quit being a crybaby'.

Conroy had called two days after our lunch to tell us he had presented our terms to the casino management and we had an appointment set up for Friday morning at 10:00 am to talk things over with them. It was quicker than I would have thought. I'd continued to go to work as normal and do my job. I kept my mouth shut about our conversation with Conroy when I was talking with Big Darryl. I'm sure he'd heard about it but if he wasn't saying anything neither was I. I kept my ears open with a low profile around the casino until we heard back one way or another on our proposal to them.

In the meantime Sherry Walmond hit the progressive jackpot on the Giant Red Cedar Tree carousel for $118,000. Chuck and Ann Smith won $52,000 on the Little Chief one cent progressive. And my good buddy Dick James hit for $90,000 on the Silent Hunter twenty-five cent progressive machines. All in all it was a good week for the customer and a bad week for Seven Rivers Casino of Fun and Happiness. The casino had to be running on a very slim margin in the slot department when you did the math.

On my way home from work I would do a quick drive by on Dick and Shirley's or I would park the car and watch through my binoculars for a while to see if anything had changed at their house or in the neighborhood. I thought it might be a good idea to check the pulse of the place and make sure nothing had changed since the last time I was sneaking around up here because I was definitely planning a comeback tour real soon. Plus I was planning a solo performance at my buddy Dick's house and I wanted it to go off without a hitch.

Annette and I showed up at the casino dressed for success and carrying a file case with three sets of business contracts that Annette had made on the computer, one for the casino, one for our files, and one to go to our attorney; once we found an attorney that would work with a private investigative firm that is.

We had put a lot of solid hours into making up a standard set of contracts that covered anything from the basic to the elaborate for situations like now where we really needed to cover our asses. When we were satisfied the contract pretty much spelled out what the terms were while covering our ass at the same time, we saved the template for future use and modification, and then we backed them up on a CD in case we lost the computer and files somehow.

I was very proud of Annette and the way she just took charge of making up the contracts not to mention a nice new letterhead with our new business clearly seen at the top of the page. She's a natural I think when it comes to putting a business together. Looking back on it, it just seemed to flow from her like she did it everyday with no second thoughts on what we needed or what it took to get it done.

After waiting in the reception area for about ten minutes we were escorted into the main conference room where it seemed all of upper management and anybody who was anybody was seated around the large oval table. It also looked like some of the tribal board was in attendance just for good measure. Moreover as a bonus round the lovely Miss Morgan, from the State Gaming Commission, had a seat at the table next Frank Capolli and my good buddy Conroy.

After pleasantries were exchanged and all the hellos were said we got down to business quickly. Conroy took the podium that was situated just behind the head of the table and started the meeting off with thanking everybody for taking the time to come. He introduced Annette and me, explained briefly that the reason we were there was to give serious consideration into hiring our investigation firm to look into the matter of the losses the slot department was having and to see if we could come up with any leads from a private angle. "I'll turn this over to Jim and Annette and let them layout what they have planned," Conroy said taking his seat.

We were half way out of our seats when Cheryl Morgan spoke up, halting us both in mid-rise like a couple of stupid statues. "If I may interrupt for a moment I'd like to address the state's view on this matter?" she asked looking directly at us.

"Please, by all means. We'd be more than happy to hear from the State Gaming Commission on this matter first," Annette said as we sat back down.

"Thank you." she said as she rose from her seat and took the podium. "First, I must say the state's position on this matter is that we can neither condone, endorse, nor support the management of Seven Rivers Casino in the decision to hire a private investigation firm to look into what we consider a serious criminal investigation that involves federal and state statutes being violated," she said looking directly at us. The look on her face said we were encroaching on her territory and she didn't like it one bit.

"Duly noted and understood," Frank Capolli said from his seat at the head of the table.

"Plus I'm afraid the state has serious reservations about bringing someone into an investigation of this magnitude that may have ties to organized crime in the state of Florida."

"For the record, duly noted, and as we stated earlier before this meeting started, unless the state has documented, concrete proof that Mr. or Mrs. Fratino has any known ties to organized crime Seven Rivers Casino will in fact give serious consideration to hiring their firm," Frank Capolli told her in a steady, even voice.

We have ties to organized crime? Where the hell did she come up with that, I thought to myself as I glance at Annette. I'm sure she was thinking something along the same lines from her raised eyebrows and the look on her face. I didn't think there was going to be much bonding between them at this point in their relationship.

"There is also the issue of their inexperience and lack of training in the field of investigation. My office could find no documentation in the state of Florida, where Mr. Fratino has a license, that he ever took any training or college courses relating to this field of work," she said. The lovely Miss Morgan definitely didn't want us playing in her sandbox.

Big Darryl coughed to get everyone's attention before he spoke. "Jim has worked at this casino pretty much since we opened the doors," he said looking around the table and finally locking eyes with Miss Morgan at the podium before he continued. "In all the time he's worked here he has been a model employee for us and has been promoted for outstanding ability to grasp and understand the gaming business beyond that of most other employees," he said looking around the table and making eye contact and holding it for just a second before moving on to the next person.

I was glad to see nods of agreement and a few smiles directed our way. I took it as a sign of approval and trust in me. Or it just could have been an act of desperation on the casino's part that had them wanting our help. "Jim has a feel for people and this business like I haven't seen in years. He has demonstrated a knack for reading people for what they are when they walk through our doors and I for one have learned to trust his judgment therefore, I back him fully if he thinks they can come up with some answerers on this problem." Big Darryl folded his hand in front of him and smiled at us.

"The state would like to question Mr. and Mrs. Fratino in this matter regarding Mr. Fratino's connection to Mr. Dechinzo in the state of Florida and his dealings with him," Cheryl Morgan asked looking at us. "I'd also like some answers as to how they plan to handle their investigation if Seven Rivers Casino decides to hire them." She added, never taking her eyes off us for one moment.

I know how Annette is in most situations we encounter after being with her for so long. As a guy and as a matter of self-preservation, you sort of develop the knack for what's going to piss your woman off. When Annette laid her hand gently on mine and gave it a single pat I knew she was going to handle these questions and all I had to do was set back and enjoy the show. Granted I may not have a job by the time she was done, but go figure, it might be worth it anyway.

"Miss Morgan, are you or your department planning to interfere with us obtaining a business license in the state of Washington?" Annette asked calmly and coolly with just a touch of ice in her voice that I've learned is a warning sign of hers when she's ready to snap your head off like a chicken.

"No, but..." she started to answer but Annette cut her off before she could finish her sentence.

"Miss Morgan, does the State Gaming Commission plan on filing some type of charges with the Attorney General's Office or charges at the federal level against us in this investigation?" Annette had just a slight touch of sharpness in her voice.

"No we don't but the..." she tried to answer again but Annette cut her off mid-sentence yet again.

"Miss Morgan does the State Gaming Commission or more specifically _you_ , plan on rendering us any help whatsoever in our investigation if Seven Rivers Casino decides to hire our firm?" Annette asked with just a little bit more ice in her voice that Miss Morgan failed to notice or chose to ignore.

Annette rose from her chair with a steely look on her face and went eye to eye with Miss Morgan at the podium where she stood, hands planted flat on the table. "Miss Morgan if you, acting on behalf of the State Gaming Commission, have no help or input for us on this matter, it's my suggestion then that you sit down and shut up or better yet, leave. I would hazard to guess that Seven Rivers Casino will keep the State Gaming Commission appraised on any progress that we make on this investigation. That is, if they hire us."

Morgan started to say something but Annette shut her down with a hand wave and the glare on her face. Frustrated she bowed her head and held up her hands in mock surrender. "We have no inclination at this time, or any time, to allow ourselves to be questioned unprofessionally in a witch hunt just to satisfy _your_ personal need to know where my husband or I came from or what we did in the past with our lives," Annette told her. Everyone could hear the tone of steel in Annette's voice and manner with Miss Morgan. No one chose to interrupt her and just let it play out to see how she handled herself.

"The State Gaming Commission has some concerns with your husband and his connections in Florida," Miss Morgan said in a rushed flurry of words before Annette could cut her off.

"Then my husband and I suggest that you go to your superiors and request a grand jury hearing on this matter. It's our position from this point forward that any questions regarding either of us will be directed to our attorney. Is this perfectly clear to you and your superiors at the State Gaming Commission Miss Morgan?" Annette asked her so sweetly I almost laughed and told Morgan if she knew what was good for her she had better keep her mouth shut when Annette continued with her rapid fire questions. "Please Miss Morgan one more thing. After all this time are you or your office planning to revoke my husband's license?" Annette asked her.

"On behalf the of the Washington State Gaming Commission I must protest the hiring of the Fratino's and remind Seven Rivers Casino that in doing so could very well jeopardize any criminal case brought to court." Miss Morgan said as she dodged Annette's question. Miss Morgan's eyes went from Annette to Frank, Big Darryl, and then around the table to all the management, making eye contact with each one, putting them on notice of the Gaming Commission's stance in the matter of hiring two nobody's.

Frank Capolli blew out a long breath and leaned back into his chair looking back and forth from us to Miss Morgan. I could see the brain cells in his head working. He had a decision to make and it all came down to right now in this conference room. I could only think the clock was ticking down on his employment at Seven Rivers Casino if they didn't get a handle on this one. This was ultimately his responsibility when it came down to it and the outcome of this investigation would determine if he ever worked again in the gaming industry. A win here and he looks like gold, a loss and he's a liability that's unacceptable for a future casino manager.

"Cheryl I think we'll go with the Fratino's and see what happens," Frank said as he ran his hand over the top of his military hair cut, smoothing it back as if it were out of place. "We'd like to thank you for making the state's position on this matter clear and taking the time to be here. We'll keep the Gaming Commission informed by weekly reports and personal calls to you from Conroy Williams." Frank was clear that she was dismissed from the meeting.

"Thank you for having me this morning, we'll be in touch," she told Frank as her eyes swept the people at the table; I could have sworn she winked at Conroy as they made eye contact. And if I'm not mistaken, her face had completely lost that bitchy look she had been wearing minutes ago. As she left the room she was poised, confident, and in control of herself. Go figure that one.

Frank Capolli turned to me. "Jim, get up there and let's hear what you have to say on this matter. We want to hear your proposal." I left my seat and took the podium. Annette gave me a slight smile of encouragement as I looked at her.

"It's simple," I said. "Fratino Investigations plans to follow the money back to the person or persons responsible for engineering the cheat in the slot department." I looked around the table for comments in return and got none so I continued. "We plan on having results within thirty days or terminating our investigation at that time, as it will be apparent that the technology used is way beyond our means of detection and so are the people behind it." I did another sweep around the table and still no opposition. "We'll want complete access to employment records for all people who have ever worked in or had access to the tech and computer division. We want physical access to the tech and computer room and we'll need to be able interview anyone we deem necessary."

I got some raised eyebrows and people were glancing at each other to see how they each felt about this request. "We need, and this is the most important, copies of the State Gaming Commissions' files into this matter so far. We need to know what they know. Is there going to be a problem with that Frank?" I asked.

Frank and Conroy looked at each other for a moment and then Conroy shrugged his shoulders. "I'll arrange it for you with the state," Frank said to me. He saw me raise my eyebrows and then added, "I'll go to Morgan's boss if I need to, but you'll get it if you really need it. And don't worry about your gaming license."

"We won't, thanks. Finally, we'll need all pertinent data from the slot department on winners that are over $5,000 in the last six months. Spreadsheets, names, addresses, everything that's been won and by who, we want to know about it," I said as I looked around the room once more for any hint of opposition. There wasn't any that was visible to me but that didn't mean there wouldn't be some under the radar. "The contract was written by us and is written in plain language without all the bullshit legalese. Plain, simple, and non-negotiable, what you see is what you're going to get."

"But how do you planning on doing it exactly?" Conroy asked. I knew he had to ask some questions on this so he could go back to Miss Morgan and fill her in.

"Interview and surveillance will be the main task of our investigation. Somewhere someone knows who's behind all this and that's who we're going to look for. We'll be taking on another one or two people to help conduct the interviews in person and work on the surveillance aspect."

"I have to ask this next question to cover the casino's butt on this so don't tear mine off Annette but Fratino Investigations will be working within the parameters of the law on this won't they?" Conroy asked to a few smiles and chuckles from the table full of people.

"Although we don't have a copy of the all the Washington State Criminal and Civil Code Laws, I think we can say that we plan on staying within all aspects of the law in our business dealings," I said. I looked at Annette for confirmation on this.

"Fratino Investigations will work at all times within the law and with highest regards to ethics and responsibility to our clients," Annette said.

"Good, that's what I wanted to hear for the record," Conroy said to Frank.

"Anybody else have any questions for Annette and Jim, anything to add?" Frank asked as he looked around the table. A few no's and head shakes was all he got in return. "Okay that's it for now I guess. Fratino Investigations will be hearing from us soon on our decision. If you'll excuse us I'm sure we'll need to have some private discussion on this amongst ourselves now."

We got up and shook Frank's and Big Darryl's hands, nodded heads of thanks to everybody else and left. We didn't speak to each other until we'd gotten into the car and was leaving. "Well, I thought that meeting went extremely well," I said to Annette with a big smile on my face.

"You liked that huh?"

"Oh yes. I think your title should include something like 'Hostage Negotiator' in it. I really think you two girls had something going in there. Everybody could just feel the love and warmth you had for each other radiating throughout the room."

"Think we hid the fact we're lesbian lovers with a penchant for threesomes with you from them pretty well huh?" Annette asked while trying not to bust out laughing.

"Honey they don't make closets big enough to accommodate the two of you and that kind of relationship."

"And just how big were you thinking?" she said poking me in the ribs a few times with her finger as she smiled playfully.

"Oh I don't know. I was thinking of something along the lines of that 'Cage of Death' thing they have on the wrestling matches. You know, you dressed in some white leather and lace outfit, with a mask, maybe those high heeled lace up boots."

"And what will Morgan wear during 'our match'?"

"Definitely black to your white, maybe one of those teddy type corset things with the lace up the sides and nasty fish net stockings," I said leering at her.

We both started laughing so hard that Annette lost control and got the snorts. "Why James Fratino," Annette said coyly, "not only are you a sexual deviant and a pervert, I think you've been peeking in my closet again."

I almost had to pull the car over because we were laughing so hard I got the snorts too. We finally got ourselves under control and made it home without killing ourselves.

We sat around the kitchen table talking and making lists of things we needed to do in case Seven Rivers Casino called and gave us the job. We didn't have long to wait, Conroy called just before I left for work that afternoon; Fratino Investigations had gotten the job.
Chapter 37

"So you think you can have this wrapped up in one month huh?" Conroy asked as he laid the signed contracts on our kitchen table along with disks that contained most of the information we'd asked for except for the employment information; that couldn't leave the casino for the obvious reasons.

"We hope so Con," Annette told him. "No promises, just hard work and hope for a little luck to go with it."

"We're compiling all the reports we've gotten from the state and Cheryl Morgan said she'll have all the original files to us by tomorrow afternoon for you."

"How did she take the news about hiring us?"

"Actually not too bad; I think what bothers her is the fact that you and Jimmy aren't long time professional investigators and she feels that you'll do more harm than good in something this big. There's also the possibility that you guys could get hurt or even killed over this. I guess you and Jimmy have talked this over pretty well haven't you?"

"Yeah, we've talked this over quite a few times since Jim came up with the idea of opening up our own business. I've gone over it backwards and forwards with him, the pros and the cons, but I've got to admit he seems committed about going into business and trying to develop something for the future."

"Think he can keep focused on the big picture here and not just go after Dick Jameson because he thinks he tried to kill him? There's a lot riding on this and no real proof that he tried to kill him." Con had gotten a real serious look on his face as he asked this question.

"Con this is real personal for Jim now. I realized that when he wouldn't let it go after he promised me he would drop it. He came up with this idea of opening our own business and I don't care how you put it, his motivation was bringing Dick Jameson to pay for trying to kill him. Now you guys just happened to come along and give him justification for going after him."

"Annette now's the time to tell me the truth about Jimmy and this thing with Dick Jameson," Con said. "I promise that I'll never tell anyone no matter what happens, but you need somebody to know the truth and cover your backs when you need it."

"Thanks Con, but you'll have to take that up with Jim. I could never say anything. Plus I really don't know what it is between them."

"Annette I know there's a whole other world of Jimmy that we at the casino don't know anything about. Hell, I'm beginning to think he's not even who he seems to be. He's got a real mysterious background and when Cheryl ran a check on you guys Jimmy basically comes up clean on first inspection. But when you start looking at him real hard there's all these holes and blanks in his life. Then you start looking at him and find he's a licensed investigator in Florida for the last ten years, he's got a sealed criminal background check at numerous states and the federal level that you don't see until you start asking questions about the guy."

"Is the state going to revoke his license for filing a false application or something?"

"No, it's all in order and Cheryl can't really find anything wrong with it or Jimmy. There are just some unanswered questions about Jimmy and his background is all. Like who are these people in Florida he's involved with? On the surface they seem like normal people until you start checking on Jim's connection with them and all of a sudden you're seeing organized crime ties and federal investigations that you don't get answers from and it leads to just more questions."

"Sorry Con but I can't help you there either. When I asked Jim about Florida and what happened there he just tells me that it's a long story and I really don't want to know about it." Annette said shrugging her shoulders. "But he did say he wasn't involved with any organized crime or mafia, and to tell you the truth, I believe him. It's just something he doesn't want to talk about because something happened there that affected him. I know Jim well enough to know that he's not lying about it, he just really doesn't want to talk about it and he won't until he's ready to, if ever."

"Another word of advice and then I've got to leave. About the local cops and doing this investigation, make sure you guys talk to them and let them know what you're doing around here or you might find yourselves in some slight trouble."

"You mean call them up and tell them where we'll be working and that type of stuff?" Annette asked with a frown on her face.

"That's exactly what I mean and the reason is one of Jim's friends, namely Montgomery, from the State Patrol Investigation unit."

Annette raised her right eyebrow in question and asked in a wary sounding voice; "Why, what's up with him? I thought he finished up his investigation, signed off on it and we were all done with him. So what's he got to do with anything?" she asked.

"I don't think he was too happy with Jim's explanations of why he had GPS units in his pants pocket and in the duffel bag they found in the back seat. Plus add in the miniaturized audio and video receiver units that are top of the line, state of the art and high cost, along with the Nomex clothes and you got some questions being asked that Jimmy just bullshitted them on when they asked him."

"I didn't hear anything about it from Jim or the cops when they talked to me."

"When I talked to Montgomery he said Jimmy told him maybe someone was in the backseat trying to car-jack him with a duffel bag instead of a gun," Con said with a chuckle and grin.

"That sounds just like Jim." Annette said laughing along with him. "My god I bet he pissed him off with that one."

"Here's the funny part Annette. Along with all this high end stuff and clothes in the duffel bag, they find a computer spreadsheet printout in his jacket pocket that has all the names, addresses, and amounts won by large jackpot winners for the last month." Con gave Annette a long, serious look as he told her this last part.

"But what does all of this mean?" Annette asked him. "And what do you really want to say Con?"

"It means there's been a bunch of burglaries on the peninsula for the last ten or fifteen years. Most all of them are your usual break-ins where they steal whatever they can; TV's, stereo systems, the coin collection they come across, or the jewelry you leave lying around along with some petty cash." Con's voice had a hurt quality to it and he kept his eyes on the table for the most part as he told Annette about the burglaries.

"So they think Jim has a gang that's doing these burglaries?"

"No, most of these have been solved. You got your regular thieves that do it for the drugs they can buy or trade for with what they steal. Then you get a bunch of kids doing it for kicks or a dare once in a while. Most all of these get solved quickly by good old fashioned police work, somebody gets busted and snitches on everybody else and tells the cops everything they ever heard about every break-in to cut a plea bargain on their bust," Con said.

He raised his head, then made eye contact with Annette. "Once in a while they get one where nothings been stolen except cash. You can have a million dollars worth of jewelry laying there and they don't take it, just the money. The person or persons involved are very experienced at it. They know when the homeowners will be away and they just don't hit Mr. and Mrs. Regular, they hit people with cash businesses like restaurants; they bypass alarm systems and pick the locks," Con said holding Annette with his gaze. "All the other ones are done by amateurs, but these, these are done by a pro. Hardly any trace they've been there. Sometimes the owners don't know they've been robbed for days or a week even before they find that the money is missing."

"Who told you Jim's doing this? Are you saying that Mr. Montgomery thinks Jim's a thief?" Annette asked Con angrily. "That's preposterous in its self Con and its bullshit, and you know it. Jim's a hard working person. He's not out running around at night with a bunch of thieves, he comes home to me. Does it look like we're living on easy street here? Does it?" Annette had jumped up from her chair without thinking about it and was waving her arms around and stamping her foot at Con to make her point.

"Calm down Annette, calm down. Nobody's accusing Jim of anything just yet, if even at all," Con told her, surprised by her outburst. "I was talking to Del Harrison; he is a detective with Sequim's Police Robbery Detail awhile back when this conversation took place. It seems Montgomery pointed out what was in that bag in the back of the car the night of Jimmy's accident to the other officers on the crash scene. That's standard procedure in police work. Add in the fact that he had that list of fairly big winners from the casino on him and you get questions being asked about it."

"Con, what did you tell Del?" Annette asked. She knew who Del was because the Peninsula is a small place and everybody knows who everybody on the police force is in Port Angeles and Sequim.

"Well number one I told him that I didn't think Jimmy was a thief and explained to him the problems we've been having at the casino with the slots and all. How we came to him asking what he thought about some of these people we thought might be involved in a cheat. Number two, I told him that the state just ran you and him through their system and under their microscope and you both came up whistle clean, no irregularities in the last five to ten years, great work record, great employee, and great all round guy and highly trusted at the casino. Number three, I thought Jim was just trying to play Magnum P.I. and help the casino out because he was sort of pissed off that somebody would cheat us and we would have trouble getting them. I figured he was just snooping around, dressed up like they do in the movies."

"How did your explanation go over with Del?"

"To tell you the truth I think it went real well. Del and his wife come into the casino once in a while like everybody who lives on the Peninsula does and they see Jimmy there working away, doing his job week after week. Del thinks Jim's a great guy, always polite to him and handles himself professionally. That's why we had our little talk off the record, when we ran into each other at Safeway a while back. Del doesn't think Jimmy's a thief or ever really was, it was just something he needed explained to him so that he was satisfied he could look some place else."

"Well I'd like to thank you Con for sticking up for Jim and putting your trust in him. We both really appreciate it. I'll tell him what you said when he gets home."

"Annette, Jim's a mystery all in himself with this Florida background that we can't figure out. Not that it matters now. He's a good employee and I like him a lot along with everyone else at the casino. What's in his past, is past, as far as we're concerned at the casino."

"Thank you again Con for being Jim's friend."

"No problem Annette, I was happy to put in a good word for both of you. Just remember to talk to the police department when you guys get to working so they know who you are and where you are. It'll cut down on getting hassled for sitting around and doing surveillance work on these people if someone calls in a prowler or something."

"Thanks again for everything Con," Annette told him as she walked him to the door.

Con turned on his heel back towards Annette. "They're calling him the 'The Darkness' you know."

"Who's calling what?"

"The Sequim and Port Angeles Robbery Divisions are calling their thief, that's who."

"They're calling Jim that?" Annette asked as she cocked her head to side and raised her eyebrow in question. "Didn't you just say you had cleared that up with Del Harrison?"

"No Annette, the thief, not Jimmy," Con said with a shake of his head and a slight smile on his face. God she is a blond he thought to himself.

"Oh yeah, for a minute there I thought you were talking about Jim. Sorry Con, and thanks again for coming by with the disks and printouts," Annette told him.

"No problem and we'll have everything else you guys need by tomorrow waiting for you at the casino. Just call ahead if you can and let them know you're coming or call me if you need anything else, okay?"

"Will do Con and thanks again," Annette said as she closed the door and took a deep, calming breath to help slow down her heart. That goddamn Jim!
Chapter 38

Annette told me about her conversation with Con after I got home later that day. She was a little worried about the 'The Darkness' thing, but after talking to her for a while she seemed to calm down. That was after I got the lecture about all the reasons not to be a thief. It seemed to me at the time that she did almost all the talking while I did all the back peddling. I promised her I would quit thieving once more and had to convince her that I'd changed my ways. I think women never really want to believe men when they tell them that they're going to change, that way they don't get so fucked up over it in their heads when it doesn't happen, like they just knew you were going to screw up sooner or later. I felt like handcuffing Annette to me for the rest of my life just so she could be with me every minute to make sure I didn't screw up by the time we were done talking about it. Go figure that one!

Once we got past her 'fear factor' we were able to get down to business and start reviewing the spreadsheets for the slot wins. We went over those first and gave everybody some consideration the first time we looked at them. After all a whale can hide in a school full of minnows, right? Then we made our own spreadsheet of winners that had one win, one for two wins, one for three wins, and so on up to ten wins. The bigger the win, the higher they were placed on our spreadsheet. There weren't a lot of them as we're a small casino stuck out here on the Peninsula with a small population base to work with.

"Three dozen is the number of couples or singles that I come up with," Annette said raising her voice from the office so I could hear her in the kitchen. I'd been going over the Gaming Commission's files again, only this time I scrutinized every little nugget of information.

"Going to need a real good map along with the top twelve winner's list, plus we're going to need some help to interview these people," I replied as Annette came into the kitchen, plopped the spreadsheet she made on the table then turned to the coffee pot. She raised her eyebrow some and nodded towards the coffee pot when she was done pouring her own. "No thanks, I've had enough already. So we're at thirty six as couples and singles huh?"

"Yeah, what do you want the map for anyway? Did you find something reveling and earth shattering in those files?"

"I found one real good piece of information. Guess who went to the bank last year applying for a $5,000,000 loan? One guess only please," I said smiling at her.

"You're kidding me. What would Dick need a $5,000,000 loan for?" The surprise in her voice at the possibilities of Dick needing five million told me she would have never thought of this turn of events either.

I shrugged my shoulders and palmed my hands for her. "How the hell would I know? Do I look like Manny the Mind Reader or something?"

"Did they give him the loan?"

"They didn't give him the loan or say what he wanted the loan for in these papers." I said as I handed them to Annette so she could look them over for herself. "Maybe they talked to the bank and they told them what he wanted it for and Morgan just didn't put it in the file. Maybe it's an oversight on Morgan's part. Take a look at the file and tell me what you think. Maybe you can see something I can't in there."

I got up and paced the distance into the living room and back a few times as Annette looked over the file. I was trying to come up with a good reason for Dick wanting five million in my brain other than anybody would want five million dollars wouldn't they? I know I could use a good five million or two any day of the week, but what would my good buddy Dick use the five million for is the $64,000 question.

"Maybe he wants to build a new store or something?"

"Maybe, who knows?"

"What do you think something like that would cost to build and stock?" she asked.

"Five million is a real good starting point, real good." I said as I continued to pace and think. "The thing of it is honey; I've never heard him or anyone else mention anything around town that he wanted to build a new shop. Haven't heard anything in the casino and you know how that place is, plus we haven't picked up anything on the recorders at their house either and you think we would have heard at least something to give us a hint at what he wants or needs that much money for."

I had been creeping up at Dick's house after work and switching out the recording units to see what he was up to lately since we'd been approached by the casino to do this job. There hadn't been anything in the past, or lately for that matter, about borrowing five million dollars. Nothing in the business section of the newspaper saying he wanted to build a new shop or expand the business. I could have missed it since it was last year, well before I started taking a run at him. Then again, if it wasn't him, it had to be someone he was connected to. I just couldn't imagine Dick being smart enough to set up a cheat on computer driven slot program; at least not by himself. No, it just didn't feel right. He's a salesman, not a goddamn rocket scientist at Houston.

"Earth to Jim, hello, is there anybody home?" Annette was saying to me. I'd been concentrating on the five million and forgot that we'd been talking.

"Sorry honey, I got caught up on the five million, then that led to thoughts of Dick just being a salesman and not a rocket scientist."

"Okay so what's that supposed to mean?"

"It means we need a real good county map and some help to interview that list you made. Add into that anybody else that we come up with just for general purposes." I told her as I started to pace again and explain myself. "We need to make up some laminated, official looking I.D. cards for American Gaming Research and Development, who will be hired by the good people that have their products in our local casino."

"And why is this needed?"

"So we can get into people's houses that have won money at the casino. That way we can take a look at how they live, get a feel for what kind of people they are, and if we ask the right questions the right way, we might actually get a break on some information they don't even know they have." I turned to look at Annette. "Hell honey, we could even score some bonus round play on this if it's done right."

Annette put her face in her hands and shook her head. I could see that she was overwhelmed by the shear genius of it. I continued to pace and expound on this line of thought. "We need business cards and we need to make a list of feasible questions to ask on nice letterhead with a company logo to match the business cards." I was starting to roll on this one. "Also, we'll need to check their homes for security systems and easy entrance if needed later."

"Jim, come sit down for a minute," Annette told me as she patted the kitchen table where she wanted me to sit. I dutifully went and sat where indicated, plus I was smart enough to keep my mouth shut.

"Jim I get the drift of where you're going with this one, but who are these other people that you're referring to that are going to help us on this?" she asked.

"Well..., I was sort of thinking of having you call up Paula and invite her and Dennis over and see if we couldn't talk them into helping us out on this one."

"Ask Paula and Dennis?" she asked a little skeptically. "Why bring in Paula and Dennis on this and get them involved?" Annette had raised her eyebrow on me when she asked this last question. I could smell a non-trust issue in the air. It was her right eyebrow too, always a sign of suspicion with Annette.

"You've already had her involved with the surveillance and camera help from before, so why not ask for a little more help now."

"No Jim, not a good idea." Annette told me as soon as the words were out of my mouth.

"And why not? You asked for her help the last time and she gave it, so why not ask them again?"

"Because the last time I wound up wishing I hadn't." Annette started to tick-off on her fingers. "The last time you wound up in the hospital over this," she stated before moving on to her next finger. "And this time I just don't want to ask her, or Dennis, for that matter." She ticked off on the next finger which just happened to be 'the finger' finger on her hand. I think she was giving me 'the finger'. Go figure that one! Like they say; if you don't take a stab in the dark, you may not kill anyone. Or at least wound them real good.

"What did you tell her the last time?" I asked in a calm voice with just a trace of a smile as I intertwined my fingers and placed my hands in front of me on the table.

"It doesn't matter what I said to Paula the last time because that was the last time I'm asking her!" Annette snapped at me.

Just a little bit testy are we? Let's probe that nerve one more time shall we? I thought to myself. "Annette honey, what did you tell her to get her to help you?"

"It's none of your business James, because we're not asking them," she said as she folded her arms and started to get pissed off about it.

"Annette honey we need some help here because we can't do everything that needs to be done ourselves. I'm just asking you to call her and invite them over. I'll lay it all out for them and if they don't want to help, fine, they don't want to help." I added.

"No Jim." Annette told me. But she had that pleading note in her voice starting up and her eyes had lost some of that steeliness of determination in them. Maybe twice more and she'd crack like a postal employee on Christmas Eve.

"Annette honey you know we need the help here. Plus they're off work for almost another month before school starts up and they could probably use the money we're going to pay them too," I added.

Annette started wincing in her chair and avoiding my eyes when she answered. "No. Please don't make me ask her Jim."

I scooted my chair over next to hers, put my arm around her and started stroking her shoulders and back. I nestled in and whispered into her neck as I kissed and nuzzled, "You want to go into the bedroom and finish this discussion in a more intimate setting?" I asked.

Annette exploded out of the chair so fast that when she stood up, her shoulder shoved my lower jaw into my skull so hard I almost saw stars. The next thing I knew she was standing in the living room fidgeting around.

"Goddamn it! What was all that about anyway?" I asked as I held my mouth in my hands and tried to talk through them. I was seeing tears in my eyes and I think there was a chunk of my tongue missing as I could taste blood. I'm sure at that point I was mumbling instead of talking. "What the fuck did you do that for anyway?"

"No!"

"No what?"

"No you're not getting laid and no again I'm not calling Paula and Dennis to come help us." Annette had one hand on her hip and the other one was shaking her finger at me like she was scolding a five year old for doing something wrong.

"Honey, come on, we need their help with this and you know it. What did you tell Paula to get her to help you the last time?" I pressed her. "You know I'm not going to stop until you tell me, so you might as well tell me, right?"

Annette was chewing on her lower lip like there was no tomorrow and she'd been stamping her foot every once in awhile for good measure. There was no telling what she'd told Paula but I couldn't imagine it being that bad. She continued to think about it for another thirty seconds before she gave me another pleading look and stamped her foot once more in defiance at me. That's my girl, now crack like an egg for me I thought. Annette lowered her head just a little bit and avoided eye contact with me when she spoke. "Promise you won't be mad at me?"

"I promise I won't be mad at you honey. Just tell me what you told her."

"Well I sort of told her I thought you might be cheating on me with Shirley and asked her to help me take pictures of their house and business to try and catch you in the act. She sort of assumed it anyway and I went along with her assumption," she said as fast as she could.

I thought about it for a moment or two before answering her. "Okay that's basically what you told me before so why all the hysterics? I don't understand the difference between now and what was said months ago when you got her to help before. What's the big deal? Call them up and ask them to come over so we can talk to them."

"You're not mad at me for letting her think that?"

"No, if you remember you already insinuated that scenario, so why would I be mad now? You had to tell her something didn't you?"

"I wasn't about to tell her the truth Jim, but I had to tell her something. You really couldn't expect me to say something along the lines of, 'by the way my husband's a burglar in his spare time' could you? So what are you planning on telling them now?"

"Pretty much the truth this time honey. I don't think there's anything to be gained by lying and we do need their help with this and they're available since school won't start for another three or four weeks," I told her. "Call them up and invite them over for dinner tonight okay?"

"God Jim I just don't know about this. Are you sure you want to tell them the whole truth on this?"

"I think we may not tell them the whole, complete truth on this one, but we'll tell them something that's pretty close to it. It would probably take a week to explain the truth to Paula with all the questions she'll ask as it is."

Annette gave it some more thought before she spoke. "Jim I want you to promise me that you won't get them involved in anything that could cost them their jobs and/or teaching credentials. I wouldn't be able to stand it if they went to jail and lost their jobs because we asked for their help," she said as she walked over to me. When she stopped at me chair she threw her legs over me to sit down astride me in the chair.

She grabbed the back of the chair and pressed herself up against me, her breasts rubbing and pressing into my chest provocatively; pinning me in the chair. "Promise me? Do I have your word on this and I don't want any skating on the thin ice with this one either Jim?" she said as she gave me a deep, hungry kiss.

"Yeah, sure honey, you most definitely have my word. Right now I'd promise you anything you wanted baby."

"And nothing dangerous either cause I don't want them getting hurt or killed okay?" Annette demanded as she stroked both of her hands through my hair.

I had started working my hands up under her top when she unpinned me while running her hands through my hair. I was getting some good skin action here and was just working my way around from her back and up to her boobs when she grabbed my hair with both hands and started shaking my head. I'd let my guard down with the prospect of coping a feel and possibly getting some nipple action.

"I asked for your promise James, not some cheap feel up job there buddy-boy. Do you understand me?" Annette asked as she shook my head hard with every word she spoke.

"Yes-yes-yes... I promise, I promise, I promise!" I heard myself repeating over and over to her as she shook my head back and forth. "Jumped up Jesus on the space shuttle Annette, what the hell did you do that for?"

"I just wanted to make sure we are perfectly clear on this Jim," Annette said as she held my head still and looked me in the eyes. "Paula is my best friend and I happen to like Dennis a lot too and I don't want anything to happen to them, especially if it was Dick that tried to have you killed. Understand me?"

"Yes goddamn it Annette, I understand you completely. Don't worry I'm not going to get them into anything except interviewing people on the list, I promise."

"Good," Annette said as she released my hair and patted me lightly on the cheek with a smile. "Now then, if you can get my pants off of me, without me getting off of you, and you get yours off without getting out of the chair mind you, you can have your way with me all you want," she said with a laugh.

In all fairness I cheated. I figured a little pay-back was in order for her trying to pull my skin graft off my head with all the hair pulling and head shaking I'd just been subjected to. We wound up on the living room floor with a grudge match going on between us. I wound up ripping most of her clothes off and I sort of remembering her saying at some point that I owed her a new matching set of bra and panties as we threw ourselves at and into each other. She was also saying something about God and a perfectly good bed once in a while. I really wasn't into having a conversation at the time because I might have been having something close to what you might call a religious experience so I just told her 'fuck you'. Needless to say, maybe, but Neosporin works pretty good for rug burns.

After we were done with our grudge match and patched each other up I called Conroy to see if we could get more information on the loan Dick wanted. Annette called Paula about her and Dennis coming over for dinner and wound up on the phone for about thirty minutes with her talking 'girl talk'.

Paula and Dennis came over about seven o'clock for dinner. Paula gave me an eye roll as she came through the door followed by Dennis giving me a big shit eating grin as they said hello. Dennis looked down at my feet, saw I was wearing sandals and smiled. He then looked over at Annette standing in the kitchen wearing a loose fitting summer dress and smiled again.

"Man you might want to put some Neosporin on that rash on the top of your feet. I hear that it works real well," he said as he burst out laughing as he shook my hand. There was now no question as to what Annette and Paula were talking about for a half hour on the phone.

"I'll try to remember that Dennis and thanks for the advice. Say, do you know if it's any good for rashes that cover the entire back?" I asked him in a slightly raised voice as we looked at Annette and Paula standing in the kitchen.

We both started cracking up as the comments of 'men are such pigs' and 'fucking assholes' started coming from the girls in the kitchen. Served her right for being a Chatty Kathy I thought.

Dennis and I sat down and watched some History channel while Paula helped Annette get dinner finished and on the table. We weren't eavesdropping but every so often we could hear the pig and asshole thing coming from them in the kitchen. Annette had fixed a roast with potatoes and some veggies to go with it. She added in some toasted garlic bread and a salad to round out the meal and we were set for dinner.

As we ate we finally got around to what had brought them over for dinner as Paula asked with her usual bluntness towards me, "So, Annette says you wanted to talk to us; so what do you want?"

Between the both of us we explained that we were starting our own business and the casino was our first job. We told them about the slot machine scam, how the casino was taking a beating, and how I thought Dick had ran me off the road or had someone do it, causing the accident that put me in the hospital for a couple of months.

"So you got a background in private investigating in Florida and you never told anyone? Why?" Paula asked.

"It was a long time ago, it's a long story, it doesn't matter, so don't ask," I said.

"And the State Gaining Commission can't figure it out with all the resources and people they got working for them so they need you two to do it?"

"Basically that's it," Annette told her.

Dennis and I got up and started clearing the table of dinner and poured us all some coffee as Annette and Paula continued talking about what we wanted them to do for us. The best part was when Annette apologized to Paula for lying to her before when she asked her to help on spying on Dick and Shirley.

"I could see where you couldn't take the chance of anybody knowing there was an unauthorized investigation going on without the casino's okay," Paula told Annette.

"So you understand why I didn't tell you the truth then?"

"Yeah, I can see where I wouldn't want anybody to know either if it was Dennis in the same spot."

"So you think they'll really give Jimmy a promotion if you guys figure this out for them?" Dennis asked as he mulled it over in his head.

"We think they'll give him the bump up to shift manger on the new expansion once it's finished next spring," Annette said with just a touch of pride in her voice. "If nothing else Jim's slated for a promotion anyway, this could just be the icing on the cake that cements it."

"That's too bad Jim wasn't poking on that Shirley, now I have to like him again," Paula said with a smile at me.

"I love you too Paula. Now does that mean you'll help us interview these people on the list and maybe help with some other stuff that may come up?"

"Yeah, I guess we can help you out on this. Besides we weren't doing anything anyway except hanging out and waiting for school to start and it might be fun; right honey?" Paula said to Dennis who was nodding his head enthusiastically.

"Like the _Rockford Files_ , right Jimmy?"

"Right Dennis, just like the _Rockford Files_ ," I said to him and we both started laughing as Annette and Paula exchanged eye rolls and started shaking their heads at us like we were twelve year old boys on the way to camp or something.

"Okay we're all in agreement on this and we meet here at 8:30 tomorrow morning to get started, okay?" I was answered with a chorus from okays to yes sirs. It was settled, Fratino Investigations had just hired its first investigators; God help us I prayed.
Chapter 39

At 8:30 the next morning we were all around the kitchen table again drinking coffee and going over the plans for the day. Annette and I had stayed up late making a list of things we wanted Paula and Dennis to do while we were out running down a few leads and talking to the casino personnel.

Today Paula was going to be in charge of making up a list of survey questions and designing the letterhead logo along with the fake I.D. cards we were going to make up. Dennis was in charge of collecting the equipment and supplies to make the fake I.D. cards then getting down to the stationary store to pick up some W-2 forms as well as generic employment applications for them to fill out so that in the event something were to happen to them, they would be covered under our insurance along with some other items that were on the list we made last night.

"Here's $500 for the laminating machine and the supplies on that list. Make sure the laminating machine comes with the CD's for Windows XP and is Photo Shop compatible okay?" Annette was making sure Dennis knew exactly what she wanted.

"You got it Annette. If I have any questions I'll call either you or Paula first before I buy anything."

"Great, if you need more money than what I gave you, just use your own cash or credit card, keep the receipt for the business expense account and we'll pay you back. Call Paula first if you have any questions because we'll be at the casino going over personnel files and talking to the techs in the programming and computer department okay? Between the two of you, you should be able to figure out what will work. And don't be afraid to buy the more expensive model if you think that's what we'll need and it'll work better okay?"

"Got it Annette, you can count on me," Dennis said in his most serious voice.

"Don't you guys worry about us; we'll be fine won't we Dennis?" Paula said as she patted him on the head. Great, the guy was her personal pet besides being her husband.

I dug my keys out and fished the house key off the ring and handed it to Dennis. "Stop some place if you get the time and have a key made for both of you and put them on your key rings so you two can come and go when you want. The one key fits both the dead bolt and entry lock," I said to him, and then added an after thought that came to me. "Just keep the keys because you guys might want to get in sometime in the future, you know, maybe you wind up doing some stuff for us some other time. I don't think Annette minds you guys keeping a set, do you honey?"

"That works for me." Annette told them with a grin and then grabbed me by the arm and headed me towards the front door. "See you two later. Let's go there buddy-boy, we got things to do if we're going to solve our first case."

We turned on to the highway and headed to the casino. After a few minutes Annette turned to me and said, "That was a really nice thing you did back there, thank you."

"No problem, I figured if they were going out to buy stuff for the business they should at least use the company's money for it."

"No Jim, I'm talking about giving them keys to our house and telling them to keep them. That meant a lot to them."

"Really, how could you tell?" I asked her because I couldn't see anybody getting all misty eyed when we left.

"I'm a woman Jim, we can tell about these things and Paula was definitely touched by your gesture of trust and friendship in them even though she didn't say anything," she answered me as she reached over and stroked my cheek with the back of her hand.

"At least Dennis didn't get all mushy over it thank god."

"God Jim I swear, you men must be blind. Dennis just about worships you and the clothes you wear."

"Get out of here with that! Where did you get that kind of idea?"

"He just thinks you're the coolest thing that strolls the street is all. He's always telling Paula to buy him shirts and ties like you wear and he started wearing them to school a couple of years ago. She even bought him some nice jewelry last Christmas and for his birthday this year. He's just like a little kid trying to imitate his big brother is all," she said with a smile. "Remember at Christmas I picked out a ring for him and a necklace with earrings for Paula?"

"Jumped up Jesus on the space shuttle Annette, get out of here with that kind of talk." I remembered how thrilled Dennis was to receive the ring. I had thought at the time he was just being polite; besides he had picked out a nice tie for me.

"Paula says he even talks like you now and he even waves his hands around while talking too." Annette was laughing at my discomfort at the thought of creating my own clone in the form of Dennis.

"No wonder Paula hates me."

"She doesn't hate you Jim, she just thinks you have a superior attitude towards most people and thinks you're insincere when you try to be nice to them. Like you really don't mean what you say." Annette was talking in serious tones; that meant that this had to mean a lot to her, after all Paula was her best friend.

"Well I guess I'd better start trying harder with her and Dennis to come across more sincere when I talk to them, and think about how I say things to them, and how they might take it when I do."

Annette leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. "There might be hope for you after all James Fratino. I like the way you're thinking now," she said softly with a whimsical smile on her face.

"So what do you think? Is Dennis fantasizing about doing you since he's so into imitating me, and now that Paula likes me so much does that mean she's going to start fantasizing about doing me when they, you know, do it?" I asked in my blatantly false but kind of wondrous voice.

"Asshole," was all Annette said as she shot me a left and rapped me upside the head.

"Ouch! Annette that hurt!" I said as rubbed the side of my head.

"More to come there buddy-boy if you don't watch out."

"Okay-okay-okay I get the picture Annette. I was just kidding around." I gave it a couple of minutes before I started in on it again. "You know in all truth she's probably been fantasizing about me since the first day she met me. Then again how can you blame a girl after she meets me?"

The knuckle rap upside the head I was expecting didn't come so I chanced a look in her direction. Annette was just sitting there with a smile on her face. "What's with the smile? I was waiting for the knuckle rap to the head yet you're smiling, how come?"

"Because I told Paula a long time ago that you were 'Needle Dick the Bug Fucker' and told her what a lousy lay you were and that you had low performance ratings in bed, so take that!"

"That hurts honey, hurts me deep to the bone that you would tell someone something like that about me." I did the hurt and offended thing for her and it came off pretty well because she started laughing. "I'm Mr. Buenos Penis and I'm just going to have to prove it to you once more on the living room floor when we get home young lady so just be prepared. The teal green lace up job with the stockings and high heels ought to work just fine."

Annette started laughing and almost couldn't stop herself. "Okay the teal green outfit after everybody leaves, and no floor Jim, I mean it, in the bedroom. God, I swear you're incorrigible sometimes," she said. "But please try to be really nice to Paula and Dennis, Jim? I swear you won't regret it in the long run." The soft serious tone was back in her voice.

"All funning aside I promise I'll try to think before I speak and how it might come across to them from now on. I really like them both."

Annette leaned back over to me and kissed me on the cheek lightly. "You know Jim I have a confession to make. I fantasize about Dennis all the time when were doing it," she said softly in my ear and then started laughing.

"That's what I love about my girl; you're one sick woman honey, a real sick woman." I laughed with her and let the verbal jousting drop as we were almost at the casino. We could pick up the mental sparring match anytime but now we needed to concentrate on business.

We spent until lunch time going over all the files of past and present employees, making notes and taking a close look at anyone who worked in the tech department in the past or that was on the payroll now. We were working in the same conference room where we'd made our pitch a few days earlier. The casino had provided us with all the files, pens, pencils, legal sized note pads, etc. we could use. They were also nice enough to give us a pitcher of coffee and a tray of pastry's to munch on.

"Jim we're not getting the files on the consultants that the casino's hired or the ones for the sales representatives for the game companies or anybody like that." Annette had stood up and was walking around the table searching through the stacks and groups of files spread around the table with a puzzled look on her face. "You did ask for the files on all these people didn't you when you talked to Con, right?"

"Yeah, I believe I did. Maybe it's just an oversight or they got left behind and they're sitting in a box somebody forgot to bring," I told her as I looked up from my notepad where I had been jotting down a couple of thoughts.

I called Con's office and was told he was in a meeting with someone so I left word for him to get a hold of one of us. Maybe we weren't as clear as we needed to be on some of this stuff we had asked for.

When we broke for lunch we took a turn around the casino floor to see who was playing the slot machines and get a general feeling for the type of customer for that time of day. There wasn't anyone there as far as we could tell who was on our list. We spent about twenty minutes checking the floor then went into the restaurant and had our lunch. That's where Con found us as we were finishing our coffee and he decided to join us by signaling the waitress for a cup himself.

"Talk to me and tell me something that's good news," he said as he slid into the chair across from Annette and looked at us.

"No good news yet Con, we're still going over files and reports along with employee records," Annette told him.

"You guys making any progress at all? Anything else you need that I can get you?" he asked; the concern was evident in his voice and it was starting to show on his face.

We both exchanged quick glances. The unspoken words of how this investigation was weighing on him and his career flew between us. "We need the information on the game sales reps, and the programming consultants, and anybody else that designed the computer programming systems for this place," I told him. "I thought all that stuff was on our 'must have' list we gave you a couple of days ago?"

"It was and it's something that's not as easy to give as you might think. I'm working on trying to get you some of it, hopefully all of it, if I can," Con said choosing his words carefully.

"Care to explain that to me because I'm not following along on that."

"Jimmy, these people, what they do, they are a world unto themselves. Game company representatives and the technicians are vetted through their respective employers and have a reputation to uphold or they lose creditability that can cost their companies millions of dollars in game sales and services annually. Follow where I'm going with this now?" We nodded our understanding. "That being said, you understand why they send someone to us and we ask no questions. We take it on faith that the person they send to us is honest and above board when it comes to doing their job. The same goes for the computer company representatives and special software consulting firms that get hired by casinos across the country and around the world." Con took a sip of his coffee and let out a big sigh.

"You have no information on them and trust that the parent company did its job of background checking when they hired them," Annette said as more of a statement than a question.

"Correct."

"What about the state's investigation? Morgan had to at least check with some of these companies on her end of it didn't she?" Annette asked as she tapped her finger against her coffee cup thinking out loud.

"Yeah, Morgan and her staff did their job but I don't think that is one report you're going to get from the state. The trust issues with the game companies come into play again," Con said as he blew out another big sigh and then continued. "They have a history with the companies, and will get cooperation from them all day long on their investigations, but the other side of that two-way street is the state or federal agency asking doesn't give out the information they've gathered. Not without a damn good reason."

"You've already asked Morgan for that report haven't you?" Annette asked him.

"She's taking my request to her supervisor, probably as we speak, but don't get your hopes up. She'll get back to me with their answer by tomorrow," he told Annette. "Anything else I can do for you guys while I'm here?"

"Well since you're here, now is probably a good time to see the computer and tech operations center; see where it all really happens. Can we do that Con?" Annette asked him and I saw him visibly wench.

"Sure, why not. My day was shot to hell anyway so it can't possibly get any worse," Con said as he got up and headed to the hostess station and told the young girl in charge that we weren't to be given a bill until further notice.

"Thank you Con, that was nice of you to do that." Annette told him as we walked through the back hallway to the elevators.

"That came from Frank. He said that as long as you two were on the property and working on this, all your meals were to be complimentary, on the house."

I noticed that Con was dragging today, more than he usually did on a normal workday. I thought to myself that I wouldn't want the weight he was carrying around from the difficult position he had been put in to. I think both Annette and I realized it from the look she gave me as we stood in the elevator on our way upstairs.

Con led us down the hallways making turns and using his pass keys on doors that were closed to the regular office workers and the employees that didn't have the clearance to proceed further. We stopped in front of a door that had a 'no admittance' sign on it and Con used another of his keys to activate a keypad, typing in his access code before a buzzer sounded from somewhere and a solenoid finally gave a loud click followed by the door opening, admitting us into the computer and technology operations center for the casino.

Walking through that door was like crossing into the Artic. The room was freezing and you could feel the air conditioning moving the air around keeping the servers and equipment from getting too hot. Overheating was the one thing all computer techs feared besides getting a virus in the programs. The room was dimly lit compared to the other rooms we had been in so the technicians could view the multitude of screens with minimal eye strain. We waited by the door for a few minutes while our eyes adjusted and our bodies got over the goose bumps adjusting to the cooler temperature.

A tall, silvered haired man who I judged to be in his late fifties came out of an adjoining office and approached us. From the expression on his face and the way he walked towards us I surmised he had been expecting us and wasn't too enthused about a couple of interlopers coming into his private domain. It showed all over him like a cheap suit. Computer freaks and geeks, go figure.

"Hello Con. How are you doing today?" he said nodding his head.

"Henry Mantel, I'd like to introduce you to Jim and Annette Fratino. In case Jim looks familiar to you it's because he works here as one of our supervisors in the pit," Con said as we shook hands with Henry. "Jim and Annette also represent Fratino Investigations. They are here to take a look around and see if they can help us with our slot problem. I'm sure Frank has spoken to you in regards to what they will be doing and what they will need from you?"

"Yes, I'm told to help you as much as I possibly can. So what can I do for you today?" Henry asked with his best award winning smile...I didn't like him already.

"Well, we'd like the tour while you explain to us how everything works. You know, how the programming works with the payoff percentage, how the machines and the computers are set up to payout, plus who is doing what in that relationship as a technician or programmer. We want the basic nuts and bolts of the operation, plus anything else you can think of as we go along that might help us," I told him.

A look of concern or distaste crossed his face and he looked to Con who shrugged at him before he answered. "Well, I don't know how much I can help you with that request as most of it is classified information that we can't give out to just anyone," Henry said to us in what I was sure was his most disarming manner.

"I thought you just told us that Frank said you were to help us by giving us any information that we deemed necessary?"

"Yes he did. But you have to understand that what you're asking for is classified to this department and to only those that need to know," Henry had a touch of too much smugness in his voice for me.

Now I knew I didn't like him for sure. I looked at Con and Annette. They both just looked at me and shrugged at the same time. "So you're not going to tell us what we need to know? Is that right Henry?"

"I was told to let you look around and answer any questions I could. But I can't give out classified information to you two. I'm sorry," he said with a slight smile towards us. I bet he was sorry but in a few moments he really would be sorry.

"I see your problem Henry and I understand." I told him as I looked at my watch. "Could I borrow your phone for one second before we leave?" I asked. Two can play the disarming game.

"Certainly, on the desk right there," Henry said smiling and pointing to an unoccupied workstation with a phone sitting on the desk.

I smiled at him as I picked up the phone and punched in the extension I wanted and spoke into the phone while I faced our merry little group. "Let me speak with Frank please, this Jim Fratino," I said into the phone as I leaned on the desk. I looked at everyone and smiled as big as I could as I listened to Frank's receptionist. "I don't care if he's in a cooking class with my grandmother; tell him I want to see him in the computer and tech center. I have a problem here that I need him to straighten out right now." I listened to his receptionist for a moment before thanking her and hanging up.

The blood had drained out of Henry's face or the room had suddenly gotten colder for him. "That was Frank's receptionist. He'll be here in about a minute to clear up the miscommunication we seem to be having," I enlightened everyone.

I gave Con a wink and he almost cracked up laughing at what I'd just done. Instead he started examining his shoes and shaking his head. I was glad I could cheer him up some. He'd needed it today from what I could see. A few moments later we heard the click of the solenoid as it released the lock and Frank came into the room. "I was in a meeting with the tribal members Jimmy; what's so important?" Frank asked as he looked around at us.

"It's like this Frank. Henry here doesn't want to tell us what we need to know. I get the feeling that Henry here might be hiding something since you told us we'd have full access to all information that we needed to help solve our problem."

"Is this true Henry?" Frank asked him as he folded his arms against the cold of the room.

"Frank this is all classified information that they're asking for. You can't really be serious about giving these people unlimited access to our operations and programs can you? What about our security issues and state regulations concerning this department? These people could represent a serious security threat with that information."

"Jimmy works for us, therefore he has the clearance as far as I'm concerned, and Morgan from the state's end of it is aware of their investigation and has given the state's blessing," Frank said as he rocked back and forth on the ball of his feet. "Also let me say that you will cooperate fully and give all information requested, volunteer any that he may not realize he needs, and if he comes to me again, or Conroy for that matter, you won't have to worry about security issues at Seven Rivers Casino because you'll be looking for employment elsewhere. Is that clear enough for you Henry?"

"Yes sir, it is," Henry told him in a defeated tone.

"Good. We are taking an awfully bad beating here and we need to solve this so you guys work together on this or none of us may have a job by the time the smoke clears. Understand?" Franks asked in a softer tone as he looked at each of us.

"We understand," we all said in unison.

"Annette, anything I can do for you while I'm here?" he asked her with a smile.

"No Frank, but if something comes up we'll handle it through Con. I know how busy you are and I am sorry we had to take you away from whatever you were doing."

"That's fine with me. Keep your eye on this guy for me will you?" Frank asked her as he hooked his thumb towards me.

"Will do Frank," Annette said with a smile and a slight giggle for him.

With that Frank left us looking at each other and went back to his meeting.

"Now Henry where were we before Frank interrupted us?" I asked him with a straight face. "That's right you were just about to give us the tour and explain everything to us weren't you?" I said as I clapped him on the back and held my arm out with a flourish for him to lead the way. I glanced at Con in time to see him mouth the word 'crazy' to Annette as we started around the room.

Henry walked us around the room explaining what people did and introducing us to them at their work stations. For the most part they all seemed to be pretty cordial people, but then again they just saw the guy that signs their paychecks chew their boss a new asshole for me. That tends to make people want to cooperate to some extent.

"That was a nice tour Henry, thank you so very much. What I want you to do now is give me a breakdown of how the games get installed and I want it put in basic terms that we can understand. Can you do that for us?" I asked him as nice as I could.

Henry crossed his arms and then used one of his hands to stroke his chin as he thought about this request. "I'll give it a try. If you get lost let me know and I'll try to explain it better, you know how we techs can get," he said.

"Okay here goes," he said as he gathered himself in preparation. "We buy a game from the slot company's account executive or the 'game salesman' if you will. These games have been tested before they get to us by Gaming Laboratories Incorporated. That's after the system developer, game developer, and the system engineer get done with it at their level and it passes all the tests and criteria they have for it. The game then gets delivered to us and our people, along with the State Gaming Regulation check it with the Cobetron equipment to make sure it has the required electronic signatures on the Flash Cards and EPROM for validity. Follow me so far on this?" Henry asked us as he looked to us for confirmation.

We gave him the head nods and un-huhs so he carried on like we really understood what he was talking about. "Once it passes all of the tests we schedule a day to install the game in a machine and give it a test drive, so to speak. We're given the okay, or access approval if you will, to open the Secure Kernel System up here on the servers. Then Tribal Gaming, State Regulation Gaming, the Slot Manager and the system engineer all get together with IT people and slot technicians to put the game in play. If the game goes off without a hitch, the slot manager will tell the System Engineer at what amount to set the percentage payout. If there are no anomalies we're good to go." Henry said with another one of his award winning smiles. "Okay with that?" he asked us.

"Henry, what do they use to download the games on to the machines once it passes all the tests?" Annette asked.

"It's either a regular old CD or a USB Drive. They have the flash cards on the games, but the master that we load up here comes from either one of those depending on who we buy the game from and what they use to deliver the master system for the game," Henry explained to her.

"What are these electronic signatures you were talking about Henry?"

"Those are electronic signoffs for the developers, designers, and software engineers from the manufacture. They're coded and encrypted electronic signatures that ensure anyone else from tampering with the game once it goes out onto the market. An electronic lock I guess you could say," Henry told her.

"So nobody could break that code and alter the game. Is that right?"

"For someone to go into the system and counterfeit the signatures or 'ghost' them, as we say in the trade, would take someone of genius I.Q. that can rewrite the programming. Plus, they would have to know how to design games to basically reverse engineer, then 'ghost' it to the way they wanted it," he said stroking his chin and thinking. "You know it really wouldn't work for them that way either. They'd have to have access to the Secure Kernel System to alter the payout schedule and hacking into that system is almost impossible since it takes two separate, encrypted passwords. One comes from me and the other from the slot manager," he said to Annette with just a touch of disappointment in his voice.

"I guess Morgan went over all this when she and her crew came in and started the investigation, didn't she?" I asked Con.

"Pretty much covered everything except tearing out the secured severs on the Kernel and starting over, but hey, it didn't hurt none to hear you two go at it and see what you came up with."

"Henry, you ever hear of anyone that could do that around here?" I asked him already knowing the answer before I got it.

"They'd be at Stanford, M.I.T., or Lawrence Livermore Laboratories making more money than they could steal from us," he said.

"What about our security for the high speed, broadband, encrypted system for the class II machines? All that stuff checked out, the land lines into and out of this place?" I asked.

"We had all the encrypted systems checked and then double checked. Satellite, landline, you name it we checked it and so did Morgan's team of technicians from the state," Henry said as he gave me a puzzled look.

"What is it Henry?" I said as I picked up on the look he'd just given me.

"I was just wondering where you heard about our encrypted class II and III systems from was all. Most of the employees here have no idea that we have an encryption system as complicated as we do and yet you seem to know all about it. I was just wondering where you got your information from was all?"

"Henry, they pay me the big money to know things. That's why they hired my firm to help investigate this problem along with Morgan and her crew. But don't worry; your secret is safe with us." I told him with just enough air of superiority to convince him that it didn't matter where I got my information from.

I looked at Annette and gave her the eye roll and with a shrug. She just shook her head no. We were done here as far as we were concerned. We thanked Henry for his help and I apologized to him for calling Frank before we left.

As we rode down the elevator Con tried to lift the disappointment we were all feeling. "Good investigation work is a lot of asking questions that get you knowledge where, if you are lucky and get a break, you can use what you've learned to get the bad guys."

"Thanks Con for all the help you gave us with Henry," Annette told him.

"Hell, all I did was stand around while you guys did your job today. And to tell you the truth, you two seem to have a natural instinct for this type of work, so don't be too hard on yourselves," he said as we left the elevator and stood in the hallway lingering for a minute or two.

"Think we can pull this off in thirty days Con?" I asked.

"I hope so Jimmy because there's a lot riding on the outcome of your investigation."

"What do you mean?" Annette asked.

"Well, I'm the one who talked Frank into letting you work this because I think you two can do it in ways that are, let's say, unorthodox maybe but still get the job done where other people couldn't."

"Your job's tied to us making this investigation successful isn't it? We solve this and you keep your job, otherwise you're out, aren't you?" Annette asked him.

"Pretty much, but what the hell, it happened on my watch didn't it?"

"Con that's not right for you to put yourself in that position over our abilities as investigators," she said as she laid her hand on his arm. "We may not be able to deliver on this for you and then you'll be out of a job because of us." Annette was really concerned for Conroy; it was coming out in every word she spoke.

"Don't worry about me. Just solve your case. I get the feeling you're going to be able to do this just fine," Con told Annette as he patted her hand and then started heading out the back door. "Keep your eye on Jimmy, he's the one we're worried about here!" he said as the door swung shut behind him.

"Come on. Let's go finish going over this paperwork so we can get out of here." I said as she stood staring at the back door. "Plus I want to go up to Dick's and swap out the recorder units as soon as it gets dark."

"Sure honey, whatever you want," came her reply while she was continued to gaze at the backdoor.

We went back to the conference room and tackled the paperwork we'd left there at lunch time. As we worked through it we talked over what we knew and what we didn't know. The one thing we now knew for certain was that someone had some brains and that was the person we needed to find. And to find that person I told Annette, we needed to find the money and follow it back to them because that was what this whole thing was all about, money.

I needed to go to work on the dark side. The theme music started playing in my head and I was off planning the sneak and peek attack when Annette asked me how we were going to accomplish finding the money. "I'll tell you when we get out of here," I said with a smile on my face.

"James Fratino, don't even think about what I think you're thinking about if you know what's good for you buddy-boy!" she told me as I smiled back at her. Women, go figure!
Chapter 40

Annette wasn't very happy when I informed her of my plan. To tell you the truth, it wasn't much of a plan when it came right down to it. I figured the chance of us finding this person other than getting lucky on the scale of winning the lottery was pretty much zero. I mean let's face it; the person must be a genius when it came to computers and programming. It was obvious Morgan and her team couldn't come up with anyone when they did their investigation or we wouldn't have been invited to the party to begin with.

Finally, when you think about it, her team couldn't tie anyone at Seven Rivers Casino to the electronic theft of the money. You could bet your last slot token that Morgan and her team had been, if nothing else, very thorough. That left a select group of people that had won very large chunks of money over the last six months or so from the progressive and regular jackpots at Seven Rivers Casino of Fun and Happiness. Thank you very much, please cash out right over here!

My plan was simple. Survey these people like we were going to do to begin with and get a good look at them and their homes. See how they live, what type of people they were, things like that. Do they look like they might be involved in something like this? Then pick the top likely ones and break into their homes when they're not there and take a real good look around. Plus, hope you get lucky and find something while you are in their homes.

While Annette, Paula and Dennis were interviewing these people I was going to set up a look-see again inside Dick and Shirley's. Only this time I was going to go through every scrap of paper in their file cabinet and house. Then I was going to hit his office and tear it apart to see if I could find anything there. That loan he'd applied for was still nagging at me and maybe he had plans for a remodel and expansion lying on his desk all spread out. Could explain a lot of things and eliminate him from my list although I doubted it after hearing he may have been involved in my ' _car accident_ '.

And last but not least I planned to hit the offices at the race track and see what was there. I know, I promised Annette that was off limits but the way I looked at it, it was a priority now. Dick and Shirley were the top leading winners at the casino and we needed to know everything we could about them because they were our only real lead to the money considering what we now knew about the way the theft was being run.

Annette and I argued all the way home over it when I told her what I wanted to do. The way I looked at it, it was the only option unless we got real lucky on the interviews and I didn't think that would really happen. Annette had finally agreed with me but only after she had calmed down and saw it from my point of view and after I had pleaded my case it to her a few times.

Annette and Paula decided to cook us dinner rather than order something delivered or going out. We all talked about our day as the girls put some steaks on the broiler, started some pasta, and threw together a quick salad. It seemed like a relaxed, care-free time was had by all as we all smiled and joked with each other as Annette related the story of how I had called Frank out of his meeting to make sure Henry Mantel gave us what we wanted from his department.

Paula and Dennis were smiling at us and each other as we praised them on the work they had accomplished while we were gone today. I thought Dennis was going to roll over and beg after Annette took a few minutes from fixing dinner to take a look at the laminate machine he had bought and complimented him on what a great choice he had made. The guy was nothing but smiles from ear to ear and it made me think of what Annette had told me earlier on the way to the casino.

"Great job Dennis. I don't think either Annette or I could have picked out a better one for what we needed," I added to Annette's glowing compliments. I told myself that I was going to pay more attention to Dennis and Paula's feelings.

"Thanks Jimmy, I just tried to pick out the one you probably would have if you'd been there."

The beaming smile on his face reminded me again of what Annette had said on the way to the casino. To tell you the truth it made me feel like an asshole when I thought about it. Was I that blind to the feelings of people around me? What did I do, take everyone in my life for granted? Was Annette telling me that she was the only person who really liked me for who I was? I took the thought one step further, is this what Annette really thought about me as a person? Okay, I'm a guy; what do I care what anybody thinks about me.

We sat down to dinner and I made an entirely new effort on how I came across to Paula and Dennis. I looked them in the eye and held the contact while they were talking to me. I smiled at them whenever I could and tried to work in as many compliments as I could without coming across as the condescending asshole I'd been to them before. After a while I even started feeling pretty good about having them there and I started looking at them in a new light. Besides, they were okay people in my book so I might as well start treating them as real friends and not just some people my wife liked. During dinner I asked Paula how she did with the letterhead, logo, and survey questions.

"I think I came up with some pretty good sounding questions once I started thinking about it as someone who works in the casinos business. The letterhead and logo were the easy part so I did those first and then after Dennis came back I threw some of the questions at him to see how they sounded," Paula said with a slight smile on her face.

I started wondering if questions were the only thing bouncing off of Dennis after he got back from running errands. Sick thoughts of them doing it in our house, I know, but Paula isn't all that bad looking.

"We'll all go over them briefly after we're done eating, then you can fine tune them tomorrow morning. You guys put in a long one today and I'm sure you want get home. I'm sure Annette and I both agree that what you've come up with so far will be fine," I said looking at both of them, giving them the biggest, most genuine smile I could manage. I looked at Annette. I could tell that I had made big points with her from the look on her face and the slight smile that was hiding there.

"Thanks boss," Paula said to me.

My reaction and the look on my face at being called 'boss' must have been funny because all at once the three of them started laughing. Needless to say I was caught off guard which doesn't happen to me very often.

"You're welcome Paula," I told her. "But as we all know, Annette's the real boss, right?" I added and they all started laughing once more at my discomfort.

"Whatever you say boss," Dennis and Paula said in unison which brought more laughter, myself included this time.

"Okay, laughter aside lets be serious for a minute." I looked at them until they knew I meant it. "This is some serious stuff we're dealing with and there is some potential for danger if this isn't handled just right. I want you guys to remember that people get killed for all kinds of reasons when it comes to money, especially stolen money."

"We know that Jimmy," Dennis said.

"No Dennis I don't think you really do. You see stuff like this on television and in the movies, not in your everyday life. These people, whoever they are, have already taken one shot at me and put me in the hospital, almost killed me," I quietly told him as I looked into his eyes to show my seriousness. "You might be going into their homes and we don't know who all is involved in this. I want you guys to know you don't have to be doing this. I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me, and that includes you too Annette." Dennis was looking at me while Annette and Paula had been more or less pushing food around their plates. They both looked at me now after exchanging glances.

Paula spoke first and she had a glint in her eye that I had never noticed before. "After Annette approached us we sat down and had a little talk about where this might lead," she said. "With you being in the hospital after the car wreck, the casino hiring you and Annette, the fact that you two decided to open your own private investigation firm..." Paula firmly told me as Dennis and Annette looked on.

I started to say something but Paula cut me off with a wave of her hand and continued on. "We know there's more to this than we've been told and that's perfectly okay with us. We figure there's more to this than the casino just needing help with a slot cheat. The State Gaming Commission investigators can't figure it out, the casino can't figure it out, so everyone just decides to call up Jim and Annette Fratino and say, 'hey maybe you can figure this out for us'?" Paula said.

"Paula I didn't mean..."

"Jim, it doesn't matter," Paula said cutting me off again. "Dennis and I talked this over before we told Annette we would help. And that is what we are here for; to help. We know it might be dangerous to some extent if we don't keep our eyes and ears open at all times and do exactly as you tell us. Besides we figure you're a born natural at this from the way you seem to have everything planned out to the last detail," she said as she tapped her fingernail on the table to make her point. "Or else you've had some past experience at this type of thing and I don't necessarily mean being a private investigator."

She finished and leaned back in her chair looking me squarely in the eye. The finger tapping thing bugged me. Was it something all women did to men or was it just the women in my life that did it? And what about the way she said 'or else' when she mentioned that I might have some past experience in this _type_ of thing? I was wondering what it was that Annette had said to her when she asked them for their help. But then again, I was the one who had Annette ask them for their help to begin with.

I had the choice here of either telling Paula the truth or blowing smoke up her skirt, so to speak. Since she was wearing jeans at the present time I chose to partially tell the truth and try not to admit to anything. "Okay, I admit that I've had some past experience in dealing with this type of thing and sort of know my way around dishonest people and the way they work, I'm not perfect," I said to them. "Plus I've got some knowledge of how the investigation business works from working part-time for a guy I got to know while I was living in Florida a few years ago. Long story, we don't have the time, I'm not getting into to here, so don't ask." I took a breath and let it out after that spiel. Paula and Dennis were intently looking at me while Annette was giving me the eyebrow from where she sat.

"Look, how I got involved is somebody made some big wins on the slots that bothered the casino. I started asking some questions around the casino because I wanted to know how somebody could cheat a casino and that eventually got back to the people involved in cheating the scam. Stupid me, I guess I asked the right questions or maybe I asked too many questions because these guys thought I was on to them, or maybe they thought I was doing it for the casino as part of my job. Either way, these people came after me," I paused, took another long breath and continued. "Now I want to know two things. Who came after me and how were they able to rig a cheat that the State Gaming Commission investigators aren't able to solve. For me it's a matter of doing the right thing and solving this for the casino if we can," I said as I looked to Annette.

"Jim like I said, Dennis and I are both in this to help you and Annette. I didn't mean to question your past or your motives, let alone your integrity or morality. I'm sorry if I came off that way to you," Paula said to me as she reached across the table and took my hand and gave it a slight squeeze.

"Yeah Jim, we want to help you and Annette with this," Dennis added. "We think it's cool that you guys are opening your own private investigation business. Besides, we don't have anything else to do until school starts except some prep work for classes and that doesn't take much time does it honey?" Dennis asked as he turned to Paula for conformation on his last statement.

"He's right about that Jim. We do want to help you and Annette get your business off the ground. It's interesting and we really do have plenty of time until school starts."

"What about you?" I asked Annette. She'd been sitting there quietly not say a word one way or another. "Last chance before we go. Are you in or out?" I asked her.

"After that bullshit speech you just gave. I guess you can count me in."

"Dennis my friend; how about you, are you in or out?"

"I'm in Jimmy. You can count on me," he said and looked at Paula.

"How about it Paula?"

"You can count me in too Jim," she said with a smile.

"Okay everybody's in. There's only one other thing I want to ask of Dennis and you Paula."

"Sure Jim, what is it?"

"I want both of you to swear and stick by it. If the police, or the state investigators, or the feds start asking either one of you anything, I want you to swear that you won't say one word to them about anything. I want you to tell them that you don't know anything and that you won't talk to them without a lawyer present even if they threaten to put you in jail for it," I said as I looked back and forth between them.

They both got a shocked look on their faces and they looked at Annette, then back to me, then back to each other. Something passed between them because Paula finally looked at me and said, "Okay Jim if that's what you want. I swear it."

"Dennis, what about it?" I asked him. I had to hear him say the words too.

"Yes Jim, I swear it. I won't say anything to anybody," he said. In his case I really believed he wouldn't say anything to anybody, even under torture. "Can I ask why we need to swear to that Jim?"

"Dennis, while we're out surveying these people you're going to be looking at their homes to see if they have security systems, what kind of locks they have, what kind of windows. Do they have dogs? Do they have their grandmother living with them?" I said. "It's those kinds of things I want to know the answer to; those types of questions Dennis."

"But why's that?"

"Because I plan on breaking into some of these homes if I need to. I plan on breaking into Dick Jameson's business, his home also and for good measure since he's a silent owner of the Speedway, I plan on breaking into the racetrack offices to see what's there. I need some answers and I need to make sure my back is covered in case something goes wrong.

"I take it you've had some experience in this type of thing?" Paula asked me. "You really know how to do this and not get caught?" she added the last part more as a statement rather than a question.

"Yes I do," I said and let it go at that; I didn't need to elaborate on the subject.

"Man that's really way too cool," Dennis said in complete awe. "Could you teach it to me sometime?" he asked.

"No Dennis, I don't think he can," Paula said quickly in that way women do when they mean you better not if you know what's good for you. I let that one go by also.

"Isn't that just somewhat illegal to the point of going to jail?" Paula asked.

"Yeah but its okay, they do it all the time on television. That's the reason why I don't want anybody talking to the cops without a lawyer present. I'll stop by his office and pick up some business cards for you in case you need to call him about something."

Annette had been clearing away the table for the last few minutes while I'd been talking. She wiped her hands on the dish towel she was holding and leaned against the counter watching and listening to us. She had a funny look on her face. It was more like she was watching and taking measure of me at the same time. I'd have to remember to ask her about it later on.

Paula went and got the survey questions and the letterhead sample. Annette sat down and we quickly approved the letterhead and vetted the survey questions Paula had made up so far. On the whole she did a great job. We tossed out a few, reworded a couple of other ones, and threw a couple more in to round out what seemed to be a legitimate sounding survey. Paula and Dennis could work on it more tomorrow. If anyone came up with what they thought were good questions for the survey, I told them to jot it down and we'll see about adding them in.

The phone rang as Paula and Dennis were getting ready to leave. Since Annette was standing close to the phone she picked it up while we continued talking amongst ourselves until she held up her hand and waved it a couple of times for us to be quiet.

"Yes, I understand," she said into the phone as she looked at us. "How long ago did it happen?" she asked.

Annette put her fingernail to her upper lip and started tapping. Whatever she was being told was serious. Lip tapping was a very serious thing for Annette. We all stood there quietly. "Both of them did huh?" she said into the phone and listened some more. "I'll tell him, he's right here. Did you want to talk to him?" she asked. More lip tapping as she listened to the reply from the other end. "Okay, I'll tell him Darryl. Thank you for calling, good bye," Annette said as turned to put the phone in its cradle and then turned back around to tell us the news.

"That was Big Darryl. Sherry Walmond hit a dollar progressive jackpot for a $100,000 about a half an hour ago. She bought in for twenty dollars," Annette told us. Dennis gave a long whistle in amazement and we all started looking at each other to see the reactions to that bit of shocking news.

I started to say something but Annette help up her hand indicating there was more to come. "He also said that one minute later Dick Jameson hit a different dollar progressive slot for $225,000." The shocked awe was very apparent in her voice.

"I'll be damned," I said as the impact of what Annette had just said hit me. "Did Darryl say how much he bought in for?"

"Twenty dollars also; Shirley was with him and she bought in for twenty dollars too."

"What are the chances of that happening?" Dennis asked in a quiet voice. I could see him running the numbers through his mind.

"That's big odds Dennis," I told him. "Those odds are so vast and substantial that that's the reason the casino is having these wins investigated every which way they can. This is real serious now."

"But doesn't this kind of stuff happen once in a while?" Paula asked. "I mean it has to be expected to happen sometimes or people wouldn't gamble?"

"Yeah, it happens sometimes Paula," I told her, "It's happening just too often lately at our casino."

"Look, Jim and I need to head down to the casino and check this out. Why don't you two head on home and we'll see you in the morning around eight-thirty or so," Annette told them.

After Dennis and Paula left Annette went to the kitchen and started doing the dishes. I decided to join her and see what was on her mind. "Thought we were going to the casino and check these wins out?" I asked as I grabbed the dish towel to dry as she washed.

"What's to check out?" she asked as she scrubbed at a dinner plate and then dropped it in the rinse water. "We can't exactly do too much about it now can we?"

I thought about where she was going with this. "Guess not. Do you have something else in mind?"

"I've been going over it in my mind every so often since we started this thing and it keeps coming back to teamwork."

"Okay, I agree with you on that. We have more than one person involved in this that we already know. What about it?"

"Why is it that you never worked with anyone in any of your little yearly projects?"

"I never trusted anyone, that's why. I saw too many partnerships get busted for the stupid mistakes one of them made. I read about it even more in the newspapers and saw it in the nightly news on television," I said as I put another dried plate away. "I think I told you that before didn't I?"

"Yes you did and my point is that to have partners you have to have a whole lot of trust in them to begin with don't you?"

"You better because you are putting your life and your freedom in their hands every time you go out the door to do a job or make a deal."

"If we think Sherry Walmond is really involved in this, we need to ask ourselves what her connection to Dick and Shirley is right."

"I guess so," I said as I tried to figure out what Annette was getting at.

"Think Jim. What's the tie-in, if there is one to them? Why would they involve or use her? Why trust her if she isn't running the show or is somehow connected to the person who is?"

I gave it some thought as I dried the silverware and put it in the drawer. It was a good line of thought Annette had come up with.

"How much is she in for?" Annette asked.

"About six or seven hundred, something like that."

"How much has she won so far?

"She's won way too much money for that type of buy-in," I said as I dried the salad bowl and put it away.

"So do we agree that she's involved or do we agree that she's real lucky?" Annette asked me as she pulled the plug on the sink drain and took the towel from my shoulder and dried her hands with it. Annette stood there waiting for my answer with her arms crossed standing in front of the sink.

"She's involved."

"Okay Jim, lets go over to her house so you can take a look at it. You break in and plant one or two of the transmitters. Then we can tag her car with a GPS and see where she leads us. We'll all take turns rotating on her and Dick until we eliminate her or confirm that she is part of the scam."

"And when do you propose we do this?" I asked.

"Why not right now? Let's head over there and beat her home from the casino. At least we can take a look at the layout and the street she lives on and see how hard it will be to get in and out unnoticed. If we have the chance, we'll take it, if not we pass and plan for when and how we can in the next day or two."

"Okay let's go then," I said as I hung the kitchen towel on the handle of the oven and started collecting my keys and cell phone. "You drive and drop me off, get her address and phone number off the casino printout, I'm headed to the garage to get the gear and change real quick. We'll take your car since we don't have time to stop at the storage unit and take one of those if we're trying to beat her home."

Annette was telling me to get the walkie-talkies as I opened the front door. I stopped as I was halfway out, planning to answer her with my hand still on the knob, when the first bullet smacked into the door casing. I continued out on to the front porch looking at the splintered wood and the hole it had made trying to make my mind understand what I was seeing. Annette came out behind me and shut the door as the next bullet smacked into the door as soon as she closed it.

"What was that noise? Why are you standing there and what in the world are you looking at Jim?" Annette asked as my mind finally registered the fact that someone was shooting at us from the woods across the road, right between the neighbors' houses. Annette started to say something else but it turned into a yelp as I grabbed her and threw her down the stairs, landing on top of her, trying to keep her from getting hit.

"Somebody's shooting at us from the woods across the road, stay down," I said to her as she started to protest and try to push me off. Annette's face went blank for a moment as she tried to comprehend what I was saying to her.

Another bullet smacked into the picket fence that was in front of us as the shooter tried to zero in on our position as we lay half on the walkway and half on the lawn. I needed to do something quick before a bullet found its way through one of the fence boards or the space that was in-between them. Another smacked into a fence board decided it for me.

"Call 9-1-1 and tell them to get the cops here," I told Annette as I rolled off her and scrambled over to the porch and picked up a flower pot full of geraniums and heaved it at the porch light. I missed by what seemed like a mile. I grabbed another flower pot that looked like hyacinth and threw it up at the light again. Damn, another miss.

"What do you think your doing?" Annette hissed at me as she fumbled with her purse, looking for her phone.

"We're back lighted. I'm trying to put the light out so they don't have a clear shot at us," I told her as I grabbed the pansies preparing to throw them next.

"Do you think you can hit the sucker this time or you were you planning on going through every flower pot we have?" The sarcasm was probably meant as an incentive. I stopped in mid-throw, juggling the flower pot to keep from dropping it.

"Call the goddamn cops and maybe I'll be able to hit it if you're talking to them and not me," I said as turned to look at her. I couldn't believe the attitude she was giving me over a miss or two. Talk about pressure!

"Just throw it Jim, goddamn it," Annette said to me with a hiss.

"I'll throw it Annette," I said as I stood up and threw the pansies at the light as hard as I could. The incentive must have been what I needed because the light shattered, plunging the front yard into darkness immediately. Another round went through the oval glass in the front door with a smack and a tinkling of broken glass. The shooter must have seen me throwing the flower pots at the light because the last shot was meant for me and not Annette. The stupid fucker could have done me a favor there if they'd been thinking.

"Fuck me running," I muttered under my breath.

"Jim, are you alright?" Annette asked as she was telling the dispatcher where we were and what was happening.

"Yes, I'm okay Annette," I said with exasperation in my voice.

"Well what is it?" she snapped at me.

"We just installed that new front door you picked out last year, now I got to replace it."

"Well you picked out the porch light and you don't hear me bitching about it right now do you?" I was answered from the darkness. "No, I was just talking to my husband for a second. No I'm not being held against my will," Annette said to the dispatcher in her most disarming voice.

"Stay put. Stay down. I'll be back," I told Annette as I moved down the lawn and vaulted over the fence using my truck as cover to do it.

"James Fratino where in the hell do you think you're going?" I heard Annette call in a forceful but low voice.

"I'm going across the road to see if I can't catch this guy," I told her as I waited for the only car to pass in what seemed like the last hour, but I knew it had only been two or three minutes. I dashed across the road expecting to get shot and was thankful when I made it without a scratch.

I used the neighbor's house as cover to work my way around his line of sight then went tree to tree and bush to bush until I got into the tree line. Then it hit me how stupid I was. Here I was tromping around in the woods like a heard of elephants, making more noise than a heard of elephants probably would. I had no flashlight, no weapon to defend myself, plus going up against an armed assailant. Real smart I told myself.

I took a moment to calm the pounding in my chest from my heart that was beating like a racehorse, trying to settle down and get my bearings. After a moment of relaxing I started to work my way towards the spot where I figured it was most probable the shooter was, assuming they were still there. My eyes had adjusted to the light that was available from the neighbors' houses and the few street lights that were on our road, mixed in with the halogen lights that people in rural areas put in their yards and on out-buildings.

I moved slowly and deliberately with each step, gliding across the ground as I'd practiced for so many years creeping up on the houses where my marks' had lived. As I worked my way towards where I thought the shooter would be, my mind worked on the shooting. I didn't remember hearing a loud report of a rifle, only the smacking of the bullet into the wood of the door and the fence as we lay on the lawn. The fence was made of one-by-fours and a heavy caliber bullet would have plowed through one with the force of a pee shooter through a paper bag. If one had gone through the fence boards I hadn't noticed it and the ones that had hit the door casing didn't seem like they'd left a large entry hole now that I thought about it. If I looked when I got back I was pretty sure I'd find small caliber holes, probably from somebody shooting a twenty-two rifle.

They had set up in this lightly wooded stand of trees that was roughly three hundred feet from my house. That told me they had done some type of homework previously to being here now. I definitely had a shooter who had some type experience; either in the military or at the very least someone who'd done a lot of hunting over the years.

I heard a vehicle start up somewhere off in the distance and drive away, taking the sound farther from me. I knew it was the shooter leaving the area before the cops came, and a few minutes later as I was working my way back to the street I could see the multi-colored lights flashing through the trees and brush. I could only hope they'd blocked the road off and caught the guy before he could clear the area completely.

As I approached the street one of the sheriff's squad cars spotted me on the neighbor's lawn and angled in swiftly towards me with his fellow squad car following in his wake. As they slid to a stop on the lawn I turned towards them so when they got out I could tell them about the vehicle I heard leaving. Maybe they could still use their radios to set up a stop before the guy cleared the area. More units were still responding to Annette's call to 9-1-1. I could hear their sirens in the distance.

"Get on the ground now!" the deputy in the lead car ordered me as he jumped out and drew his gun on me. The second squad car was disgorging its two deputies who were drawing their weapons as soon as they had cleared the doors of their car.

"It's okay guys; my wife was the one who called you. If you..." I started to explain as I heard the ratcheting sound of a pump shotgun having a shell chambered from the magazine.

"Get on the ground right now! Face down! Get on the ground!" The deputy ordered again, only this time he was screaming at me instead of merely yelling.

Time went to slow motion on me as I stood there, probably like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a car, undecided about what to do. I watched as the second pair of deputies started taking flank positions while the first held my attention with his service revolver. Another squad car arrived; more deputies backing them up. To my left I saw one of deputies draw a fat boxy gun as he was approaching. Glancing to my right I see the same thing, another boxy looking gun being drawn. I can hear the radios in their cars talking to them; that is if there is anyone still inside to hear what's being said. I sincerely hope they're being told not to shoot me because I'm the good guy.

In a far off voice from the first deputy, I can hear him yelling at me again as two squad cars fly by us and turn into my driveway, lights flashing. My head follows the cars going by us and as I turn my head I see one of the flanking deputies start to squat down. It's coming; I'm going to be shot. I see his hands give an involuntary jump as the recoil from the gun runs up from his hands and through his arms. As my eyes track to the deputy shooting me a jolt hits me from the other side. I've been tazered. Both flanking deputies have nailed me with tazers! This is just great! It can't get any better than this can it?

I hit the ground flopping like a fish out of water that's been landed by a spastic in the Idiot Fishing Derby. One of the deputies came in and put his foot on the back of my neck to restrain me like I'm really going to go some place. I'm trying my best not to pee my pants while I'm flopping around. One places cuffs on my wrist while another produced a set of the plastic restraints to put on my legs and ankles. At least the sheriff's department has managed to capture somebody, it just happens to be yours truly. Nothing but the best, brightest, and capable deputies in our little town; go figure.
Chapter 41

"Shut up Dennis it wasn't that funny," I scowled at him. "The fuckers."

"Come on Jimmy, look at it from my perspective, there you are lying on the ground; you're cuffed and hog tied," he chuckled as he continued. "Dressed in your nice shirt, slacks, and loafers, that thousand dollar watch and all those rings you wear? Come on man, admit it, you were the best dressed sniper coming out of the woods. What else were the cops to think? Man what a picture that makes," Dennis said as he almost doubled over with laughter.

"Fuck you Dennis," I told him as I gave him the finger.

"Leave Jimmy alone Dennis or he might still short out on us," Paula said as Dennis continued to laugh.

"Okay you two let's pull it together and get down to business because times' a wasting," Annette told us, effectively and wisely shutting Dennis up. I gave him the finger again just for good measure which in turn made Dennis laugh again, which earned us eye rolls from both the girls that said; 'men, what assholes'.

"Dennis I want you to go to the Performance Shop and make like you want to buy some stuff for your car, get a look around, see what the layout is, check for security cameras," Annette told him.

"I'm on it."

"Dennis when you get back could you draw me a rough floor plan and mark where everything is, the best you can remember?" I asked.

"Sure thing Jimmy."

"Paula, you finish fine-tuning the survey and get us twenty copies printed out, then make up the business cards for the fake survey business," Annette told her.

"Do you have any idea what time you might be back?" Paula asked her.

"We have to go down to the casino and go over what happened last night after we are done at the courthouse. Lord knows how long this is going to take," Annette replied.

I'd been trotted off to jail in the back of a sheriff's squad car until it was determined I was just an asshole and not the sniper who'd taken the shots at us. I wasn't released until 2:00 am and that was after they had done the preliminary investigation and Annette had finally explained to their satisfaction what had happened.

Annette, God bless her, hadn't said a word to the sheriff other than the bare bones about the case we were working on. She'd told them it was a matter of confidentially between us, the casino, and the State Gaming Commission. For us to give them any more information about the case they'd have to request it in writing and obtain written releases then have those forwarded to us; until then it was no way.

Needless to say the sheriff's department is a little pissed off at us this morning and we expect that will be the main topic of discussion for them, at least until something bigger happens around here to distract them from our little incident. We arranged to have an attorney go with us in case they tried to play rough with us. Short notice means extra charges in billing, but its best to be on the safe side.

"Annette I want you to order some small GPS units, one for each of us. I don't want to take any chances with any of us after last night."

Annette nodded her head in understanding. "Soon as we get home I'll get on it."

"Go on line now and get them shipped overnight from some place in the states if anybody handles them. I'd like to get them as quick as possible. Essex, England will probably take at least a week if we order from them."

Annette gave me a look while she nodded towards the wall clock. "I think we'll have enough time and still not be late."

"Annette, I'll start on the I.D. cards for Dennis and me while you're gone if I get the time, then I'll do you and Jimmy when you get back," Paula told her as she followed Annette into the office. "I'll set up the camera in the family room and use one of the walls for a backdrop. The coloring should be just about right."

Annette and Paula stayed in the office searching online for a company that carried a small sized GPS. I'd feel a whole lot better if we could track each of us on the computer from now on. After last night I just had that feeling I get sometimes.

"So you think they're mad at you and Annette because you didn't answer all their questions last night and asked for a lawyer?" Dennis asked me.

"Dennis, cops hate it when people refused to be pushed around or intimidated just because their cops," I told him. "Most people just tell them the answers when they get asked a question because that's the way we were brought up, to believe that the cops are the good guys and wouldn't screw us around. But believe me Dennis, they're not there to protect and serve all the time. Sometimes it's to close a case off the books and make it all look good for the boss or maybe they want a promotion or something."

"Jimmy you're way too cynical sometimes. You know that?" Dennis was so serious when he'd said it that I didn't have the heart to laugh out loud at how naive he really was. Dennis might be book smart but his real world smarts weren't collecting postage stamps from around the globe as far as I was concerned.

"Think so?" I asked while trying to sound concerned as I stroked my chin in thought.

"Yeah and that could color your attitude and thinking for life if you don't watch out."

"Thanks for the input Dennis. I'll try to remember it in the future." I put my hand on the back of his shoulder and gave him a little pat.

"Anytime Jimmy."

Paula and Annette joined us a moment later. "High Tech Electronics out of Clinton, Virginia can overnight them by FedEx for $128 each plus shipping and handling. The units seem to have Satellite capabilities that look the same as the ones we're using now. I went ahead and ordered them."

"Great, let's go get this over with then."

"Stop fidgeting with your tie, you look fine Jim," Annette told me for at least the third time as we drove to the attorney's office. I was wearing one of my best suits and Annette had on a really nice dress. We wanted to look as respectable as we could and make a good impression on these guys. You look like a bum or a run of the mill citizen and you don't get any respect. We were on our way to the attorney's office for a quick meet and greet and to go over what we were going to tell them, which was nothing as far as we were concerned. Then we were proceeding to the sheriff's department at the Clallam County Courthouse.

We were ushered into Donald Millhouse's office by his very nice looking receptionist after waiting for only a few minutes. "This must be Annette and of course you're James. It's a pleasure to meet you both," he said shaking our hands. "I go by Donnie, no need to be all formal with clients when you don't have to," he said as he gestured towards a couch and two chairs, with a nice coffee table between them set up on the other side of the room.

"So I understand we have a meeting with the sheriff's department in about forty-five minutes and you want me to represent you in what capacity?"

"We don't want to divulge information on a case we're working on for Seven Rivers Casino and in conjunction with the State Gaming Commission," Annette said and continued on. "We were leaving the house last night, on our way to the casino to look into an aspect on our case. Someone started shooting at us as we came out the front door and Jim here, being the impulsive type, jumped our fence and went to go catch the person while I laid on the ground and dial 9-1-1."

"Excuse me, but did you have a gun on you Jim?"

I shook my head no.

"Any weapons at all?" Donnie asked.

"No."

"Then what happened?"

"The sheriffs started arriving as Jim came walking out of the neighbor's yard. He tried to tell them we had called and he had been trying to catch the guy. They tazered Jim a couple of times, cuffed him arms, put restraints on his legs and carted him off to jail. He was held until 2 am, only releasing him after they done the onsite preliminary investigation."

"Did you act threatening or threaten them in any way Jim?"

I shook my head no again.

"What do you see as the problem this morning? What do you need my firm for?"

"We're not willing to tell them anything they don't need to know. They tried to browbeat both of us last night, threatened to charge Jim unless he cooperated; same with me after I told them what happened and refused to tell them about the case."

"Excuse me for a moment," Donnie told us as he went to the door and opened it. "Karen call the sheriff and see if he's available to sit in on an interview with the Fratino's' in about thirty minutes, if not see if the under sheriff is available." Annette and I exchanged glances.

We spent another fifteen minutes explaining how we wound up working a case for the casino along with the State Gaming Commission and giving him a retainer for $10,000.

"Let's go. I think I know how to handle this for you," Donnie said.

We all piled into his Chrysler and he drove us to the courthouse. The Clallam County Sheriff's Department and jail is located in the back of it. Convenience I would guess.

I was surprised at the way Donnie handled the meeting and I'm sure Annette was too. The Sheriff himself joined us along with the lead detectives assigned to the case. A tape recorder was produced by one of the detectives and Donnie pulled out one of his own, "Just in case we need a backup," he explained to them.

After the pleasantries were over we got down to business, and needless to say it got ugly fast, with Donnie demanding a verbal apology immediately, followed with a formal letter of apology, a full Use of Force Review, with copies sent to him to determine if we'll be pursuing the matter of excessive and unreasonable force and restraint. The sheriff's department detectives responded that due to the nature of the hysterical 9-1-1 call from Annette, and that gunfire was involved, all case of excessive force was null and void. Standard operating procedures were used to restrain all subjects until they were deemed to be of no threat to the officers responding or to the civilians in the immediate vicinity.

I started laughing. Sometimes I do that when I hear real good bullshit. Everybody, including Donnie stopped talking and stared at me in wonder of what was so funny. Annette gave me an eye roll and shook her head. Everybody looked back and forth between us and even threw Donnie a questioning look, which earned them a shrug from him in return that said; 'you got me'.

I started to do my 'Dueling Banjo' thing from the movie _Deliverance_ but I stopped when I realized it was being wasted on this crowd, plus the fact that Annette was glaring at me now instead of joining in on the guitar part which she usually does quite well I must say. Hicks; go figure!

Half an hour later we were done without giving up any information. They neither liked nor believed that we had no clue as to who would want to take shots at us. We were accused of being uncooperative citizens because we wouldn't give them any information on the case we were working on without the releases we'd requested the night before. When one of the detectives threatened to have our investigator's license revoked any way he could the sheriff called a halt to the meeting. As soon as he'd said that on tape the sheriff had let out a groan.

As we got into Donnie's Chrysler he asked, "What was with the laughing and Dueling Banjo bit?"

"Sorry, sometimes when I hear people talking like I'm some kind of a dumb shit I try to give them what they want as a way of mocking them," I told him. "Do you think I over did it, like maybe it was way over their heads?" Since Annette was sitting in the back seat she took the opportunity to smack the back of my head.

Donnie looked at her in the rearview mirror and said; "Thanks, I was just getting ready to do that myself."

"No problem and your welcome," she said. I turned in my seat to look at her as I rubbed the back of my head.

"Don't do something like that again Jim, especially when we're in a meeting with the sheriffs department," Donnie admonished me.

"I'll try to keep it to a one liner so it doesn't go over their heads and yet sill work," I said. "The fuckers," I added sullenly.

"As for the music, I think in the future you should keep it to the theme song from _Green Acres_. It's got more of a catchy tune for the rubes, where as _Dueling Banjos_ is more of an old family song for most of them. Plus more people around here will recognize _Green Acres_ over _Dueling Banjos_ all day long," Donnie said with a smile spreading across his face.

"Great," Annette said from the back seat, "another kindred spirit for you to practice and trade shock liners with Jim. Between the two of you, you should be able to get yourselves thrown into jail in no time, that's if you ever get into court together."

"How about you represent us and our firm from now on?" I asked as we pulled into the parking lot of his office. "Maybe you could use an investigator sometime? You know, trade work or something."

"I was just about to suggest the same thing myself," Donnie said with a smile as he turned off the car. "Come on into the office and we'll do some paperwork on this case and set up an agreement for your firm doing some work for my firm."

"I can see this is just going to be a lovely working relationship with you two," Annette said to us climbing out of the back.

Karen, the receptionist, shuttled in and out of the office bringing Donnie the standard forms for copies from the court on the paperwork he'd demanded at the meeting we just had with the sheriffs and taking notes on a legal pad to set up a working agreement with our firm. Karen was the type of woman who commanded a man's attention just by being in the same room. She was that good looking without trying to be.

"You married Donnie?" I asked as I signed an agreement form and passed it to Annette for her signature.

"Nope, not as of now Jim," Donnie said as he leaned back in his office chair.

"So, you and Karen Cute out there are laying down the law?" I asked nodding my head towards the outer office.

Annette gave me a punch in the arm, glared at me, and then narrowed her eyes that spoke volumes in its self. "Asshole," she hissed at me under her breath.

"No, that's okay Annette," Donnie said as he continued to lean back in his chair. "It's a fair enough question." Donnie gave it some thought before answering. "It's like this Jim; every time I was to think about it I don't think I could get over the fact that she would still be my sister."

"Miss Stackedhouse is a Millhouse?" I said as my jaw must have dropped open. "No shit?"

"Yeah, she's my little sister by two years. I don't know how she came out so ugly and deformed compared to me," he said with a massive smile.

Miss Stackedhouse chose that moment to join us with more paperwork that needed to be signed. "You do know that I've had the intercom on since you got back and I've heard every word that you have said in here," Miss Stackedhouse said as she looked back and forth between us. "I can see that you two assholes will get along famously working together, and Donnie here," Stackedhouse nodded at her brother, "is just jealous of me because I'm the better looking of the two of us, plus, if I had a penis it would be a lot bigger than his," she said with a smile at Annette.

"I think you'll make working with these two a lot more tolerable for me," Annette said to her.

"Don't worry about these two with me around. I know exactly how to keep this one in line." She nodded again towards her brother. "And this one here better watch his step or else when he calls to have me get him out of jail he just might find that he's in for a few days until I find the time to get him out." Stackedhouse had put her hands on her hip and directed this last part at me.

"That's harsh, extremely harsh," I replied with a sheepish smile.

"Yes it is. And just for the record my name is Karen, not Miss Stackedhouse, understand?"

"Yes, completely."

Annette threw another shot to my arm. "Hey, what was that for?" I asked as I started rubbing at my arm. "I said I understood."

"That was for Karen and she has my permission to take shot at you any time you need it in the future there buddy-boy," Annette said as she buffed her nails on the sleeve of her shirt in satisfaction.

"Buddy-boy? Oh that's too good," Donnie laughed.

"Fuck you Donnie."

"Come on Annette, let's go next door and get some coffee while these two talk business. Donnie give me some money for coffee," Karen said holding out her hand and doing the give me thing until Donnie reached into his pocket and handed her a twenty.

"What kind of coffee do you want Jim?" Donnie asked as he handed over a twenty to his sister.

"Oh this is just for me and Annette. Since you two are such pigs, you can stay here and talk business and drink the coffee out of the machine in the kitchenette," she said as Annette stood up to join her.

"Well finally, another woman who understands my husband," Annette said as they walked through the door to the reception area.

"I can't wait to introduce you to my best friend Paula and her husband Dennis; he's the nicest man you'll ever meet. Would you and your brother like to come over Saturday for a barbecue?" Annette asked Karen as the glass door swung closed on the rest of their conversation.

Donnie and I looked at each other for a moment after they left. Donnie shrugged at me. "Women; go figure," I said.

Donnie nodded at me then got up. "Care to join another male pig in the kitchenette for some coffee?"

"Oink," I replied.
Chapter 42

We were in the conference room with Con, Big Darryl, and Frank going over the sniper shooting last night and the ensuing involvement with the sheriff's department.

"You two notice anybody following you around lately?" Con asked us. "Any strange cars or trucks been parked on your street that don't look familiar?"

"Just Morgan's sidekick the last time you were at the house pitching the job to Annette is all that I've noticed."

"So let me guess," Frank said as he rocked back and forth in his swivel chair. "You think its Dick Jameson, right?"

"Geeze Frank, that's a pretty tough call since he was still here at the casino when we left to come down here so it couldn't have been him. Maybe its one of the guys he's working with, but it couldn't have been him."

"Anybody got a beef with either one of you that you know of?" Con asked. "Well, besides your buddy Dick Jameson and his crew that is?"

"I don't think either one of us has yet to come up with a good explanation other than it being tied to this case and we've tossed it back and forth since it happened," Annette told them.

"Added to it is that whoever was shooting used a silencer since we didn't hear any rifle reports from the shots fired," I added.

"You're lucky that the both of you didn't get hit," Big Darryl said with a grimace. He'd been sitting silent for the most part, just listening to us tell what happened last night and this morning.

"Before I forget Darryl I'd like to thank you for giving us Donnie Millhouse's number and talking to him last night after Annette called you. We both appreciate what you did."

"No sweat Jimmy," Big Darryl narrowed his eyes at us and dropped the bomb. "In light of what happened last night Seven Rivers is canceling our contract with Fratino Investigations, effective immediately. Jimmy, you can go back on the schedule anytime you want," he added.

Annette and I both exploded out of our chairs and threw our hands on the conference table and started talking at Big Darryl and Frank at high volume and top speed. There was a lot of hand and arm waving going on until Con got up and turned the lights off and on a couple of times, getting our attention.

"Annette, Jim, sit down and shut up," he told us in a stern voice that meant business.

After we'd sat back down Frank took over the conversation. "We can't afford to have anything happen to either one of you," he said. "Jim went through a very bad car wreck that almost killed him and now this. Our thinking on this is you've got someone worked up really good by taking this on and maybe it's out of your league. We would feel pretty bad here if something were to happen to one or both of you." Frank let that sink for a few seconds before continuing. "We also think maybe it would be better if the local authorities and the State Gaming Commission take care of the investigation in light of last night's shooting."

"Jim, what did I tell you that night we had coffee right before Conroy came to you guys with this proposition? You remember what we discussed?" Big Darryl asked, effectively pinning me down.

"Yes Darryl I remember," I said dejectedly.

"Well what was it I said?"

"You basically told me to keep my ass out of the crack and don't get killed or hurt and to stay out of the hospital."

"Or else I was going to be pissed?" he asked.

"Yes Sir or else you were going to be pissed off."

"Now, you think that you've done that, either one of you? You both could have been killed if the guy had been any better with a rifle."

The more I thought about it, the more attitude I got when I answered him. "Yeah Darryl we could have. Shit happens in this kind of business, but that's the way this business is. Sometimes you have to deal with some unsavory characters and take some lumps and knocks along with it, but we're prepared to deal with these things and stay in this business, regardless of whether or not we continue to stay under contract with Seven Rivers Casino," I said evenly and calmly.

"Look you guys, we're in this no matter what you decide. Plus Annette didn't even freak out; she handled herself great under fire and who would have known there was somebody out there with a rifle? I've had my ass kicked so many times in the past that I quit counting years ago but I've always fought back, even when I was down. Now you think we're going to quit this fight just because you're worried about us? Forget it!" I looked over at Annette. She was smiling at me and that gave me all the resolve I needed. "Contract terminated huh? Okay, fine, whatever right Annette?"

"Right you are Jim." If anything her smile had gotten broader. I continued on but I was only talking to Annette now.

"They ask us for our help, get us pumped up like they're really behind us, something happens that's a little dangerous and they expect professionals like us to up and quit the job?"

"That's what it sounds like to me Jim."

"What do you say we finish this on our own and give these guys a freebie on it since they don't have the spine to see it through to the end?" I asked her with a big smile.

"Jim I think that is just the best idea you've had all day. I think it's almost as good as the _Dueling Banjos_ routine at this mornings' meeting with the sheriff's department," Annette said laughing. "I'm with you 100% honey!"

"Shall we go then?" I held out my hand to her as I stood up. "We've got things to do if we're going to finish this."

"By all means Mr. Fratino, let's go!" Annette said as she took my outstretched hand and rose from her chair.

"Jimmy, this will mean your job. Your contract with us is over; if you don't drop this now that we've given you verbal, formal notification, you won't be working here anymore," Big Darryl told us as we started walking out.

Annette and I shared a look between us. She nodded her head slightly. I turned around, put my hands palms down on the table, leaning over to look at each of them and slowly but clearly said, "Gentlemen, we _are_ going to try to find out who _tried_ to kill me a while back and put me in the hospital. While we are at, we _will_ try to find the person who took shots at me and my wife last night," I told them as cordially as I could and continued on.

"Me, I don't mind being shot at, it's happened before to me, so it's no big deal as far as I'm concerned, but my wife is another matter altogether. You must understand why I _can't_ let this go. _Now_ it's not about _your money_ gentlemen, it's about the _principal_ of bringing the people responsible to account for their actions against my wife and myself. Good day gentlemen."

As we turned away I had another thought to share with Frank, Big Darryl, and Con. "And guys," I said turning to face them again, "if we find out how they did it we'll tell you. Remember, after all this is my casino too, or was. I don't know if we'll find the money or not; but we'll let you know about that too."

With that we walked out the door and I turned my back on the best job that I'd ever had. I've never had a job that was as fulfilling as this one, but this was only one job moreover Annette and I had already started another one together. That would be enough for me as far as I was concerned.

We got into the car and I drove around to the front of the casino and pulled into valet parking at the main entrance. "How much cash do you have Annette?"

"I have three, maybe four hundred in expense money plus another hundred or so of my own. Why, what's up?"

"Go in and buy some slot vouchers. Get four for fifty, five for twenty, and the rest in tens. I'll explain on the way home."

As we drove home I explained what I had in mind for the slot vouchers and we discussed our financial situation, now that I was no longer employed at Seven Rivers Casino of Fun and Happiness. Thank you very much! When we drove by the Sequim Bay Lodge Annette pointed out that they had almost finished installing the new guard rail where I went flying through the trees. Not only had they repaired it, but they had also extended it another hundred feet or so.

We had filed suit after the insurance company had balked at covering the accident. We'd filed against the State Department of Transportation because they maintain the roadway and the State Patrol for doing an inadequate investigation. They had said if someone had ran me off the road the evidence had been scraped off the car when it got wedged in between the tree, therefore the finding that I had probably fallen asleep stood as it was from lack of other indicators. We did the Broadwick Crawford thing with each other as we drove by the offending spot.

"Unit 2150?"

"This is 2150 by."

"By what?"

"By those trees over there!" we said in unison and started laughing

What a day so far! Or if you wanted to look at it in the long run, I guess you could say what a hell of a twenty-four hours it's been. I was still pissed off about the front door and the flower pots. Plus I still had an attitude at the sheriffs that had tried to turn me into a human light bulb...the fuckers.

Paula and Dennis's car was still parked behind the truck indicating that they were still here. Annette gave them a 'hey guys, what's up' but nobody answered. She gave a quick look in the office and came back. "They must be in the family room working on the pictures for the badges," she said as we made our way there.

"Hey guys...." came out but then she stopped in her tracks mid sentence with me almost running into her backside. Dennis and Paula must have been doing it on the love seat we'd put in there because they were both scrambling to put the rest of their clothes on. Dennis was trying to get into his shoes and tuck in his shirt at the same time, his hair was a mess and it looked like he'd just gotten out of bed; which in a way he just had.

Paula had her back to us and was in the process of buttoning her shirt. They had been in such as hurry that Paula hadn't had the time to put her bra back on because part of it was hanging out of her purse where she'd tried to stuff it quickly away. When Paula had finished and turned around both her and Dennis were sort of red in the face.

"Oh, um, hey guys, you're home. We sort of expected you to call and tell us how it went," Paula stammered out.

Annette started to say something but I burst out laughing and started into a short version of singing _Brick House_. I added in a little finger snapping, foot shuffling, and hip swaying while I did it. This earned me a jab in the ribs and a scowl from Annette. Dennis grinned from ear to ear. They were busted so badly and they knew it.

"We were sort of in a hurry and it's been a long day for us after Jim spent most of the night at the sheriff's station. Sorry, I didn't think to call." Annette told her as she turned to me and gave me the eye thing.

"We got the survey questions all done and we made our badges if you want to take a look and see how they came out?" Paula said awkwardly as Dennis finally got his shoes on the right feet.

Annette walked over to the desk and started looking over the badges and the finished survey. I turned around and headed for the bedroom to change clothes.

Dennis was in the kitchen getting a cup of coffee as I walked in and grabbed a cup out of the cabinet. I'd thrown on a comfortable pair of Levis and my favorite loafers. "Did the love seat work out okay for you guys?"

"It worked great until we heard you guys come through the front door," Dennis said with a snicker and a smile.

"I'm sorry about doing the _Brick House_ thing Dennis," I said as poured a cup of coffee for myself. "I'll apologize to Paula in a couple of minutes. Maybe give her a chance to sort herself out you know, give her a few minutes with Annette or something."

"You actually did that real good with the finger snapping and everything."

"Thanks Dennis but I don't think it went over too well with the girls."

"How do you know when to do it?"

"Well usually when we don't think anyone's going to be around to catch us."

"No, I mean the stuff you do like you did in there, the quick and funny comebacks you always have for people and situations?"

"I don't know Dennis," I said letting out a sigh, "but more often than not it gets me into hot water with Annette or somebody. It just happens sometimes without me even thinking about it. It's like it has got a mind of its own and it just takes over and there I am."

"Oh. I see what you mean. You think the girls are mad at you about it?"

"Well Annette thought it was rude and I probably embarrassed Paula to no end. I should have kept my wise guy mouth shut and left the room."

"Well its okay with me Jimmy?"

"Thanks Dennis. Can I give you a word of advice for future reference?"

"Sure."

"Next time try the exercise bike and I don't think you should try peddling it," I said with a grin and slapping him lightly on the back. "Let's go find the girls and see if they've regained their composure enough to deal with me."

"The exercise bike huh? Cool," Dennis said as he followed me to the family room.

The girls looked composed as we rejoined them although I detected a slight chill in the air. I guess it was from them since Paula had snuck in the bathroom and put her bra back on thus I couldn't tell if her nipples were hard from the cold air or from their frigid attitude. It's the only way as men we can tell if women like us or it's just cold. We're guys so we try to keep it simple for ourselves, go figure!

"Paula, Annette, I'd like to apologize to you both. That was thoughtless and uncalled for under the circumstances. Sometimes I just can't keep my mouth shut when I need to. I'm sorry if I embarrassed any of you and that includes you too Dennis," I said as contritely as I could without over doing it.

"Thanks Jim, but its okay. Under the circumstances I guess Dennis and I asked for it. We should be the ones apologizing to you and Annette for taking liberties with your home," the coolness in Paula's voice spoke volumes to me on how she really felt.

"Aw, stop it Paula. Look you guys are just like family now and when you're here our home is open to you anyway you need to use it. You want to spend the night? Then you spend the night! You need to use the car or truck? Just take either one of them any time you want. The spare keys are in the desk drawer. We didn't give you guys the keys to our house and invite you to work with us because you're some schmucks off the street; you're like family now so act like it. You didn't take any liberties; you were acting like best friends and family do, you were acting naturally and that's the way we want it to be. Am I right Annette?"

"Jim, I think that sums it up pretty well," Annette said with a slight smile.

"And another thing while I'm thinking about it, I need to go put my shirt and tie back on so I can have my picture taken for my new badge. When I get back everything is going to be just like normal and nothing happened when we got home. Everybody understand?" I got a chorus of okays as I left to redress.

"What was that all about Annette?" Paula asked in wonder. "I've never seen Jim act so strange all of a sudden. He sure was insistent that we're best friends and family now. What's with that?"

"I think I know what it is," Dennis volunteered.

"Please share your thoughts on this with us. Why do you think Jim acting that way?" she asked him.

"He's embarrassed about embarrassing all of us when they got home."

"Care to explain that a little more?" Paula prompted him.

"He didn't really mean to do the dance thing and act like he did. When we were in the kitchen a few minutes ago I asked him how he did it and he said he didn't know, like it happens without him even thinking about it. It just pops out all on its own and I think that's what embarrassed him," Dennis said. "He told me that he was really sorry he did it and from the look on his face, he really meant it. I think that's the reason he just said what he did because he was the one who got really embarrassed for acting that way. What do you think Annette?"

"Jim told you all that in the kitchen?" Annette asked him and he nodded his head solemnly at her.

"Yeah and now that I think about it, it's kind of scary, like split personality type scary," Dennis added.

"I don't know. Now that I think about it, I think it was kind of a sweet thing for somebody like Jim to do. Kind of cute like," Paula said. "What about you Annette? What did you think about it?"

Annette stood there tapping her foot and at the same time tapping her front tooth with her fingernail. "I'm worried. He didn't wise crack once during that whole spiel. That's not like my Jimmy at all. I wonder if he's worried about losing his job today." That drew stunned looks from both Paula and Dennis.

"I guess we forgot to tell you with all this going on since we got home," Annette said as she gestured around the room they'd caught them doing the 'Horizontal Slam Dance' in. "Jim lost his job at the casino over last nights' shooting; they thought it was too much for us to handle and terminated the contract. Jim got this funny look in his eye and told them they were spineless and that a couple of shots or a car wreck wasn't going to stop us."

"Wow! He really said that to his boss?"

"Yeah Dennis, he stood his ground when they threatened he'd lose his job. Jim told them we were there to do the right thing and we were going to catch the bad guys. He told them that's what professionals do. They don't quit..." Annette said staring at the doorway Jim had left through a few moments before.

"God Annette you tell it just like it was a script for a movie or something. Didn't she Dennis?" Dennis nodded his head although nobody saw him doing it.

"Then what happened?"

"Well I'd been sitting in a chair when Jim was done talking, he held out his hand to me with the funniest smile on his face that I'd ever seen before and asked me what I thought."

"And what did you tell him?" Paula and Dennis both asked in unison.

"I think I smiled back at him and told him it was the best idea he's ever had as I took his hand. Then we left," Annette said in a quiet voice that Paula and Dennis clearly heard.

"Oh man, that's totally movie type cool huh Paula?" Dennis asked her.

"I think it shows how much Jim really loves her and wants to work with her. He sacrificed his job to do the right thing with his woman Dennis."

"I think we might have to keep our eyes on Jim," Annette said to Paula and Dennis as they looked at her questioningly. "I think Jim might have lost his pressure relief valve gang." In response to their unasked question Annette just add; "Jim, go figure.
Chapter 43

The pictures for our I.D. badges came out looking extremely professional I thought. Both Annette and I let Paula know what a great job she had done on theirs. "The employee I.D. numbers was a nice touch along with the 1-800 phone number and date of hire," Annette told Paula as I examined the one she'd made for Dennis.

"Yeah, I think it adds a touch of realism to them. Now if anybody looks at the survey's letterhead they'll see the phone numbers match on both and if they want to call they can get the answering machine with the message saying 'missed your call, we're on east coast time'." Paula had some pride in her voice, but she deserved all the praise she got.

"Dennis looks like a convict in this picture," I told them looking up. "No one who ever had a bad I.D. picture taken will ever doubt this one," I said as I tapped it against the palm of my hand.

"Speaking of which, isn't it about time Operation Snoop was over? Dennis has been gone for over an hour now."

"We'll give him another fifteen or twenty minutes, if he's not back by then I'll call him Jim," Paula said with a smile at me. Weird; both Annette and Paula had seemed to be smiling at me since I apologized to them, go figure.

I was going over the city maps I had for the peninsula when Dennis walked in ten minutes later with a big smile on his face. I'd been trying to come up with an efficient way to split up the interviews on our short list of big winners. I went and got my sketch pad and the girls from the family room and we all sat down at the kitchen table while Dennis gave us the run down on the Performance Shop. We had gotten lucky when we sent him there.

"Remember Vic Tyler?" he asked.

Annette and I drew blanks and looked at each with a shrug so Paula filled us in. "They came to a couple of barbecues over at our house when you guys were there. Vic's tall and bald; Carol is bleached blond and all boobs."

It was an instant register for both of us once they were described. The eagle and the balancing act came to mind, plus the question of whether or not they'd been real. How could a woman that small have boobs like that huh?

"Draw and talk Dennis," I said handing him a pencil and spinning the drawing pad around towards him.

"Vic used to work at the junk yard for years and then he got a job a the Performance Shop when the guy working there got fired for drinking all the time and coming to work drunk," he said as the outline of the shop started to take on meaning. "Nobody was there except for Vic and we got to talking. I told him I was coming into some money and thinking about putting a car together with a buddy of mine."

Dennis added in some walls and counters. He stopped and thought for a minute and added in the bathroom. "I told him we had a Chevy Nova that we wanted to build and maybe race if we could. The next thing I know were going through books and price lists. He's telling me all about racing at the Olympic and how to get into it." Dennis was drawing in the storage room, showing the rollup door for deliveries, plus the two access doors, one for the front of the building and the other one going into the shop.

"Dennis, how do you know what the storage room looks like inside?" I asked him as he was drawing in shelves and counters.

"Vic took me back there and showed me some blowers and tight fitting custom made headers," Dennis said without looking up. "You should have seen the car that some guy had in there, it was sweet," A smile lit up his face. "I didn't get a chance to look in the office but I saw it from the service counter when I first went in. This is what I could see from the counter." Dennis was drawing in the desk, file cabinets, and shelves. Dennis quit drawing for a moment as he thought about something and then started drawing in little circles.

"These are the security cameras that I saw," Dennis said pointing at the circles he'd drawn. "I'm assuming that they're real with all the expensive stuff they sell there. I didn't see a monitor but I imagine it's in the office or under the service counter."

"The locks on the doors, can you remember anything about those? Did you happen to see an alarm system anywhere?" I probed his memory.

"Looks like he had standard locks on the front door and the storage area and that door was a thick and heavy one. The rollup door in the storage area looked like it had a lock on each side," he said tapping the pencil where he'd drawn the storage area. "I don't remember seeing an alarm panel. Sorry Jimmy."

"Was the storage area insulated and dry walled?" I asked Dennis as a plan started to take shape in my mind.

Dennis thought for a minute before he shrugged helplessly.

"It's okay Dennis you did a great job. I don't think I could have done any better walking in there myself," I told him as I laid my hand on his shoulder and smiled, "I'll take it from here."

"But you can Jimmy, Vic's going to keep the shop open for us so you can come back with me. His boss is gone for the next couple of days and Vic is running the shop. I told him you'd be home soon and I'd bring you back. You can look around for yourself," Dennis said in a rush of words that almost fell over themselves as they came out of his mouth.

"Dennis I don't know about us going in there together with me planning on breaking into the place later tonight. I don't want them to tie us together if something was to happen and I got caught." We could all see that he was crushed as a kid would be if you told them there was no Santa Claus. "That's an awful big risk Dennis and I promised Annette I wouldn't let anything happen to you or Paula," I told him as gently as I could.

He cut his eyes to Annette, then Paula, as if seeking some kind of silent permission from them. They exchanged girl looks and said nothing.

"No Dennis, I'm sorry. This isn't like TV where everybody goes home afterwards and everything is fine. This could mean jail and losing your job, everything you have. I'm sorry man," I said as I clapped him on the back.

"Can I at least drive you there tonight and wait in the car?"

"No you can't do that either. The less you know the less you can tell the cops," I said to him. "Now tell me which way those cameras were pointing. Then I want you to call Vic and tell him we can't make it.

We sent Paula and Dennis home about an hour later after deciding to wait on starting the survey interviews until the mini GPS units came in the next day or so and laying out who was going to interview whom on the list. I explained to them how the slot tickets were an ice breaker, something you offer to give them just for taking the survey and answering a few questions. It's a way to get your foot in the door and into the house. Everyone wants something for free, especially gamblers. It amazed Paula and Dennis that I'd even thought of it.

I was getting ready down in the bat cave and just about had my gear together that I was going to take when I heard the gentle click of the solenoid and Annette swung the workbench away.

"Are you just about ready to go Jim?" Annette asked as her shadow played on the steps for me.

"Yes honey, just about. Give me another minute or two," I said as I put a small Black and Decker portable drill into my belly pouch.

"Did you grab a walkie-talkie out of the charger?"

"Yes. Do you want to do a check now?"

"Sure, let it rip."

"This is home base to Needle Dick. Come in, over."

"I read you loud and clear Dick Orbiter, over."

"It seems like were good to go Houston. Why don't you get in the car and start it up and I'll be there in a second." I grabbed a couple more items that I might need and headed up the stairs. Annette was still standing there, a look of concern on her face.

"What is it honey?"

"Jim, are you sure about this? I mean are you up to doing this after being up almost all night and then being on the go all day? Maybe you should put this off until tomorrow when you'll be well rested, bright eyed and bushy tailed sort of way?"

I folded her into my arms and nuzzled my face into her neck. I tool a few deep breaths, inhaling her scent, the sweet fragrance of the perfume that she wore filling my nose. "I'm okay Houston," I said into her neck as I stroked her back with my hands lightly, "but you're worried. I can tell."

"I am worried Jim. You can't afford to screw up on this and get caught; I'm worried that you're too tired, that something might go wrong. You're sure about this tonight?" she said into my neck giving it a little kiss before she pushed herself away so she could take in my whole face, looking for any sign of fatigue.

"I'm sure and I'll be alright honey, let's go." I held her in my arms for a moment longer then I stepped away and swung the workbench back into place and climbed into the back seat and laid down under a blanket as Annette started the car. If we got stopped dressed the way I was we could at least say I was sick. I heard the door roll up and we were on our way.

Annette wasn't so worried about me breaking into the Performance Shop as she was about me doing a tri-fecta. I was going to hit Dick's house if it looked feasible, but I was at least going to switch out the receiver units, then I was going to hit Dick's shop. If all went well on both of those I was going to continue on to the racetrack and look through his office there. Mentally it was going to take a lot out of me and after the late night with the sheriffs, Annette was worried about my judgment in case something came up unexpectedly.

I ran things over in my mind as Annette drove to Bell Hill. I thought I had everything I needed and I had added in a couple of extra items that had required me to bring a small knapsack that I now wore on the front of my Nomex ninja outfit. I was mentally humming _On the Darkside_ and trying to remember the group who'd done the song when Annette said we were approaching the drop-off point. Was it Thirty-Eight-Special who did that one?

"I wish I could kiss you good-bye," she said to me from the front seat.

'I'll take care of it when you pick me back up. Remember, radio check in five minutes then single up-dates every half hour until I give you the pick up signal," I told her as I grabbed the door handle and scrunched down in the seat, ready to roll out and be gone as soon as the car slowed enough.

The car slowed and I opened the door. "I love you Annette," I said as I closed the door and melted into the shadows of Bell Hill. I had a short walk up the hill to make since I had Annette do a drive by of Dick's house just to make sure they weren't home like Vic said before dropping me off.

In no time I was at the new house under construction. I thought to myself it wouldn't be much longer until it was done and the owners would be moving in. Plastic covered the inside of the windows where they were doing texture coating and painting on the walls. All the doors were in and the workers were installing the siding on the outside of the house. Well soon I wouldn't be coming this way anymore. The owners weren't going to have worry about me cutting through their property I said to myself as crouched at the corner of the house taking in my surroundings for a few minutes before I moved on. I was pressed for time, but I didn't want to rush. That's never a good idea. Once I was satisfied everything was normal I walked into the field.

I usually creep and belly crawl to where the receiver units are when I'm going to switch them out but tonight I'm continuing on to the back door and I didn't want to be covered in weeds and grass when I move into the house. I spent a few minutes exchanging the units and inspecting their hiding place. Everything looked fine to me so I slipped the units into my chest pack and moved on to the house.

I stood in the trees that lined the driveway and gave the house a real good looking over with my small field glasses, making sure everything looked the same as it did every time that I'd been here before. So far it looked good. I brushed off my pant legs to make sure nothing was on them from the field that might fall on the carpet and alert Dick and Shirley that someone had been in their home while they were gone. I checked my shoes and then kicked each one a couple of times on a tree trunk to knock off anything loose.

I stepped onto the driveway and pulled a pair of hospital booties on over my shoes. Nothing left to chance tonight. I made my way to the front porch and checked the locks. I used the field glasses to take an up close look at the alarm system's master panel making sure it hadn't been changed after my last visit inside. I scanned the rooms I could see from the porch looking for changes before moving to the back door.

The back door off the kitchen looked the same as before. Dick had the small bathroom window replaced where Annette had put a rock through it and there was no telltale sign of where she'd bounced the others ones off the wall. I looked in and saw the same security panel or what looked like the same one and breathed a sigh of relief.

I gave Annette the pre-arranged signal that I was about to enter the house. "Houston this Burglar One commencing operation _Get the Goods_ at this time, over," I said silently.

"Copy you on commencing _Get the Goods_ at this time Burglar One. Good luck and don't screw this up."

Thanks, like I really needed to hear that. I was inside and at the security panel in less than three minutes, punching in their code. The light blinked red three times and went to solid green. I exhaled slowly and let all the air back into the room as my heart rate slowed down.

An hour and a half later I was completely stumped and frustrated by the fact that I had found absolutely zero. All the file cabinets held nothing out of the ordinary let alone tying them into a criminal conspiracy. The desk had nothing to reveal either and I even went through any boxes I saw in the closets. I had gone so far as to check underneath all the beds. I had tried the safe a couple times while I was in Dick's closet, putting in the two numbers I had and hoping for the third number on a lucky break; nada. Why can't this guy move his head for me just once when he's opening it up so I can get it on camera? I guess I was just lucky he hadn't found the camera I had hidden in a coat sleeve hanging next to his safe.

I moved to the garage and gave it good going over. I'd searched it before but thought what the hell; since I was here I'd do it again. The garage looked the same as it did the last time I was here and held nothing new for me so I left and gave Annette the call to come pick me up. It was almost ten pm,

"At least now you know there's nothing there," Annette said from the front seat as we drove back to Port Angeles and I'd filled her in on the search.

"Well I guess I'll just have to see what's at the Performance Shop next then won't I?"

"Remember Jim; calm and level headed. Just stay focused on what you're doing and don't sweat the small stuff, okay?" The sound of her voice told me she had a smile on her face as she said it.

"Yes dear," I replied to her with a sigh. "Drop me off at the storage units and then we'll do another radio check in five minutes. That should give me enough time to cover the distance to the shop."

I got another 'good luck' from Annette as I got out of the car. I walked towards Dick's shop through the open field between the storage units and Olympic Overhead Garage Doors and made my way to the back of his shop and gave Annette the radio check. Now if I could just get lucky again I thought.

I pulled out my small Black and Decker drill, found the right sized socket and inserted it into the drill. In no time I had all the hex headed screws out on one of the three foot panels as high as I could reach next to the back door. Sometimes I just love sheet metal buildings. I pulled the panel back and stuck my hand through the opening to feel nothing on the other side. First Dick hadn't changed his security code at his house and now there was no drywall or insulation in the storage room. I still had a chance here.

I put another set of booties on and wedged myself through the opening and clicked on the headlamp I'd brought with me. I pulled out my small flashlight and turned it on to add more light in the large room.

The roof had insulation on it held in place by thin vinyl sheeting. The wall where the door was going into the showroom and office ran all the way up to the roof and was dry walled. A lot of time people put in an insulated wall running to the roof to cut down on the expense of heating the whole building. There were three enclosed shop bays off to my right so I decided to give them a quick looking over while I was there.

A standard lock was set into the first door and took less than a minute to open reveling an older, but nice Chevy Monte Carlo sitting there with its front end off, motor looking buffed up with a nice paint job and beefy headers. Chrome gleamed from various parts and rims off my flashlight. Elder Racing Team, the number #22 car, sponsored by Elder Logging & Road Building, is what the logos on the car told me. In bold, but small lettering on the drivers door was the name 'Burt'. There were other but smaller sponsors with smaller lettering and logos scattered around the car. I thought to myself it must be nice to live the good life and drive a race car as your hobby. Good for you Burt.

Bay number two held another car with its front end off and motor out sitting on a work stand. A Ford Mustang from the looks of it and was the Olympic Rotary Club car number #18, sponsored by the hard working business men and women, who lived and worked on the Olympic Peninsula. Their business logos plastered all over the car made it look like it should belong in a men's bathroom stall. Arnold's name was painted on the drivers' door; the furniture business must be good.

"I'll take what's behind door number three Monty!" I said to myself as I popped the lock on the third work bay and entered. Gleaming white paint shone beneath the beam of my flashlight showing me a Ford Taurus in pristine condition for a race car. I tapped my finger on the hood and a fiberglass body sounded back at me. It must be a kit car and an expensive one at that I thought. It was the number #11 car sponsored by Electronic Technology Incorporated and The Performance Shop. I circled the car reading the name of another businessman on the door and had headed out of the shop bay when it hit me. I circled back around just to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me.

I lost my breath and everything started going in slow motion as the implications of what I was seeing started falling together as I read the name on the drivers' door again; Terrible Tommy it said. How stupid could I be? Part of the answer to the questions I'd had in the last six months had been there all along. I was glad I had taken the time to look the shop bays over while I was here. I'd been lucky once more I thought to myself.

I made my way back through the two previous bays and forced myself to give the storage room and the wall with the door to the showroom my full attention. I could think about the other things later with Annette and work through them. I was lucky again because there was an attic access door set over the shop door. I used a ladder that I found on the other side of the room and prepared to crawl through hoping there was another attic access in the office or bathroom. Maybe I'd be real lucky and the whole inside would be a dropped ceiling with lift out panels and fluorescent lighting. I swung the door open and stuck my head in shining my flashlight slowly around the door frame looking to see if it was hooked up to an alarm system. Not a thing.

There was a catwalk stretching across to the other side of the building on what looked like a framed, solid dividing wall. That must mean there was more storage space behind the showroom and service counter area. Bonus round; it was all dropped ceiling. I could lift out the ceiling panels to stick my head down and look around anyplace I wanted and right now I wanted to see the security camera setups.

I had plenty of room to stand up in the center. As I got towards the outside of the building I'd have to bend over or at the worst I'd have to crawl. I stepped out on the catwalk and tested it with my weight trying to shake it to see if it would give way, but it was solid as a rock. I headed to the center of the building trying to judge where the cameras were located in reference to the drawing Dennis had made when he had gotten back from his reconnaissance mission.

After about ten feet or so in I saw another catwalk going off to the left in the gloom with a wall beneath it. There were plumbing vent pipes gathered together in one area joining into a larger one before heading out of the roof. Construction class 101 says it's a real good guess the bathroom is located there. Gosh Uncle Jed what tipped you off? Never mind Jethro; just watch your step boy, you don't want to land in the shit from up here.

After a few feet more I could see another catwalk and wall going to the other side and then turning left again as it trailed off into the darkness. That should be the wall I needed. I made my way over to where the corner was and crouched down as I pulled out a small dagger to pry the ceiling panel out of its frame.

It was bonus round again for extended play because the cameras were right there with their little red lights shining brightly from the back of them. I replace the panel and backtracked to the main catwalk and continued on to where the office should be. On second thought I went back and pulled the panel again and reexamined the cameras. I mentally scratched my head as I thought of the reasons why there weren't any wires running from the cameras. There were only two reasons that I could think of, one: they were the new wireless type or two: they were fake and were just there as a deterrent to would be thieves who were thinking of lifting something from the showroom or casing the place.

I replaced the panel and headed to the office again, my small lights trying to pierce the gloom in front of me. I knelt down and pulled a panel up, stuck my head cautiously in and looked for another camera. I didn't see a camera anywhere, or a surveillance monitoring setup, but I also didn't see a way down from where I was. Sure I could climb down on the bookshelf and jump down on the file cabinet for that matter, but it was the getting back up and leaving everything undisturbed that was the problem. I'd need to drag a chair over to be able to climb back up, but then that would be noticed in the morning.

I looked at my watch and decided that I had better call Annette and check in; it was long past the half hour mark. "Base this is Big Dick One checking in, over," I said into the walkie-talkie then released the button,

"B.D.O. this base, receiving you loud and clear at this time, over."

"Base I'm running into a few set backs here, over."

"B.D.O. you need me to come and help? Maybe bring you something, over?"

"Base be ready to come get me in about a half to forty-five, I think I'm just spinning my hubs down to the nubs here tonight, over."

"Copy that, same locale, base out," Annette responded and then was gone. For some reason I missed her something fierce right then.

I went and pulled a couple ceiling panels in the bathroom and the storage room just for giggles and grins, making sure I didn't have some way down and back up to the catwalk. I hated leaving and calling it a wash-out. It meant that I had to come back tomorrow night after I solved the problem of getting down and back up. I took another look at the cluster of security cameras in the service counter area and wrote down the model and serial numbers on my wrist with the ink pen I always carried. I didn't know what it was but something didn't sit right with me about them. It wouldn't hurt to check them out on the internet.

I made my way out of the attic access and put the ladder back where I had gotten it from and then squeezed myself out the back wall. I'd called Annette and told her I was ready to go as soon as the last hex screw was back in place. I was puzzled by what I saw in the Performance Shop tonight, which wasn't much in its self, but then again, it opened up a whole new line of questions I thought as I screwed the sheet metal panel back to the exterior wall and then made my way back to the storage units.

I gazed up at the stars in the night sky and took in the view of the Olympic Mountains as I waited for Annette. Beautiful place to live in the summertime I reminded myself as I breathed in the night air that was lightly scented with the smell of fir and spruce. I was lost in the beauty of what God and the glaciers had made as Annette pulled up. I let out a sigh, got up and rolled into the back seat of the car, pulling the blanket over me. I was done for the night and was asleep as soon as she pulled back on to the highway.
Chapter 44

I rolled off Annette and onto my back, stretching myself as far as I could, curling my toes and balling my hands into fists before letting out my breath in a long rush of controlled air. Annette slapped me on my stomach, making me curl up into a ball. "Ouch Annette, that hurts goddamn it!" I said holding my stomach.

"Stop it you sissy. Weren't you just trying to do me bodily harm a minute ago? Besides, that didn't really hurt a big manly type man like you did it?" Annette said as she rolled over on top of me and took my mouth with hers, sinking her tongue deep into my mouth, her breath a slow and heavy measured cadence with mine.

Annette finally stopped the kiss and rose up a little. She had a dreamy smile on her face; her hair was mussed up just enough and in the right places to create an exquisite portrait of a pleased, satisfied woman I thought to myself. I smiled back at her.

"That was a great kiss, thank you."

"You're very welcome James."

"And to answer your question before you savagely threw yourself on top of me, forcing your tongue down my throat, the answer is yes; sort of."

"Explain 'sort of' buddy-boy," Annette demanded as she ran her hands through my hair and started moving her hips slowly back and forth while she gave me a sly smile.

"Well I was thinking that if we got enough friction going between us, combined with all the voltage the sheriffs deputies pumped into me, that maybe it would be enough to curl your hair. I always wondered what you'd look like with curly hair honey; the really curly type now that I think about it." I smiled at her.

"Friction you say huh?" Annette sat up straighter, placed her hands on my chest and increased her hip movements ever so slightly. She slowly closed her eyes as she seductively bit down on her lower lip for me.

"Yeah, friction, you know, with us slamming against each other I thought something might pass between us and you sort of light up like a pinball machine or something like that towards the end," I said placing my hands lightly on her hips, gripping them.

"Isn't that what we were just trying to do a minute ago?" she whispered softly at me with just a touch of low throaty husk in her voice.

"Nah that was just the warm up round," I told her as I threw her off me and attacked savagely with kisses and roaming hands back at her. Annette couldn't help herself and started laughing and giggling.

"Prepare yourself for electrification woman!" I shouted at her laughing as I reared up off of her and gave her my best monster look; raising my arms and hands up over my head and spreading them out wide, slowly contorting my face, neck and body at the same time. I was in attack position ready to pounce on my victim; the helpless, beautiful, young maiden lying before me.

"You guys do know that Dennis and I have been out here for the last half hour?" Paula said from the other side of our bedroom door as she knocked on it. "You guys might want to get a motel room or something for that kind of stuff."

Annette and I exchanged silent looks at the door and each other before we burst out laughing uncontrollably with Annette topping it off with a case of the laughing snorts. I kissed her lightly, then more deeply before letting her go.

"I thought you might blow snot, phlegm, or both for a minute there," I told her in a whisper and we started laughing again.

"I thought I might too," Annette whispered back between giggles. "Come on sport, let's go." It was time to get up and back to business.

We traded looks and sly smiles with Paula and Dennis as we got coffee and sat down at the kitchen table for the morning conference. "Paula, you and Dennis are going to do some interviews today so we can eliminate some of these people on the list. They're just formalities to say we did them and can cross them off the list in case we're ever checked on."

They both frowned and got puzzled looks on their faces but I continued on before they could say anything. "Go to the post office on your way back and check the box for the GPS units, maybe they came in. I want you to start in the Port Townsend area and work your way back to Sequim, you probably won't see everybody due to work, errands, doctors appointments and stuff like that but catch as many as you can."

"What do you want me to do?" Annette asked as she brought over the coffee pot for refills. The knocking on the door kept me from having to answer her. I got up to see who it was; Con and Big Darryl were standing there smiling at me.

"Morning Jimmy, nice door you got there," Big Darryl said gesturing at the plywood covering the window that had been shot out the other night.

"Yeah, I got to get it fixed in the next day or two when the replacement comes in. Come on in, the coffee is still hot if you guys want some," I told them. I lingered at front steps and checked the street in both directions. The light blue fed car was parked down the street again so I gave them a friendly wave to let them know I'd made them before I went in.

Once they were seated Annette made the introductions and got Con and Big Darryl a cup of coffee. "I think we got some cheese in the refrigerator if you two rats are hungry."

"Jimmy! How dare you? Con and Darryl are guests in our home and I won't have you treat anyone who's a guest in our home that way!" Annette snapped at me wearing a mask of reproach on her face and shaking her finger at me like I was a five year old kid.

"That's harsh Jimmy, real harsh," Big Darryl said as he traded looks with Con who just nodded back at him, "and here we are coming by just to check and see how you and your lovely wife are doing."

"They're rats Annette; plain and simple in my book," I told her as I switched my gaze back to Big Darryl and Con. "I give these guys years of my life, tumble on to a scam that's costing them a boat load of money and try to help them on it and what do I get? I'll tell you what I get, I get screwed; no kisses, no hand shake, and not even a reach around for my trouble," I said glaring at them.

"Jimmy shut up and sit down!" Annette growled at me with embarrassment on her face.

"You want me to sit down huh? How about how long I laid down in Harborview cracked up for these guys?" I asked and before anyone could respond I continued my tirade. "How about all the months of physical therapy I went through for them?" I said as I took the computer chair and face my offending former co-workers on the couch.

Big Darryl started to say something but I held up my hand and he let me go on. "Then, to top it off, somebody takes a shot at us and you guys go all squeamish and expect us to drop the whole business or I'm fired?" I said as I swung around to face Annette who had mellowed some due to the fact that she knew I was right. "They're rats honey; get the cheese out for them."

"Are you done with your little rant Jimmy?" Big Darryl asked. I gave him the finger.

"You and Frank were right Darryl, he's still pissed," Con said.

"We came by to see if you would be interested in reconsidering your position with us on this matter?" Big Darryl asked as he looked between us.

"You want to clarify that?" Annette asked him.

"It means we thought it over and after all the talking was done we realized you can't ask a person like Jimmy here to let something like this go once he has his nose open for it no matter what you say to him. Plus, he comes charging into the casino, ripping everybody a new one and sticking his nose in everywhere like a bull in heat. You two got a lot of people talking amongst themselves and then running back to us and other department heads complaining that you two are loose cannons that don't know what they're doing." Big Darryl chuckled at some thought and continued. "Hell Jimmy, there was a time or two lately that I would've like to have taken a shot at you just over some of the conversations that we've had about you."

"God don't I know that feeling all too well," Annette said as she gave an eye roll at us. "Okay, so what else?"

"Since there was never an official, written separation of contract signed by Fratino Investigations, or any paperwork terminating Jim's employment with Seven Rivers Casino, everything is still the same if both of you would like it to be."

"You're offering Jim his job back and want us to keep the investigation going for you the same as it was before?" the skepticism in Annette's voice was apparent to everyone.

"Yes we are, with no strings attached, exactly the same as it was before. We were just worried about the both of you and we don't want anything to happen to either one of you. Believe it or not Jimmy I think you two can pull this off and figure it out. A couple of people there even agree with me, right Con?"

"Darryl's telling it straight to you Jim. But you got to understand the pressure everybody's under with the department heads and the state coming to Frank and talking about you guys and your type of style when approaching people on this," Con told us. "You Italians sure do get some attitude when people are trying to talk to you sometimes."

Paula and Dennis had been sitting quietly at the kitchen table listening to all of it. I'd almost forgotten they were still here. It reminded me that we still had a job to do regardless of whether or not we kept the contract with the casino or I kept my job there. I looked at Annette for guidance on this one. We'd both been highly pissed off about the way our last meeting had ended. In our book we'd been made to look like fools and I wasn't about to roll over on it unless we were both in agreement on it. Annette shrugged her shoulders and went palms up on me, which means she didn't know how to take or wasn't sure what to do either.

I answered her with a shoulder shrug of my own and palmed her with a rocking back and forth of my hands that translates to; 'I don't know you got me on this one too'. I got another shrug and a palm up from Annette that told me to do what I wanted to on this one; she was along for the ride.

"Okay we're in just like before. Is Bart Sampers working today, I need to interview him in private at the casino with you and Con sitting in on it." Both Con and Big Darryl were surprised. Not by us accepting the offer, but by the request I'd made to speak with Bart Sampers.

I looked at Annette and could tell from the look on her face she hadn't been expecting that request either. I hadn't told her about my revelation last night because as soon as we had gotten home I had crawled into bed and was down and out for the count. We hadn't had a chance to talk this morning either so this was news to her.

"Check on that for us Con, will you?" Big Darryl asked even though Con had his cell phone out and was in the process of checking on Bart Sampers as soon as I'd made the request.

"What's up with Bart?" Big Darryl asked as Con was closing cell phone.

"I think he might have some answers to part of this puzzle of ours even if he's not in on it. I saw something last night that made sense when I go back to the beginning and think about everything that's happened. I want to see what he does or doesn't know," I told them and looked at Annette. She was as puzzled as they were.

"Bart Sampers is working today," Con informed us.

"That doesn't tell us much Jimmy. Would you care elaborate on the subject and fill us in on what you are thinking?" Big Darryl asked as Con appraised me, trying to figure out where I was going with it.

"Let's get Paula and Dennis off and about on their assignments for today and then we'll meet you at the casino in about an hour and a half. Could we use the conference room if it's available? That would be a good place to do the interview."

They exchanged looks and nods. "Okay Jimmy we'll play it your way on this for now." Big Darryl turned to Con again, "We also need to call Cheryl Morgan and let her know what's going on and that were going to interview him again."

"Why bother calling her when you can just go down the street and tell her guys watching us to give her the message," I told them.

They both exchanged looks again and then Con spoke up. "Jimmy as far as I know the state and Cheryl Morgan aren't watching you and Annette. If there's somebody watching and following you around it is not from our end or hers, we don't know anything about it."

"Stick your head out the door Con and take a look to your left and tell us if you see a state undercover car parked three houses down on the right, in the driveway," I instructed him as I motioned towards the front door.

Con got up and walked out on the porch trying to act casually, like he was getting some air or something. I didn't think he could fool anybody because he did it like a cop would and to tell you the truth I wouldn't have bought the act myself. No self-respecting criminal would have but he used to be a cop, so go figure, but then on the other hand, once I thought about it, he didn't seem to know anything about this person when I brought the subject up. Both he and Big Darryl sort of had puzzled looks on their faces when I mentioned Cheryl Morgan having us watched.

"Don't know Jimmy," Con said as he came back in. "Could be the locals keeping an eye on the place from the shooting the other night, but I can tell you that as far as we know it's not from our end of it."

"Well it's not connected to the shooting unless it's the shooter because they've been there off and on for about a week before the shooting happened."

Annette nodded her head in agreement with me on that assumption. "We can always stop by and ask him couldn't we? Maybe he'll tell us," she said as we all grinned and chuckled over the thought she'd put in our heads.

"It doesn't really matter," I said more to myself than to anyone as I mulled over who it might be before getting back to business. "Are we all done here?" I asked Big Darryl and Con. They both exchanged a brief glance with each other before giving me a nod. "Then we'll see you in about an hour or so, okay?" I asked as I walked them to the front porch. I wanted to see the car parked down the street again, maybe get a feel for it or who it came from. It was driving down the street away from us; leaving. Something didn't feel right about it to me.

"We'll see you then and don't worry, we'll have everything set up for the meeting with Bart Sampers by the time you get there," Big Darryl told us as we stood on the porch saying good-bye as they got into their car.

"Right," I said absent mindedly as I waved to them and gave more thought to the car that had conveniently left when we came out. It was almost as if they knew we were coming out to check on them and they didn't want to get seen up close.

We spent the next fifteen minutes explaining what we wanted Paula and Dennis to do. Basically it was to start in Port Townsend and work their way back to Sequim doing the interviews for American Gaming Services. Bribe their way in with the slot tickets, do the interviews, and make sure they checked the layout of the houses.

"If anything looks or smells funny with any of these people at all, bail out immediately. I don't want either one of you getting hurt or put in a situation where you might get in trouble with the law," I said looking between them making sure they understand what I was telling them.

"We know exactly what you want Jim," Paula answered as Dennis nodded his head in agreement with her. "And don't worry, we'll be extra careful while we're doing it, won't we Dennis?" she added as she patted Dennis on the cheek. Dennis nodded his head in agreement once more; giving me the impression again that he was more of a pet than a husband.

I fished out my money clip and peeled off three $100 bills, handing them to Paula. "Here's some lunch money, it's on us; stop and fill your car up too. Make sure you get receipts for the accountant and anything else you guys might need today that's related to the business," I told them and looked over at Annette to see if there was anything else that she wanted to add. A slight head shake no from her and we were good to go.

I checked the street both ways as we left the porch to get the car and then again as we backed out of the garage and headed down the road. I saw Annette was casually checking out the street also, plus the side streets as we headed for highway 101 and turned onto it. She'd also pulled down the visor on her side to check her makeup as she scanned the street behind us as we drove. Although the sun was hidden behind the early morning clouds she left her visor down. She was picking up on the business quickly without me having to tell her everything all the time and she didn't ask too many questions. The ones she did ask were well thought out in advance and Annette was only asking so I could confirm her thoughts. I gave her a slight smile as I glanced her way and she caught me doing it.

"What?"

"Nothing honey, nothing at all."

"Don't give me the 'nothing honey', what was that smile and look for?"

"Geez, can't I even smile at you now?"

"Sure you can, all day long, just explain what that one was for because it looked like there was a slight smirk to it buddy-boy."

"I was smiling because I was watching you check out the neighborhood and the road behind us with the makeup mirror thing and I was just thinking to myself that I wished I had asked you years ago to go into business with me." I shot her one of my best award winning smiles. "You're a natural at it," I added.

Annette mulled this over for a minute. "Do you mean the thieving part or the investigation business part?"

"Both," I told her as I smiled at her again, "like I said, you're a natural at it." Her face took on a clouded expression that I had seen before when I first told her that I was a thief who broke into homes and business in my spare time as a hobby.

"What's the look of doubt for?" I asked as I tried to keep my tone neutral. "You don't think I'd go back to my old ways after I promised you I wouldn't do you?"

"Well Jim you lied to me before when you said you would drop this thing with Dick Jameson and then you went right back to his house didn't you?" Annette's voice and demeanor told me she'd always have some little reserved place of doubt and distrust about me and my motives. "That sounds a lot like going back on your word to me doesn't it?"

"Yes it does and yes I did," I said to her as I turned my head to look at her for a moment and make eye contact before putting my eyes back on the road. "You have every right to mistrust me if you're so inclined but I think you also have the love and understanding for me to know where I was coming from when I went back to Dick's house to get my stuff back."

"Oddly enough Jim I do and I want you to know that I do believe you won't go back to your old ways. Somehow I know those days are over for good." Annette gave a wan smile at me in an effort to let me know she didn't mean to hurt my feelings by bringing up the past. We had agreed to put the past behind us and to let it stay there. She had been really pissed off about me lying to her the whole time we'd been together about my extracurricular activities.

I pulled the car over onto the shoulder of the road and took her in my arms, gave her a big, extra long kiss, just on impulse, which surprised and delighted her at the same time. "I love you Annette; will you forgive me for being such an asshole in the past?" I asked as I gave her a bunch of quick kisses all over her face before she had the chance to reply.

"I guess I'll have to James if you feel that strongly about it," she said as she tried pushing me away while giggling and smiling at me and returning my kisses all at the same time.

I tried copping a cheap feel of her boobs since I was already all over her, I figured why not, but she pushed me away and caught her breath. "James, we're on a public highway, now stop this nonsense and save it for later," she said as she started to straighten herself out and rechecked her makeup in the visor.

I gave her my best sigh of dejected anguish as I released the parking brake and signaled to get back into traffic. I tried to add a little hangdog look to it but Annette wasn't going for it. She started laughing at me. "Oh, that's an excellent try James, but maybe next time you might try to add in a tear or two of rejection with the heartbreaking face. You might have better luck with the girls."

"Only one girl I need to get lucky with honey," I said as I smiled at her. "And with her it's not really luck I need."

"Well, save it for later and remember that level of enthusiasm that you had going buddy-boy." I got a big smile in return. Everything was okay again. "Now tell me what is going on in that razor sharp mind of yours before we get to the casino. I know there's something happening, you just didn't get a chance to get it out before Darryl and Con got there and then things just sort of rolled away from us."

"Indeed there is honey. You're not going to believe what I saw last night at the Performance Shop," I said to her and started filling her in on last night and where I thought we should be looking today for answers. By the time we got out of the car at the casino we sort of had a plan on what I'd told Annette so far, which was all the main points with some filling in to do later when we had the time.
Chapter 45

When we got upstairs Con, Big Darryl and Frank were standing off to the side of the reception area talking quietly. "Con and Darryl told me you got everything straightened out this morning," Frank said as he shook Annette's hand and then mine. "Welcome back. We got Bart Sampers sitting in the conference room cooling his heels and waiting for you. He's been in there about twenty minutes by himself."

"That must have been your idea, right Con?" I said to him with a grin. "Once you're a cop, you're always a cop?"

"Something like that. How do you want to work this interview, you got a line on how you guys want this to go?"

"I was thinking that we start off easy with a few simple questions and then everybody sort of jumps in at it from different angles if we think of something we want to ask Bart, you know, try to keep him off balance."

Con, Big Darryl and Frank exchanged a look with each other while raising their eyebrows in unison. "That's all fine, well and good Jimmy except what are we interviewing Bart about?" Big Darryl asked as they all looked to Annette for clarification. All they got was a shrug from her.

Why is it every time you get a group of men together asking questions and there's a woman there, all the men look to the woman for the correct answers. I don't know about the rest of you guys, but as men I think we've got to get together collectively and try to stop acting and sounding stupid in front of women. There's a chance they might start talking about us in a bad way concerning our intelligence. Just an observation guys, so go figure.

"Bart knows Tom Ralston," I told them in a conspiratorial whisper with a smile, like that explained everything. The confusion was evident and I thought there was going to be another case of mass whiplash reported with the way we were looking back and forth at each other going around our little circle that we'd formed. I couldn't help but smile while this was going on.

"Jimmy I want you to explain that for us and don't do that again," Frank said as he rubbed his forehead in frustration while he squinted and then shut his eyes. "You do understand me, right?" he asked with his eyes still shut.

"I understand you, yes sir," I replied while getting rid of my smile. Frank might have changed his mind about hiring me back and the 'all's forgiven' type stuff, but he was still my boss and could un-forgive me again just as quick if he thought I was pulling his wanger.

"Tom Ralston was one of the original independent contractors we hired when we first opened the casino and installed our systems, right?" I got a few head nods after they put some thought into it. "Plus, I bet he's been back numerous times over the years to troubleshoot and help set up new programs and systems too?" I said as they all followed along with my thinking, giving a few nods here and there. "Now that being said and leaving the private contractors out of the investigation except at state or federal level, my money is on him coming back in, helping us set up our system for the slot's payout, theoretical win table, algorithmic spreadsheets and programs, all the while he was planting some kind of backdoor program to breach our security once everything was in place and set up," I said with a flourish of my hands for effect when I was done.

You could've heard a pin drop on the carpet. The whiplash effect was taking hold again but it finally stopped at Con, Big Darryl, and Frank as they looked back and forth at each other again and again, weighing my words and trying to digest the mouthful of shit that I'd probably just shoveled them.

It seemed like a long time before Frank spoke up, but he finally seemed to come to some unspoken consensus with Con and Big Darryl and asked, "What led you to this line of thinking?"

I glance at Annette for help but all she did was shrug at me in the way of helping to back me up. "Well Frank it's like this; I stumbled onto something last night and this line of thinking was a result of it. As soon as I started rethinking what I knew, I knew that I really hadn't known what I thought I knew, but now I know what I know, and I think Bart in there might help us even if he doesn't know anything," I said in a rush of words hoping that it would make enough sense for Frank, Big Darryl and Con...no luck.

Frank stuck his hands in his pockets and bowed his head as he shook it back and forth slowly while he closed his eyes again. "He just did it again to me Annette. How do you put up with it?" Frank asked her with his eyes still closed and letting out a big sigh.

"I know. Frustrating isn't it?" she said to him. "You know Frank he wasn't like this, I don't think, until he came out of his coma after the car wreck. Ever since then, every once in a while when he's talking, these things just spill out of him when he's trying to explain something to somebody."

"Can you interpret or translate for me what it was he just said or do I really have to ask him again?" Frank had opened his eyes again after listening to Annette's reasoning behind the way I was talking.

"Sure Frank. Last night Jim was doing, let's say, some research work, okay?" Frank thought for a moment, nodded for Annette to continue. "Well Jim saw something last night that made him go back to what someone had mentioned to him earlier when he first started digging into this, way back to the beginning, okay?" Frank nodded again, only this time Con and Big Darryl joined in with nods of their own. "What Jim saw made him realize that he wasn't just on to Dick Jameson, but he was on to this Tom Ralston character as well, only he had had no idea that these two would be connected up until last night. When Jim connected the dots they just all sort of fell together for him and then he went to sleep in the back seat of the car when I picked him up," she said with a smile as she looked at me. "I think his mind went into some kind of overload because he's been talking this way to us since he got up this morning," Annette added quietly to Frank like I wasn't there.

"Let me guess, we don't want to know where Jimmy was doing this research last night do we."

"No Frank you don't."

"Do these ramblings of his make any sense to you Annette?"

"Actually Frank they make a lot of sense to me because Jim can tell me things right now that he can't tell you until later, if at all."

"So you think you guys are on to something and talking to Bart will help solve this?"

"I most certainly do Frank or we wouldn't be here. Let us have a shot at talking to Bart and see what happens? I think we're getting close on this with what Jim found out last night during his research," Annette said as placed her hand on Frank's shoulder for emphasis, then added, "Frank do you think we can have Cheryl Morgan take another look at Tom Ralston, we'd really appreciate it if she could.

Frank looked at Con and Big Darryl for a moment; got that unspoken what-ever-it-was they do and nodded. "Okay Annette you guys talk to Bart and see if he knows anything. I'll go put in a call to Cheryl Morgan myself. Anything you want me to pass on to her Conroy?"

"No I'm good with thing as they are Frank."

"Okay, then get to it," Frank said as he turned to go and then stopped. "I have just one more thing Annette; try to keep the village idiot here from saying too much will you?" With that he turned and headed back to his office.

Everybody looked at me like I was the village idiot, then starting laughing. They were still chuckling as we went into the conference room to talk to Bart Sampers. As I took my seat at the table I got to thinking maybe I was losing my edge when it came to talking to people and bullshitting them. What if Frank was right and I was starting to sound like the village idiot to people. You start getting older and you lose your edge, then you start making too many critical decisions that go the wrong way.

"Oh sweet Jesus jumped up on the space shuttle!" I said to myself. "No, No, No!" All the mistakes that I'd made in the last year starting at Dick and Shirley's flashed into my mind in the order that they'd happened to me. Almost getting caught at their house and then talking to Cal Ralston up at Peninsula College so he can talk to Tommy and tell him what I knew, even if it was just by accident, maybe Cal mentioned that I was on to something at Seven Rivers Casino!

"Oh, fresh cow shit on a very hot day with no breeze!" I said to myself thinking how I had left myself wide open to be run off the road at the most perfect spot by someone who knows how to drive and cut people off like they do it everyday! Tommy Ralston; the race car driver! "Oh, no, no, no! Fuck me running with my panties on backwards twice!"

That wasn't someone from Cheryl's office at the State Gaming Commission watching and following us around! It had to be somebody that was hooked up with Dick and Tommy. It had to be! I had left so many holes for people to bury me in it was ridiculous when I thought about it. It was not only myself, but Annette also, that I'd put in jeopardy and I had almost gotten her shot on the front porch of our home. As these thoughts flashed through my mind I knew my line of thinking and reasoning up until this point had been seriously flawed. I hadn't thought where the line of thinking was taking me and the consequences of what I'd said to people along the way. I had forgotten that in a small town like Port Angeles that just about everybody knows everybody or somebody who was related to them. How stupid could I have been! I came back to the moment at hand and as I pulled myself out of my thoughts I realize that they were all looking at me with funny expressions and the smiles were still on their faces.

"What's so funny? I thought that maybe we might be past the village idiot part by now?" I must have had some attitude in my voice because the smiles vanished in an instant.

"Honey you were talking to yourself out loud about Jesus and the space shuttle," Annette said to me quietly as she placed her hand on my arm and leaned into me.

I rolled my eyes up to the ceiling and then brought them down to meet the gaze of the other eyes at the table. "Anything else I said?" I asked her quietly as I kept eye contact with everybody at once from my seat.

"Well, there was mention of 'fresh cow shit' and something about 'sex while you were running backwards'," she whispered to me again and patted my arm. "Don't worry its okay," she added as an after thought.

"Okay, I was in a coma from my car wreck and I just had a revelation on how bad I've screwed things up from the start of this," I told everybody as I drummed my fingers on the table in front of me. "But now I'm back and we can continue on if that's okay with everybody?" I asked looking from person to person. I got plenty of okays from around the table and head nods in agreement.

"Sure Jimmy, that's fine with us isn't it Darryl?" Con said.

"Yeah let's do this so we can let Bart here get back to work," Darryl's voice and tone were guarded.

"Okay then I'll start," I said and kept going, "Bart you know that there's been a big investigation going on here concerning the hits we've been taking on the slot machines?"

"Sure Jim, just about everybody knows it," he slowly answered.

"We got a chance to talk a little bit the last time my wife and I was in here when we came up to the tech room, but we didn't get a chance to talk very much to you by yourself since we had all those other people to speak to. Mind if we ask you some more questions?" I had smiled at Bart and tried to be as pleasant as possible to him.

"Sure Jim, ask me anything you want, I don't know how much I can help you, but I'll try."

I smiled again at Bart as I asked my next question. "Bart can we trust you to keep your mouth shut about what ever we talk about in here? You know, really trust you not to say anything to anybody ever? That what we say won't go any farther than these four walls?"

"Sure, I promise I won't breathe a word of it to anyone."

"That's good Bart because I've made some serious mistakes in judgment since I got into this and it almost got me killed when I was in that car wreck and to top it off, somebody tried to kill Annette and me on our front porch last week. You see that in the newspaper?'

"Yeah, I saw that and I heard they thought you were the guy and tazered you. That's too bad. It must have been really embarrassing when you peed your pants," Bart told me with a smirk then asked; "they catch the guy yet?"

"No Bart it's still under investigation and for your information I did not pee in my pants. Where did you hear that from anyway?" I really wanted to know where he heard this from. In small towns rumors spread fast and tended to be taken as the gospel truth after a while, like the next time it's repeated to someone else.

"You know Bobby who works in the kitchen? He was talking to one of the guys who comes in the restaurant and his cousin, or brother, or somebody knows somebody that works at the sheriff's department and they told him that they heard you had peed your pants when they tazered you. They said you were flopping around like a salmon that had just been landed and then you peed in your pants!"

Bart must have seen something in my face because the smirk faded from his face. "Sorry Jim, I didn't mean to make like it was funny," he said in the way of an apology.

"Great that's all I need," I said to no one in particular. "A rumor going around that I peed my pants! Do me favor Bart and tell Bobby to go fuck himself for me the next time you hear him say that will you?"

"Sure Jim, I'll go tell him as soon as we're done here if you want me to?" There was concern in Bart's voice. I could hear it.

"No, just the next time you see him will work fine for me."

"Jim, if you could please?" Annette said with a weary sigh.

"Okay honey. It's just that I can't have people going around thinking that I peed my pants when I didn't, can I?"

"Jim lets move along, shall we?"

"Well, you wouldn't want people going around saying that you had peed your pants when you didn't would you?" I asked her. "A rumor like that can get to a guy if you don't nip it in the bud right away!" I said looking at the guys in the room for support on this. It was a guy thing that connected us and Con, Big Darryl, and Bart all nodded and added un-huhs and assorted yes's in agreement with me.

"James, if don't drop this and quit wasting time, I'll have your balls when we get home. Understand buddy-boy?" Annette said in a quiet voice that everyone could hear. All of us did the man-wench thing where guys automatically scrunch up at the thought of a woman having our balls under less than ideal circumstances.

"Right," I replied. "Okay Bart can you tell us everything you know about Tommy Ralston. Where you met him, how you know him, his likes and interests, that sort of stuff. We want to know about his background.

"Well let's see," Bart said as he rubbed his chin as he tried to gather his thoughts. "I met him up at the college when I was taking a computer class that his dad was teaching; he came in and gave a lecture on algorithms programming and how to write programming for it. It was pretty advanced stuff for me."

"You talk to him about it afterwards or ask any questions during the lecture?" Con asked.

"No. The first time I talked to him was when I got hired here when we were setting up the tech room. He came in and wrote some programming from what I understand and helped get some of the bugs worked out of the system."

"What did you talk about?" Big Darryl asked.

"You know; computer stuff."

"Can you elaborate for us? What was it that got you guys to talking about computer stuff?"

"Well some of the systems were overloading and couldn't handle all the input from all the different units or process it quickly enough on the recall," Bart said as he warmed up to the subject. "Some of the information would get lost in the wrong storage files, some of the information and data wouldn't get to the backup unit to be stored and you'd have to search for hours sometimes to find it again." Bart gave us a small smile as he remembered the beginning of the casino's life. He'd been working at the very nerve center of the casino; its brain so to speak, from day one.

"We'd gone to the deli and got sandwiches, brought them back to the tech center and sat around talking about system storage overload. You know, we just started talking to each other about the job and computers."

"You ever talk about personal stuff? How about your lives at home, family, hobbies? You two ever talk about that kind of stuff?" Annette asked.

"Sure, after a while we started talking about our home systems and stuff like that. Tom told me he was working a program for a computer that monitors fuel efficiency on race cars and was learning how to build and drive one. He was going to market and sell the program to all the big race car teams, you know STP, Interstate Batteries, all the big guy who invest big money into stock car racing and Indy cars."

"Great Bart, this is what we want to know, keep going," Annette told him as she made a few more notations on her notepad. "This is really going to be a big help to us."

"I found out he had his own programming patent on an algorithmic system he'd created and was trying to sell to some major financial institutions through his consulting company and his sister was going around to the major computer makers and software system developers trying to sell the idea to them."

"What happened there? Did you ever hear anything on what happened with that end of it?" Big Darryl asked him.

"Sort of...but not really. I ran into him about a year later and asked him about it and he said that someone else had already come up with a system for the race car program and he sort of thought that they might have stolen his idea from him and developed it their selves."

"Think somebody could have stolen it from him? His idea I mean?" Con asked.

"Not really, if you're working on something the chances are now-a-days that there are probably a hundred other people or companies working on the same thing as you are. It's just the way it is in the information age that we live in now," Bart answered Con and thought about something else. "With all the electronic theft and sharing of information it's really hard to keep programming developments and breakthroughs to yourself, especially if you are trying to sell it to someone big."

"What do you mean?" Big Darryl asked.

"You have to tell them what it is you have if you want to sell to the big corporations or developers and marketing companies. If you're not careful with them and have all your research documented and patents applied for they can take your idea and run with it their self. If they've been working on something even remotely along the same lines you don't have a chance of ever proving they stole it from you."

"Think that's what happened with Tommy and his programs; they both got stolen or something like that?" Annette asked.

"He never said for sure, but that's just the feeling I got from talking to him for a few minutes. I could tell he was really crushed after all the work he'd put into the research and development of the program," he told Annette. You could hear the sympathy in Bart's voice. It just went to prove that geeks have feeling too.

"Bart, you guys ever hang out after work? You know, go have a few beers, come over for barbeques on the weekends, stuff like that?" I asked.

"Nah, we would just run into each other once in a while and talk shop, computers, how's it going, that type of stuff. We really didn't have that much in common and he was always working with his consulting business or playing with the stock car thing. He was really into it back then and still is from what I hear."

"What have you heard about that?" Con asked before Annette or I could. It would have been our next logical question after what I saw last night at the Performance Shop.

"Just that he's really gotten into it in the last ten years. Going around the state and making all the stock car races and sometimes he even goes out of state. I heard he's really trying to make a name for himself in the Washington State racing circuit."

"You ever go to the races yourself, you and the family maybe? Are you a stock car fan?" Con gently probed.

"We've taken Joey and little Matt a couple of times off and on the last few summers." Bart told us with a smile forming on his face as he thought about his boys. "You know how nine year olds are, and Matt being six; well if it's good enough for my older brother, its good enough for me too." Bart had drifted off to Father Land on us as he talked about his little boys.

Bart had filled in a few blanks for us and help round out the picture on Tommy Ralston. As far as Bart being involved in something with him there was no way I could see it after talking to the guy. He struck me as the typical small town family man who just went to work every day and did the typical family stuff on his days off with his wife and two kids. No way could the guy be involved in something illegal, he just didn't have it in him.

"Thanks for your time Bart, you've been a lot of help here and remember, mums the word on this," I said. "Anybody got anything else for Bart?" I asked looking around the table.

"Bart, what are the chances that Henry Mantel knows something about Tom Ralston that might help us?" Annette asked him.

"I don't know." Bart said as he scratched his head while he thought about it for a moment. "I don't think he really knows the guy anymore than I do from when he has been here to work on the systems. They didn't seem to talk about anything but work as far as I can tell. I guess you could ask him."

We didn't have anymore questions that we could think of for Bart so Con sent him back to work with the admonishment of being fired immediately on the spot if he so much as breathed one word about our conversation and reminding him that this was a criminal investigation. I think we all felt that after talking to him that Bart probably wouldn't talk about it, even in his sleep.

We had Henry come in and we shot some questions at him for awhile but he didn't seem to know anything either. If anything he seemed to feel that Tommy Ralston was too much of a professional and had too much at stake with his consulting and programming business to be involved in anything illegal. Basically it was a washout getting any useful information out of Henry that we could use, but it all helped to fill in small blanks about the guy.

Frank had a meeting he needed to attend so we ordered lunch and had it brought up to the conference room where we could eat and talk about what had been happening lately with the shooting and the investigating. Annette and I tried to tell Big Darryl and Con as much as we could about the investigation without telling them we had been doing things that could be considered illegal in some circles. I think they had their own suspicions from some of the guarded looks they gave each other.

After lunch wrapped up, we went to Home Depot. I needed to make a run through the Burglaries & Theft department to pick up a few items for our nocturnal branch of Fratino Investigations.
Chapter 46

Paula and Dennis were on their way back to Sequim working the interviews off their list when Annette touched base with them. The mail probably wasn't ready at the post office box since it was still relatively early so Annette asked them to check on it when they were headed back to Port Angeles. We'd feel a lot better about things if we had the mini GPS trackers for all of us to carry or at least keep in the vehicles we were driving when we were out and about. Who knew where things in this investigation might lead us or who we'd run up against and what might happen. I knew that Annette would never forgive me or worse yet, herself, if anything happened to Paula or Dennis while they were working for us. I didn't know if Annette would be able to handle something like that.

I needed a few things for tonight so we stopped at Home Depot and a couple of hardware stores while we were in Sequim. Annette wanted to get some new memory cards for the cameras so we stopped at the local Wal-Mart. We wound up spending an extra two or three hours in Sequim that I didn't want seeing as I wanted to take a nap in preparation for tonight. We also wound up spending another $300 at Wal-Mart by the time Annette was done picking up a few essentials for the house while we were there.

As soon as we got home I went to the Bat Cave and started getting prepared for tonight's activities while Annette busied herself with putting the shopping away then doing more online searches into the background of the people we were looking at. Between Annette and Paula doing background searches in their spare time we were starting to compile files of information on each of the suspected participants. Plus I wanted her to do an internet search on the security cameras at Dick's shop, if for nothing else it might be useful information sometime in the future.

"I'm headed to bed and I'm taking some of the leftover drugs to make sure I get to sleep," I said to Annette as I leaned in to kiss her on the cheek and look over her shoulder to see what she had up on the computer screen. She was searching the Clallam County online records, digging into one of our suspect's lives.

"Take half an Ambien, a half of Percocet, and one of the Aleve and no more!" Annette said as she sort of kept her eyes on the screen and smooched back at me.

"Yes dear," I said as I stood up and stuck my tongue out at her behind her back as I walked off towards the bedroom.

"Jim," Annette called to me as I left.

"Yes Annette."

"I just want you to know I saw that in the reflection of the computer screen. Grow up Jim."

"Sorry I just couldn't help myself dear," I apologized.

"On second thought Jim, feel free to help yourself to all the Percocet you want." I heard Annette say as I was closing the bedroom door.

Maybe Annette was right. Maybe I needed to get more serious about thinking before I did stupid little things like that. I gave it some more thought as I assembled, then took the prescribed drugs my wife had ordered me to take. Maybe that was what had made me stick my tongue out at her behind her back. She had ordered me to take a certain amount, like I was a kid who couldn't be trusted to take the right amount on their own. Maybe it was a subconscious thing I was doing without even thinking about it? After I had mulled this over for five or ten minutes and before the drugs were kicked in I got up and went back out and really apologized to Annette and told her what I'd been thinking over.

I got forgiven and the short lecture in return because she could tell the drugs had kicked in and I needed to head back to bed. Annette gently patted my cheek and then was saying something about not knowing something when I zoned out on her. The rest was a haze of conversation as she led me by the hand back into the bedroom. I knew she was saying something to me, I just didn't understand what it was, maybe about me being a kid. I vaguely remembered she kissed me lightly on the lips and then was looking down at me. Boom-boom; out goes the lights.

I was surprised that I'd slept so long. It didn't seem like I had taken more drugs than I should have and it certainly didn't feel like it. I woke feeling refreshed and alert without a trace of sluggishness that drugs tend to leave you with. I took Annette and wrapped her in my arms, apologizing again and getting more of the short lecture on growing up mentally. A couple of kisses later and I felt like we were back on track. It really felt like it when she gave me a slap on the butt with a smile as I headed off to the shower.

It would be dark in another hour or so. Paula and Dennis had long ago come and gone. Paula had helped Annette work on the files we were compiling on our suspects and Dennis had typed up a report on the interviews they had done plus they'd had dinner without me. I gave them a quick scan after I got out of the shower while I had a cup of coffee. The files and report were well written and concise. Dennis had taken it upon himself to also write daily reports on what had been done with a short summary of objectives and how they had turned out. I reminded myself to give Dennis an atta-boy, maybe take him to lunch, just the two of us.

Annette and I discussed the reports and things as they stood in general as I put on my ninja outfit in the Bat Cave. Nothing had jumped out at Paula and Dennis in the interviews and the free slot tickets seemed to have worked real well according to them. The files we were putting together on the information gathered was something else.

"I see in the Sherry Walmond file you now have her listed as Tommy Ralston's sister. Nice work," I told Annette as I started putting the equipment I had laid out earlier into my belly bag.

"I took a shot at the birth certificates when I was in the county records and after rooting around for a while I got lucky when I entered the Ralston name and there she was. Then I looked at the filed marriage certificates and up she came again."

"Who's she married to? Anybody on our list or that I might know from coming into the casino?" I asked with a glance as I started packing a small backpack with extra gear I thought I might need.

"No one for the last six years as far as I could find in the records. She was married to some guy named Herbert Lewis Walmond but they got divorced. I'm trying to run him down and get a line on him." Annette was sitting on the end of the work bench swinging her legs back and forth, looking at the floor as we spoke.

"Well, keep at it and maybe something will turn up." I paused as I looked at her again. Something wasn't right. "Annette, what's on your mind honey? Something bothering you that you want to talk about?" I stopped what I was doing, went over to her and nestled in between her legs, taking her in my arms.

"No, we're good, no problems here Jim," she told me as she took me in her arms for a hug and a light pat on the back.

"Bullshit," I said as leaned back and looked into her eyes. She broke eye contact and looked down.

"It's nothing, really. We can talk about it later. Right now you need to finish getting ready. We can talk about it later tonight or in the morning," she told me and finished it with a quick peck on the lips.

"Talk to me Annette"

"We'll talk later Jim, finish getting ready." Annette nodded her head at the equipment laid out on the workbench. She'd been gnawing on her lower lip a little and not making eye contact much since she'd came down. Definite signs that all was not well in Annette World.

I broke the embrace and pulled the stool over that I kept in the corner. I sat down in front of her. She fidgeted some and stared at the floor for about a minute before finally making eye contact.

"You've been acting odder than usual lately and I've sort of been worried about you," Annette said in a quiet voice.

I thought about that for a moment or two. "How odder and what do you mean?"

"Like sticking your tongue out at me behind my back earlier, like thinking that you're talking inside your head during the meeting at the casino when you're really talking out loud." Annette had a serious look on her face. "Then the other day, where did that stuff came from when we walked in on Dennis and Paula? Plus, what about when that guy, or whoever it was, was taking shots at us from across the road?" Annette asked me.

Annette was ticking off her fingers as she spoke. She was really getting into it. For reasons I couldn't fathom this stuff bothered her. This is just great. What do I say now?

"What do you mean about the other night?" I calmly asked her. I thought I'd handled myself fairly well until the Sheriff's Department arrived and tazered me, the fuckers.

"Jim you asshole, you jumped over the fence and took off after someone that was armed and shooting at us!" Annette said in exasperation as she threw her arms up frustration. "What in the hell were you thinking?" she asked me with a look that I knew too well. "You weren't even armed and off you go. That was the stupidest thing I'd ever seen and you scared me to death when you just up and jump over that fence like you were superman or something!"

"You're the one who didn't want me carrying a gun wasn't it?" I interjected.

"That's beside the point and don't try to change the subject!" Annette said while giving me a scathing look.

"Honey all I know was that somebody was shooting at you and I guess deep down inside me I couldn't just stand by and do nothing." I stood up and took her hands in mine as I spoke to her. "I'm sorry that scared you but I just went into instinctive-protective mode without thinking about it and it just happened," I said as soothingly as possible while giving her my 'I'm really sorry' look. I guess it didn't work very well because she punched me in the shoulder. And it hurt too. Then she looked at me, started getting teary eyed and snuffling nose on me. Great, she was getting ready to cry and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

I reached over, grabbed some shop towels and handed them to her. Women; go figure. Annette flopped her hands and arms around some in thanks, peeled off a couple as she sniffled through her nose and then blew it to the tune of Canadian honking geese. That's my girl, all class in her act.

"Okay now?" I asked her.

Annette punched me the arm again. "No, it's not okay Jim! Ever since I found out what you've been doing in your spare time it seems like our whole world has been turned upside down and put in a washing machine. Now I don't know if we're on spin cycle or going through the rinse cycle," she said giving me her steely eyed look. "Just look at the hospital when you were there."

I must have had a really stupid look on my face as I thought back to when I was in the hospital. Annette decided to take pity on me and fill me in on her thinking. "You were flippant with everybody you came into contact with Jim. Look at the way you treated Con when he came to the hospital and that state trooper. My god Jim, you treated these people like they were assholes or something for Christ sakes."

I held up one finger as I started to say something but Annette cut me off with the hand wave thing she does so well, effectively stopping me. "It's like this last year I've been living with a new man in my life and I don't think I like what I'm seeing in him. Con and Big Darryl came into our home and you insulted them by calling them rats and offering them cheese in front of Dennis and Paula. Where do justify doing that to them in our home, in front of our friends, when they're guests in our home? Ok, maybe not exactly guests but where has your manners gone? "

"They deserved it and they knew it too. For that matter, you knew it too. So it doesn't matter to me what they thought of me," I said. "As for Con and Trooper Montgomery, they were trying to intimidate me into telling them what they wanted to know and they were treating me like I was a fool while they were doing it too."

"Okay what about Cheryl Morgan and that whole fiasco with the State Gaming Commission looking into your past?"

"What about it?"

"How about you telling me what all that was about and clearing up this black hole from your past in Florida? You promised you'd tell me all about it sometime, I think sometime is right now. Good god Jim!" Annette said holding her hand out, palms up, and shaking them like someone pleading for supplication or forgiveness from someone up high. "It's like I'm living with another man who's taken over my husband's body and I don't know what to think anymore!"

"No I didn't. I said I _might_ tell you about it sometime. That's a lot of different than a promise."

"Sealed records Jim," Annette said to me quietly. "You're not supposed to keep something like that from your wife. I want to know."

"That's off the table Annette. Maybe we can talk about it someday, but not right now," I said as gently as I could. Annette had clasped her hands together and put them in her lap.

She just looked at me, waiting, so I pressed on. "Annette honey you're seeing the real me, in living color. I hope you can handle it because basically this is me, minus some of the flakey shit I guess, I don't know where that's coming from," I said with a slight smile, trying to be the charming fool.

Annette said nothing; she didn't even crack a smile at the corners of her mouth. It was nada on the charming fool. She wasn't going for it this time. "Annette, for most of our lives together we've basically had a non-confrontational relationship with the people who come into our daily lives, right?"

Annette blew her nose again as she shrugged her shoulders as an answer. "We go to the store or the bank or some place. Say we don't agree with a return policy or what they say our bank balance is okay?" Annette gave me slight shrug, but this time she looked at me. Progress! "Do I get all rant and raving pissed off at these people and treat them like fools even though sometimes that's the way they treat us; like fools or incompetents that can't understand what they are saying?"

"No, neither one of us usually treat people that way Jim and that's what I'm having a hard time understanding about you right now."

"Sweetheart, I respect Frank, Big Darryl and Con all kind of ways to next week and back and they respect you and me, but they're not going to respect us if we roll over and give up or act all kinds of meek and mild when we're dealing with them. Do you sort of see what I'm getting at here?"

Annette had started looking at me again while I was explaining this. That's always a good sign with her. "I guess so, but what about all this other stuff?"

"Bear with me, I'm getting to it. Right now we're working for the casino as a business and although I'm still technically employed by them as a floor supervisor, we can't let them dictate to us the parameters of our business or how to conduct it, can we?"

"No, I guess we can't let people do that. It wouldn't be good business," Annette said with a puzzled look on her face. "But where is all of this leading to in our conversation?"

"Where it's leading to is this; I know my place in the casino when I'm working for the casino. When I'm working on somebody's house I know my place there and the role I'm supposed to take in both places. Follow my thinking so far?"

"I guess so far I do. That basically goes for most people though doesn't it?"

"Yes it does until people start working for themselves and don't know how to handle it after working for somebody else for most of their lives. It might take them forever to learn the skills of being in charge of a business and their lives. Either you learn quickly or you die quickly in the business world and you have to have a thick skin to survive it as well."

"But that still doesn't explain to me your attitude or treatment of Con and Big Darryl, or the way you handled Con and that state trooper at the hospital," Annette said in a small voice of incomprehension.

"We're taught since childhood to do what policemen or firemen or teachers tell us to do and that they're the good guys, which they usually are. This doesn't give them the right to intimidate us or treat us as fools when we don't just up and tell them what they want to know when we don't want to, or maybe we just don't know. I'm sure your mom and dad and the teachers at school all told you that over and over again until it was unquestionably stuck in your head, right?"

"Sure, we're all taught that as children and with good reason," Annette answered sternly.

"Do you really still believe that you should just up and answer any question a cop asks you because he a cop?"

Annette thought about the question for a few moments before answering me. She was putting some thought into it in light of my side of the discussion. "No, I guess you're right. After the way you and I were grilled at the sheriff's department and the way they treated us when we didn't answer every question they asked after we told them we were a private investigation firm?" Annette said shaking her head in what passed as disbelief for her. "I guess your right about that Jim, but it just seems so foreign a thought not to cooperate with law enforcement officers that it's hard to wrap my head around it."

"Okay, so what's really bothering you?" I asked her as I nestled back in-between her legs again and looked at her. Now that she'd gotten all the female buildup out of her system we might get to the real problem.

"I want you to have your head examined soon and I'm serious Jim."

"I don't understand," I said as I tried to figure out what she had meant.

"I want you to get a mental health evaluation. Talk to a professional, maybe get some x-rays or something," she said as she looked at me closely for my reaction.

Realization dawned on me and I understood exactly what Annette wanted and what it meant. "Okay," I told her with a smile, "I'll make a deal with you."

"What kind of deal are you talking about?" she asked me with suspicion and the raised eyebrow thing.

"Wait until we wrap this up and I'll do what ever you want me to do when we finish."

"Do you promise? And no bullshit either Jim, I mean it."

"I promise Annette and no bullshit either," I said as I raised my hand doing the solemn oath thing.

"Okay Jim, I'm holding you to your word and I expect you to keep it," Annette said as she lightly slapped me on the face a couple of times for good measure, then wrapping me in her arms and giving me a hug that held more than all the conversation we'd just had.

Nuts. My wife thinks I'm fucking nuts. So what's that make her, a squirrel? Women, go figure
Chapter 47

So she thinks I'm nuts! I thought to myself as I tightened up the nut and bolt on the three inch pipe collar clamp. I had used the mig-welder to attach a piece shaped like a wishbone with a round bar welded to the wye-end of it. To the end of the round bar I had attached one of those rope ladders they sell for escaping the second story of a house when it's on fire.

'Home Depot, nationwide burglars rate it number one for their professional shopping needs'! I thought with a little mental snicker. At least I hoped it was a mental snicker I thought afterwards.

I pulled the dropped ceiling panel and stuck my head cautiously through a little bit to look around and be on the safe side. With the way my luck had been going lately and with all the mental bullshit Annette had been throwing at me before we left I didn't really feel like taking any unnecessary chances, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Everything looked the same to me so I gently lowered the rope ladder through the hole and climbed down. I gave Dick's office and bathroom a quick look around as I quietly started singing _The Midnight Rambler_ by the Rolling Stones. I even threw in my little stage strut imitation of Mick while I did it.

"Orbiter, are you there?" I asked in whispered voice into the walkie-talkie.

"I'm here Needle. Is everything going okay?" Annette's voice from the little unit cut through the stillness of the office, sounding loud to me.

"A-okay and on the ground, I'm ready to set the timer, everything looks normal, over."

"Needle, you have a radio check fifteen minutes from now. Do not forget it buddy-boy!" That's my wife, always looking out for me I thought as I stood in the darkness.

"Needle, are you there? Answer me Needle!" came Annette's voice once more.

"I'm here Orbiter, over."

"Why didn't you answer me?"

"I was waiting for you to say over, over."

"I'll give you 'over' Needle if you don't answer me next time, even if I don't say over. You got that, over." The exasperation in her vice came through real clear, no distortion at all, I thought.

"Yes dear. Over and out for fifteen," I said as I rubbed my chin through my Nomex face mask thinking. "Orbiter, are you still there, over."

"Yes Needle I'm still here, what is it, over."

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry and I really mean it, over"

"I know you are and it's okay, alright?"

"Alright, I love you and will call back in fifteen, over."

My aren't we just a little bit edgy lately I thought as I slipped a flash drive into the port of Dick's office computer and sat down in his chair and hit the power button. I looked around the office again as I waited for the computer to run through its set-up programs, the little spot lights on my headband casting a feeble blue-white halo against the blackness of the room.

Dick's office looked like any other office you'd expect to find in the middle of the night when being broken into, a little blacker and creepier with some extra quiet thrown in for a kicker. I swiveled around in the chair and scooted over to the file cabinets, three side by side that had four drawers each. I got lucky on opening the bottom left as it held the DVD recorder for the surveillance cameras in the shop along with what I assumed were used and blank disks. I was proven right when the first one I picked up was blank, but the second one was labeled from six months ago. Look it what I got here Uncle Jed! I gotta have a talk with that boy someday soon!

The file cabinets were a wealth of information as they contained all of Dick's bank statements for what looked like the last five years along with his IRS filings for the business. It also held shipping and receiving files, employee records along with all the regular stuff that it takes to run a business. The bonus round came when I worked my way down to the bottom right and found the file that held all the paperwork from the bank along with the proposal to buy the racetrack.

I started to get the little camera out of my fanny pack so I could copy the file when I remembered that I needed to check-in. "Damn!" I thought to myself as I looked at my watch, almost ten minutes late. "Orbiter, are you there, over," I whispered into the walkie-talkie.

"Needle, you're late! What the hell happened to checking in every fifteen minuets? I've been worried sick waiting to hear from you!" Yep, no distortion at all I thought as I waited for Annette to finish with me. "Answer me! Are you still there or did you go stupid on me?"

"You didn't say over honey so I thought you weren't done talking, over." As soon as the words had left my mouth I knew it was the wrong thing to say to her since she'd been so touchy about things lately.

"Goddamn it James it's just the two of us and it's not like we're on a party line for Christ's sake! Just answer me when I'm done talking and don't worry about me saying over, got it buddy-boy?"

"Okay honey I understand. I got carried away looking through the file cabinets and forgot the time. I was just about to get the camera so I could take some pictures of them. There's a file here that fills some of our needs, if not all of them on this case," I told her.

"Is there a lot of it?"

"Yeah it's kind of big, doubled sided legalese; contracts, banks, that kind of stuff, why?"

"How about a copy machine? Do you see one of those in there?"

"Not in the office, but there might be one someplace else, I'll check and get back to you okay?"

"Good, check-in after fifteen minutes, got it?" Annette asked me in _the_ voice.

"Got it, fifteen it is," I replied. I waited for a moment or two but I figured Annette was done when I heard nothing else. I started for the door to look in the sales room when the walkie-talkie went off in my ear. I had it clipped to the shoulder strap of the back pack.

"Needle, are you there?" Annette asked me.

I pressed the send button as soon as I got my breath back in my lungs. I wasn't expecting to hear anything and it scared the shit out of me. "I'm here honey, what is it?"

"You forgot to say over, over."

I could have strangled her if she'd been there. "Sorry honey, over and out," I said as I pulled off my ski mask, threw on the floor and stomped on it four or five times and then put it back on. I felt much better afterwards.

After a quick peek in the sales and parts showroom I went and got the file before I shut off the surveillance recorder. I figured if anybody ever looked at the time on the disk they would figure the recorder had screwed up for a few minutes.

The copier in the sales and parts showroom was almost like the Cannon we had sitting in the hallway at the casino that we all used. After I got the file loaded in the tray it only took a moment for me to figure out the printing commands. Paper? Locked and loaded.

Five minutes later and I was done, had the printer shut off and was back in the office starting the surveillance recorder again. I put the file away, sat down in the office chair again, and started going through Dick's computer. I selected multiple folders, some of them looked to be the same as some of the ones in the file cabinet, and I figured why not, I had plenty of storage space. Business banking records, recorded. Monthly billing and accounts receivable, received. Employee records, sure, why not! And let's not forget the monthly expenditures for the year? Let's see what Dickie boy is spending his money on and let's see if it all adds up I thought as I started sending the files to the flash drive.

Since I didn't have anything to do for a minute or so I decided to look around the office some more and see if I couldn't find a hidey-hole someplace or maybe a safe. After all it was a business and where you have a business, you usually have a safe. It just stands to reason from my way of thinking. A business means money, checks, and credit card receipts...that totals up to a safe.

I went over to the storage closet and opened the door for a look see. "Well, well, what do we have here?" I asked myself as I stared down at a two foot by three foot old Portland spin dial safe sitting against the back wall. I knelt down and caressed the safe, giving it a little pat on the top for all the fond memories I had of its many of brothers and sisters I'd ran into over the years. But I didn't have a stethoscope with me, and if I'd packed one and Annette had happened to see it while she was talking to me, well lets not go there since I promised her I wouldn't go there anymore.

I checked out a couple of small cardboard boxes sitting on the shelf above. They held nothing of interest. Same with a couple of old winter coats and sweaters hanging from the rod beneath it. I turned to leave and there sat a round two foot mailing tube in the corner. I'd seem many of these in my life and I even had a couple sitting at home that held construction blueprints. I grabbed the three inch diameter tube without even thinking about it and took it to the desk. I opened it up and spied blueprints inside which I immediately removed and unrolled on top of the desk.

"Double down bonus round," I said to myself as I immediately recognized what I was looking at, the excitement started surging through me. I was looking at blueprints for a new expanded, up to date, modern racetrack. No, Dick and the kids didn't want to expand his business building; they wanted to buy out the currant owners of the racetrack and go for the Full-Monty it looked like. No wonder they needed so much dough-ray-me, the thing was going to cost at least ten million to build, plus whatever it cost to buy the racetrack outright, if indeed that's what they had planned. I checked my watch. It was almost check-in time. I stood there for only a moment thinking about it before I acted. I pulled the file drawer open and shut off the surveillance recorder again, I pulled the staples that held the sheets of blueprints together and shoved them in my pocket, grabbed the prints and headed for the copy machine again hoping that it could be expanded to accept the size of them.

Luck was with me. The Cannon could just barely adjust up to the size of the blueprints. I pulled all the paper out of the feed tray and adjusted it all the way out to where it stops, laid two pieces of paper side-by-side against the tray edges and taped them together with some scotch tape that I grabbed off the service counter. I took those out and repeated the process one more time, taping them to the end of the first one so I would have roughly the same length as the blueprints. I flipped the concoction over so the taped side was down, laid one of the blueprints in the copy feed, adjusted the setting for one sheet and hit the print button. I figured if the machine jammed up and ruined one sheet I could clear the jam and put everything back the way it was and nobody would miss just one sheet of the blueprints for a long time if I was lucky. But then it didn't matter because I wouldn't be there for the fallout would I?

The trusty Cannon whirled, clacked and made all the noises it was supposed to make and then it started to spit out the blueprint. I held my breath until the sheet of paper was completely out of the copier, then I exhaled and did my little happy dance around the copier in joyous triumph, pumping my fist in the air and then patting the copier on its top.

I put everything back like it was and went back into the office and turned the surveillance recorder back on again. With any luck whoever, if they ever check it, will think that it's more of the same glitch from ten minutes ago. I checked-in with Annette and got chewed on some more for being almost two minutes late. I told her what I was doing and that I wanted her to meet me at the pick-up site so she could take the material home while I went to the racetrack. We agreed that I should let her know when I was about fifteen minutes away from being done so she could just drive up and leave if she needed to.

I shut off the surveillance recorder once more and went through the process of making more taped together pages and copying the rest of the blueprints and putting everything back in place like it was. I restarted the surveillance recorder, sat down in Dick's office chair and thrummed my fingers on the desk as I mulled over the pros and cons of spending the time and effort it would take to try to get into the safe.

Houston what's the system status for Orbiter One at this time, over.

Burglar One we have nominal status readings across the board for Orbiter One, but please be advised that we are seeing some fluctuations in her mainframe unit lately that may be leading up to a meltdown. Acknowledge transmission, over.

_I copy on the meltdown Houston._ Women, go figure.

Screw it, I had to know what was in there and there was no time like the present. I pulled the bank and IRS files, sat down crossed legged in front of the safe and started with trying the digits in Dick's birthday for the combination. If I remembered correctly from my previous encounters with Portland safes they used a standard three set number tumbler for their smaller models. Didn't work no matter what order I put them in so I tried Shirley's birthday next. No go there either.

I looked at my watch and saw I was supposed to check-in with Annette and using what I thought was better judgment I decided to check-in instead off blowing her off. I was able to stall for time by telling her it was best if I doubled checked the computer and paper files now while I was here just in case something jumped out at me this time that I didn't see before. Besides, Dick and Shirley were out of town for another day or two so it wasn't like we had to worry about them coming home and walking in on me.

I got the short reminder on how she found out I was into nocturnal part-time work to begin with, but she agreed it was better to take the time now and try to get all the important stuff the first time so we didn't have to make two trips. Plus she gave me an atta-boy for being on time!

I tried using Dick's social security number next and variations of it with no luck, same with Shirley's. I got the bright idea to try combinations of their birthdays and social security numbers which was a washout also. I didn't know their wedding date so I couldn't try it. I had to admit that I'd pretty much run out of options at this point and there was no way I could see of ever getting the chance to come back and try again. Not after the promises I had made to Annette; I was on thin ice already.

I plopped back down in Dick's chair and gazed off into the gloom that my little headband lights were trying to pierce and I tried to come up with other combinations I might be able to use to get into the safe. I kept staring at the opposite wall coming up with blanks when I finally noticed the framed first dollar bill that Dick had made. Hanging right below it was his business license. Hell with it, what did I have to lose by trying? I grabbed both of them off the wall and sat back down in front of the safe again trying the numbers on the dollar bill, working through the sequences. I washed out again.

I sat it on top of the safe and took a look at the business license. It had twelve digits for me to work with so I broke it into thirds and started from there; if these didn't work I'd try groupings of the first set with the first numbers of the second set together and so forth on down the line until I ran out of number combinations to use. I ran out of time and numbers. It was time for me to check-in again with Annette. I told her to give me another fifteen minutes to close up and get out of the building and another ten or so to make it back over to the pick-up point. We agreed a half an hour should work out just fine.

I was bummed out to say the least. I was sitting back in the chair with the files in my lap as I'd talked to Annette, so I just reached up over my shoulder and pulled the top drawer out while I continued to look at the safe just sitting there. As I spun around to stand up and put the files back where they belonged I caught a glimpse of masking tape stuck to the bottom of the drawer. I was half way out of the chair when the realization of what it was kicked in and I settled back into the chair for a good look. Three sets of double digits, no way it could be that simple of a hiding place but hey, go figure.

I put the files back and went to the safe, sat down and entered the numbers, probably looking like a little kid on their first Christmas morning. I felt no resistance, the handle giving way as I pushed down and pulled the door open as I scooted back some, giving it room to swing all the way open. It was my first Christmas, Fourth of July, my birthday, plus the first time I'd ever had sex with a girl all rolled into one! Oh please, slap me silly, but don't wake me up!

"Hell-o-o-o-o Baby!!!" I said out loud. I guess I jumped up, because I really don't remember doing it, but the next thing I knew, I was literally dancing on my feet around Dick's office doing my impression of the Soul Train Dancers. I was double and triple stepping; left, right, kick, and backwards and forwards with a little kick, throwing in the hand jive moves and little kicks with my feet. I was singing _For the Love of Money_ by the OJ's while I was dancing.

_Money-money-money... Money! Money-money-money... Money!_ Over and over while the music played in my head. _Money-money-money... Money! Some people got to have it! Some people really need it! Listen to me y'all, do things, do things, do bad things with it! You wanna do things, do things, do things, good things with it!_

After a few minutes of singing and dancing I finally realized I couldn't do anything with it after the promises I'd made to Annette. It wasn't just me putting myself at risk while she was in the dark not knowing what I was doing behind her back. Now she was aware of what I had been doing for most of my adult life, all I could do was just look at it and know I couldn't take one single dollar and it looked like it had about a $100,000 brothers and sisters all sitting there stacked nice and neat. I really wanted to take the money in the worst way imaginable.

The pros and cons ran through my mind in flashes; Annette would kill me and then leave me. I could never get away with hiding it from her, there was too much of it, the safe was almost stacked full. The cops would think Dennis's buddy probably did it and would tear his life apart and arrest him until they figured out the poor schmuck was clean. Annette would hear about it in the newspaper or from Paula and Dennis and then they would know I had taken it. Nope, wouldn't work.

But oh, how strong the urge to take it ran through me. Dick probably got the money from cheating Seven Rivers Casino on the slot scam; therefore he didn't deserve to keep it. There was no way he was pulling down this kind of dough-ray-me selling race car parts; was there? Besides, I was sort of owed this money from him when he tried to kill me and had me laid up in the hospital for months. What about trying to shoot me and Annette on the front porch? How about getting tazered by the sheriffs? Doesn't that deserve some compensation? Damn it!!

I slowly closed the safe's door and returned the dollar bill and business license to their places on the wall. I felt like crying because I wanted that money so badly as I made sure everything was in its place and there was no trace of me ever being there. I slung my backpack over my shoulder after stuffing the copied files down the front of my t-shirt underneath my ninja suit. I grabbed my copies of the blueprints and tossed them up through the hole in the ceiling, climbing up the rope ladder and pulling it up afterwards.

I took my time with the socket and wrench as I undid the clamp from the plumbing vent pipe that held the rope ladder. I slowly folded the rope ladder into the backpack and put it back on. I knew this was the last chance I'd get at the money. I knew I still had had time to throw the clamp back on, toss the ladder down and get the money. I could give Annette some bullshit story, I was going to be a few minutes late anyway, a couple of more minutes wouldn't matter one way or the other. Damn and double damn!

I made my way back along the top of the wall on the little cat walk, my little headband lights piercing the dark gloom of the attic but not piercing the gloom of depression I felt at leaving all that money behind. It just didn't feel right to me for some reason. I closed the attic access door, returned the ladder to its place and slipped through the siding, putting the sheet metal screws back into their holes. I took a few steps back looking at the siding. No trace that I'd ever been there or been inside. There was nothing to show for my skills except some files and a set of blueprints that may or may not help our investigation. I turned and walked away to go meet Annette.

"Orbiter I'm out and on my way to you," I said into the walkie-talkie as I broke into a jog to help make up for lost time.

"Needle, you're late!" came the reply as I jogged along. I didn't bother to answer, my heart wasn't into it.

"Over?" Annette asked after a few seconds when I didn't answer her right away...I forgot to say over.
Chapter 48

I reached over and put my backpack and the rolled up blueprints on the back seat and then slid into the front and closed the door, pulling off my face mask. I rubbed my face and hair vigorously trying to satisfy the itchiness you get from having one of those things on your head. Annette handed me a hairbrush she'd pulled out of her purse. "What took you so long? I've been waiting almost ten minutes for you."

"It just took me a few minutes longer than I thought it would. I had to take my time and make sure everything was back in place before I left you know, I mean it's not like just walking out the front door when you leave for the grocery store or something," I growled at her in reply. I was sorry as soon as I said it, but didn't apologize. I blew out a big sigh that had been building up for the last hour or so.

"Sorry Jim, I was just concerned, that's all, because usually you're so punctual about things like this." Annette leaned over and gave me a peck on the lips to let me know everything was okay as she patted my leg a little. She gave me a funny look.

"Sorry for snapping, it just took longer for some reason and the place felt really creepier than the last time," I said sullenly, trying to sound contrite and apologetic.

"I don't know how you do it," she said as she took my hand in hers and intertwined our fingers. "I swear Jim you must have nerves of steel to be able to go into a place like that in the middle of the night and rummage around in it, especially in the dark with only a little flashlight." She pulled our hands up and gave mine a little kiss on the back of them.

"I guess I'm just made for it," I said as I looked out the window. Fog was starting to roll in off the Straight of Juan De Fuca, cloaking the night in its swirling mist, hiding the things that didn't need to be seen by the unwary public, like me for instance.

"Are you all done for the night?" Annette asked as she gave my hand a slight squeeze to bring me back from my thoughts. "Jim, you okay?"

"Yeah honey, I'm fine." I said pulling my eyes away from the hypnotic swirling of the fog that was enveloping us and the surrounding area. "I just thought I'd take a breather for a second before I headed up to the racetrack. The fog will make for good cover in about five minutes if it keeps building like it is now."

"Jim did something happen in there or maybe you saw something that you shouldn't have?" Annette had a slight note of concern in her voice, a little edge to it, but not much.

I shook my head at her in the darkness of the car as I answered her. "Nah, were good to go Houston, onward and forward, into the night."

"You sure you still want to go? It sounds like you got all kinds of information for us to go through. You could always put it off for a couple of days, at least until we go through the files you got tonight. Maybe you won't need to go, or want to, after we go over the material and see what's there," she said.

"I might as well go now as later," I said as I looked out at the fog. "Besides, I'm already dressed for the occasion."

"Please be careful Jim; for some reason I don't feel like you're all here right now. You sure you're okay and up to it?

"I'm fine honey, just a little distracted by thinking over some of the stuff I saw in the files and the blueprints are all," I said as leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips, lingering by them for a second or two and kissing her again for reassurance. "I'll be fine."

I pulled my hair back into a small ponytail and slipped my mask back on. I opened my fanny pack and removed the cordless drill I had needed for the siding on Dick's building and laid it on the floor behind the seat. "I guess I won't be using this anymore tonight, put it in the garage on the workbench when you get home, will you?" I asked as I grabbed the door handle to get out.

"Sure Jim." Annette's voice still held the note of concern to it. She knew that all wasn't right in Jimmy World; hopefully she would just chalk it up to me thinking about all the stuff that was in the files that I'd already seen. "Give me a radio check when you get ready to enter the racetrack offices okay?"

"Sure honey, don't worry, I'll be careful and I'll check in every fifteen minutes like clockwork," I said as I leaned over and kissed her good-by.

I left the car and started walking across the field towards the racetrack; Annette's voice came to me through swirling mist. "Just make sure you do buddy-boy or else!" I heard the car start and the crunching of gravel as she drove from the storage units, heading home until I needed to be picked up.

I stopped walking and looked back towards The Performance Shop building and all that cash just sitting there waiting to be taken by someone, maybe someone like me for instance. The urge to go back and take it was almost overwhelming and I realized that I had already taken a few steps in the direction of The Performance Shop without even knowing it. "Stop! You don't do this any more, what are you thinking of? Yourself and the warped little contest this has turned into? Does taking the money just because it's there and getting away with it mean that much to you?" I heard Annette's voice saying to me in the back of my mind.

"But I can do it and get away with it! It's my prize! I found the combination to the safe and I went to all the trouble of playing the game and beating it once more! I deserve to keep it! And don't forget, I played a great game on the fly no less! I'm sure I can find someplace to keep it nice and safe where nobody will find it," I argued back at Annette in my mind.

"She's the best thing that's ever come into your life. You stole her love a long time ago and now you want to lose it? Man, she's going to leave you in a heartbeat if you do!" I argued back at myself.

Great! I'm having a three-way argument with myself in my mind no less! Worst of all the voices were right. As much as I wanted to take the money I knew I couldn't do it because Annette and her love for me meant more than any amount of money on earth. I don't know about you, but I hate losing an argument to myself! I kicked a rock in front of me which made me feel somewhat better and started walking back to the racetrack. I told myself that I was the better man for not giving in to temptation and for doing the right thing. Yeah right, and I'll be going to Mass with mom and dad on Sunday next thing you know.

I decided to get my mind back on the racetrack and the problem of our case. Something still didn't feel right with all of it, like I was still missing something, maybe there was something I was supposed to think of already and hadn't done it yet. What was I missing I asked myself? I gave my thoughts over to the racetrack and thought through what I knew about it, which was some stuff that was general knowledge and some that was speculation on my part.

Part of the general knowledge part was what my buddy Sean had told me about his family's history with the racetrack. He works at the casino in the poker room and we've been friends for over ten years. We've been good enough friends that he asked me to be in his wedding when he got married. To begin with the racetrack was his grandfather's, Jimmy Seedman.

It started when he bought the property right after World War II with the money he'd saved from his army pay, combined with what he'd managed to save after he got a job when he got home. Property was dirt cheap back then, even cheaper on the Olympic Peninsula, so he moved here with his wife and got a job at the paper mill, saw the property with a little house on it and said why not, so they did.

In the late sixties Grandpa Jimmy got the idea from somewhere that the Olympic Peninsula could use a racetrack for stock car racing so he went to the bank, got a loan and he was off and running. Grandpa Jimmy, along with his family and some friends that owned bulldozers and road graders cleared the land themselves and laid the asphalt, build the bleachers, bathrooms, concession stand, the offices, and the track's clock tower out of the trees they logged off the land.

Grandpa Jimmy was farsighted enough to take part of the loan money and buy one of the first portable sawmill setups on the peninsula so he could mill his own lumber to build with. It still sits back behind the racetrack under the original open-aired shed Grandpa Jimmy built around it.

It was the real American story of a family business right from the start with mom and the kids working along side Grandpa Jimmy; from the first felled tree, to working the concession stand on weekends and then cleaning the bathrooms and under the bleachers the next day after the races were over.

From what I understand, Sean's Grandma Mary got real sick in the mid-70's. When Grandpa Jimmy mentioned that he might have to sell the place, Sean's mom and dad worked out a deal with them and the bank to split the property the house sat on from the racetrack so they could buy it and help Grandpa Jimmy and Grandma Mary out so they were able to keep everything going and still keep it in the family.

Sean's mom and dad still live there with Sean's youngest brother who hasn't graduated from high school yet and Sean still keeps his stock car there and races on the weekends, driving the car from the garage to the track, which is less than a hundred feet, and then back again after the races were over. The old place has been added on to over the years to accommodate the expanding of families and remodeled a couple of times, but you can still see the old original house if you know what to look for.

I stood in the swirling mist looking at the track offices, staying well back, out of reach from the eerie glow that was cast from the halogen streetlamps that lit the buildings and parking lot. How I walked and gotten this far without stumbling and breaking my neck was beyond me. I couldn't remember getting here, only thinking over what I knew about Sean's grandfather and his family's history. It was like I was transported through the fog and I suddenly found myself standing there staring though the fog, looking at the offices.

What else did I know? It seems that somehow Dick and Grandpa Jimmy sort of got together in some kind of wheeling and dealing where Dick was sort of promoting some of the races once in a while and taking on the expenses while they split the overall track profits for the night. When you think about it, it seems like a logical place for both of them to wind up, especially with their businesses being so close to each other and to tell you the truth it just seems like a good business move for both of them.

I don't see how they couldn't make money or at least break close to even. The last part of that reasoning was what led me to take a run at Dick in the first place. If Dick had become Grandpa Jimmy's silent partner over the last five years or so, it stood to reason he wouldn't be declaring all that income on his taxes and keeping a good chunk of it stashed away. It would seem I was somewhat proven right just a short while ago.

All of that reasoning was fine, well, and good I thought as I stood there staring at the track's offices, but what about this Canadian guy that was supposed to have bought the track from Grandpa Jimmy in the last year or so? I didn't know if that was just local rumor and speculation or did this guy really buy the place? I hadn't talked to Sean in a while and when we did the subject of his Grandpa Jimmy and the track hadn't come up. At the time I was just planning on hitting Dick at his home because that's where people usually keep the dough so it didn't seem like something I needed to inquire about at the time. Now I sort of wished I taken a moment to ask about his family and steered it around to asking about his grandpa.

I got a funny feeling all of a sudden as I stood there in the fog like a statue staring at the track's offices. The feeling that I was missing something haunted me and I got a funny feeling that maybe I should just put this off and take a day or two until I can talk to Sean and get a better feel of what I'm doing here.

"Screw it." I told myself as I walked across the gravel parking lot towards the offices that were almost now obscured by the fog that had just kept building and getting heavier as I had stood there contemplating what I knew about the racetrack.

There weren't any cars parked in the lot this late and a lone halogen light shone feebly from a pole next to the building, casting an eerie ghostliness over the building and parking lot. I got a creepy feeling that did not portend well for this enterprise. "Screw it." I told myself again, 'onward and forward into the night'.

I could see that a pale light shined through the edges of the closed blinds, probably just a lamp left on to discourage people like me. I had pulled my lock picks out of my belly pouch as I'd made my approach and held them in my hand as I surveyed the building for an alarm system, making a complete circuit of the building and winding up back at the front door and ignoring the one at the back of the building.

Contrary to what most people would think, I'll go for the front door every time because the locks have been worn in really good from all the use they get compared to a back door that hardly gets used. This makes them easier to pick, or use the tap method where you put a key that sort of closely fits into the lock, tap down on the key with a small hammer making the lock pins jump into place thereby unlocking the door. Since I don't usually like to run around with a bunch of keys on me in case I get caught I carry a set of picks which are easy to quickly throw far away when needed.

I knelt down in front of the door and removed the picks I thought would work from their case. I grabbed a hold of the knob and tried it first like I always do because you never can tell when you might get lucky because someone forgot to simply lock the front door on their way out. I couldn't believe it, the knob turned in my hand! I cracked the door open slowly, as quietly as I could, and peeked inside. I didn't see anything so I opened the door slowly, farther and farther, until I could see the desk completely, then the entire office. Nobody was in the office and the desk top was cluttered with receipts, ledgers, and the normal collection of assorted odds and ends that desks always somehow collect. It looked like whoever was the last one working at the desk just left their work sitting out and got up and went home, forgetting to the lock the door when they did.

The office had that down home look and small town feeling to it from all the old pictures of the track from its beginning. Pictures of old drivers and old cars in their glory days hung from the surrounding walls, the framed first dollar bill that Grandpa Jimmy had made along with assorted pictures of friends and family working on the building of the track. The question of whether or not Grandpa Jimmy had sold the track to a rich guy from Canada was answered, unless the guy was into the down home look for his office.

I figured Dick's office would be in the back, if indeed he had an office here at the track, so I went to the door on the other side of Grandpa Jimmy's office and grabbed the door knob which was suddenly pulled out of my hand as soon as I'd gripped it. I didn't even have time to react as it had happened so quickly and surprised me completely. The door swung away from me and in front of me stood an old man about ninety years old with scraggly gray hair and in need of a shave. He was leaning on a cane, with one hand on the door knob looking at me. He was dressed in a blue plaid shirt, which is a dress code on the peninsula for old guys and matching blue denim pants with canvas shoes.

We both stood there in shocked silence for a few seconds just looking at each other. The old guy seemed to start to take a step towards me when he brought his cane up in what seemed to me at the time as lighting speed, right between my legs, with all the force the old guy could muster. It felt like I'd been hit with a piece of steel pipe, the pain was immediately intense. I let out an agonized small groan and my hands automatically went to cup the family jewels. That's when the old geezer swung his cane back up and around, catching me squarely on the head where I'd in been hurt in the car wreck. As I started blacking out and falling backwards I had my last fleeting thought before the blackness took me: Oh shit! Houston I got a really bad problem here! Naturally Houston couldn't answer me because I wasn't aware of anything except blackness.

I felt sick, like I was going to puke. I was lying on my back so I started to roll over from instinct because I had puked many times before this and I knew how to do it. I couldn't open my eyes, I tried to but they wouldn't focus and it made me feel worse with the vertigo. Before I'd gotten too far I felt something poke me in my side real hard. I batted my hand at the offending instrument and got poked even harder.

"Just lay right where you are there young fella or I'm going to have to put some lead into you otherwise!" I heard the voice speak through the wool in my head.

"I got to puke," I managed to mumble out somehow and started to roll over once more. This must have pleased the voice from the void because I heard it chuckle in response. Then I heard something scraping on the carpet by my head.

"Small trash can right there by your head. Make the wrong move, you're a goner."

I managed to just barely make it to my knees and find the trash can with my eyes closed before I puked my guts out for what seemed like forever. I lay back down on the carpet and I passed out again from the exertion. I don't know how much time passed before I came around again but I felt a little bit better than I had before. I felt something sticky and wet on my face and then remembered puking. I opened my eyes and found that they would focus now somewhat, although it made my headache seem worse. I closed them anyway hoping for a little comfort.

"I see your back to the land of the living there thief," Grandpa Jimmy chuckled at me. It sounded like he was enjoying my discomfort; go figure that one.

"Goddamn it Grandpa Jimmy, what did you hit me so hard for?" I groaned at him.

"Because you're a thief, I'm an old man, and I got the drop on you first didn't I there young fella?"

"Yeah Grandpa Jimmy you got me good alright. I don't think I'll ever have children now because of you." I had my eyes open again and we looked each other over as we talked. He had a chrome plated thirty-eight special pointed at me and I could see the bullets sitting in the chamber from where I was lying.

"I'd like to try to sit up if that's okay with you?" I asked.

The hammer on the gun came back making its deadly sound of being cocked. "Sure thing but you do it nice and easy, or else I'll plug you, whether I know you or not. Understand me?"

"Yes sir, understood."

I slowly started working my way up to a sitting position. My crotch hurt so badly when I moved I almost passed out again. Grandpa Jimmy could see my discomfort and chuckled again. "When you can sit up, I want you to take that mask off real slow so I can get a good look at you, understand?"

"Yes sir, understood," I replied again.

When I finally got to where I could sit and not want to cry or pass out I slowly pulled my mask off and gently dropped it on the floor an arms length from me. Grandpa Jimmy and I looked at each other in silence for a minute of two.

"Well I'll be dragged behind a super stock! Frat Boy! I don't believe it! I thought the voice sounded familiar but I never would have thought that you'd be thieving from me!" The shock of finding out that it was me breaking into his office was apparent. "Start talking there Frat Boy before the cops get here."

Over the years I had gotten the nickname 'Frat Boy' from him at family functions I had attended to keep everybody from getting us confused. I'd always dressed nice in slacks and a good shirt or sweater, depending on the weather. I guessed I looked like I belonged in a college fraternity and the nickname stuck, the whole family calls me 'Frat Boy' or just 'Frats' whenever I'm around them now. It might have also had something to do with my last name but that's just a wild guess on my part.

"We both know the cops aren't coming Grandpa Jimmy or else they would have already been here by now," I said. From the look I got in return I knew I was right. "I was probably out long enough for them to have come and gone from the way I feel." That earned me another chuckle from him. "By the way, what the hell's that cane made out of, oak?" I added.

"You know my boy Merle don't you Frat Boy?" When I gave an affirmative nod he continued. "Well he took it down to the machine shop where he works and hollowed out the end about a foot and filled it back up with lead so I'd have some stability in the bottom of it." The old guy was bursting with glee, chuckling and snorting as he told me this and thinking about how he'd smacked me with that lead filled cane of his; old geezers and their canes, go figure.

"Seems like I got you real good with it didn't I?"

"Yep Grandpa Jimmy, you got me really good that time," I said as looked down at my crotch, imaging the swelling that was occurring as we speak. "Where do we go from here?" I asked as I ran my hand gingerly over the knot on the side of head. It felt like the proverbial goose egg.

"Like I said; you got some explaining to do before the cops get here. Just because I haven't called them yet don't mean I'm not going to and just because I haven't shot you yet don't mean I'm not going too either," he told me with just enough steel in his voice to make me believe he just might shoot me regardless of whether or not I was friends with his grandson and family.

"If I tell you can I trust you not to tell anybody for a few days?" I asked in a conspiratorial whisper.

"What in the hell do you mean, if you can trust me! Seems to me I'm the one who caught you breaking into my office! Maybe I should just call the cops and tell them I shot myself a thief breaking into an old man's place of business, how about that mister Frat Boy?" he fairly shouted at me. I guess maybe I offended him with that question.

At this point I figured a little honest disclosure wouldn't hurt me any so I opened up. "It's kind of complicated but I wasn't here to steal from you. Annette and I opened up our own investigation firm and we're working on our first case," I explained a little sheepishly. Grandpa Jimmy just looked at me so I kept going. "I came here to get some dirt on your business partner, not steal from you, besides the door was unlocked so technically I didn't break in and everybody knows you take the receipts and cash from the track to the bank right away and put it in the night deposit drop. Plus today isn't a race day, therefore no money."

"Wait a minute, go back some. I want you to go over this business partner part again."

"We're investigating your business partner for electronic theft and wire fraud. He and some of his friends have found a way to rip off the slot machines at the casino and get away with it. Annette and I have been hired by the casino to look into it and try to figure out how they did it." I watched as he took all of this information in and digested it. He looked a little stunned with disbelief.

"Frat boy, I don't have a business partner," he said sincerely. "Where the hell did you get that idea from, and how come you didn't just come and talk to me first, or for that matter, how come the cops haven't come to talk to me about it?" he asked. The confusion was evident in his face and his voice.

"You're not in business with Dick Jameson?" I asked as I touched the lump on my head. "I understood he was your silent partner now in the track? I heard he has been for a couple of years now. That's why I didn't come to you; I was afraid you might say something to him and spill the beans."

"Dick's my silent partner?" Grandpa Jimmy said in a bewildered voice. "Where did you hear that bullshit from? He hasn't ever been my partner, nor will he ever be."

Something was slipping here. This just wasn't adding up the way I had it figured. From the way Grandpa Jimmy was talking and the tone of his voice, he didn't sound like he had that high a regards for my buddy Dick. To say the least it sounded like he didn't like him all that much.

"You know, him doing some promoting and sponsoring of races, putting up some money, that type of stuff?" I said hopping for some positive feedback so at least if I went to jail I could at least lie to myself and Donnie Millhouse, saying it was for a solid lead and not just a bag full of bullshit rumors I'd heard around town and took for the gospel truth. This was just great!

"Frat Boy I wouldn't have that bullshitting, horned toad in business with me if he drove the only stock car there was in the state of Washington!" he said as he un-cocked the hammer on his thirty-eight and sat it on the desk. He scratched at the whiskers on his chin. I breathed easier with the gun on the desk; he was after all an old man.

"Can I use the bathroom?" I asked. "I'd like to rinse my mouth out and try to take a leak if I'm still able too."

Grandpa Jimmy hooked his thumb over his shoulder indicating where it was, chuckling as he did so. "Through the door back there in the spare office, it's where I'd been coming from when I got the drop on you." He chuckled at me and gave me smirk. The old geezer was enjoying himself, way too much, at my expense.

I rinsed my mouth out and splashed some water on my face while I was at it. It hurt just to unbuckle my belt and it brought tears to my eyes when I was finally able to pee, but damn, it felt good after I was done. It felt like I was dragging around a couple of grapefruits down there from the swelling.

I had given the spare office the once over as I went in to use the bathroom and gave it a second look on my way out just to be sure it was nothing more than Grandpa Jimmy said it was. It was a spare office that looked like it had morphed into a storage room over the years. Dust sat on the desk, file cabinets, and shelves, not to mention the cobwebs that hung in the corners.

My imagination let me visualize how it had looked twenty years ago when Grandpa Jimmy and his wife Mary ran the racetrack. I could see this being his office back then where all the action took place behind the desk in front of me with Grandma Mary out in the front office fielding phone calls and ordering candy for the concession stand. Time had moved on for the old guy and I suddenly felt sorry for him and all the grief he'd seen in the last few years. Glad I could cheer him up some by letting him smack me real good in the balls with that lead filled cane of his.

When I returned to the office I motioned to the spare chair and got the nod to sit down. "Noticed you didn't have a car in the lot, you staying across the way tonight?" I said nodding my head towards the old house.

"Nah, my granddaughter Dee-Dee's supposed to come get me in a little while and drop me off at home. The doctor took my drivers license away about nine months ago because I'm not as quick as I use to be with my reaction time. I'll be eighty-seven next month," he told me and I could hear the sadness in his voice and see it in eyes.

"So all this talk I've heard around the casino and town for the last couple years about you and Dick is all just a bunch of bullshit?" I asked. "I guess that was just him talking himself up and sounding like he was the wheeler-dealer business man about town?" The old man nodded his head yes at me. "Has he made you an offer to buy the track, maybe him and a couple of partners?" He gave me a long nod or two of his head in agreement.

"I'll tell you about Dick Jameson. He's wanted me to let him come into business with me for about ten years now, always coming up with some kind of business plan or another every couple of years, where he gets in real cheap and easy, and he gets fifty percent of my racetrack," he said plainly with his voice even and steady, like he'd said the same thing many times before. "Every time I tell him no and he just comes back some other time with another deal that I tell him no to again."

"He seems pretty serious about wanting to get in on the track with you?" I asked and then added. "He ever try to force his way in by threatening you or maybe blackmailing you?"

"Nah, nothing like that," he said waving it off with his hand. "He sponsors some races once in a while with The Performance Shop to drum up business for it, or once in a while a charity thing through the Rotary Club, or one of those civic function groups," he said and then went quiet for a minute as he thought of something else.

"The last time he approached me about buying the track he was with a guy named Tommy Ralston, got some kind of computer or electronics business or something? You know of him?" he asked and continued on without waiting for an answer from me. "He's been racing some for a couple of years now. Well they approached me maybe nine months ago, or maybe it was more like a year and asked me what it would take for me to consider selling out to them. Said they were forming a business group and wanted to buy the track outright from me if I'd sell."

"What did you tell them?"

"I said show me a cashier's check for three millions dollars and I would seriously consider it" he answered. "Naturally I don't think those boys could come up with three dollars let alone three million," he said waving it off again with his hand like it was nothing to put much credence in. "Although that Tommy Ralston offered to set me up with new computer system here." He gestured at an array of new computers and a couple of monitors.

"What's up with that?"

"Streamlined the business for me and put everything into those computers with a couple of programs he made up through that computer business of his." He stopped for a moment and thought about something. "It monitors the cars and the track time laps on each race now that he installed this stuff here and the sensor things and cameras out on the track and clock tower. All I got to do is click on a little race car on the screen and I'm off and running, gives me averages for time and speed, stuff like that." He grinned and shook his head in wonder of the technology. "He put the entire bookkeeping and banking on that one there," he said pointing at the second computer. "I'm still learning my way around it, but Dee-Dee comes in to help and she's real good with those computers."

"Give you a good price on doing all that stuff?" I asked as I got a bad feeling for the old guy.

"He wanted to race for free for a couple of seasons and hang some advertising on the track and around the place for his business at no charge. It didn't seem like there was any harm in it so we signed an agreement and he did the work." He looked around the office with a vacant look on his face. "You think I might have done the wrong thing?" he asked. "Advertisings pretty expensive now and it seemed like a fair trade once we did the figuring."

I shook my head no and smiled back real big. Why get the old boy more shook up by telling him a computer whiz probably has access completely to his banking and business. I wondered what the agreement they had said.

"Grandpa Jimmy I think they might be closer than you think to putting that money together," I said to him as an answer. "They come to you yet with a buy out proposal and new blueprints for an expanded racetrack?"

"Nah, I haven't heard a word from those boys in months about it," he said to me. "You know something about it I ought to know?"

"That depends if you're going to call the cops on me or not," I told him with a level look, making good eye contact.

"I haven't really decided that yet," he answered. "Maybe you telling me what you know might help me decide."

"No deal," I said to him. "Go on ahead and call the cops, I'll take my chances with them. Hell they've got it out for me already and we haven't even been in business for more than a month." I could see him mulling this over so I threw a ringer at him, "But I'll tell you this much; if you sell the track to these guys expect to maybe give the money back, or at least have it tied up in court for the next five years or so until it can be straightened out, if it ever can." I added for him to think on.

"You think it's that bad huh?"

I just nodded my head slowly while I continued to look at him.

"Okay you got yourself a deal, now spill your guts."

I extended my hand across the desk so we could shake on it. "No cops, not a word to anybody until Annette and I finish our investigation."

He looked me in the eye for a moment before taking my offered hand. "Okay satisfied now?" he asked me.

"You hear about me getting in a car wreck down by the casino from Sean?"

"Yeah and it was in the paper too. It sounded like it was a pretty bad one," he said and then added, "I read in the paper too that there was a shooting up at your place the other night and you got tazered and peed your pants," he chuckled at me.

"Yes I got tazered and no I didn't pee my pants. Where did you hear that from?" I asked.

"I heard it up at the diner yesterday morning while I was having breakfast. It was the main topic of the day."

I couldn't believe it. I decided I didn't want to waste my time explaining what had really happen. That could wait until later on. "This is a pretty long story that starts with our buddies Tom and Dick trying to kill me by running me off the road because I found out they were stealing from the casino so they could get enough money together to buy your racetrack," I said as he listened to every word with complete attention.

"And how does this affect me or my business here?"

"Because earlier tonight I broke into Dick's shop. There I found new blueprints for an expanded racetrack, a buy-out proposal for it, and about a hundred thousand dollars at least, in cash." Grandpa Jimmy blew out a long whistle on that one.

I called Annette and gave her a short version of what had happened and why I hadn't called her to check in. Then I spent the next half hour convincing Grandpa Jimmy and explaining the investigation to him until Dee-Dee came to get him. They wound up giving me a ride home on their way to drop him off at his place, with a promise from me to come by his house tomorrow with Annette and visit for a while. I'd told him about the copies I'd made at Dick's office and offered to show them to him tomorrow as proof before Dee-Dee had gotten there. If she thought anything was funny about the way I was dressed when she got there she kept it to herself.

Annette was pissed off at me and concerned at the same time about the whacking Grandpa Jimmy had given me with his lead filled cane. All I wanted to do was go to sleep. My head was killing me with a major headache and my testicles had swollen up considerably. I received the lecture from Annette and talked my way out of her taking me to the hospital to have my head and nuts looked at. No thank you on that one. What a night, I thought as I finally got to crawl into bed and went to sleep. What else could go wrong with this investigation I wondered; go figure.
Chapter 49

I ached as soon as I woke up and my head felt like it was filled with mush. I had the headache to end all headaches. After receiving another lecture from Annette that included what I thought to be veiled threats I promised to go to the hospital as soon as we got the morning meeting over with. We spent most of the morning explaining to Dennis and Paula what had happened last night. I'd told Annette some of it off and on during last night's explanation of events with Grandpa Jimmy and this morning's lecture before they had gotten here so some of this she was hearing again while some of it was new to her too. Dennis was more than duly impressed with my nerve at going back twice, plus staying there as long as I did the second time to use the copying machine to make copies of the blueprints. Both Annette and Paula were impressed too but kept their praise to a good job of getting pertinent material to work with.

When it came to explaining what happened at the racetrack I kept it simple and basically told them the truth. At this point I received more lectures from both Annette and Paula on how I could have gotten killed or worse, thrown in jail and oh yeah killed too. Go figure that one. Dennis howled with laughter when I told them about being surprised by an old man with a cane and getting whacked in the jewels, then the head.

I was glad I could bring a little laughter into his life this morning. In return for the laughter I gave him back a 'fuck you Dennis, next time I'll make sure I talk Paula and Annette into letting me take you along with me'. I got an immediate 'don't even go there' look from both of the girls.

Annette wanted to keep both of them at the house today working on the new information I'd gathered and working it into the existing files, making new ones on people where they needed to. I was inclined to have one of them stay, the other to go knock on some doors, specifically Sherry Walmond's and Tommy Ralston's to see if they could get anything out of it. Dennis was way too eager to do it and the girls mulled it over for like one second before nixing that idea.

Dennis had compiled his report for this morning's meeting last night and it was his best one yet. He sounded a little bummed out as he gave it and the girls picked up on it too. How could you blame the guy for feeling that way? Dennis felt like he was being treated like a drone but he knew it was only because nobody wanted to see him get thrown in jail or hurt.

On our way to the hospital I asked Annette if we could call them back and have them go do some interviews together as a token thing for Dennis, if only for a few hours. The files would still be there when they got back and it might make him feel like he was doing something important and not just droning it. We tossed it back and forth for a few minutes before Annette wound up agreeing with me, saying she'd call Paula from the hospital.

After getting signed into the emergency room Annette went out to call Paula with the change of plans while I waited to be seen by one of the doctors on rotation duty. I was mildly surprised when my regular doctor walked into the cubical that served as a preliminary examination room. I gave him the rundown on what happened last night as I was working on the house. He poked and prodded my head as I lay on the examination table and then moved south, making a whistling sound as he sucked in a quick breath in amazement when he took a look at the family jewels.

"Damn Jimmy that has got to hurt real badly," he said with a chuckle and then got back to business. "Hurt to go to the bathroom?"

"Not as much as you'd think."

"You know I have to examine those and it's going to hurt some?"

"I figured as much Doc, go ahead," I said with a grimace. When he was done I had tears in my eyes.

"You probably had a serious concussion again from the two-by-four hitting you in the head when you fell off the ladder, maybe another skull fracture, and it looks to be in the same place as the one from the car wreck, on top of that you've probably ruptured the testicles when you hit the ladder spread-eagled," he said in the serious doctor demeanor that was all business. "Know what that means?" he asked me.

"I can only guess that I'm not going home with some aspirin," I said sadly.

"You are now checked in and on your way for head and lower x-rays," he said as he made notations on my chart and signed it. "At least three days minimum, maybe more, but at least you'll get room service."

"Doc when they take the x-rays down there it won't, you know, affect me will it? You know keep me from having children?" I asked with the straightest of a faces.

He shook his head back and forth while smiling at me. "The least of your worries right now Jim, the least of your worries," he said patting my shoulder lightly before turning to leave.

"Hey Doc," I called after him. "Can I have a copy of the lower x-ray that's suitable for framing? I want to be able to prove how big mine really are the next time I'm asked."

That earned me another head shake of wonder from him. "I'll see what I can do for you Jim," he said with a smile and left.

Annette caught up with me as they were wheeling me to get x-rays. I had IV tubes and shunts sticking out of both of my hands, a saline solution and light sedative. I was starting to feel no pain. There was nothing she could do for me right at the moment or until they could get me to my room so she was going to try and see my doctor and talk to him and get the rundown for herself instead of taking my word on it. We'd been through this before and now she was worried for me again. I was still waiting on my gurney outside of x-rays when I saw her again. The doctor had been waiting for her and filled her in.

I wanted her to leave and go see Grandpa Jimmy like we'd planned. I didn't want the old boy to think I had been screwing with him last night, besides, it might give the old guy another laugh to hear he'd put me in the hospital with that lead filled cane of his. Annette finally agreed to go see Grandpa Jimmy and called Paula back with another update and change of plans. I was to call her or Paula as soon as I got back to my room. If I needed anything while she was gone I was to call Paula if I couldn't get a hold of her. Then she called my mom and told her I was in the hospital again and not to worry, just a slip on the ladder last night. Great, that's all I needed; Mom and Dad coming to the hospital to see me. Mom would get all gushy and weepy while dad would probably give me some type of lecture on never listening to him when I was younger on home safety.

A couple of hours later I was back in my room waiting to hear from the Doc again on the x-rays. Instead of packing my family jewels in a treasure chest they were now packed in bags of ice. Needless to say I was probably the talk of all the hospital staff and they had some nickname for me like the 'Ice Man' or something. From the amount of people that came into my room or just stuck their heads in for a minute during the first hour led me to believe it was a slow day at the hospital and I was the only patient there or I was the only patient of any interest. It was so slow one of the hospital administrators was on my floor so the guy comes in to see how I was doing and see if I needed anything. Says it looks like I could use some elevation on the bed to be more comfortable and does it himself instead of sending in a nurse. Slow day, go figure.

Mom and Dad had stopped by earlier in the afternoon visiting for a half an hour or so. Mom was all concerned and worried that Annette and I wouldn't have kids now and I received my lecture from dad on home safety. Con had stopped by the house to drop off the State Gaming Commission's investigation report on Tommy Ralston that we'd requested from them, catching Annette in between coming and going. I had been surprised to see him walk into my hospital room until he explained that he had been told by Annette I was here. I don't think he bought the ladder and two-by-four story, but he accepted it for what it was.

The whole crew had gone into emergency mode with efficiency I found impressive. When they showed up later that evening Dennis had done another report bringing everything up to date, including today's interviews and a cohesive preliminary summary on what I had brought back from Dick's last night. They brought reports, files, my laptop and dinner. Dennis and Paula had scrounged extra chairs and tables from the nurses so that my hospital room looked like a working office by 7:00 pm.

It had been a fairly busy day so far for all of us I thought as I munched on the Chinese food from Tendy's Garden that Annette had brought while listening to Dennis give his report. When he was done Paula tossed a small brown envelope at me. It landed on the bed next to me. "Here's a present for you. I picked this up with the mail at the post office while Dennis was doing the report and summary."

"Right on Paula, thank you," I said as I saw where the package had come from. It was the miniature GPS units that we had been waiting for. I opened the envelope and dumped the contents onto my covers. Four small GPS units in plastic bags lay there along with the instruction booklet and CD to upload the program. I tossed one to each of them.

"Annette if you would be so kind?" I asked motioning towards the laptop for her to load the program. "These stay on each of us from now, until this case is finished, understood," I told them, getting okay's and nods in return. "I mean it. I want these on all of us twenty-fours hours. The only time they come off is when you're taking a shower or having a grudge match, understood?" More head shakes and murmurs of acceptance. "As a matter of fact, from now, any time there's an active case in progress, the people working for us will be wearing one of these babies, no exceptions!" I got more murmurs of okay and something about Captain Bligh from Paula, but damn it I was serious!

"Getting back to the interviews today I want both of you to tell us the impressions you got when you were at Sherry's house and how you think surveillance will go on her and Tommy's place."

"Sherry's place is basically out there on the street, it's exposed so you have to stay back some to observe it; large windows and the lot runs to the alley," Paula told us as she looked over some notes she'd made.

"Dennis, what's your take on her place?" Annette asked him as we waited on the CD to do its thing.

He was bent over, looking at the floor with his arms resting on his knees, his hands clasped together. "Nice place inside, clean, but not nutty woman clean. Looked like anybody else's place that you would walk into," he said and then looked back down. "She was a little suspicious of us at first, but after she saw our ID cards on our shirts, and our clipboards, she sort of mellowed out." He looked back down at his feet, then over at Paula and the floor again before continuing. "Like I said in the summary; three bedrooms, two baths with attached garage, insulated windows and doors, we didn't see an alarm system," he finished and looked at Paula again before returning to look at the floor in front of his feet.

Annette and I exchanged looks and then looked at both Paula and Dennis. Paula had been looking all over the place while he had been talking, except at Dennis or us. Annette and I exchanged looks again with Annette giving a raised eyebrow. I shrugged back at her.

"What is it Dennis?" Annette asked him as she eyeballed them both. I eyeballed all three of them because I was halfway loaded from the drugs I'd been given. I actually thought I had a pretty good eyeball thing going myself, but I didn't say anything and kept it to myself.

"Nothing," he said a little too quickly as he looked back up at Annette and then over to Paula.

"Bullshit Dennis, tell us what's on your mind," she said as she looked them both over again. "You're holding something back, we can tell."

"Nothing at all Annette, really," Dennis all but spluttered and looked to Paula again.

"Paula would you like to tell Jim and me what it is that Dennis and you are keeping from us before we have to drag it out of you two with hot irons?" Annette asked her sweetly.

"God Dennis, you really can't keep a secret can you?" she hissed at him. "Under the circumstances maybe we should talk in private, just you and me?" she said to Annette as she nodded her head at the door.

"Jim and I are in this together so what you have to say can be said in front of him just as well," Annette replied.

Paula and Dennis looked at each other again and shrugged in unison. "Tell him Dennis since you're the one who wanted to in the first place," Paula snapped at him.

"Jimmy there was this brown 1980's Ford pick-up parked in Sherry's back yard that I could see through the kitchen window from the living room," he said.

I thought about this information for a second and shrugged. "Okay Dennis, anything else?"

"Wasn't it a brown pick-up that ran you off the road that night?"

"Yeah but there's probably like a thousand brown pick-ups on the peninsula I was told by the state patrol."

"But Jimmy, the thing about this one was the back quarter panel on the passenger's side had been smashed in pretty bad!" Dennis exclaimed.

My mind whirled with the thought of possibilities and I laid my head back against the pillow. Was there a remote chance in hell that this was the truck that ran me off the highway? If this was the truck and they could tie it to my accident maybe they could get these guys for attempted murder or at least vehicular assault or something like that if we could tie it to our case. Hell, at this point I'd be happy for one of them just to get a parking ticket and know that I'd caused it.

"You wouldn't have happened to get the license plate number by chance did you?" I asked him as I kept my eyes closed and let my thoughts run through the darkness.

"Sorry Jimmy," Dennis's voice had a hurt sound to it, like he failed us.

"Don't worry about the plate number Dennis," Annette's voice said from somewhere in the vicinity of the laptop. "We can call the state patrol to report it and let them take it from there. You did a great job of keeping your eyes open."

I was replaying the accident in my mind's eye as I laid there with my eyes closed. It just started playing by itself and I couldn't stop it from happening. I couldn't turn it off if I wanted to. The headlights and turn signal as I drove past them at the Sequim Bay Lodge, not giving them a second thought, coming up behind me quickly with their high beams on, that is what got my attention and started the warning bells going off in my head that I ignored until it was too late. Then it was the clenching feeling you get, deep down in your gut, that hangs just above your intestines when you know something terrible is just about to happen that makes you suck in your breath in a short little gasp of intake. It was the moment of unknowing fear that takes hold and then the fools' trying to pass in a no passing zone! STOP YOU IDIOT!! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO, KILL US BOTH!!! I shouted inside my brain as I see the truck come up on my left side and I see the long jagged scratch in the brown paint that's filled with rust, making it look like a lighting bolt.

The next few moments go by in super slow motion as suddenly the truck is filling the space where my car is and I'm trying to maneuver for some room to get out of the way. Is it a deer or raccoon coming across the road? I feel the right front of the car dip down and I hear the grinding of metal against metal as I hit the guardrail. The motor races up with no traction to counter it as I float. I'm shouting inside my mind, or maybe out loud for all I know, that the new wiper blades we had just installed sure do work good because I can see the individual rain drops as they hit the windshield and then get swept away in slow motion. I can see the trees approaching in the headlights; I go to sleep.

I came up off the pillow like a shot gasping from the memory, suddenly covered in a greasy, sweating sheen from my head to my toes. I'm disoriented. My breath comes in ragged gasps, laboring to get oxygen into my lungs and I'm sitting in a hospital room again with my eyes big as saucers. Everybody's looking at me like I'm having a heart attack or something and the monitors I'm hooked up to sound like Chernobyl on its last day when Ivan pushed the wrong button.

No one was talking as I must have gotten their attention somehow. All of a sudden everybody is talking at once and the room is filling with hospital personal adding to the panic. I can't say anything because I'm trying to breathe. I can't tell them about the jagged lighting bolt that sits over the gas cap because I'm too scared to speak. I try to, but I can't, the words won't come out.

Everybody freaked out but no one was more freaked than me. For the next four days I was afraid to go to sleep because the accident would replay and I would wake up in terror as I saw the trees approaching each time. I couldn't speak and tell Annette what was wrong. I just laid there afraid to sleep and listen to the doctors speculate on what was wrong with me.

They loaded me up with real heavy with drugs to calm me down so my heart wouldn't burst or burst a blood vessel in my brain. The consensus was a reaction to the concussion I'd received and they took more x-rays and did an MRI for a more in-depth look into the old noggin. When the Chernobyl thing happened, everyone would rush into my room to find me wide eyed and terror stricken as I gasped for breath. More drugs for the poor whacko! They sent in a shrink to look me over and try to get me to talk about what was wrong, even giving me a note pad and pen trying to get me to write something. It was just scribbles when I tried.

On the morning of the fifth day I told Annette I loved her and would never do anything again to put her in jeopardy or lie to her. I could barely tell her through the tears and sobs that racked my body to the core. I told her that I now knew what kind of asshole I'd been by living a lie for so many years and not telling her the truth before we got married about what kind of person I really was. I now knew how she must have felt when she found out I was a thief and a liar. She had deserved to know the truth and I'd kept it hidden like a dirty little secret. I knew why she didn't trust me any more; it was the fear of not really knowing me. I cried like a baby that morning as she sat in the chair by my bed and held my hand. How the vain and proud have fallen. Go figure that one.

When I got myself under control and had calmed down enough I told her about the accident and how it kept replaying unbidden in my mind's eye. I told her there was a passenger in the truck that night and maybe the trauma of knowing who it was combined with my injuries I had gotten that night kept me from remembering. Then I told her who it was.
Chapter 50

There was one week was left on our contract with the casino by the time I got out of the hospital and was made to stay home for another five days before I could resume working. One week to figure all of it out and then our month was up. We would be out of time on the contract with Seven Rivers Casino and Paula and Dennis would be back to school teaching. Summer was almost over.

We bought a folding table and put it in the family room turning it into an office. Files and assorted junk covered the top of it and one wall, the largest, had been turned into a storyboard like they have on TV cop shows. Dick's picture was at the top of the pyramid with yarn and push-pins running to the others, below each were sheets of paper with pertinent information listed. The wall was almost covered and different colored yarn running to and fro made it look like a mosaic.

Dennis had went back to Sherry Walmond's, sneaking a peek over her fence from the alley to get the plate numbers off the truck so we could turn the information over to State Patrol Investigator Trooper Montgomery and tell him my memory had come back. We were hopeful that something would come out of it to clear me with the insurance company and they could settle out of court by us dropping the law-suit, the same thing for the one with the State of Washington over the guard rail.

Annette, Paula and Dennis had been keeping tabs on all of them by watching their homes and tailing them when they left. Annette had been switching out the receiver units at Dick and Shirley's place but so far it had produced zilch. They had been meeting every few nights or so at Tommy Ralston's place which was more secluded. Therefore the plan was for Dennis and me to do a creep and sneak at Tommy's place tonight as soon as it got dark and plant a couple of suction cupped microphones and a receiver. The only hitch was that his place sat back off the road at the end of a long driveway, surrounded by lots of trees and bushes. He lives on the west side of town where the lots butt against one another and there are no alleys. It had made for an almost non-existent reconnaissance beforehand because we didn't want to tip our hand any more than it had already been tipped and with a computer whiz there was no telling what kind of security or surveillance we'd be dealing with.

I was all for going by myself but both Annette and Paula had shot that down immediately, deciding that Dennis should accompany me in case of trouble, being that he was a man and more adapt to save my butt or me save his if needed. To say that Dennis was into it would be putting it mildly.

He'd gone and bought a black outfit, down to the ski mask and gloves, along with a belly pouch that he'd filled with a flashlight, latex gloves and some other odds and ends. He could save the get-up and wear it for Halloween next month I thought to myself, but didn't say anything to him except, 'looking professional Dennis'. I got an ear-to-ear shit eating grin from him in return and smiles from the girls.

We'd need a way to get close enough so we didn't look like a couple of stalkers out for an evening stroll in case we were seen. Dennis had searched through the computer printouts and came up with a couple that had won on the slots and lived two doors down from Tommy's driveway. The plan that developed was Annette and Paula would go to interview them as employees of our American Gaming Research and Development Company, giving them slot tickets and drawing out the interview long enough for us to sneak out of the car and down to Tommy's driveway unseen. We estimated that we would need roughly thirty minutes and if we ran longer we'd radio the girls when we were done and they could drive back by, stopping just long enough for Dennis and me to jump in the car.

Annette and Paula came out of the bedroom where they'd gotten dressed for their interview and they both looked great to me. They had both put their hair up and dressed tastefully with satiny looking blouses, looking like professional business women on their way to a board meeting with the CEO.

"Well, what do you think boys?" they asked in unison, spinning around for us to take a good look. The ID's hanging from around their necks and the clipboards completed the picture perfectly.

"They look hot huh Dennis?" I said staring at them. Annette had a glowing look to her that made her look more beautiful if that was possible. She gave me a shy smile and then looked away. It was very appealing.

"Most definitely they do Jimmy," Dennis replied in a small wistful voice.

"Think we might have a shot at taking them out for drinks and dinner at Downriggers after this is over and we change clothes?" I asked with a nudge to his ribs. "Maybe they'll take us home with them once we get them liquored up some."

"Sorry boys but you're not company executives and that's all we date!" Paula said laughing with Annette joining in.

We piled into the car with Dennis and me scrunched down into the back so we wouldn't be seen. Paula had called yesterday and set up the late appointment for the interview, pleading that they were running behind and just had to finish up the interviews or else her boss would be mad and the reports were due in two days! Mr. and Mrs. Cole were swayed by Paula's pleading and agreed to a 9:00 pm interview.

"So how about it girls, drinks and dinner after work tonight? I'll even buy," I asked them. There was a short interval of silence from the front seat as they thought it over.

"Sure Jim, we can do the dinner and drinks at Downriggers but I think I'll pass on the drinking part if you guys don't mind," Annette replied and Paula added her okay along with Dennis's.

"I want you boys to be careful and if you're not in the car by the time we're done we'll be waiting to hear from you, right?" Paula asked from the front and I could see her head turning and giving us a glance over the seat like the question was aimed at Dennis.

"Okay Paula," Dennis replied and gave me the eye roll thing to which I winked and smiled at him in return.

The car slowed as it pulled over to the curb and came to a stop at the Cole house. We all said our 'I love you's' as the girls left the car and walked away leaving Dennis and me on our own. We waited about ten minutes for the girls to get into the house and the nosey neighbors to go back to what they'd been doing before we had pulled up.

I slowly stuck my head up and looked around. "It looks clear on my side," I said and scrunched back down as Dennis rose up and checked his angle of view.

"Clear this way too."

"Are you ready for your first mission there secret agent Dennis?"

"Roger that Senior Agent Jimmy."

"Houston, we're a go to leave the capsule at this time and Cross to the Dark Side. Do you copy?" I said doing sound effect things to which Dennis snickered at.

"We copy and you are a go to leave the capsule," Dennis replied using his own sound effects.

There might be some hope for this guy after all I thought as we got out and headed to Tommy's driveway just quickly enough not to draw attention and but not slow strolling at the same time. We skirted the side of the driveway for about seventy-five feet and then ducked into the foliage for cover until we checked out the house and decided which windows to place the suction cups on.

This place was as good as any for the receiver unit and I pulled it out of my belly bag. Dennis had pulled a small pair of binoculars out of his and was checking through the windows. I sat the unit under the bush we were hiding behind on a staked stand and turned it on. The little red penlight gave off a feeble glow that said it was ready to record any sound it got.

The attached garage was at the front of the house on the left, then the front door, and what looked like a bathroom off the entry way from the plumbing vents sticking out of the roof. Two fairly large windows spaced evenly on the wall told me that these were bedrooms, maybe one of them a home office as they didn't look to be the size of a master bedroom you'd find in a house this large. It was probably on the other side of the house along with the living room. The kitchen was likely located on the other end along with a dining room.

"See anything Dennis?"

"Lights are on but I don't see much of anything else."

"Maybe we'll get lucky and nobody's home and they just left the lights on," I said as I looked over the approach to the house. A small 4x4 truck sat in front of the garage and the garage door was down.

"Go left, stay in the cover and work your way up to that side where the gate is for the back yard. The kitchen and maybe a dining room are probably located on that side." I grabbed his arm. "Plant that thing in a corner of any window over there that looks good and hightail it back here to meet me, the same way, just like we planned."

"I got it."

"I'm going to go right, around to the back, probably a living room back there from the layout," I said looking around once more and then added. "Any problems, run like hell and call the girls on the walkie-talkie or your cell phone, they'll be waiting to hear from us anyway."

"I know Jimmy. This is like the tenth time I've been told this," he said wearily.

"Yeah, I know. But if something happens to you on your first time out the girls will have my nuts in their handbags."

"After the other night at the Speedway, your nuts are probably too big to fit into their handbags," Dennis said as he got up and started moving away.

He was actually turning into a real wise guy on us! I moved to my right and crossed the driveway back into the shrubbery to give myself some cover, working my way through the small trees, Rhode bushes, long grass, Scotch Bloom, Chokeberry bushes, and various weeds with stickers that grabbed at me as I worked my way to the backyard. I went through a small gate and skulked up to the corner, peeking around it. A large sliding glass door said bedroom, so I turned the corner and started moving down the wall towards a set of French doors just past the fireplace chimney. I slithered quietly into a couple of large bushes that framed a window on the other side of the chimney that provided good concealment while I took a peek inside to get a lay of the land.

As I squatted down on my legs I reached into my bag and took out the little microphone and licked the suction cup, ready to mount it if I liked what I saw inside. I was just raising my head when I heard that rustling sound that clothes make when you moved in them. I started to turn my head to the left where the sound was coming from. Alarm bells and whistles were going off in my head and I turned, starting to get up to meet the threat when I felt the blow to my head and neck. I sank to the ground and into blackness once more.

When I started coming out of it I could feel arms laced across my chest and hands under my armpits. I was being dragged somewhere I realized and tried to struggle against the arms that held me. I was kicked savagely once where I didn't want to be kicked ever again and I puked automatically, along with being unable to keep from peeing myself. Everything went black again. The blackness was slowly replaced by a blurry fog in my head and my ears rang. I automatically puked again, and then puked once more, and gagged a couple of times, unable to stop it. I could hear voices from far away as I fought to stay conscious and after a while it sounded like they got closer and I could see blurry shapes in front of me. I might have blacked out again, I couldn't be sure of anything at this point.

"Goddamn Sherry, why did you have to kick him with such force? Wasn't it enough that you hit him in the head so hard that you almost killed him?" a voice from a blurry shape said.

Another blurry shape moved in front of me and grabbed my chin, tilting my head up before letting it drop back down, then slapping me. I puked all over that hand.

"The motherfucker is lucky I don't kill him right now," the second voice said to the first.

"Goddamn it he has puked a few times already, he has pissed himself twice, once in my good dining chair and if that isn't enough, he's bleeding all over the place so just leave the guy alone until the others get here and we figure out what to do with him!" the first voice sounded frustrated with the second voice.

"Okay but he'll pay for all the trouble he's caused us lately!" the second voice said.

I lost the fight to remain conscious and sank back down into the comfort of the blackness. How long I was out this time didn't matter to me because I knew that help would be coming soon. Dennis, Dennis was going to bring help I told myself as I got some coherent thoughts going through the fog in my head. I forced myself to stay awake and move. If I can move around and walk some I know I can stay awake, but I can't move because I'm paralyzed and if that wasn't bad enough, I couldn't see straight. Fuck me running.

"He's coming around again. It sounds like he's mumbling something about running and fucking." Girl voice, it's a woman.

"See if you can get him to drink some water, it might help him, and wipe his face off again with that wet towel"

I recognized that voice; Richard Jameson, my good buddy Dick. A cold glass of water was pressed against my lips and I took a few small sips from it. It tasted great and helped take some of the rawness out of my throat and then I felt a cold, wet towel roughly wiping my face.

After a minute or two I felt a little better and opened my eyes again and blinked them a few times trying to get them to work properly. Everything was still blurry so I closed the right one and found that after a moment or two I could see a little bit better.

I was duct taped to a chair, no wonder I couldn't move before. I raised my one good eye to see Dick sitting in a chair across from me. I cleared my throat a couple of times and then looked around, then found my voice. "Let me guess. This must be Sherry?" I said nodding towards her. "And this must be your brother Tommy, right?" I said looking around, taking in where I was.

"Jimmy Fratino, you just fucked up real bad," Dick said to me. I just looked around at them. "Do you just want to know how badly you just fucked up?" he asked me and kept talking. "You and your wife have caused us untold concern and worry for the last nine months or so and now we find you here in our midst tonight. What ever in the world are you doing here?"

"I just dropped by to let you guys know that the cops are on their way to arrest all of you cheats and scum for running a scam on my casino," I said as I looked around again with my one good eye.

"They don't know anything or else the State Gaming Commission and the feds would have arrested us a long time ago," Tommy said to me leaning in real close. "All you and your wife are doing is making noise and spinning your wheels, playing detective. I have an unbeatable system in place"

I laughed and had a hard time stopping. "The unfallen! Proud and vain! I was just there two weeks ago until Grandpa Jimmy Seedman put me in my place," I said looking at him and seeing how that one had registered.

"You can forget about getting your hands on the Olympic Speedway Racetrack now and you might give some thought to finding a new place to advertise your businesses." I laughed at them as I looked at each one in turn.

"What do you know about that?" Dick asked quietly.

"I know about a new business proposal for Grandpa Jimmy right?" I said coyly. "How about a new set of expanded racetrack blueprints? Does that ring a bell?" I taunted. "But wait there's more; how about coming up with around say... three to five million dollars for the buy-out? How does that one grab you Tommy boy?" I sneered at him with my one eye. "Playing Detectives? Oh come now, that's motive enough for your crimes or a good imagination on our part." I laughed at him while at the same time I laughed at all of them.

I didn't see the blow coming and it rocked me to the soles of my Ninja shoes, but my adrenalin was rushing through my body so I didn't blackout again as I was able to fight off the blackness, plus I was getting pissed now.

"How did you find that out?" Tommy screamed at me as he shook me by the front of my hooded windbreaker. "What do you know? Tell us what you know!" he yelled while he continued to shake me.

When the spinning in my head stopped and I was able to open the one eye I continued to bait and antagonize them. Dennis must have planted his microphone on a window and gotten away. The receiver unit was working, I was just hoping that where we were and what we were saying was being recorded for the police. They should be here soon I thought to myself.

"So tell me, which one of you stupid fucks took the shots at me and my wife?" I asked, looking around at them.

"That was me," Sherry said. "I couldn't believe I missed both of you, but you moved at just the right time." She said it like she just couldn't believe we'd have the audacity not to stand still and be killed by her. "I must admit it was nice when I heard that you got zapped by the sheriffs and peed yourself. Have much trouble talking your way out of that one?" she taunted at me.

"I did not pee myself!" I forcefully said to her as I looked at her in a new light. Here's a woman with a gun sniping at people? She must be nuts I thought. "You owe us for a new front door and four flower pots, but I think instead of collecting from you, you psycho bitch, I think that when we're done here I'll wave my standard of not hitting women and just beat the shit out of you for trying to kill my wife," I said trying to smile at her.

"You aren't getting out of here alive asshole, not after the trouble you've caused us," she fumed at me and I could see the veins in her neck sticking out and throbbing. She was breathing hard through her nose. I pushed a little more at her.

"No wonder your old man left you. He must have finally realized that you were crazier than a shithouse mouse, or in your case, a fat ugly rat bitch!" I said with a little laugh at her. I might have pushed a button on that one because the next thing I knew she screamed at me while grabbing a vase off the table behind us and smashed it down as hard as she could on my left arm, breaking it again and making me see a kaleidoscope of colors and stars.

Tommy and Dick must have tried to stop her because they were already moving and yelling at her but she got off another shot at me that connected to my neck and shoulder as they grappled to restrain her. Between the pains in my arm and shoulder I went out again. It was quite the melee there for a while. When I came to I started chuckling because Sherry was standing by the French doors gnawing on a fingernail looking like she wanted to kill me and I could see concern on Dick and Tommy's faces.

"I can't believe you Jimmy," Dick said. "You get all this punishment and still you're laughing like this is some kind of joke and I assure you that it isn't." He wagged his finger back at forth at me to help make his point. "We need to quit playing games here and for you to tell us what you really know, how about it?"

"Sure, what do you want to know Dick?" I chuckled lightly again like a drunk that had suddenly found something that was slightly humorous.

"What we want to know is how you found out about us in the first place?" he asked. "How did you and your wife put all of this together, granted you can't possibly know it all, but it's obvious that you two know quite a bit?" he asked spreading his hand out wide as he asked.

"It's like this Dick," I said in conspiratorial whisper. "I've been banging Shirley for the last couple of years. I was at your house doing the deed when you came home one day and I had to hide in the closet, you got on the phone and starting talking about the new club cards and then you went on to talking about making sure there was no way the casino could find out about you guys and your scheme to defraud them," I said looking between them. "I started looking into to it and one thing lead to another."

"Bullshit. No way has my wife been screwing you for two years, you're lying through your teeth."

"There's a Portland safe in the closet with a shoe box of new black dress shoes, wingtips I believe, sitting on top?" I should know as I had looked at them a few times, although I wasn't going to tell Dick the real circumstances behind my being in his closet. Let him think what he will on that one.

"You fucker!" Dick hissed at me with hatred and started to come off his chair but then got hold of himself and stopped. He sat there glaring at me as he thought it over.

"Then you Tommy boy went and ran me off the road in the rain that night trying to kill me. Without success I might add. And we're going to even up that score tonight when you go to jail for attempted murder," I told him calmly as I looked at him in the eye and held the contact. "For all the time I spent in a coma and in rehab you better hope they keep you in there for a very long time or otherwise I'll kill you myself."

"You should have died in that accident; I can't see how you lived through it."

"The truck is sitting in Sherry's back yard isn't it?" I said. "Should have gotten rid of it because the state patrol investigators now know it's there and are probably getting a search warrant to confiscate it and tow it in so they can get any and all evidence from it."

I could see something in his face that said he was starting to have some fear that I might be right. But he still couldn't believe that Annette and I had put it all together; even though we hadn't, I was prepared to bluff him a little more.

"You can't know it all. Nobody could have figured it out and you don't understand computers well enough, I know," he said and looked back and forth again between his sister and Dick.

I could see a shape reflecting off the French doors. "Speaking of computers why don't we ask dear old dad to join us," I said. The shape came around from behind me and into view.

"Hello Cal, imagine how much of a fool I felt when I finally remembered that you were in the truck that night when you two ran me off the road. I guess I played right into that by coming to you and trying to get you to help me," I related to him.

"Hello Jimmy," Cal said as he walked around from behind me and came into view of my one eye. "We find ourselves in one heck of a fix here don't we?"

"It will go a lot better for all of you if you talk some sense into your kids and Dick, maybe convince them that it's over and let me go."

"I think it might have gone beyond that point now," he said and gave a glance in Tommy and Sherry's direction. "But for what it's worth, I want you to know that I had no idea of what was going on when you came to me at the college. When I talked to Tommy that weekend in Seattle I could tell something wasn't right when we spoke about it." He paused for a moment, thinking about what to say, glancing at his children. "After I thought it through, I realized that your line of reasoning that it had to be one of the computer techs or a systems contractor that they had hired to help set up the system servers for the slot machines would be the only ones with the real knowledge to be able to pull it off."

"Don't tell me," I cut in on him. "You realized that Tommy was the only one that was genius enough with algorithmic programming, genius enough to go in and set up a ghost program on the secure kernel, setting up some kind of a dead switch that got activated only when the algorithmic spread on the theoretical win got narrowed down to a certain percentage," I said looking at Tommy. "Let's say it notified you when the percentages on the big progressive slots got down to about five percent, right?"

Cal looked around at them." I told you he was very bright," he told them and came back to look me over with new respect. "I should have given you all A's in the classes that you took with me. You know that's very impressive Jimmy and close enough to the mark to tell you that indeed that's how Tommy set it up."

"So why didn't you stop these guys if you weren't in on it?" I asked him. "It wasn't the money if you weren't in on it from the beginning and didn't know about it?"

"Since you don't have children yet you couldn't possibly understand what lengths a parent will go to when it comes to protecting them," he sighed. "I couldn't stop them because it had already gone too far. And the night we ran you off the road? That was Tommy acting impulsively without thinking through the consequences." He sighed and looked at both of his children. "We were only supposed to follow you from the casino and when you stopped, talk to you and try to persuade you from pursuing your inquiries any further. They were even willing to offer you part of the money or bring you in as a partner to get you to drop it. I was only there to talk to you Jim. I hope you at least can believe that about me, I'd never condone what Tommy did that night," he said and looked them both over again as if he was seeing something distasteful but couldn't stop from looking at it.

I could understand the fix he was in. His children and their partner were already in way too deep to be stopped by the time he got his oars in the water to go and save them. I hoped it wasn't too late to save me and wondered where Dennis and the cops were. He has had plenty of time to have told everybody in Port Angeles by now I reasoned. I needed to keep them talking and stall a little longer if I could.

"So how long has the little scam been running Tommy and what's the take as of today?" I smiled a little ragged smile at him and he smiled back in return.

"I've had it running just a little over two years, almost as long as the slot machines have been installed. I had to wait and test the system on a small scale and wait for the jackpots to build up so it wouldn't call attention to me," he said with another smile "As of today we've taken in approximately $2,000,000."

I tried to whistle but it didn't come out very well, all I did was blow air, but they all got the idea.

"Last chance Jimmy." Dick came into to view and squatted down in front of me. "How about it? You willing to drop your little charade of being a private investigator and come in with us? All will be forgiven and no hard feelings on our part. Right Sherry, no hard feelings?" Dick said over his shoulder to her.

"Is there any chance of me still being able to bang Shirley on the side?" I asked with a laugh and kept on laughing till I started sounding a little psycho myself and Sherry stepped in to give me a few good shots to the solar-plexus that effectively shut me up. She finished up with a round house that felt like it was taking off my head and made me see stars again. I felt liken puking again too.

"Stop it Sherry, stop it goddamn it!" I heard Cal shouting at her. "You've already made a mess of this place as it is with his DNA and trace evidence splattered all over. Save it for someplace else, wherever someplace else is going to be, and don't say a word about it because I don't want to know!" he told her as he grabbed her arms and finally reined her in. "I suggest you three clean this place out in case someone knows he was coming here tonight."

I heard Cal telling them this through the fog that had returned as my head swam in circles and spun. I was fighting to stay conscious and my vision was blurry again. I was left alone as everyone went into another room or someplace where I couldn't hear what they were doing. I decided to stay where I was and try and get my act back together because it looked like I was on my own and I'd have to extract myself from this mess without help coming. I concentrated on looking at the fireplace and closing my eyes and then opening them after a few minutes to see if my vision was getting any better. After a few times of trying that it seemed that indeed my vision in the right eye was coming back so I ventured to look around some and see if there was anything close to hand that would help me escape.

I was drawn to the French doors by what looked like movement across the glass from outside. At first I thought my vision was playing tricks on me, but as I watched and concentrated, the movement returned and stayed in the center of the doors. It looked like it was Dennis I thought as I tried to stay focused on the form of black fluttering around the outside of the door. But Dennis was supposed be alerting the girls, getting the cops and the SWAT team, hell the guy was supposed to be getting help, not doing a one man rescue operation on his own. I groaned at the folly of it and Cal's large form filled my view of the doors.

"I'm sorry Jimmy, truly sorry things turned out the way they did," he said as the others started bringing things in from somewhere and I heard them setting stuff down on the table behind me and then leaving again. Cal was saying something to me but I wasn't listening. I was frantically trying to think of some way to extract myself and the only thing I could come up with was to teleport myself to someplace else.

Cal had stopped talking. He must have realized I wasn't listening to him and then all four of them were standing in front of me again, Tommy and Dick holding two large duffel bags, and Sherry holding a large gun that was pointed at me. God help me Dennis; do something soon if you're going to do it!

I nodded at the bags. "At least show me what $2,000,000 looks like before you kill me." Tommy and Dick looked at each other and shrugged like what the hell does it matter now. They sat the bags on the floor in front of me and unzipped them. They were all green and grey inside; my two favorite colors in denomination of hundreds and fifties; just two of my best friends.

"That's what $1,000,000 in cash looks like," Dick said as he zipped the bag shut and Tommy started to do the same. "The other million is split up into our bank accounts; this was for Jimmy Seedman as a down payment to show that we were serious...." Dick was saying as the French doors disintegrated at that moment and stopped him from saying anything more.

One second the doors were there and next second they blew open into the room and came off their hinges in a spray of glass and wood taking all four of my captors and sweeping them off their feet like leaves in a whirlwind and throwing Cal and Dick on top of me. Their combined weight with the force of the blast swept the chair I was duct taped to backwards, almost under the dining table. I peered through the smoke where the door had been seconds before and in a lazy slow motion I watched as two objects floated through the air over my head and out of sight behind me.

The room and the air in it seem to vibrate and explode all at the same time. All of a sudden the air was sucked out of my lungs as all hell broke loose. I saw a chunk of drywall go sailing over my head and land against the fireplace in slow motion. It still had most of the stud it had been nailed to hanging from it in a forlorn shape. The dining room table bounced off the ceiling and landed on top of us, breaking my leg again for me although I didn't realize it at the time.

I vaguely remember Dennis, or what I thought was Dennis, dressed in black coming through the hole that had once been doors and glass, and I silently thanked God that he had finally came back to get me. He knelt down and rolled my eyelid back and checked my neck for a pulse. When he was satisfied that I was alive; completely fucked up, but alive, he pulled something out of his coat pocket and put it in mine as he mumbled words to me and patting me on my broken arm while he was at it no less! Then he spun around, picked up both the duffel bags and vanished through the swirling smoke and dust leaving me.

Although it looked like Dennis there was something about the way the person walked into the room and moved that told a part of my dimly lit brain that it wasn't him. Besides that, where would Dennis learn about explosives and why would he leave me lying there like a tussled up turkey on the floor? I tried to make my brain work through the fog and found myself losing the fight to stay awake. I tried to yell at him to come back and untie me but it was probably only in my mind that I did this as I started slipping away. I finally gave it up and succumbed to the darkness once more. Sweet, sweet, darkness, and I slept.
Epilogue

They say all's well that ends well or something like that. Me? I say 'onward and forward into the night', except that I'm not doing the night thing anymore. I changed my ways for good. As a matter of fact I'm waiting for Stacks to come pick me up at my apartment and take me to my physical therapy session because Annette asked me to move out about a month ago and I'm living in an apartment over the Red Goose shoe store downtown across from Zak's Tavern. I'm trying my best to change my ways, go figure.

I was in the hospital for a couple of weeks recovering from the beating and the blast that ensued from going up to Tommy's house that night with Dennis. The blast killed all four of them; Dick and Cal instantaneously with Tommy and Sherry dying in route to Olympic Memorial Hospital. No big loss and they didn't say anything before they went.

The Port Angeles Police, the Sheriff's Department, the State Patrol, the FBI, the Washington State Gaming Agency, and the ATF, along with just about any other agency that you can use their initials to make a word out of had a field day with yours truly because my walk-up savior had used plastic explosives and what they later determined to be fairly new Israeli concussion grenades. Stuff you just can't pick up at your local Guns-R-Us store. It seems that Dennis did indeed 'hightail it out of there' and go get help. It just took forever to convince the cops and then another forever for them to decide what to do about it after they were convinced that I was in trouble. Some internal investigation got started over that.

I knew it wasn't Dennis that came through the door that night, but somebody blew those doors and tossed those concussion grenades into Tommy's dining room, killing them all. I was saved by Dick and Cal's bodies as they hurled me to the floor from the explosion. Although at the time I had no idea that they had been shredded to hamburger by the glass and wood from the door. Nobody even knew that there had been a million dollars in cash sitting on the floor in front of me when the blasts went off until they found and played the tape my savior had put in my pocket. The one from our receiving unit corroborated everything and once the law enforcement officials from various agencies sorted everything out and interviewed Annette, Paula, and Dennis numerous times then gave them plenty of grief for their efforts of trying to be helpful.

Donnie Millhouse and his sister Stacks had jumped right in and done their best to run interference for us. They had me covered as soon as Annette called them and filled them in on what happened. For a while the cops thought we might have had a hand in the deaths to cover up a blackmail scheme that had gone south. Cops, go figure that one.

I had been handcuffed to my hospital bed when I'd woken up and then I'd been grilled unmercifully by every cop and federal agent that could lay their hands on me as soon as I was cleared by my doctor and I'd had a chance to go over things with Donnie. I tried to be as truthful as possible with them and I was, up until I had to explain how I came by the initial information that led me to believe there was a cheating scam on the slot machines.

I gave them a song and dance routine that involved me banging away on Shirley Jameson for a year or so in my spare time while Dick was away. I figured since it had worked on Dick before he got killed why not use it now? I mean it was my word against Shirley's wasn't it? Plus I was able to describe everything in the house spot on, and what did I care if Shirley denied it, who wants to be caught screwing another man's wife this way. Of course she would deny it, who wouldn't?

The cops and feds finally had to buy it when they couldn't shake my story. They may not have believed it, but they had to buy it for what it was. The detective handling the case for the Port Angeles Police Department was Carl Walsh and I knew that he didn't believe it for one minute. I guess that's because he told me didn't believe in fairy tales, mine included, and that he intended to keep his eye on me and Annette in the future.

Fratino Investigations now had a watchdog, wanted or not. I think what really ticked them off was the not knowing where all that money went and who the other person was that took it and blew the place up in the process. 'No clue and sorry guys can't help you' doesn't go over very well with cops and feds, but go figure Uncle Jed. None of us knew who this other person was and they couldn't get out of us what we didn't really know. That must have gotten their panties in a real bunch as they say.

Once everything had calmed down and the cops had cleared us of any wrong doing, the casino had taken care of us and made arrangements with the insurance carrier to pay us and give us an estimated percentage of what was likely to be recovered once they sorted through that mess. Donnie also represented us and our interest with all of their legalese. They had thrown us a nice award's dinner and let us invite our friends and family. Everybody had showed up including my parents. They also invited the reporters from the local newspapers and TV stations to make sure we received some press coverage. It didn't hurt the casino to get some free publicity either.

Cheryl Morgan presented us with an award of 'Professional Excellence' and had said some really nice things about us. Annette still looked like she wanted to scratch her eyes out just on principle. Frank Capolli, Big Darryl Galuchia, Conroy Williams, and a bunch of Tribal Elders sat at our table and extolled praise upon us for doing such a great job of catching the thieves.

Frank wise-cracked that he wouldn't have fired me that one day if he'd known that people tend to get blown up and killed when I was in the same room with them. He told me when I was well enough to come back to work as soon as the doctors released me. Then my problems started.

Annette went to put groceries in the trunk of the car and was surprised to find a fairly large package sitting in the trunk, along with a note that said 'Congratulation on your first case, you've earned it. This also squares us up for saving my life, consider us even'. The fairly large package contained $500,000 in hundred and fifties. Someone had signed it 'Love Uncle Bob' or something to that effect. It took up the entire trunk. Annette went ballistic and wouldn't accept my word that I had nothing to do with it, or any idea of how the money got there, or who put it there, henceforth the break up. Annette said that she couldn't believe I actually knew nothing about it considering my past history of lying to her for so many years. Add in the fact that people just don't leave $500,000 in the trunk of her car for without a good reason. I have to admit it sounded like I knew something about it myself by the time she was done with me.

The only explanation I could offer her was that I'd saved Vinn's life when I was in Florida years ago and maybe he'd sent someone to watch over our first case and that person had been the one to save me and take the money, leaving the $500,000 in the trunk of her car after the cops were done with us. From the note it was the only thing I could come up with. Knowing Vinn I wouldn't put it past him to send someone to the west coast, sort of like a guardian angel thing. Plus we never did figure out who the mysterious person was that had been keeping us under surveillance even after we talked to Cheryl Morgan and the cops. They'd assured us that we weren't being watched by either one of them. I'm almost sure that it was the same person who rescued me and left the money. I also refused to go into the details of Florida with Annette again. Regardless of what I had said to her, in the real world, people don't just leave that much money in the trunk of a car. The money is currently sitting on a shelf in the Bat Cave. It wouldn't fit in the safe so it's covered with a paint cloth. Go figure that one out because I sure can't!

Annette had Donnie serve me with papers of separation and I was made to understand that I was to leave her alone until she decided where our relationship was going. I promptly rented the apartment over the shoe store and left the house for Annette to live in. I'm not worried about her taking the money and spending it without telling me, I could really care less about it, money comes and goes.

I haven't seen Dennis or Paula since Annette asked me to move out and I can understand why. All I can say is that I sort of miss having them around; they were pretty cool people and good friends when we needed them, and they held up real well under the questioning the cops and the feds gave them. At least Annette will have them in her life if we don't get back together and they'll have had the experience of some real excitement in their lives. Dennis should be able to get some real satisfaction out of it.

I remember the way Annette looked and the way she looked at me the night of the 'Big Bang' as we've come to call it. I can't remember her looking more beautiful than when she gave me that shy smile that said she was maybe hiding something from me and I find that last mental picture of her quite tantalizing to the point of not being able to get the picture of her out of my head.

Stacks is pulling up to the curb and waving at me with a big smile. We've gone out a couple of times and had dinner and drinks at Downriggers, nothing special, we just enjoy each other's company even if I still call her 'Stacks' to her face and always refer to her that way. It's her nickname now. She's been taking me around to estate sales so I can buy some antiques to put in my apartment.

"They're remodeling the old Delaney's Bar and Grill up the street and the word is they're bringing back the 'The Battle of the Bands & Biker Fun Run' for charity, they used to put it on each spring," I say to Stacks. "How about it, want to go with me? I should be able to dance again by then," I ask her.

She gives me a charming smile as we pull into the parking lot for my physical therapy, "sure, why not?"

"It's a date then," I say as I get out of the car and amble into my session on my crutches. It gives me something to look forward to and I can't help but think of how much money Delaney used to tell me that they brought in on a gig like that. Like I say; 'onwards and forward into the night', because it gives me something to look forward to. I start chuckling as I push my way through the doors.
Thank You One and All

There are so many to thank and not enough room on paper, or bytes of memory, or the brain cells to remember them all, but I'll give it a shot: Mom and Dad because when I was a kid they always told me I could do anything I wanted to, I'd just have to remember to accept the responsibility no matter what I did with my life. Satisfied now? Thanks to Laura Frantz who lives across the street from Mom and Dad because she's published and doing well. Thanks for being an inspiration and giving me encouragement every time I talk to you. And Ken J. who taught me about computers and was more than generous with his time because I was so dimwitted, thank you very much. And Pauly D. who let me pick his brain on all cop stuff.

Thanks to Shawn Mc G. for giving me some of the background on the Speedway and for letting me use his grandfather as a model for Grandpa Jimmy. I hope you don't mind the embellishments and I'm sorry the Speedway no longer exists.

I hope I got the casino stuff right and I'd like to thank Linda R. for going with me on this one when I approached her on this project because it wouldn't have happened without her. She talked to the right people and paved the way for me. Thanks to Jerry A., Fred, and especially Glenn for checking parts of the manuscript and his helpful suggestions and insights into the workings of slot machines, Big Bill, Mitch, Mary and Dena. A very big thanks to Brian B. for taking the time to share all of his knowledge on the technical workings of electronic slot machines. Thanks to Larry G. and I'm looking forward to hearing from you. And thanks to all my friends for their encouragement when they found out I was working on this project.

Once more, a big thank you to Munkins for being my wife, researcher, proofreader, secretary and best friend. Thanks also to Charlie, Missy, and Bella for trying to keep me company and help me write but I don't think the writing kingdom is ready yet for the animal kingdom. I thank you all.

Don
About the Author

Donald Everetti was born in the mid-west and moved to the west coast while he was still a child. He has worked many jobs from construction laborer to plumber, pipe fitter, and carpenter. He spent sixteen years in the casino industry working his way up the food chain.

He has traveled around our wonderful country extensively and hopes to continue doing so with his beautiful wife Munkins.

He currently lives somewhere on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula in Washington State where he's working on his next book.

***Please continue reading for a sneak-peek of book 2 in the James Anthony Fratino series _Life's Punishing Path,_ available now, followed by the first two chapters of book 3 in the James Anthony Fratino series, _Punishing Dark & Malicious Intentions._ CAUTION these two chapters contain spoilers so if you want to be surprise when book 3 comes out...don't read these two chapters. ***
**Continue reading for an excerpt of the second book in the James Anthony Fratino Series** _Life's_ _Punishing Path._
Chapter 1

Sandbags I think to myself. I think I could use more sandbags. But then again I may be saying it out loud and not just thinking it. I do that every once in a while since I was in a car wreck about a year ago that put me into a coma and it has the tendency to make people look at you funny. Screw it; I'm by myself so who cares if I'm talking out loud to myself or maybe doing my spaceman thing where I'm talking to Houston. That one is always entertaining for me.

I climb down the ladder and sort through the various sizes of sand filled canvas bags spread out on the floor around the job site. It's very important for me to get this part of the job to go right the first time because I only get one shot at it. I'm also somewhat of a meticulous planner when it comes to whatever job I'm doing, whether it's painting a bedroom, washing the car, or in this case, prepping for a burglary job. I believe a person should do the best job they can or don't do it at all!

I select six of the bags that are roughly three inches in diameter and about eighteen inches long, throwing three over each shoulder and climb the ladder once more. I wince as I take the weight of the three on my left shoulder; it reminds me of where a psycho female named Sherry Walmond slammed a vase into it. Lucky for me she was aiming for my head at the time and had just finished breaking my arm only a couple of second before.

I think to myself that I must have gone up and down this ladder fifty times in the last two days. Then if you add in the climbing up and down when I did the initial inspection of the job and surrounding area to judge if indeed the concrete could stand the stress? _Well Uncle Jed I'll bet that I've been up and down that ladder another fifty times, easy! Quit complaining Jethro and get back up that there ladder boy!_

I smile at the thought of my doctors and physical therapists seeing me working this hard. Sure they'd be proud that I was back doing physical work and doing it well. I just have the feeling that considering the type of work I'm doing it wouldn't sit too well with them since I don't really think that this was what they had in mind when they said I should get back to work as soon as I could. Today's health professionals; go figure.

I place the sandbags on top of the plywood bases and look everything over once more before I start connecting the wiring harnesses and wrapping them with electrical tape every foot or so because I don't want one to snag and pull out when I start jacking the platforms snugly into place against the concrete and then have to do it all over again. 'Any job worth doing' as dad used to say when I was a kid. I give everything a good inspection once more just for good measure. It looks great dad, you'd be proud, I think to myself or maybe it was said out loud; who knows?

I climb down and start jacking the platforms into their final place one at a time, working my way around the circle of two-by-four legs, ratcheting the simple wall-jacks a few clicks at a time and moving on to the next one until the platforms are snug against the concrete ceiling. I grab my cordless drill and a handful of three inch screws and sink four into each of the overlapping sections of two-by-four legs and then go back around it screwing in short lengths of wood on to the legs for bracing, effectively making a rough looking cage.

I inspected my work once more as I walk around the wood cage and deem it worthy of my efforts. Too bad its purpose is to be destroyed 'but that's work for you' I say to myself again or maybe out loud for all I know or care at the moment. I give a little chuckle.

I start collecting my tools, along with all the other odds and ends lying around and put everything in the two five gallon buckets that I use to haul stuff back and forth to my apartment. Soon everything is picked up and I take another look or two around just to make sure I'm not missing anything, small or large. I'll get the sandbags on my next trip and spread the sand behind me when I get to the turnoff for my apartment, it'll make a good base for the dust blend that I've made special for this job.

An hour later and I'm ready to go... almost. It took me a little longer than I'd estimated to put the sand and dust covering on the floor to my satisfaction, plus I threw some extra dust on the entrance to my apartment just to be on the safe side. All in all I've covered about two city blocks. No need to show anybody where the entrance was unless they've worked hard for it. Not that anybody would be down here unless it was a homeless person or some kids breaking in to poke around and maybe drink some booze or smoke some dope.

They keep the place locked up pretty good and to tell you the truth most people living in Port Angeles don't know or have probably forgotten that we even have an underground section of downtown. People just aren't interested in where they live these days and give no thought as to the history of their cities and towns that they walk everyday. I was delighted to find out Port Angeles had an old underground section and at the time I thought it was pretty cool. Now I'm using it for the game and I think it's a hoot. I chuckle to myself once more.

I give the floor another once over and scatter the remaining dust off to the sides of the main tunnel, or walkway if you will, trying for that undisturbed for a hundred years look. Not bad, not bad, I say to myself as I head for entrance located in Zak's parking lot. I take a minute to make sure the coast is clear and nobody's playing slam the monkey in the parking lot after the bar closed. It would not be good to be seen coming home from working on the game now that I've resealed my lower level entrance. The coast is clear and I unlock the old iron gate and slip through it, relocking it with the lock I put on the gate after I had cut the old one off with my bolt cutters two weeks ago.

I quickly skirt the wall that the street sits on top of and head for the music store, keeping next to it until I'm in the alley where it's darker. I walk to the back entrance of the music store and duck into the small alcove and quickly take a peek both ways as I take off the hospital booties covering my running shoes and shove them in my pocket then roll up my ski mask until it just covers my ears.

Now I look like a jogger and I continue through the alley until I come to the street and turn left, breaking into a jog. I can feel the shock waves moving up through my body as my feet rhythmically pound the sidewalk, sending them up to my shoulder and skull. I turn left on Railroad and then another left on Oak St. The Red Goose is just ahead and then I'll be home.

My name is James Anthony Fratino and I used to be a floor supervisor or 'pit boss' at Seven Rivers Casino where it seems like I had been employed forever. I'm a former husband, current boyfriend to a real centerfold looking girl, good son to my parents, and I've recently opened my own investigation business, Fratino Investigations. I'm also a thief and I just put the finishing touches to my latest nocturnal masterpiece. I'm going to blow a hole in a floor, climb through when the smoke clears and steal what I hope will be at least $200,000 in charity fundraising dough-ray-me; all in cash. I plan to put that money to good use for my favorite charity, which happens to be me.

I round the corner to the back of the building where the entrance to my apartment is and I see Stacks' new Honda Civic sitting next to my truck and I know what's waiting for me upstairs. I bend over and brace my arms and hands against my knees, locking my elbows and taking deep breaths before I tackle climbing the stairs.

I take a minute to think of Stacks. Most men wouldn't take a second, let alone a minute when it came to thinking about Karen 'Stacks' Millhouse, because she's a genuine, real American beauty if there ever was one. Any man in his right mind would jump at the chance to date her and I would venture to guess that she has had plenty of marriage proposals from men she's met, probably quite a few of them in the first ten minutes of talking to her. I haven't asked, only speculated.

My girlfriend is definitely centerfold material, the kind of woman who men look at for just a moment too long before getting hit on the shoulder by their wives for looking in the first place. She has long blond hair, longer legs that go to heaven, and the face of an angel. If she was to walk into a hunting lodge her rack would make the ten pointers hanging on the wall cry with shame for being in the same room with her. Come to think of it I've seen quite a few other women sort of do the same thing mentally when we are around.

My problem is that I'm not most men and I'm still having issues over my ex-wife Annette. Make that soon to be ex-wife. Stacks and I have been seeing each other sort of seriously for the last six months according to her and for the last four by my count. Her brother Donnie is my attorney and now one of my best friends; she's half owner of the law firm and runs the business. It's sort of complicated for me. I tell myself to remember that I should never take her to Seven Rivers Casino of Fun and Happiness least she fall under the eye of Big Darryl Galuchia, my former boss.

Big Darryl has a thing for long and lanky legged blonds, which Karen definitely is, unless I want her to be panty-less, poached, and purloined before you can say hey-baby. I guess you could say Big Darryl has an eye for them, plus something else if you get my meaning.

I climb the stairs and let myself in. Stacks is indeed lying in my bed asleep. I shower as quietly as possible and then slip into bed next to her, trying not to disturb her while she slept.

"You were told not do any running for a year," she said to me as she rolled over and into my arms yawning, looking sleepily gorgeous from the light filtering in from the window. "Remember that part?" she asked softly as I cradled her head into my neck and she threw a long, slender, perfectly formed leg over me, running her foot up and down my leg.

"I sort of remember that," I replied as I stroked her shoulders and back. God she smelled great.

She gave my chest a light kiss and then thumped it gently with her hand, "And no running late at night either!"

"No more running late at night, yes," I agreed and went to kiss her forehead and found her lips instead as she had turned her head up and off my shoulder. Karen's knee was rubbing into my groin area as she lazily ran her foot up and down my leg. She could tell I was happy that she had come over, even if it was late. The kiss turned out to be much longer than planned and turned into something else entirely that was just as much fun.

When I woke up I was alone. Karen had gotten up early and gone home to change for work unless she had brought clothes again and showered here. That had been happening a lot lately. I found a short note on the night stand located on her side of the bed; 'See you at the office this morning, love Karen'. Love Karen? I guess I'm sort of getting there and that is sort of leading to the issues I am having about my ex-wife.

There was makeup on the counter, the hair dryer was on top of the toilet tank, and the shower still had droplets of water on it. Good guess she'd brought clothes with her last night and I didn't see them.

After I showered I knew she'd brought clothes last night because as I opened the clothes hamper her bra stared up at me. "Stacks, Stacks, Stacks, what am I going to do with you?" I said to the bra staring up at me. The bra had no answer so I threw my clothes in, got dressed and drove up to the office.

The reception desk was empty as I strolled in and announced my presence. "Jimmy, I'm in my office," Donnie called as I walked back to his office where he sat behind his desk looking over court documents in an opened folder in front of him. "What did you guys do last night? Get drunk or something?" he asked as he put the papers down.

"Na, Stacks came over late and we just hung around is all," I said looking around. "Where is she anyway?"

Donnie pointed at the bathroom. "She's in there puking again, that makes twice since she got here and that's why I thought maybe you two were out partying it up last night."

"Nope, not us. We were just hanging out," I told him again as I plopped down into the chair across from him.

"That's what she said too," Donnie gave me a funny look that I couldn't quite figure out and then went back to his court papers.

We could hear the toilet flush in the bathroom and a minute or so later we could hear the tapping of Karen's tooth brush that she kept in the medicine cabinet as she tapped it against the sink rim before putting it away. Donnie gave me a funny look as he shuffled his papers again.

Karen came out of the bathroom off the kitchenette area and joined us for a moment before heading back to her desk. "I do so wish that you would stop calling me 'Stacks' and start referring to me by my name Jim," she said as she bent down and gave me a kiss that was just a little bit longer that what we usually gave each other in the office. Her long blond hair enveloped my head and almost covered me to my waist. Her kiss tasted minty fresh.

"Sorry Stacks, I mean Karen," I said with a little pat on her butt. "What's the matter, don't feel too good? Are you going to be okay for this weekend?" I asked her with concern in my voice.

It was the big weekend of the Battle of The Bands and Biker Fun Run charity event at the newly remodeled Delaney's. We had plans for Stacks to stay at my place this weekend so we didn't have to drive; it was only two blocks from the Red Goose where I lived. It was also my big weekend.

Stacks smiled at me then replied, "Not to worry, I'll be fine and I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with you and having you all to myself." She continued to smile at me, then her brother before going back to her desk.

"I want you to go over to the fire marshal's office and pick up the report on the Anderson fire, talk to the marshal, then go over and look the site over and get your take on the place for me again. I have a preliminary hearing tomorrow afternoon to see if I can't get the arson charges dropped against Mr. Anderson," Donnie said. "I told him I would put my best man on it."

I nodded at him and headed towards my office to check and see if my camera was there. I stopped at the doorway between his and Karen's office and leaned my back against the doorjamb where I could talk to both of them. "Donnie could you and Karen check into the old Harrison Building for me, I'm thinking about buying it," I asked him and Karen turned towards me with a look of surprise while Donnie whistled. Neither of them was expecting that and the request took them both by surprise.

"How much of it did you want buy?"

"I was thinking of the whole building if I could get it."

Donnie whistled again and Karen's eyes went wide in surprise. "Jimmy that's a whole half block of building that you're talking about, do you realize how much that will set you back?" Donnie asked me.

"We're close to a second settlement offer on both lawsuits aren't we?"

"Yeah but still, that's quite a bundle to be bantering around."

"When the insurance people call with their counter offer again tell them I'll accept if they go 30% over their current offer. Accept on my behalf verbally if they go for it then have them send the documents," I told him.

"Sounds like you put some thought into this."

I nodded my head absently as I looked at Karen. "I'm all squared away with Annette aren't I?" I asked him as I continued to look at his sister.

"The divorce settlement is signed, sealed, and delivered. You're just waiting for it to become final in three months."

"Yeah, I put some thought into this a lot lately," I said as I looked at Karen. "I got some plans for how I want the future to turn out."

I walked the few steps to her desk and sat down on it and I rolled her chair over to me. I pulled on her hands until she came up out of the chair and I put my arms around her waist bringing two of her most endearing physical attributes level with my eyes. She leaned over and kissed my up turned face.

"Stacks, Stacks, Stacks, what am I going to do with you?" I said and smiled up at her. I left her standing there grinning like an idiot as I got up and went into my office. If I didn't know any better I'd say it looked like a small tear rolled out of her eye.

When I came out of my office she was in with Donnie and the door was closed so I just left. I decided I would call later and see if she wanted to do a late lunch while Donnie was at the courthouse this afternoon. Stacks; go figure.

And that is what we did. We had a late lunch and Karen reassured me she was feeling fine, probably just something she had eaten last night that didn't agree with her.

The next two days were pretty busy for both of us and I slipped up to her house on Thursday night and spent the night. When I got up I thought that she had already left because the house was so quiet and still until I heard her puking in the spare bathroom as I stood in the kitchen. I heard the toilet flush and I ran quickly back to the bedroom until I heard the sound of her coming out.

"Good morning Jim," she said a little hesitantly to me and looked over her shoulder at the bathroom as I gave her a quizzical look. "I was just getting ready to leave and I didn't want to wake you up by using the master bathroom so I was using this one."

I pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down, motioning for her to come to me. When she did I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her stomach. I lifted her blouse and kissed her tummy. "Are you ready for the big night?" I asked as I gave her tummy a few more kisses and ran my hands over her butt. Karen definitely has a very nice butt I told myself.

"I am ready, willing, and able, I assure you," she said as she started tugging her blouse back down with one hand and pushing my head away with the other hand. "Now let me go to work Jim before Donnie fires me."

"He's not going to fire you, you own half the business," I replied and stood up wrapping my arms around her and snuggling into her neck. I started running my hands over her back and butt. I was getting aroused and she smelled like a flower this morning.

"Jim, let me go. I have to go to work now or I'll be late," she said trying to disengage herself from me.

"Bedroom," I murmured into her ear as she grabbed for my hands.

"Nooooo!" she pleaded, groaning to be released. "Later Jim, please?"

"Okay sweetheart, I just thought you might be up for a quickie, to send you off for the day with a smile on your face and something to remember me by," I said and gave her a peck on the lips with a smile to go along with it just to show that there were no hard feelings on my part. "I'll see if I can squeeze time in for a late lunch maybe. Go; be on your way now working girl!" I said as I and patted her butt and gave her a wink before turning on my heels and walking back down the hallway to the bedroom without looking back.

I lay back down on the bed and stretched out, counting in my head; five, four, three, two, as Karen came hopping into the bedroom trying to get out of her pantyhose and underwear while walking at the same time.

"I love it!" I said to her.

"A quickie Jim and I mean only a quickie, you got to promise!" Karen said as she threw the wadded up ball of underwear and pantyhose at my head and hiked up her skirt to climb up onto the bed.

"No promises, just hope," I smiled at her.

"Goddamn it Jim this better be good!" Karen groaned at me as she now knew this might not be a quickie like I asked for.

Karen was an hour and a half late for work. She had pleaded no distractions and shower by herself. I told her I would go and make some more coffee, which I did. When I brought her coffee into the bedroom and set it on her dresser I could hear her retching again. I left to go watch some TV and get the newspaper out of the box.

Karen came out of the bedroom in a whirl, setting the coffee cup on the dining table by me and giving me a quick kiss before disappearing through the door and into the garage. She'd been dressed in different outfit.

Everything was different; I now knew Karen was pregnant for sure or else real sick with terminal kid disease. My money was on baby clothes and trips to the doctors with her for sonograms. Sex; go figure.
Chapter 2

Karen was cooking a small dinner as Donnie and his date arrived at my place. It's not real big mind you, but it has that cozy feeling and an old smell to it that you get from a place that is over a hundred years old. Buildings take on a character and personality of their own and some people can't stand the oldness of them. I have a fondness for history and it took me no time at all to feel right at home.

Karen and Donnie had helped me move in the furniture I acquired at secondhand stores and yard sales, partially because I was still on the injured list and partially because they felt sorry for me when Annette had asked me to move out so soon after the beating I had taken on my last case; along with the fact that I had not been allowed to drive at all up until recently. Karen had mothered me for months and had been there when I needed someone.

I had asked Karen for some advice on a couple pieces of furniture and decorating ideas for my apartment and she had been more than willing to help. We spent hours together browsing thrift shops, antique shops, and estate sales in our spare time. We spent hours and days together driving all over the peninsula when she would hear of an estate sale that might have some exceptionally good pieces in it that I might want to acquire. Karen seemed to be impressed with my taste in antiques and was completely floored when I told her I used to deal in antiques nationwide. _Mexico and Canada are at a slightly higher rate. Taxes and restrictions may apply in your state. Thank you for doing business with us!_

Then we got caught in a snow storm that turned out to be worse than expected on one of our outings and we spent four days in a hotel together. Needless to say we didn't get any antiques, but we did get very acquainted with each other, very acquainted actually.

We had decided right then to take it real slow since I had just gotten the boot from Annette and I still didn't know what would happen with her. Karen said she was all for that and could just use somebody to hang out with once in a while and not feel any pressure from, just be herself, and not feel like some prize, like a Barbie doll that all the men wanted to play with and take the clothes off of as soon as they got their hands on it once it was out of the box and they had it alone in their bedroom. I would have laughed except she was so serious about it.

"They want a prize to put on a pedestal or they want to hump me and then when they get what they want they dump me because they have inadequacy issues and think that they're not capable of being able to keep me if another man comes along that is more of an alpha than they think they are!" she'd said.

"Stacks, you just need a regular guy is all; one who knows that you are just a regular girl with pretty wrapping," I told her and then started laughing.

"That's what I like about you Jim; you just treat me like I'm a regular person," Karen had answered back giving me a funny look that wasn't humorous or funny for that matter as her head tilted sideways and she laid it on her shoulder.

That's where the six months she is always talking about comes from. That first time we had sex. The four months I always talk about comes from the time I finally realized I might have been played like a puppet by her and we were really dating all the time since we had sex that first time. I'm still trying to figure that one out and it's what I'm thinking about as I'm sitting in the bay window having a glass of wine watching Karen float around my kitchenette humming softly along to a jazz station on the radio.

Donnie and Shelly have just walked in and made themselves at home without knocking. It seems weird to me as I think of how normal it all seems. One day I was alone and crying by myself and now I'm looking at my new family; part of which has just walked through my door without knocking and made themselves at home. Weird, I think to myself.

"Goddamn Jimmy!" Donnie said as he sat a large bag of booze down on the table and they walked over to where I was sitting.

"What?" I asked spreading my hands out and shrugging my shoulders like I didn't know what they were referring to.

"Don't give me that bullshit and play dumb. You built that?" he said referring to the bay window I was sitting in as he and Shelly walked over and admired the unit we had built.

"This?" I asked playing it up. "Oh, this is just a little something your sister and I threw together in our spare time out of some scraps I found laying out back in the alley," I said gesturing at the false bay window and shelves.

"Jim..., be nice and don't be modest," Karen said without turning around.

"I got the idea while we were sitting at the table talking about the old place. Karen said it would have really added character to the place if they would have put some bay windows in when they built it," I said looking around. "Since the building was originally built as a saloon in 1889, with this apartment being part of the whorehouse, I told her it probably didn't seem practical and the owners wouldn't have wanted to waste their money. They would have wanted the employees to spend their time looking up at the ceiling and not out some bay window," I said filling them in on a little history of the building.

What I didn't tell them was that I had found a dumbwaiter that had been built into the back wall to service the customers back in the old days while I was trying to hang some shelves and the wall came apart on me. I reworked it and gotten it serviceable again when I came up with the plan for this weekend. I covered it up with a rather large framed painting of a Victorian house that I bought at Goodwill for ten bucks.

When this weekend was over I'd take some Speedy-Patch and drywall to it, slap some matching left over paint that I had found in the basement, and we would be to go Houston. _Rodger that Burglar One, you're cleared for mission slap and patch anytime._

The fact that Karen had given me the idea and an excuse to be in the basement storage area was bonus round play that I hoped she would never find out about. When I asked if she wanted to help me build it she jumped at the idea of us building something together and got all excited about the project, plus she had to drive the truck to Home Depot. That night we had some of the best sex we'd ever had and she has been cooing and fluttering around for the last two weeks since then.

The next day we talked to Mr. Zawilkinski, who owns the building and runs the Red Goose shoe store. I always call him Mr. Winkski and he is always correcting me, then he will slowly pronounce his last name for me again. I promptly say I understand and figure out a way to call him Mr. Winkski within less than a minute, whereas he corrects me again and we start all over. Karen thinks it is horrible of me but it doesn't stop me from doing it to him every chance I get.

He is actually a nice old guy and he seems to genuinely like Karen because he can't keep his eyes off of her whenever she's around. I suggested to Karen that she do all the talking when we approached him about doing the project in the basement. He was more than happy to let us use the storage area so long as we cleaned it up every time we were done working down there.

Dragging lumber and power tools down to the basement made for an excellent cover and I made sure we took our time. I used the excuse of having a headache or that I was worn-out to prolong the project and when Karen would leave at night I would sneak back down to work on my side project. I would pull the false front and back off the dumbwaiter and crawl through to the underground part of town for the reconnaissance that needed to be done; then I would do the real work.

I was all set and Mr. Zawilkinski's security camera over the basement loading ramp would show Karen and I coming and going at all odd hours, and then with help of his grandsons, carrying the bay window unit out in three pieces and then us packing our scraps out and throwing it in the back of my truck. If Karen thought it was odd that we took it to the dump instead of just tossing it the alley's dumpster she didn't mention it.

"Sit down and try out the view," Karen said as she brought them glasses of wine and nodded for me to vacate the seat.

"This is great you guys!" Shelly gushed at Karen. She climbed up on the large red cushion that we had found at Goodwill on the second day of our project and looked out the window.

Karen had it dry cleaned and then hand-stitched lacey ruffles on the front. My books lined the angled shelves on each side that tapered into the walls, giving it the look of being an original part of the structure. Too bad I might have to leave it when I moved out next week if all went according to plan. Mr. Winkski loved it when we showed it to him after it was completed so I couldn't see him complaining too much if I wanted to leave it.

Shelly and Donnie watched as choppers and old time classic cars rumbled down the street in front of the Red Goose and cruised by in throaty anticipation of the weekends' events. Money, lots of money in town this weekend and every hotel and motel room was taken from Port Angeles to Sequim. ' _Money-money-money, money_ ', the O.J.'s song played in my head as we talked.

Karen called us to dinner and we all sat down to a feast set in soft candlelight and soothing, melodious music. The old place looked rather good in all the candlelight and second hand furniture with a scattering of antiques mixed in. Karen had helped make the place look like a home. The candles she had strategically placed around definitely had the desired effect and were commented on by Donnie and Shelly. My girlfriend Stacks did indeed have more than pretty wrapping to her.

"You really should do more of those you know," Donnie said before shoving salad in his mouth.

"More of what?" Karen asked him.

"More of those bay windows; you should advertise them in Better Homes and Garden or something like that. You two could make a bundle doing that in your spare time out of a garage."

"Did you really help with the building Karen or did you just keep Jim company and hand him tape measurers and things?" Shelly asked her.

"I can now chop-saw wood with the best of them can't I Jim?" Karen said with some pride showing.

I nodded my head and continued to chew my food as I watched her. She was an amazing yet complex woman, but in a simple way. I think I knew what she needed.

"I ran the skill saw and the table saw too!" she told them. "Jim even bought me my own safety glasses, ear protectors, and my very own tape measurer!"

Shelly and Donnie were duly impressed. "It sounds like you two are getting along just fine," Donnie said. "You two ready for the big party this weekend?"

Karen made a face at me and stuck her tongue out, earning surprised looks from Donnie and Shelly and a good laugh from me. "Wow! There's a look for the old family album," Donnie said as he looked between us. "What's that about?"

"Jim, don't you dare tell them," Karen bellowed, which brought more questioning looks from Donnie and Shelly.

"Don't tell us what?" her brother asked like he really wanted to know now.

"Sorry guys you'll just have to wait if that's what the lady wants," I said as I spread my hands in a helpless gesture.

Donnie got up and went to where his coat was and returned with two very fat, large envelopes and handed them to me. "I thought I had better give you this before I forget."

"Thanks Donnie, I appreciate you doing it for me," I said placing the envelopes on the table to the inquiring looks of Karen and Shelly.

"It's for the voting this weekend; I needed some cash," I explained to them.

"How much cash do you need?" Karen nodded at the envelopes a she took a bite of meat and started chewing.

"I have $2,000 total since all the bidding will done in cash," I said. "A thousand in various small bills and another thousand in ones; just in case I saw a girl I wanted to bid on at the Date-A-Babe auction tonight or at tomorrow's Calendar Girl Contest." I smiled then winked at them as though I was being secretive about whom that would be.

What I didn't tell them was that I had drawn out another $1,000 myself in ones earlier today. I planned to stuff one of the contestant's boxes in hopes that she would win, if not, she would at least have a head start on the other contestants.

We had all dressed in blue jeans, some type of boots, and leather coats, or vests before we tromped the two blocks to the newly remodeled Delaney's. We saw tricked out motorcycles and custom cars that were parked everywhere with people looking each others' rides over and/or talking about bikes or cars. The street was filling up fast with every 'type and description of people on the planet' Shelly commented.

Being the civic minded person that attorney's are supposed to be, Donnie had volunteered time to be on the charity committee. It had also helped us get one of the premium booths that people could bid on and reserve in advance. Everything was up for bidding wars this weekend and all the proceeds went to the children's wing of the hospital.

I had convinced Donnie to lobby the committee for cash voting on everything instead of paper ballots; 'after all money talks and that's the main goal isn't it'? I had reasoned. Karen had said that it would add a new twist to the charity event in its uniqueness and thought it would appeal to the voters not to mention that people would most likely give more if the actually saw money instead of paper. Karen and I were happy when Donnie reported back that the committee had voted his idea in. I was happy for another reason and it didn't have anything to do with the hospital.

We found our table and joined the party in progress as well as getting up to speed. Pitchers of beer were $15.00 and mixed well drinks were $10.00, additionally all the food in the restaurant upstairs had been doubled, with all the money made over cost being donated. People had also volunteered to work all the different venues and those with experience tending bar or as waiters were the most in demand for the weekend.

Clear plastic boxes with numbering on them were sitting on special tables so people could shove money in to the slots on top of them and everyone could see how much money was being voted on each of the bands. The names of the sixteen bands playing for the weekend were listed on large posters everywhere with the number assigned to them next to their name. The same thing was set up at the Landing Mall for the bands playing there tonight during the bike judging contest and tomorrow's Calendar Girl Contest with the bands switching places.

Those who played tonight at Delaney's would play tomorrow at the Landing Mall. They had added in a car show on the city pier and more plastic boxes had been ordered for that also.

We danced, drank expensive beer, and voted for the bands we liked. The better the band the more dollar bills we shoved into the box that corresponded to their number. We danced with each other and people we saw drifting through the crowd or stopped by our table when they saw us and knew who we were. We saw Paula and Dennis in the crowd a couple of times and we all waved to each other as we rocked out to the music.

Karen finally saw Paula in the restroom and talked her into grabbing Dennis and joining us for a drink. It was a little awkward at first, but after some small talk everyone loosened up some and we started having a good time. We all switched partners and danced some more. We danced to our favorite songs when the band played them or somebody came by and jerked us out of the booth as they were passing by.

A slow song started and Paula tugged me onto the dance floor and into the middle of the throng. She put her arms around me and pulled me in close, real close. "Finally, I've got you all alone in this crowd and I can talk to you," Paula said into my neck where she had nestled right in.

She smelled like the perfume I remembered her wearing and I started to get turned on as we danced. I tried to pull away some but she had me locked in tight and wouldn't let go. Her breasts were pushing up and out of her top.

"So what did you want to talk to me about? And by the way it's good to see you too," I added.

"I can _tell_ you're happy to see me Jimmy," Paula replied with emphases on the 'tell' part, chuckling in her throat and pulling me even closer if that was possible.

Paula was starting to get loaded. "You should go see Annette and try to work things out with her if you want to get back together with her and do it soon; that is unless you have plans made with Karen?"

"Annette made it perfectly clear that she thinks I'm a liar and doesn't believe me," I said. "If she wants to talk thing over and admit she was wrong I'd be willing to talk to her," I said as we moved through the mass of people. "I think unless she's changed her mind on some things, including my honesty with her, then no deal."

We had wound up on the other side of the dance floor from where we were sitting. Paula pulled me out of the crowd and into an out of the way alcove. "You better go over there and talk to her soon Jimmy even if she doesn't want to talk to you. Somebody needs to make the first move and I think you better do it before she goes to see her parents for a couple of months," she said as she held my hands in both of hers.

"I didn't know she was going to Scottsdale. Did she tell Donnie or did this just come up?" I asked her. I could see Annette going to Arizona for a visit, but for two months?

"I don't think she's told anyone but me and I haven't even told Dennis because Annette asked me not to in case you two ran into each other."

I looked at her thinking and trying to sort out what Paula was trying to tell me without really telling me. "Look Paula, Annette asked me to respect her wishes and not come around and bother her or else she'd get a restraining order. I promised her I wouldn't bother her and I'm keeping my promise to her," I said getting some attitude as I talked. "She wanted the separation, not me. She's the one who filed for divorce, not me. If she wanted me back, I'm sure I would have gotten a phone call or a visit from her instead of divorce papers from our attorney!"

"So you won't go see her then?"

"Paula I think I just made that clear, didn't I?" and I thought I'd sidestepped the question of Karen pretty good.

We stood there holding hands and looking at each other when Paula suddenly wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me. Not some chaste little peck on the lips, but a sensuous one that involved her trying to stick her tongue down to my stomach and a lot of hand movement. I responded naturally and when I went to put my arms around her someone bumped into us and I got a hand full of breast and was pinned against her like that for a minute or two until I could break free.

Paula leaned into me again and spoke quietly, "Annette said if I was to see you tonight I was to give you a kiss good-bye for her," she was breathing deeply. "I have always wanted to do that so I thought I had better make it a good one, as I'd probably never get the chance to do it again, and if I did, I'd be afraid I wouldn't be able to stop myself," she said looking into my eyes with a look I'd never expected from her. She unwrapped herself and placed her hand over one of mine that was still cupping her breast and lightly brushed it with her finger. Then she turned and disappeared into the crowd. Women, go figure that one.

We partied at Delaney's until ten o'clock then headed to The Landing Mall. The streets were even fuller if that was possible with scooters, cruisers, and hooters on parade.

Then we dropped in on the City Pier for a quick tour of the classic car's night show where the owners had colored lights set up to highlight their pride and joys.

Chrome and paint gleamed under the lights and I voted heavily on a 1970 Datsun 240Z. Karen was checking out a 53' Chevy and people were taking pictures of her posing with the car. Votes were dropping in the box for the old 53' thanks in part to Karen and some guys were asking to have their picture taken with her. She good naturedly agreed so long as they threw a couple of bucks into the box.

The party at The Landing Mall was in full swing and a temporary stage had been set up for the bands. Harley's and a few hybrids lined both the outside and the inside of the Mall on the lower level where the party was taking place. Portable bars had been strategically placed to keep the throng spread out and the booze flowing.

At eleven the band left the stage and the auctioneer took over for the Date-A-Babe Auction and the place was getting even more crowded if that was possible. Single or divorced women were on the auction block with married women barred for the obvious reasons although I'm sure some would have gladly been up there if they were allowed.

The subject of the auction came up at dinner one night and Karen let it be known that she disapproved of women who publicly put themselves on display to be 'bided on like a breeding cow at the county fair'. Karen was kind of forceful about it so both Donnie and I agreed with her out of self preservation.

Karen clapped and hooted with the rest of us as each woman took the stage when their names were called to give it up for charity. I knew that Karen's stunning good looks had seemed like an anchor around her neck at times. She felt that women were jealous or felt threatened when she was around their husbands or boyfriends regardless of the setting or social occasions. Still, she endured it all good naturedly and tried to rise above it because she knew she was beautiful and there wasn't much she could do about it outside of wearing a bag over her head or getting plastic surgery that would blunt what Mother Nature gave her.

She had learned to cope with people like me calling her Stacks, in reference to her boobs, men who only wanted her for her body, and jealous wives and girlfriends when their boyfriends and husbands undressed her with their eyes as soon as they saw her.

I suddenly felt bad for calling her Stacks all the time and not treating her with more respect. I vowed to change my ways and I tugged at her arm. "Karen, we need to talk."

"Can't it wait? Louis is bidding on Debbie Howard and he's wanted to get in her pants for years from what I've heard," Karen said as she talked to me and kept her eyes on the stage and Louis at the same time.

"Sure," I said with a smile. "Look, I'm going to step outside and get some air, maybe look at a scooter or two, I'll be back in a few."

"Go ahead, I'll see you later," she told me.

I went outside and looked at a couple of sweet Harley's and wound up at the railing overlooking the harbor towards the Coast Guard station sitting out on the 'spit' and towards Victoria, with Canada's lights shining across the Straight of Juan De Fuca.

I bummed a smoke off a couple nearby and stood there looking at the harbor, thinking of Karen.

"I thought my boyfriend was into the jogging and health thing now and not those things," Karen said as she stepped up next to me and put her hand on my shoulder and kissed my cheek. "What's up Jim? Is something on your mind?"

I flicked the cigarette into the black water of the bay, turned and took her into my arms, looking her in the eyes for a moment before I kissed her with every ounce of love I could put into it. I don't think I'd kissed her like that up until that moment and it had the desired effect on her. "I fucking love you so much it makes my heart ache all the way to end of the hairs on my head," I said at the end of the kiss, keeping my eyes closed and taking deep breaths, my heart was pounding.

"Wow! Talk about sweeping a girl off her feet," came her breathless reply.

"Karen sometimes I'm an asshole like any other guy with his head up his ass, other times I think I can be very smart," I said seriously and gave her another passionate kiss. "This might be one of the smartest nights of my life, know what I mean?" I asked her.

"If you think so Jim, I guess I'll just have to agree with you," she said a little perplexed and unsure where this was leading. "What's on your mind?" she asked as she leaned back to get a better look at my face. "What is it you're trying to tell me and what am I supposed to decipher?"

I thought for a minute before I replied, "can you wait right here for five minutes?"

"I guess so Jim, what are you up to? Is everything okay?" she asked me in a bewildered voice.

"Great, everything's great. I'll be back in five!" I shout over my shoulder as I took off running down the parking lot dodging people as I made my way towards the Red Goose. I thundered up the stairs, unlocked my apartment, and grabbed the jewelry box I had acquired a couple of months ago. I repeated the marathon back to The Landing Mall's parking lot where Karen still waited for me. I took five more to catch my breath.

"You were told no running or any strenuous exercise for a year and here you are running around like some mad man and where did you go by the way?" Karen looked at me like I was deranged.

I was bent over, breathing hard from the hundred yard dash. I held up my finger to let her know I needed a minute. When I finally got it together I kissed her quickly and then produced the box. Karen's face registered the shock of seeing diamonds, big diamonds looking up at her.

"I've been working on some big speech to give you the day my divorce was final, to tell you all the reasons why I loved you and we should get married. But looking at you in there fifteen minutes ago hooting and hollering and clapping with the crowd distilled it all down for me," I said with a big smile like I'd figured out the key to knowing all women.

"And what did you distill in there?"

"Remember what I said to you when you got us stuck in that snow storm and we made love the first time?" I asked.

Karen gave me a perplexed look and I knew she didn't remember so I let her hang for a minute until she slapped my jacket playfully. "Jim! Tell me, come on! Don't make a girl wait at a time like this, tell me, tell me, tell me!" Karen said as she fairly jumped up and down with anticipation and making herself jiggle all over.

"Do you remember me telling you that underneath all that pretty wrapping was just a plain, ordinary girl who just needed a regular guy to love her?" I said as I saw the memory of those four days from six months ago kicking in.

"I remember; I remember it now Jim and you laughed at me!" she said as she bounced up and down while laughing with glee at the memory.

"In there, while you were whistling, and clapping, and hooting along with everybody I saw a Plain Jane girl who had some pretty wrapping to her, and I saw her standing in plain sight."

"Oh Jim..." Karen started, but I cut her off.

"Yes, you're beautiful and could probably be a top model or a centerfold or something like that, have any guy on the planet you wanted," I said as I felt my way along the conversation. "But I don't want her; I want the plain girl I saw inside there, the one who was just being one of the crowd," I said quietly as I looked into her eyes.

"I want the girl that nobody else can see. I want the invisible girl to be my wife if she'll have me when my divorce is final?" I said as I dropped to one knee and offered her the box and my heart at the same time. "I guess maybe it's wrong to ask you now before the divorce is final, but I couldn't take the chance of losing you. Not now; now that I've really seen you," I told her.

"Get up Jim and put the ring on my finger! Hurry up!" Karen started bouncing and jiggling again in anticipation. I separated the set and slid it on her finger. She looked at it and threw her arms around me laughing with glee as she kissed me quickly four or five time before settling in for a long, deep kiss.

"Karen?" I said as we came up for air.

"Yes sweetheart?" she said dreamily.

"I promise I'll never call you Stacks again and I'm sorry for doing it in the past," I said solemnly. "I swear it."

"Oh, no Jim!" she sounded crushed. "You can't quit calling me Stacks. Please don't?" she pleaded and bounced.

"What do you mean, don't quit?" I hadn't expected her to say that. "I thought you hated it when I called you that?"

"It's the nickname that you gave me the first day we met!" she pouted. "I don't want you calling me Stacks out in public, but around the house you can call me Stacks anytime you want. Besides when you do it's like Bogie calling his girlfriend 'kid' all the time in the movies, I know you mean it with love."

"Okay, Stacks it is then in private," I said as took her hand and started leading her back in. "Come on, let's get you another non-alcoholic drink and celebrate."

"A non-alcoholic drink? Why?"

"Because you pregnant, that's why, and you're not supposed to get the kid drunk. It'll make them come out sounding like they're maybe from Podunk or something I heard."

"How did you know?"

"Let's see, you puked at my place, you puked at the office, and you puked at the house yesterday morning," I said as we got to the doors. "Did you do the home pee test thing yet?"

"About two and a half weeks ago when I finally realized I had missed my period and yes it came up positive," she said pulling me off to the side. "Is that why you asked me to marry you tonight, because you thought I was pregnant?"

"No. It's because I love you so much!" I said and kissed her. "The baby is just a bonus round that happened to come up. What did you think; I just happened to have a four caret diamond wedding set just laying around for the next girl that came along?" I asked with a grin. "Silly girl, I've had that wedding set for two months and now my big speech I had planned is history."

"Can we tell Donnie another time and just keep it mainly to ourselves? I just don't want the whole world to know right at the moment, if that's okay?" Karen asked me.

"Stacks honey, anything you want," I said as I took her hand. "Now, let's go party!"
**Continue reading for an excerpt of the third book in the James Anthony Fratino Series** _Punishing Dark & Malicious Intentions._

Chapter 1

I pulled up to the gate and rolled my window down. The security guard in the little booth looked out at us through the tinted glass and I knew what he was thinking: why doesn't the fool roll forward and I'll help him out by answering his questions? But I didn't need questions answered did I? No, all I needed was the access code to punch into the little black box and the gate would open on its own and I could just drive through. Besides, I wanted to see if I could do it on my own first. I could always be announced and let in but that would spoil the surprise. Well, sort of a surprise because I had a feeling for some reason that my friend Vinn and his wife Missy were expecting us so I wanted to just walk in and be there.

Annette slapped me on the arm to get my attention. "Jim, just lay your hand on the little box's key pad and see if you can't do the mumbo-jumbo thing on it."

I had turned my head towards her. "Wouldn't be any kind of an investigator now would I if I couldn't figure it out without resorting to the mumbo-jumbo?"

"Then push the speaker button and tell the guard guy who we are here to see and let's get on with it because I gotta pee pretty soon."

"I told you not to drink all that coffee," I shrugged and rolled my palms up, "but what do I know, I'm just your husband?" I gave her my best grin and leaned over to kiss her which she didn't want me to do and pushed my face away.

"Jim you won't be psychic any more because I'm going to kill you if you don't get us in there real soon."

"Did we ever decide which one I am because I sort of liked the sound of clairvoyant? You say psychic and people think you are a weirdo or something."

"No we didn't and your clairvoyantness isn't getting me any closer to a bathroom either buddy-boy. You better do something soon or I will have an accident."

I reached out and punched in two numbers and then scratched my head as I thought about the code. "It's a new car, so we don't want you to do that," I said as I punched in the last three numbers. "Besides I don't want to clean the seats." I smiled at her and nodded towards the gate which was starting to swing open.

I rolled up to the guard who was smiling at us as I waited for the gate to open all the way. "What's so funny?" I asked him.

He was an older guy in his late sixties and probably a retired cop supplementing his income by working part-time. The cost of living keeps going up for all of us while our paychecks stay the same, but only until we die, then it thankfully stops.

"I just love to hear people talking at that keypad is all," he told us grinning even bigger. "You're funny. Vinn said you were a funny guy and so is your wife."

"Do you know who I am?" I asked in surprise.

He nodded, "Why yes, you're Jimmy Fratino. Vinn and Missy said you might be showing up soon and to be sure we gave you this," he said as he handed me a key ring with numerous keys on it. "Welcome home Mr. Fratino."

I mumbled a thank you, shrugged at Annette, and drove forward. That was kind of a let down as far as a sneak and surprise was going, especially if the guard at the gate was expecting you to show up. Annette giggled at my distress so I stuck my tongue out at her.

I followed the road around the community center and headed for the water. It was a two lane road with no sidewalks or curbs; just blacktop meeting large expanses of grass or flower beds along the roadside to mark where the driveways and mailboxes were.

It was 85 degrees already but the humidity wasn't bad this close to the water and the flowers and trees scented the air with a southern sweetness I had forgotten about. Some of the homes looked like miniature plantations with Spanish Oak and moss hanging off of them in great gobs and strands that looked graceful to me. Some of the houses even had the columns and porches but all were one or two story due to the modern building codes enforced. Ah, if only the south hadn't lost the war I thought.

"Jesus Jim look at these homes would you and you used to live here?"

"Yeah, but it all seems smaller now, all the trees and stuff have gotten bigger," I said as I looked the place over.

We took a gentle curve as the road looped east and back to the water and all of a sudden you could see the masts of boats sticking up over the rooftops and see them through the trees. Where there were not fences, bushes, or guesthouses to block the view you got glimpses of the boats themselves. There were no building codes to enforce how big of a boat you could own and some of them had the bridge clearly visible over the roof tops. We even got a glimpse of a few with small helicopters sitting on their landing pads or snuggled under their covers. Go figure; flying on to your boat.

I turned in to Vinn and Missy's driveway which was a big circular road that returned to the street eventually. I turned into the parking area and pulled up in front of a four car garage and parked. To the right of it, a small access road leads to the back of the property and down to the boat dock where there was a boat ramp that Vinn shared with his neighbors. To the left was the house. It was a large one story structure done in a ranch or a rambler style depending on how you viewed your architecture or if you were talking to Missy or to Vinn.

"Now you know where I used to live," I slid my arm around Annette's shoulder and gave her a little smile, "welcome to Silver Sands, a gated community."

"Thank you, now I gotta pee."

I nodded at her and opened the trunk to get a couple of the suitcases out, handing Annette a couple of tote bags before we carried them to the front door. I set one down and fished out the keys the guard had given me and flipped them around until I had the one I needed and pushed it in the lock. I swung the door open and motioned for Annette to go first which she did with a slight hesitation, peering inside first.

When I had shut the door Annette turned to me; "did you notice how you went right to the key for the front door without having to try just about every one of them first?"

I nodded my head yes.

"That was pretty cool."

I shook my head. "No that was me using my old set of keys." I shrugged at her. "Sorry." I jangled the keys on a finger in front of her.

Annette shrugged back at me with an 'oh well' expression on her face.

"Bathroom's that way, second door on the left." I pointed at the hallway with my head as I set the suitcases down and off she went to find it. A moment later I heard a blood curdling scream coming from the hallway and a second later it was followed by Annette's joining in for the chorus.

I covered the three steps to the hallway and peered down it. "Just point us to the safe lady and nobody gets hurt," I took a step forward, "you scream again and I gotta hug you, and I gotta warn you, I don't look pretty anymore," I threaten.

I hardly had the words out of my mouth when the figure brushed Annette aside and flung itself at me full force, almost knocking me down, but I had gotten myself set as I spoken so I was ready for it and we met with a clash of flesh.

As it was I almost lost my balance anyway and had to fight for my life to keep from being hugged and kissed to death. "Jesus Missy if I would have known Annette had this affect on you I would have brought her around sooner!" I said as I fought to untangle myself as Annette looked on.

"Oh Jimmy-Jimmy-Jimmy," Missy said as she hugged me some more, "it's so good to have you home again." The southern drawl twanged on her lips.

She partially broke the embrace and slid her arm around my waist as I turned her towards Annette who had by now recovered. "I think you just met my wife Annette," I said and pointed. "Annette, in case you haven't guessed, this is Missy."

Missy grabbed Annette and enveloped her in a hug that threatened life support and started jabbering away at her in happiness until I stepped in. "Missy let her use the ladies room for Christ sakes and when she is done lets find Vinn and see if we can't surprise him."

"Of course, I'm sorry Annette; I didn't mean to scare you." Missy pointed to the bathroom.

"I think we scared each other since we came in unannounced but let me take care of business first then we can be introduced properly."

Missy and I went back the entryway where I had left the bags and sized each other up for a few seconds before I opened my arms and she fell into them again. "I guess I look fairly different now huh?"

"Thin as heck and it looks like somebody took a shotgun to you?" Missy stepped back and looked me over. "You okay hon?" she looked me over some more with concern.

"I'm fine," I said as I heard Annette's sandaled steps flip flapping on the tile floor just before she appeared from the hallway to join us, "I've been blown up and shredded by glass..." I shrugged and broke eye contact with her.

Her look went from me to Annette and then back to me again. It still said concerned but she let it go and hugged Annette again and gave her a big smile. "Come on," she nodded her head towards the back, "Vinn's in the pool. Let's see if we can't shake the old dog up some."

We traversed the house and went out the sliding door in the kitchen that opened onto the patio and the small portion of the back yard that had been fenced to afford some privacy for the pool and entertaining.

The patio was now roofed and what used to be open sky the last time I had seen it was now filled in with some kind of flowering Bougainvillea that scented the air. It had been planted around the edges of the patio so it would wrap and climb the supporting posts, with large flower pots on both sides of the supports containing sweet peas or some other kind of vine flower to add other smells and colors. It was a perfect spot to relax and rest.

I looked out at the pool and saw Vinn's form splitting the water as he stroked his way across the pool to the far side. I heard Missy and Annette talking about the patio but the next thing I knew I was standing alone at the side of the pool watching Vinn hit the far wall and make his turn for the back leg of the lap. I sat down with my legs and feet dangling in the water right about where Vinn would find them and waited.

The arms pulled the water as the legs and feet churned it from behind and the form closed the gap. The head turned every so often to take in air; stroke, kick, stroke and more air. The rhythm stayed steady and only slightly slowed as the mind and body timed the gap between the swimmer and the wall. Only there wasn't supposed to be legs on the wall and when the swimmer reached out and touched flesh instead of concrete the concentration and rhythm went and was replaced by shock and momentary confusion.

Vinn went into a complete stop; his swimming mode interrupted, and came to the surface in a splutter of air and water. "Damn Missy......" was as far as he got as we looked at each other.

I raised my sunglasses and peered down at him. "If you're not too intent on killing yourself by drowning maybe I could get you a beer and we can catch up on what we've been up to since we last saw each other?"

"I want you to know I'm part fish sir!" Vinn drawled at me. "But I will be happy take a cold one with you if it's after twelve o'clock."

"In England it's after twelve," I ventured as I got up

"I believe you are correct sir," Vinn squinted up at the sun, "in that case we should retire for refreshments," he said and laughed as he heaved himself out of the pool and grabbed me in a hug. "By God it's good to see you Jimmy!"

"Good to see you too Vinn; I have been gone way too long."

He looked to the girls. "That's your wife Annette huh?"

I nodded as I looked at her. "Come on, I'll introduce you."

As we walked up to the patio I had a weird, disturbing thought that I had never sort of left, that some part of me had stayed even though my body had left. I felt at home and at ease as I glanced over at Vinn walking beside me with the warm sun and air enveloping me completely. I was finally warm again. I was all the way down to my bones warm again.

I was back in Florida after swearing I would never come back; much less ever tell anyone what had happened. I did a mental shrug. "Welcome back killer," I told myself and added in a go figure just for the finality of being here.
Chapter 2

Dinner was done and we were just about done ourselves. It had been a long trip down here and I was tired from all the eating and talking we had done since we had walked through the door. I yawned again for the umpteenth time. We'd had a few beers and celebrated my 'homecoming' as Vinn and Missy termed it and then Missy and Annette had made us sandwiches for lunch which we washed down with a few more beers.

Annette had excused us around two o'clock saying that I need to take a nap and swallow some meds before I wound up in the hospital again with another round of pneumonia and on life support. So we had gone to my old room in the north wing and took a nap. Okay, Annette had napped and I passed out until six.

When I woke up I found Annette helping Missy fix dinner and chatting away like old friends who hadn't seen each other in years. I collected a kiss and a smile from my wife and a kiss on the cheek along with a big hug from Missy. I found Vinn back on the patio cleaning the grill so he could work on the steaks for dinner.

Now Missy and Vinn were enjoying a glass of wine while Annette and I were sipping on soda. We had all pitched in to clear away the remains of dinner and the dishwasher was humming away in the kitchen. I had moved over to the couch and stretched out so I could be comfortable while Annette had taken up station at the other end. Missy and Vinn had stayed at the table. It was nice on the patio and I wished I had one to lounge around on but it was too cold at home. I spun around and changed ends so I could put my head in Annette's lap and I closed my eyes

"Did you get enough to eat Jimmy?"

"Missy it was great. You girls did a great job and Vinn the steaks were perfect," I said giving everyone a thumbs up, my eyes still closed. The next thing I knew a light blanket was gently thrown over me.

"I'm not going to sleep," I said as Annette stroked my face with her thumb, "I'm just laying here and enjoying this but thanks for the blanket just the same." I snuggled in just a little more and curled up just a tad and I'm sure a contented look was on my face.

"That's just in case you do," I heard Missy's voice say.

"I slept for a year and a half, had some freak-o dream that felt completely real and now I'm some kind of weirdo psychic-clairvoyant so I think I have had enough of sleeping, thank you very much."

"Jimmy do you really think that you have some kind of... abilities now?" Vinn's voice had hesitated as he searched for the right word. "Maybe it's just coincidences or you are getting lucky guessing about some things."

We'd talked this subject over some this afternoon and I could see the skepticism then on their faces although they both said they believed me when I told them what I could do now. I could only imagine the thoughts people would have if I went around telling everyone what I could do. Although it didn't work with everyone I touched or talked to, I was getting to the point where I thought it would probably be better if I didn't have physical contact with anyone just in case I did get a glimpse of something. The implications were mind boggling and complicated once you thought it through a few times and Annette and I had done just that on our road trip here.

It had been a discussion we were still working on with lots of pros and cons for the good it could possibly do and the harm I could cause others if I went over to the 'dark side' with it as I had pointed out to Annette somewhere in Texas. I was just a little bit afraid of what I could do and all that it implied.

"I don't think Vinn, I know for an absolute fact." I opened my eyes and looked at him. "There is a missing girl that has been buried in a concrete slab in the bottom of a basement for thirty years and nobody really believes me except for my wife, our lawyer, and his sister; the only reason I know she believes me is because she gave me a black eye when I proved it to her when one of my doctors asked me to."

"I see," Vinn said and was silent for a few moments before continuing. "And what did you see when you touched us today? You haven't seen us in years so you must have seen something?"

"Nope, I didn't see a thing." I closed my eyes again. "Annette you want to explain our theory to them?"

"Why don't you?"

"Because I'm tired and I'm afraid I'll get off track and that I will come off sounding like a nut, which I might very well be."

"Jim you are not a nut."

I shrugged. I was sure Vinn and Missy were doing the skepticism thing again even though I still had my eyes closed.

I felt Annette's body move as she sighed. "Jim feels that for some reason he doesn't get anything from people he is close to or loves; me, his family, or you guys. For some strange reason he just knows things and no matter what anyone says, he knows he is right and I have to say that I do believe him as hard as it is to accept all the outlandish things I have heard come out of his mouth."

"Like the girl in the concrete and winning the money, exactly the same amount as in his dream, is that what you're getting at?" Vinn asked.

"Tell them about our little bet."

"Jim..."

"Then ask Vinn to tell you all about how we met."

"Jim please, you're embarrassing me now."

"Tell them about the gas stations," I smiled at the thought, "they should get a kick out of that."

"Jim, please?" she pleaded with me.

"I called every fill-up right down to the tenth of a gallon and wasn't wrong once was I?"

"No Jim you were right on the money every time."

"Jimmy, shut up would you so your wife can explain you if that _is_ even possible," Missy commanded.

"Sorry Annette," I said and patted her leg. Her bare skin felt good beneath my hand and I let it linger for an extra moment and she stroked my hair. I got the feeling of being a lap dog for a fleeting second or two.

"So what about this bet Jimmy was referring to?" Missy asked her and I again felt Annette's body move with another sigh.

"Jim here says that when he rescued Vinn he stopped to pick up a couple of boxes of money just out of habit before he did his _Dukes of Hazard_ escape from the burning building," she said and thumped my head for revenge.

"Ouch."

"That part is true Annette, but how does that lead up to a bet that I'm supposed to settle?" Vinn asked her.

"He also said that he never asked you how much was in the boxes he left with you and neither of you ever spoke of it again. Is that right?"

"I believe so, yes."

"Jim told me that while he was in his coma you and Missy met up with him in Las Vegas by accident and you told him that you had invested the money with a guy you knew, like a commodities broker or something, and that Jim had like one point three million dollars in an account in the Grand Bahamas."

"And what was the bet if I might inquire?" Vinn asked in quiet voice.

"If I lose I have to go skydiving with him and if I win he has to go to the spa with me for a whole day." Annette paused and I could feel her shrug. "I'm hoping for the spa of course."

I opened my eyes and looked at Vinn looking at me. I gave him a slight smile which got no response, just a bland look that I couldn't make heads or tails of.

"I think I can settle your bet for you Annette if you'll excuse me for a minute that is?"

"I don't want you to go to any trouble Vinn and it's just a stupid bet we can settle later on." I could hear the embarrassment in her voice.

"Can I get you anything while I'm up? Missy my dear, how about something, can I get you anything since I'm going that way?"

"No thanks Vinn, I'll just keep Annette company until you get back, besides there is something I need to give Jimmy while you're gone," she told him.

"Then I'll be back in a few minutes ladies," Vinn replied and went into the house.

As soon as he was gone I felt the blanket lift up and a pinch on my leg that made me howl in pain. As I bolted upright Missy was just sitting back down. I looked at her in shock. "Jesus Missy what in the hell was that for?" I rubbed at my leg while inspecting the pinch for any bruising. Dang, it looked like it was going to bruise.

Missy gave me the look and shook her finger at me. "You know exactly what that was James Anthony Fratino!" Missy scolded me. "You embarrassed your wife and acted like a little shit and you know better in this house don't you!"

I just stared at her in exasperation.

"Answer me or I'll pinch you again or have you forgotten how to apologize?"

"Christ Missy I'm sorry already and I won't do it again I promise!" I blurted out as I rubbed at my leg.

"And?"

"And what?"

Missy's eyes went from me to Annette and then back to me for another slow burn into my mind.

I turned to Annette. "Honey, I'm sorry. I was acting like a bonehead and I apologize. I shouldn't have acted like that," I told her as I kept one eye on Missy just in case she decided to attack me again; I wanted to be ready. I rubbed at my leg again and was still rubbing at it when Vinn came back with a file.

"It sounded like Missy pinched Jimmy if I remember that howl."

"She sure did!" Annette exclaimed to Vinn and turned to Missy. "Wow, you're my hero Missy." she gushed. "I have never seen him so intimidated and cowered before."

Vinn handed Annette the file and sat back down.

"I was bushwhacked is what it was," I murmured.

"Did you say something Jimmy dear?" Missy asked me as she smiled at me.

"No ma'am, I was talking to myself."

"Well stop it before you get hurt again."

Annette was reading the file and I was tempted to say something but I already knew what it said. I was just waiting for more confirmation that I wasn't crazy. Okay, maybe it is sort of crazy in a certain kind of way and what did I know? This could be a curse or a blessing depending on your point of view and if you factored in the question of God having a sense of humor... I decided to keep my mouth shut just to be on the safe side.

When she finished reading the file she handed it to me but I didn't open it, I just gave her the questioning look and raised my eyebrows at her. Annette nodded and sighed, "Okay you win and I lose. Are you happy now?"

I looked at the expression of abject defeat on her face and didn't have the heart to force her into skydiving since she was terrified at the thought of it so I shook my head no.

"I confess, I cheated and had Donnie call and check into it before we even got to the bet part so I already knew how much was there. It was just a way for me to prove to myself that I wasn't crazy or something and I wanted to get confirmation from Vinn before confessing so really, I owe you one day at the spa together and anything you want, you get baby," I told her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh Jim, thank you." she said hugging me. "You don't know how much I was dreading the thought of jumping out of an airplane; I was so scared to death that you were really going to make me do it!"

"Naw, if you are that afraid why would I force you to do something like that?" I kissed her cheek once more and laid my head back onto her lap. I was suddenly tired and yawned really big and long.

"Almost time for little Jimbo to head for beddie-bye and take his meds like a good boy; it's almost 10:00 pm." I heard Annette saying.

"And it's almost time for us to head for bed too. We are going to early mass in the morning if you two would like to join us," Missy ventured. "We go to Saint Michaels just a few miles away."

"That's a big no for me but if Annette wants to join you fine."

"I take it you don't go to church anymore?" Vinn asked.

I yawned once more. "No we don't," that wasn't necessarily true I guess either, "unless it's for weddings or funerals. Stuff like that."

"You two should go to church more often, make a date of it," Missy said.

I started chuckling softly. "It seems lately I have been having a hard time getting out of bed to make it, and besides, I have had an even harder time trying to figure out if God has a sense of humor or just doesn't like me."

"Jimmy that is the most absurd thing I have ever heard! Of course God has a sense of humor, that's why we are all here; to work hard and have a good time once in a while, laugh and enjoy life, and enjoy each other," Missy told us.

I shrugged back at her. "I don't know Missy, things are screwy and I can't figure out if what happened to me is a blessing or a curse and until we figure it out I really don't want to be around a bunch of people, especially in a church where I might touch somebody and see all kinds of weird things."

"Maybe going will help you two figure it out, give you some guidance or at least a sense of purpose," Vinn said. "Remember, you are both more than welcome to come with us any time."

"Thank you both but I think we'll pass on mass since Jim gets pretty tired and if he was to have an episode that turned out badly it would really put a lot of stress on him and that is something the doctors want him to avoid for a couple of months." She patted my shoulder as I yawned once more.

"We understand of course, we just want you both to know that you are welcome to join us and our home is yours for as long as you are here," Vinn told her kindly in his southern drawl. "Come on my love, let's head of to bed and let these two enjoy the evening alone for a moment."

"Goodnight and thank you very much for everything and for letting us barge into your home unannounced," Annette quietly told them as I curled down deeper into the couch and her.

Just as I was getting to sleep, Annette roused me and made me go to bed. Missy and Vinn had shut the lights off except for a couple of small subdued ones that were on all night so we just had to lock the sliding door and head for bed.

The next morning we got up early and went to mass with Vinn and Missy. It was my idea, which surprised Annette to no end. Church; go figure.
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If you are interested in purchasing _Punishing a Good Deed_ or _Life's Punishing Path_ please visit Smashwords.com, and coming soon, the next installment in The James Anthony Fratino series: _Punishing Dark & Malicious Intentions_. I would love to hear from you. Let me know what you think of this book (whether you enjoyed it; what you like about it or if you didn't; what you didn't like about it) by emailing me at the following email address or leave me a message on my Facebook page at the following address.

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