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Old Dishes And Oak Cabinets

By: thornapple



Fair warning this is a romance and mystery story but there is no sex in it. I hope there are enough readers out there that will enjoy a story of this type.


  Philip Johnson



Chapter One         



Saturday dawned cool and overcast but the weatherman insisted it wouldn't rain. Not that it mattered that much because Gil just had several errands to run before he met Jim at the target range. He had almost half of the day if he needed it so he took his time getting around and then headed toward Columbus about nine miles west. He lived in Reynoldsburg just off of U.S. forty and it was really just a suburb of Columbus.

He decided to take Livingston Avenue so he left his subdivision and turned south but didn't get more than a mile down the road. Whenever he passed a yard sale he would always look at the trash and treasures on display, but he never stopped at them. Today was to be the exception to that rule as he slowed and something caught his eye. He turned around in somebody's driveway and went back, parking across the street from the sale and made his way over. The older woman manning the sale said, "Morning." 

"Morning, how is the sale going?"

"Slow to start but picking up now."

He looked at an old oak cabinet in front of him and studied it. About twenty four inches wide and sixteen or eighteen inches deep with eight drawers running the length of it. Each drawer was about an inch and a half deep and lined with rich green felt that seemed to be in nearly perfect condition.

"Know what that was used for," the woman asked.

I'm afraid I don't."

"That was my father's. He was as draftsman and kept his small drawings and sketches in the lower drawers and his pen, pencils and other drawing tools in the top ones."

"It has a nice dark and aged finish to it."

"Well, he's been gone over fifteen years and he lived until he was eighty three so it's pretty old."

"How much you asking for it?"

"Thirty five."

He studied it for another minute and then said, "I'll take it. I have a low side table in my living room that would look much better with this sitting on it." He paid the lady and as he put his wallet away he noticed an attractive woman near him studying some dishes.

She looked over at Gil and the cabinet he had just purchased and said, "I can remember my grandfather having one a lot like that."

The lady added, "Yes they were fairly common at one time and were used for a lot of things."

She asked the lady, "Do you have any other pieces that go with these dishes?"

"I'm afraid not."

Gil hesitated for just a second and then said, "If you're interested I have quite a few pieces of that pattern that were in my mother's house." She suddenly eyed him somewhat suspiciously and he smiled and said, "Now how many evil villains shop at yard sales?" He handed her his card and told her, "I'm Gil Fellows."

She read his card and smiled saying, "Sorry, I'm just a little wary."

"And you should be. If you're interested let me know. You can even call me at my office."

"Safe Harbor Communications and Security."

"Yep. Been there for about seven years now."

"What pieces of china do you have?"

"I have no idea because they're all wrapped up and in a box. I just remember the pattern because they were always in my mom's china cabinet. The dishes aren't going anywhere so if you decide later that you want them give me a call."

"Thank you Gil."

"My pleasure, happy shopping." He picked up his oak box again and after loading it in the backseat of his car he waved at her and headed on to town. He made his stops with Lowe's being the last on where he picked up a few things and then shopped his way through the tool section on his way to the checkout. 

Once he reached his destination Gil grabbed his gun case from the trunk and then found Jim at the end of the pistol range. "New gun Jim," he asked.

"Nah, just a new case. I don't have your kind of money."

"Yeah right. If I had your money I'd run away with your wife."

"You'd never survive it, I have her too spoiled."

"I'll have to ask her about being spoiled."

Jim smiled and then admitted, "That might not be a good idea."

They spent the next hour blowing holes in paperboard targets and then packed their pistols and went to Annie Green's for lunch. Gil tasted his cold beer and leaning back asked, "So how's Sandra?"

"Good as always."

"That's pretty good and be sure you tell her I said so."

"I'll tell her, but she's used to your bullshit."

"Yeah I know she is but I'll stand by my statement. I met a very attractive and nice woman this morning as a matter of fact."

"Great, you two getting together?"

"I'm just pulling your chain. I talked to her at a yard sale. She is very attractive and nice, but she is also wearing a diamond."

"You at a yard sale?"

"Wild isn't it? I saw something I rally liked so I stopped to buy it and that's when I met the woman."

"Whose name is?"

"Good question. She as looking at some dishes and I told her I had more of those if she was interested."

"And she said?"

Gil smiled and told him, "She didn't exactly trust me."

"Gee I wonder why. That's a little like asking her over to see your etchings."

"Well I gave her my card so we'll see if she calls me."

"So if she calls you, you sell her the dishes and she's out of your life and you have what, maybe fifty bucks for your trouble if you're really lucky."

"At least I'll see her again and I'll be rid of those dishes."

"You really do need to get a life you know that?"

"Yeah I realized that as I told you that tale. So are you still planning to get that Sig P210?"

"I am, but Sandy isn't exactly encouraging me." You staying with nines?"

"Yeah I like shooting them better than the old twenty two. More expensive but I enjoy it more. If I had the money I'd get that Kimber we were looking at."

"Yeah for twelve hundred bucks it can be yours."

"That's why I don't have one and probably never will."

They finished their lunch and then as they left Jim said, "Good luck with your new girlfriend."

"Very funny."

"Well at least I hope she calls you."

"Yeah, me too, see ya."





              Chapter Two





Gil's life was heavy on routine and for the last few months very light on social activities and he attributed his lack of a social life and female companionship to his job demands. There was no particular reason for how he was living except his work had kept him very occupied until the last few weeks. It must have been that lack of social interaction that made him so glad to hear her voice when she called Thursday night. "Mr. Fellows?"

"This is he."

"I'm Angela Philips. We met at the yard sale and talked about dishes."

"Yes of course, how are you?"

"I'm fine. Do you still have those dishes you mentioned?"

"I do. Would you prefer to meet me someplace neutral?"

She didn't hesitate saying, "No that won't be necessary, I've decided you aren't the devil in disguise."

"Oh I can be devilish so don't let your guard down too far."

"I'll keep that in mind. Would Saturday morning work for you?"

"That would be fine. I live on Lakehurst just about three miles east of the yard sale." He gave her his house number and description and they agreed on ten o'clock and then said their goodbyes. Then he sat there smiling as he continued to hear her voice in his head. Well at least he knew her name now.

Saturday morning he even cleaned his house and then had a serious talk with himself. He knew she was engaged so nothing more than talk about the box of dishes was in the offing, but he still looked forward to seeing her one more time. He had the box of dishes sitting on the kitchen table and a fresh pot of coffee made and was starting to pace when she rang his doorbell.

He opened the door and stepped back saying, "Good morning, please come in."

"Thank you."

"The dishes are in the kitchen." He pointed to the box and then asked her, "Could I interest you in a cup of coffee?"

"Yes thank you, just a little sugar."

He poured her coffee and put the sugar bowl next to it and told her, "Please sit down and I'll dig the dishes out for you." One by one he pulled the different pieces out and carefully removed the old brittle newspaper that they had been wrapped in for so many years. The musty smell wafted over both of them as he told her, "These haven't been out of this box in a very long time." She tasted her coffee and watched as he stacked the plates and cups in front of her and then on to the saucers and serving dishes.

"Mr. Fellows..."

"Gil please."

"Thank you and call me Angie. Gil you aren't very far from a complete set."

"I didn't have a clue what was here and I have to admit there's more than I would have guessed."

"Do you know the story of these dishes?"

"I really don't."

"They came in boxes of detergent. I don't know if my grandma started the collection or what, but Mom always loved them and is till sad that she could never complete the set. Her health is failing and I really wanted to complete the set for hr if I could." They aren't high quality, but over the years collectors have gotten involved so the price has gone up and that's assuming you can find anything."

He topped off her cup and then sat down across from her and said, "Take your time and take sure none of them are chipped or anything." She would taste her coffee and look at a few pieces and then stop and pick up her cup again. "Angie that's a beautiful diamond."

She looked at it for as second and then told him, "Thank you."

"When is the wedding?"

"Not sure, but probably October or November."

"I just hope he realizes just how lucky he is."

Smiling she said, "Thank you." She sipped her coffee and then asked him, "What do you want for all of this?"

"I have no idea what they are worth. Why don't you figure that out for us."

"Don't you want to do that?"

"I trust you. After all, you trusted me enough to come here."

She smiled and then admitted, I checked out your company and even drove by it. I also left your card with a friend."

It was his turn to smile as he said, "You did the right thing and I'm glad I passed the test."

"I was pretty sure that I would be safe though. You didn't strike me as some dangerous nut."

"I'm glad, but never trust just your instincts. Even professionals like the police get fooled from time to time."

"Gil it will take me some time to find out the worth of the dishes."

"That's okay I won't sell them to anybody but you. Did I tell you that yard sale was a first for me?"

"You're making that up."

"I'm telling the truth, I never stop at yard sales. That is until that day."

"What made you stop?"

"Had I seen you first I could have said because I saw you, but it's nothing as romantic as that. I saw that oak cabinet and decided I wanted it."

"Oh that's right, what did you do with it?"

"In the living room, come on and I'll show you." It was just as he had said at the yard sale. It was sitting on a low oak table that looked almost like it was made for the oak box that he had bought. 

"That looks nice there, what will you do with it, or use it for?"

"Probably nothing more than look at it from time to time. I just needed something for that low table to fill that corner. I rather like how it looks there."

"I do too. Maybe you can use it to hold your collection of coins or whatever."

"I don't..." and then putting his hand on her arm he continued with, "This is a perfect opportunity for a line. I don't collect anything precious but memories like having you here."

She smiled at him and said, "Now that is a little corny but sweet and thank you." As she turned to move toward the door, she saw a picture sitting on an end table and asked him, "Is that your daughter?"

"That's Renee my stepdaughter."

"So you're married."

"Not for almost five years. Renee was thirteen when that picture was taken and it's one of my favorites of her."

"She's very cute."

"Thanks, I think so too."

"So she's with her mother?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Do you ever get to see her?"

"Not as often as I'd like, but we do our best and try to stay in touch by e-mail and phone. She's busy with school and soccer and so forth and talking about what college she wants to go to."

Gil walked with her to the door where she turned and said, "I'll get back with you as soon as I can."

"I'll be here and so will the dishes." He watched her get into her car and then waved at her as she backed out and his phone rang. 

When he answered it he heard, "Hey, it's Jim. Did you get an invitation to Winnie and Dusty's party?"

"What party?"

"Damn it that's what I was afraid of. I told her I'd get it to you and this morning something told me that I'd forgotten to do that. It's tonight at seven. You'll know a few of the guests, but not all of them I don't think."

"How many will be there?"

"Maybe a doze, but I'm not certain."

"Okay I can make that. I had a date with my yard sale lady."

"Great, so how did it go?"

"Well okay so it wasn't t date. She came over and looked at the dishes."

"Well shit, so now she has the dishes and you're out of excuses to see her."

"Once again you are wrong. She's going to find out what they are worth."

"Now wait a minute, you don't let the customer set the price, holy shit."

"Hell I don't care what I get for them. Had I remembered they were in the basement I would have thrown them out or sent them off to the Salvation Army a long time ago."

"So rather than give them to her or whatever, you're making her come back so you can see her again."

"You got it."

"You really do need to go to that party tonight and get about half smashed."

"I just may do that too."





  Chapter Three





Winnie opened the door and said, "Gil, I'm glad you could make it, come in."

"I hope I wasn't supposed to RSVP because Jim forgot to tell me about your party until a few hours ago."

"That man is hopeless. The bar is on the patio and people are scattered everywhere. Barney and Eve are or were in the pool and Rita was asking about you. I don't know where she is at the moment."

"Thanks Winnie, how are you and Dusty?"

"Doing fine. You'll likely find him at the bar if not tending it." He kissed her cheek and went in search for Dusty.

Gil found Jim and Dusty at the bar and as soon as Jim saw him coming he told the bartender to pour a double of Wild Turkey. As Gil approached, Jim handed him the drink and said, "I've told the bartender to keep you supplied with these all evening."

He tasted it and said, "Wow, I hope you can drive me home." They talked for a minute and then Gil said, "I was told that Rita was asking about me, have you seen her?"

"Yeah she and Char and some others and some babe I don't know were...there they are over in the corner by the pool."

"I'll be back," and he headed toward the women. They were engrossed in their conversation and didn't see him coming so Gil heard Rita say, "What is it with men anyway? For them it's all about size and if they had their way they'd tell the world how big their peckers were even if it was a lie."

The woman next to her said, "Well it isn't all about size, but that doesn't hurt either." After the laughter settled down Gil went over to the second woman who he didn't know and extending his hand to her introduced himself saying, "High, I'm George Biggerstaff."

The group exploded in laughter and once they settled down she told him, "Hi George Biggerstaff, I'm curious, care to sit next to me?"

"There's no place I'd rather be."

As soon as he sat down she smiled at him and said, "Okay, I'm really Hope Atkins, now tell me your real name."

He smiled and said, "I take it you're not buying the name I gave you."

Nice as it might be I'd have to say no."

"Okay, my name is Gil Fellows."

"Hi Gil."

Then Rita leaned over close to Hope and said, "Be careful with this one."

Gil looked at her and said, "Rita honey, what have I ever done to deserve that?"

"Honey you and I go back to high school remember?"

"Yeah well I had a misguided youth is all." Then before she could say anything more he looked at Hope and asked, "Can I get you a fresh drink?"

"Sure, what are you having?"

He looked into his glass like it was two feet deep and said, "Damned if I know."

"You don't know what you're drinking?"

"Jim just handed it to me but I'm pretty sure it's some kind of whisky."

She tasted his drink and smiling at him said, "If you find out what it is I'll have one of those."

"I'll not return until my mission is complete."

As he walked away Rita told Hope, "He never knew it but I had such a crush on him in high school."

"But you two didn't connect?"

"No, he couldn't see past Linda."

"I didn't see a ring on his hand."

"Nope, he and Linda split three or four years ago or something like that. Life moves on."

"Mister Biggerstaff? How did he come up with that so quickly?"

"Who knows how is warped mind works."

A few minutes later Gil returned with his hair messed up and one side of his shirt pulled out of his shorts. He handed a drink to Hope and said, "It wasn't easy. I had to beat up three guys to learn the secret, but Jim told me we're drinking Wild Turkey." Hope just smiled at him and shook her head as she took the drink and tasted it and shaking her head as he asked, "So is there any hope that Hope lives near here?"

"Depends on what near here means. Actually I'm from Reno."

"As in Nevada?"

"As in."

"Then how can we date and get to know each other and all of that?"

"I don't know because commuting back and forth could be kind of tough."

"Well now I'm depressed. Deeply depressed in fact."

She kissed his cheek and said, "Well if you're strong enough to beat up three guys...it was three wasn't it?"

"Yeah, three really big guys."

"Then you're probably strong enough to survive me going home to Reno."

"I'm not so sure about that."

She stood up and holding out her hand said, "Well Mr. Biggerstaff, let's go exploring and thank this Jim for the Wild Turkey." 

Gil saw Jim and stopped pointing in their direction. "Hope honey, see that striking older woman talking to that dark haired guy?"

"I see them."

"Well that's Mrs. John Wentworth the second. Money up the ying yang but still nice. We all call her Babs."

"You're kidding. And her husband?"

"He's no doubt in some foreign country closing another zillion dollar deal, or that's what he always claims anyway. They more or less go their separate ways."

"You should be over there serving her Wild Turkey instead of me then."

"Are you crazy? Look at her, she's old and wrinkled and that's after plastic surgery again. Now let's consider how fantastic you look. Contest? Not hardly my love."

"You are so shallow, choosing me over her because of my looks."

"And your body, don't forget your body counts too. See, I'm much more complex and deep than you think I am. Shall we go mingle with them and save Jim from her clutches?"

She kissed his cheek and said, "You are something else. Okay George let's go make nice to the old lady and save your friend because I'll need another drink soon." Jim got to meet Hope and the three of them made their escape from Babs and headed to the bar. Gil and Hope spent the rest of the evening together and exchanged information so they could keep in touch with each other.





  Chapter Four





It wasn't until the following Wednesday evening when Angie called Gil and asked if she could stop by and he was quick to say yes. Half an hour later she was there and he fixed them Irish coffee. as they sat on the couch, the box of dishes was in plain view just inside of the living room. She sipped her coffee and told him, "This is very good."


Old Dishes And Oak Cabinets



"Thank you. I like Mexican coffee but I'm out of tequila."

"Gil as near as I can figure the dishes are worth about three hundred dollars."

"Really, that much?"

"I'm afraid so and I just can't afford that much right now for something like that."

"I understand." He looked at her as he drank his coffee and then said, "Okay, here's the deal. I'll sell them to you for two hundred and..."

"That's very generous but I still can't afford...," and he put a finger to her lips. 

"Now let me finish before you say no. Two hundred dollars and you can pay me ten or twenty bucks whenever you can swing it, but there is one condition. You have to deliver the money in person, no checks and no mail."

She picked up her cup but instead of taking a sip she studied him for several seconds before she asked him, "You do remember I'm engaged to be married don't you?"

"Of course I remember that. Just stop by, have a cup of coffee and leave the money. We can talk about yard sales or whatever. I've become quite a fan of them now in fact."

She smiled and said, "As long as you don't get the wrong idea."

"I have a lot of wrong ideas, but I understand what you're saying. Oh and you can take the dishes with you tonight too."

"Gil..."

"Just let me know how your mother reacts when you show her the completed set."

"Are you sure you want to do it this way?"

"No, if I had my way you wouldn't be engaged, but that's the way it is. Just conversation and coffee."

"So once a week I'll come over, have coffee and visit and leave what I can afford to pay you on the table and nothing more."

"That's right."

"Why are you doing this for me?"

"For me...for us. You get the dishes and I get to enjoy your company."

"It isn't as though I hate coming over here you know."

"I'm glad Angie. Deal?"

"Yes of course it is."

"I'll keep every Saturday morning open so you don't even have to call first, just come over and if you need to make it a weeknight just call because I'll most likely be home."

"What if you want or need to get away for something on Saturday morning?"

"If you'll trust me with your phone number I'll call you if that happens but it isn't likely to."

"Yes of course you can have my number." She wrote it down for him and then asked him, "Could I have one more Irish coffee?"

"Coming up."

When he came back and sat down next to her she asked him, "How does Renee feel about you divorcing her mother?"

"It wasn't smooth sailing at first that's for sure, but luckily she didn't cut me out of her life. By talking and being honest with each other we finally were able to put that behind us. She even admits that her mother does have issues. Of course she reminds me that I'm not perfect either."

"Her biological father, is he still around?"

"No. They got a divorce and he left town never to be heard from again."

"I'm surprised that Renee doesn't see men as the cause of all problems."

"Me too actually. We've talked about that and still do sometimes in fact."

"Does she know you're selling Grandma's dishes?"

"I haven't told her yet, but that won't be a problem. She'll be happy for me when I tell her I've met a fantastic new friend." Angie just smiled and looked down at her nearly empty cup.

"I better get home while I can still drive Gil. I can't believe I'm drinking booze before noon in fact."

"I'll carry the dishes out to your car for you."

With the box of dishes in the backseat and the door closed she turned to him, put her hands on his arms and kissed his cheek. "Thank you again for trusting me."

"You're welcome and thank you for the kiss."

"I'll see you Saturday morning for coffee then."

"I look forward to it."

Gil had dinner with Jim and Sandra Friday night and told them about the arrangement with Angie for the dishes. Sandra asked him, "Gil what are you trying to do? Where do you hope this will go?"

"I'm making this up as I go along Sandy. I really like her and I enjoy her company. It's pretty obvious that by requiring payment in cash I'll get to see her once a week for awhile at least."

"What does her fiancée think about all of this?"

"She hasn't said anything and I'm not asking."

"And if she just stops coming over?"

"I don't care about the money, but I'd miss seeing her."

"You do realize don't you that you're setting yourself up to be hurt don't you?"

"Yes I know I am, but I'll take it one day at a time I guess."

Jim asked him, "What about Hope, have you seen or heard from her?

"Since she's in Reno it isn't likely that I'll see her any time soon, but we do exchange e-mails. I really like her. She's quick witted and funny and full of life, but I don't ever see that going any farther than that."

"You two certainly hit if off right away."

"Yeah we sure did. Too bad she flew back home Monday morning."

"Well I'm with Sandy. You are on a short road to misery."

"I'll take my chances. What I'm doing, I'm doing with my eyes wide open so it isn't like I'll be surprised when it's over. It's a lot like it was with Hope actually except Hope left a couple of days later and Angie won't leave until a couple of months or so if I'm lucky."

"Well good luck to ya."



             Chapter Five





Gil was up, showered, shaved and ready when Angie arrived just after ten o'clock. Morning Gil."

"Morning Angie, you look great, very crisp and bright."

"Thank you." They had their routine set even though they had only been together a very few times. She sat on the couch and he delivered the coffee before sitting next to her. "Gil we could just sit in the kitchen so you wouldn't have to wait on me like this."

"This time is special."

"Oh and what makes it special?"

He moved over until he was against her and handed her a piece of paper. I found this in the old oak cabinet last night."

As he handed it to her she asked him, "What is it?"

"I think it's a treasure map."

She smiled and said, "Oh come on Gil you don't expect me to believe that do you?"

"You look at it and tell me what you think it is."

She studied it and then said, "I don't get it. Somebody went to a some trouble drawing this, but if it's a treasure map where is the mark that tells the location. All I see is this one line in the upper right hand corner that says, land here she lies, and that doesn't even make sense."

"I know."

"So what makes you think it's a treasure map?"

"I was only half serious when I said that, but why would somebody go to all that trouble for nothing?"

"I don't have an answer to that. What do you plan to do with it?"

"I don't know. They labeled two streets so I can figure out the general area they are talking about but that's about all. I think it's what is now the future industrial development area."

"That huge piece of property that belongs to the city?"

"That's the place."

"So all you have to do is poke and dig and explore all over that how ever many hundred acres of open field."

"Not very promising is it."

She smiled and said, "No, not very promising but I'll admit it is interesting."

"I think I'll go talk to the woman from the yard sale and see if I can learn anything from her."

"Like what?"

"Oh about her father and the family. Maybe at one point they owned all or some of that land."

"I've never been on a treasure hunt."

"Want to go hunting with me?"

She looked at him and without realizing put her hand on his thigh and said, "I'd love to but I can't."

"I understand, but I wanted to ask you anyway. Could you go with me to talk to the woman?"

"I could do that. This really is kind of exciting."

He really didn't want to ask her but he had to know. He took her hand in his and asked, "Angie does your fiancée know about our arrangement?"

"Yes. Well mostly. I told him about it but then I said that you have a phobia about personal checks and I won't send cash through the mail so I'm delivering it in person each week. Oh and Mom just went crazy when she saw the dishes. She cried and we talked and with my help she completely rearranged her china cabinet. I still don't understand the significance of those dishes, but it doesn't matter really. I'm just glad that she has the set completed at last."

"I'm happy for her then and for you."

She slowly took her hand away and said, "Let's go talk to the lady." Angie drove and it only took them a few minutes to get there. Gil, let me knock and speak to her first so she doesn't get nervous about a strange man at her door."

"Good idea."

When the door opened Angie said, "We're sorry to bother you, but I bought some dishes from you during your yard sale and Gil bought that oak cabinet."

"Yes, I think I remember both of you."

Gil told her, "I was hoping I could ask you a few questions about that cabinet, sort of build a provenance about it."

"Yes of course, come in."

The three of them sat in the living room and Gil said, "You told me the cabinet was your fathers I believe."

"Yes it was. Mother died when I was very young so I became the woman of the house early on and as I grew older I really was the woman of the house until I got married. Dad would work in his little office on the weekends doing drawings for different small businesses. Now they are called design engineers or something like that, but back the he just called himself a draftsman."

"Did he or his family own property around here, like a farm or something?"

"As a matter of fact his parents were farmers, but then back in those days a lot of people were farmers and owned sizable pieces of land."

"Yes I'm sure that's true. Do you know where that property was?"

"Yes of course. It was almost a full section at one time and in those days that was an impressive amount of land. It ran all the way from National Road up Summit Road to First gate and then west to about Taylor Road."

"Was your father a collector of any kind?"

"You mean like stamps or whatever?"

"Yes."

"No, his life was about work mostly."

Gil and Angie stood up and he said, "Well thank you for taking time to talk to us."

"You're welcome. Miss, did your mother like her dishes?"

"Very much. She was so happy she cried in fact."

"I'm glad." She walked them to the door and after thinking her again Gil and Angie headed home. She asked, "Did you get what you hoped for?"

"Well what she told us about the farm coincides with the map so whatever is or was there was on his property at the time."

"So now what?"

"That's a good question, but I'll start by driving out there and just look around."

"I wish I could go with you."

"I wish you could too." Then she looked at him and smiled as she asked him, "You didn't draw that map yourself did you?"

He laughed and said, "I promise you I did not. I don't even know where or how I could come by a piece of paper that looks that old. Now why would you suspect me of being so devious? Well rest easy my dear, the map is real. What the hell it means is anybody's guess though."

"Well if you figure out what land here she lies means, call me."

"I'll do that."

After Angie left, he grabbed his keys and drove out to the area shown on the map. He'd pull off the road and study his map, drive a few hundred feet and stop and study it again until he had gone the length of the area in the drawing, but other than being able to correlate the map to the property he accomplished nothing. With no bulls eye on the map to guide him there wasn't much more he could do. The only other thing he noticed was some wavy lines on the map and he was able to figure out those lines represented two small swells in the land. Further proof that he was in the right area, but still no indication of where to look to solve the mystery so he went home. 

Before Gil could decide what to do next Hope called. "Is this the famous Mr. Biggerstaff?"

"Well if it isn't the beautiful and vivacious Hope Atkins, how are you?"

"Doing well as long as I stay out of the Nevada heat. What's new in your life?"

"Well not much, I found a treasure map so I'm going treasure hunting."

"Like at the local watering hole right?"

"Nope, this is real." He told her about finding the map and going out to the area and she asked, "So you have the area nailed down, but how big is this area?"

"I'd guess maybe a hundred or more acres."

"Oh is that all, and of course the map with nothing on it to help you."

"Yeah, well it's something to do and it gets me outdoors. I never asked you, what do you do out there in the desert heat of Reno?"

"You mean for work or fun and entertainment?"

"I'm an entertainment coordinator."

"Okay. I'm not sure what all that entails, but I can get a good idea of what you do. You get to meet famous people."

"Not so much. Just their agents and not even that very often. Most of it's done by computer and phone calls."

"Okay then what about fun?"

"I try to get out of Reno for starters, but that doesn't happen very often. As to what exactly I do I'll save that for when you come out to see me."

"Thanks for the invitation I'll see what I can do, but it's going to be awhile."

"I understand. You said at the party that you've really been busy at work."

"Yeah and it isn't letting up very much."

"Lousy way to live lover."

"Tell me about it," and they talked for a little longer before saying goodbye. He sat there and thought about his life. She was right, it was a lousy way to live, but he liked his job well enough and he was thankful that he was employed. He just had to find a way to put some excitement back into his life, or at least put some life back into his life without investing a lot of money and time doing it.





               Chapter Six





Once again Gil was up Saturday morning and eagerly awaiting Angie's arrival. He didn't hear her pull up so he was surprised when he heard, "Gil are you decent?"

"I'm so decent I bore myself, come in." He heard the door close just as he made it to the living room.

"I hope yo don't mind me sticking my head in like that."

"Not at all."

"I'm starting to feel like the Avon lady ringing the bell and standing there."

"So how are you?"

"I'm great." They went straight to the couch where he had an insulated carafe of coffee waiting. "Nice touch, I guess you were expecting me."

"I was pacing the floor if you must know."

"How are you doing with the map?"

"Not good. No matter how much I stare at it and think about ti I'm dead in the water."

"I told Tony my fiancée about the map and he laughed and said he thought you were crazy. He agrees that phrase land here she lies makes no sense at all."

"He's probably right, but I can't stop thinking about it and that phrase drives me nuts."

"I asked him if he'd mind if I went with you to look around and he said he didn't care as long as I wasn't gone all day and I'd tell him about it later."

"That's generous of him. I drove out there last Saturday and I could see the area he had drawn, but that's a huge piece of land."

"And with no markings on the map we have no way to narrow the search area down."

"That's about it."

"Well I would guess the area would be in the center of the map. I mean why draw a map and have the treasure hidden near the edge of the map? That wouldn't make much sense at all."

"Hey, you're pretty good I like that idea. Want coffee or do you want to get started on the search?"

"Let's go poke around."

When they got out there they sat in the car as he pointed to the map and would point out the same features in the field. "We can't go by the trees because the big ones back there are long gone and others have grown up."

"Just what will we look for?"

"I don't even know. Irregularities in the ground I guess."

She laughed and said, "Gil this whole area is nothing but irregularities."

"I see what you mean. I don't know, we'll just walk around and see if anything catches our eye I guess." They hadn't gone a hundred yards when he said, "I'll bet your beautiful legs in those shorts don't appreciate these tall weeds."

She looked up at him and said, "So you were checking out my leg."

"Yes I was and I do believe I have them memorized."

"Well thank you for the compliment but I'm doing okay." They walked a little farther, turned around and cut a new path through the weeds going back toward the car. Then they would repeat the process again and then again as they worked their way across the area that was the center of the map. They finally stopped and she said, "I guess my idea wasn't such a good one after all."

"I disagree, I think you had a great idea. It didn't pan out, but the idea was solid and besides, we got to spend time together in the great outdoors."

"She looked up at him to say something as they walked but her toe caught a rock and she pitched forward. He grabbed her and pulled her toward him so his arms were around her torso just below her breasts. "You okay Angie?"

Her hands were now on his hips as she looked up at him again and said, "Yes I think so but my toe took a beating on that rock." He kept his arms around her as she said, "Thanks for saving me."

"My pleasure but I was thinking about myself too. I had to protect those legs at all costs."

She didn't move or push his hands away as she looked up at him and said, in a soft tone, "I guess we should get back."

"I suppose we should."

"Gil..."

"Yes?"

"Nothing, never mind. Let's go back and see if the coffee is still hot."

"After plowing through the weeds in this hot sun you still want hot coffee?"

"Either that or a cold shower or something. I mean I just need to get out of here." Both of them were quiet on the short drive home, but once they were there she said, "I think I better just get home."

"You sure your foot is okay?"

"It will be." She stopped at her car door and said, "Gil I'll see you next Saturday."

"Have a good week Angie."

"You too, bye." He went inside still feeling her in his arms and could still see her eyes as she looked up at him. Jim and Sandy were right, he as digging himself into a deep hole that he might not be able to get out of.





    Chapter Seven





Gil was in bed and sound asleep Thursday night when his phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hi it's Angie."

"Hi, you okay?"

"No. Somebody just shot my apartment full of holes."

What? Were you hit?"

"No I'm okay."

"When...how long ago?"

"An hour or so ago, the police just left. I called Tony and told him but I wanted to tell you too."

"What can I do to help you?"

"Nothing I guess but I'm so frightened." I live in a ground floor apartment and they shot about a dozen times."

"You can't stay there now."

"Gil I have to."

"You could stay here."

"No I can't but thank you."

"What about Tony?"

"He has a friend from out of town and it's a one bedroom apartment."

"Angie honey you can't stay there, it isn't safe."

"The police are going to keep a close eye on the area for the rest of the night. I just needed to talk to you, I'm sorry to wake you."

"That's no problem, but I wish you would reconsider staying here. I do have a guest room."

"Gil, Tony would have a stroke if I did that."

"Well at least you'd be safe and he could get over being mad."

"I'll be okay now. I'll see you Saturday morning."

"Thanks for telling me Ang and if you need somebody to talk to or anything at all call again no matter the time."

"Thanks, night."

"Night Angie." It took him quite awhile to get back to sleep and she was on his mind the instant he woke in the morning.

As he drove to work he worried about her and didn't even notice the car following him until he was within a mile of his office. He realized then that he had seen that same car not long after he'd left the house so he drove past the office and went around the block and the dark colored car stayed with him until he pulled into the parking lot near his office. Whoever was following him was smart enough to stay out of range of the security cameras that were arrayed around the whole building. He wanted to call Angie and tell her about being followed, but he didn't even know where she worked. All he could do was call her house and leave a message to call him as soon as she could. Angie finally called at six and Gil told her, "It's good to hear your voice, are you okay?"




Old Dishes And Oak Cabinets



"More or less. I'm staying with a girlfriend tonight and then I'll be over to see you in the morning."

"Listen, be very alert because I was followed this morning. They followed me all the way to the office."

"Oh my God."

"Just watch your mirrors and if you see a suspicious car go straight to the nearest police station."

"Thanks for letting me know. We can talk about all of this when I get there okay?"

"I think we better."

"Gil it's nice to know you worry about me."

"More than you can know Angie, see you for coffee."

Gil was up and pacing Saturday morning not sure if she would make it or she would be at some police station somewhere. He was in the living room when the door opened and she came in without calling out to him. He was at her side almost instantly and they fell into each other's arms. Neither of them spoke as they held onto each other glad to be alive and together. Gil finally told her, "I've been so worried about you."

"I've worried about you too."

He kissed her cheek and said, "Let's go sit down and talk about all of this." He sat close to her on the couch and turned to face her. Putting his hand to the side of her face he looked at her and said, "I was so afraid that you wouldn't be here this morning."

She put her hand over his and told him, "I had to come because I was worried about you."

"Tell me about the shooting."

"There's not a lot to tell. I was in bed but was having trouble getting to sleep so I was going to the kitchen for a snack when the shooting started. I...I just stood there like a dummy. I couldn't believe what was happening. Whoever it was knew the layout of the apartment because most of the shots were through my bedroom wall and the officer told me that had I been in bed I'd likely be dead now. I see a patrol car near my place a lot, but they can't be there all the time. You can bet I'm not sleeping in my bed until this is straightened out. I bought an air mattress and will sleep on the floor for now."

"Unless you strongly object I'll have an alarm installed in your apartment."

"Gil I can't afford that."

"Angie honey you forget what I do for a living. I'll take care of it okay? Just the fact that you'll have an alarm will be an effective deterrent and if it's activated by somebody the police will be at your place in no time."

"Thank you."

"What's Tony's take on this?"

"He's as puzzled by it as we are. His only thought is it has to have something to do with the map because all of this started after we poked around looking for...well for what we don't even know. His only suggestion was to stay away from the industrial site."

"So that would mean there really is something hidden out there."

"That's his guess, but that's all it is."

"Unfortunately I've told several people about that damn map and you probably have too."

"Yes it's been the talk of the offices and I get teased everyday about the treasures we haven't found."

"So I guess we can't go back out there and see if we can find anything."

"What's the difference now, they know we have the map and they're already after us."

"I wonder if they're trying to scare us more than hurt us. If we'll just leave it alone maybe they'll leave us alone." If they were serious about killing us I have to believe we'd be dead now."

"But what about the shooting and me almost dying Thursday night.?

"Maybe that was a fluke...a screw up by somebody. Or maybe they wanted to scare you not realizing they were shooting into your bedroom and could have killed you." If they want us dead why haven't they been here?"

"Don't say that too loudly because it's not too late for that to happen you know."

"I know, that's why I keep one of my pistols near me at all times."

"Even in the car?"

"Even in the car."

"Isn't that illegal?"

"I have a permit, but even if I didn't I'd rather face a weapons charge than be dead. I just wish you would stay here until this mess is cleared up."

"You know I can't, but I wish I could. She paused a second and then said, "I just had a thought. If what we're looking for is valuable why aren't they just digging it up and hiding it somewhere else? If it's not valuable then it must be something they want kept secret."

"Okay Sherlock, like what?"

"Like a body."

"You're kidding right?"

"I wish I were but it makes sense. They wouldn't be nearly as eager to dig up a body as say a box of money or something like that. Money can be hidden in a house or wherever, but a decomposing body isn't very easy to spirit away and stash it in somebody's living room."

"So what you're saying is their secret wouldn't have anything to do with our map other than the fact that we're poking around those fields."

"Right, they don't know what our map shows or where all we'd be apt to explore and their secret could be about anyplace on that chunk of land."

"Well I have to admit, Tony just may be right in a way. It's because of the map but not because of an old buried treasure."

Angie was quiet for a few seconds before she looked at me and surprised me with a totally different subject. "Gil why don't you have a woman in your life?"

"I do have, I have you."

"That's sweet, but you know what I mean."

"I've just been so damn busy."

"That's an excuse and we both know it. You have time for me and to chase around with the map."

"Angie I guess I just haven't met anybody that impresses me other than you and certainly not as much as you impress me. I met a very lively and nice woman at a party recently and we had a very pleasant evening talking and acting crazy, but she lives in Reno and I can't go jetting back and forth across the country."

"It sounds like as long as I'm coming over here you won't even try to meet somebody else."

"Is it important to you that I meet other women?"

"It's important to me that you are happy. If I quit coming over here maybe you'll get out more and find somebody."

"Angie please don't talk like that. I'm not unhappy with my life. I told you early on that I wished you weren't engaged and I still mean that, but I'm doing okay. I'm glad that you worry about me but please don't stop coming over here." He was staring into her eyes as he said once again, "Please Angie."

She put her arms around his neck and held him close to her. "Gil I want what's best for you. I don't want to never see you again, but one day all of this will have to change."

His arms went around her and he said, "I know it will and I know I won't like it, but I'd rather see you while I can and worry about the hurt later than never see you again." She looked into his eyes and they came together in a long tender kiss. 

She suddenly realized what she had just done and pulled back quickly. "Oh God I'm so sorry Gil, I shouldn't have done that."

He pulled her back into him and his lips touched her ear as he whispered, "Thank you. Someday I'll explain how much that sweet kiss means to me."

"But we can never do that again."

"I know."

She took a breath and tried to compose herself and changing the subject asked him, "So what will we do now?"

"About the kiss or the map?"

She smiled and said, "The map. We have to pretend the kiss didn't happen."

"Correction, you have to pretend. I plan to think about it that kiss every day for a long time to come. As to the map I don't know what to think. I know I'm not going to throw it away or give up on it. There's a reason we're being harassed and assaulted and there's a reason for that map and I intend to learn what those reasons are one of these days. In the meantime I'll have somebody at your place Monday evening to install the alarm."

"Thank you for worrying about me."

"I couldn't stop worrying about you even if I wanted to."

"I better go home."

"I don't want you to go, but okay and remember to stay alert and call me if you need anything at all."

"I will. At the door she turned to him and said, "You sure are complicating my life," and she ran to her car.







          Chapter Eight 





Gil spent the afternoon wandering the field where he and Angie had been before but came up empty. Her reasoning about the place where something was hidden had to be right so Tuesday he left work early and after changing his clothes went back out and widened the search area but again came up empty. If nothing else maybe whoever was responsible for shooting at Angie would direct their attention toward him instead. Why they had gone after her in the first place made no sense to him at all. 

As Gil left the office Wednesday evening he felt like maybe their problem was settling down. Angie hadn't been harassed or assaulted nor had he, but he still kept his eyes moving as he drove toward home. He was within three miles of his house when a car sped up on is right and as he looked over at it he saw the pistol suddenly appear. Without thought of consequences he slammed on his brakes and did a quick U turn in front of oncoming traffic. Horns were blaring and tires were squealing but the car with the pistol was blocked by the suddenly backed up traffic. Gil had some open room in front of him so he shot ahead and took the first right he came to and worked hard to disappear. He spent the next ten minutes turning corners to make sure he wasn't being followed and then headed home. They had to know where he lived, but his house was alarmed and he had weapons to defend himself with there. At least their attention was on him now instead of Angie. He was going to call her and tell her the latest but she was already afraid so why make it even worse for her? He could tell her Saturday when they could talk it through. 

Gil had been home just long enough to change when Angie called him. "Gil I need help."

"What happened?"

"They started following me right after I left work. I know you told me to go to the nearest police station but I panicked and couldn't remember where it was so I raced into the mall parking lot and I'm hiding in the lady's room."

"Which one?"

"Across from the Fudge Factory."

"Did they see you go in there?"

"I don't know but I don't think so."

"Okay stay there, I'm on my way." After thinking about what to do for a minute Gil grabbed his cell phone and his pistol and headed for the storage building at the back of his yard. A couple of minutes of preparation and he opened the large door and pulled his motorcycle out and took off down the side street away from his house as fast as he could go watching his mirrors as he went. It took him almost twenty minutes to get there and then parked in a yellow zone, grabbed his things and went in to the mall. It took him a minute to get his bearings but then he headed to his right at a fast walk as he dialed her number. As soon as he heard her voice he said, "I'm in the mall and almost to you. Count to twenty and then come out. I should be there by then." She had barely acknowledged what he said when he closed his phone and focused on the people around him as he headed toward her.

Angie was reaching for the door to go back into the lady's room when he said, "Wait, I'm here." Handing her a helmet and a leather jacket he told her, "Put these on."

"Now?"

"I'm trying to make you look different and besides I don't want to take time to do this outside. I want us to get on the bike and get the hell out of here."

"But we'll really be conspicuous walking through the mall with helmets on."

"Shit you're right of course, okay carry it but be ready to put it on before we hit the doors."

"What about the leather coat, it's about eighty five out there."

"Wear it anyway and we can both get sweaty."

AS they raced toward the exit she said, "I didn't even know you had a motorcycle."

"Well I do. I was afraid to use the car in case they were watching my house. By the time they would have heard the cycle I would have been flying down the street and they would never catch me."

She was almost running to keep up with him as she said, "I tried to call Tony but then I remembered he's out of town so I just left him a message." They turned left and just before the exit doors they put on their helmets and jackets. She looked at herself and said, "My God Gil this jacket is huge."

"It's all I had, sorry. Once we're in the clear we can take them off." There was not time for small talk so after getting on the bike he just told her to get on and hang on and seconds later they were rolling. Weaving through the parking lot kept him too buy to check his mirrors so it wasn't until they were heading down the street that he saw a car keeping pace with them. He turned his head partway and told Angie, "I think we have company."

"That's not possible."

"I'm afraid it is. Okay honey hang on because this might get interesting before it's over," and he downshifted and twisted the throttle as far as it would go.

"Oh shit," was all she managed to say.

They raced down the street with the car not far behind them and Gil worked the throttle and gears squeezing as much out his cycle as he could as he weaved through the traffic. When they came to a group of cars he took the cycle down the center line forcing oncoming traffic to give him room but the car followed them forcing the cars to move over even more. They were getting honked at and fingers waved out of windows, but Gil was concentrating on what he was doing and tried to plan ahead. It was time for hm to start worrying because the guy driving the car seemed to be fearless and determined to catch up to them. For the moment they kept a slight lead as they raced through traffic and ducked around cars at traffic lights and still the car kept pace with them. Gil turned north onto the three seventeen and then went west on Bexley and kept the lead. He was all too aware that they weren't improving their situation at all and his bike would almost certainly run out of gas before the car would. He knew he had to do something different because having a police car intervene was looking like a futile dream. Then he remembered one stretch ahead with an intersection where the traffic was almost certain to be backed up. At the speed they were going Angie wouldn't ear him if he tried to tell her something so he leaned forward slightly and sped up until they saw the traffic backup ahead of them. He knew it wouldn't be a long stretch so he had to make the best of it and break free of their pursuers because this was their best and possibly their only chance to get away and if it failed he only had his pistol to keep them safe.

Gil picked his slot and slowing down only slightly, split lanes and went between the cars in the right and middle lane. There was no way the car could follow them and the oncoming traffic was too thick for even them to force their way through. The car was now well to the rear, but they would still be able to see the cycle as it raced ahead cutting cars off and splitting lanes again. Angie had wrapped her arms around his waist some time ago and was holding on with the side of her helmet pressed against his leather clad back with everything she had. 

They had an open stretch now so he opened it up again and as soon as the car was out of sight he turned south on High Street and watched his mirrors as they kept going. They went south for almost forty miles before he slowed down as they neared Chillicothe. He saw a gas station and pulled into one of the back pumps and shut the bike off. Angie had released her tight hold on him and as soon as the engine died she straightened up as he said, "Okay honey it's gas up and pit stop."

"Do you think it's safe to stop?"

"It has to be because we're running on empty and I'm about to piss my jeans."

"I think I did that a long time ago. Can I take this jacket off now?"

"Yeah go ahead. Let's catch our breath and get something to drink and then we'll go find a motel."

A what?"

"A motel. You weren't thinking we could just go home right now were you?"

"Well...yes I guess I was but I see your point. We have to at least wait until daytime when we can see what's going on. Do you really think we lost them?"

"Yes I do."

"What if they find us?" He turned his back to the station and opened his coat slightly so she could see his pistol. "Oh my God Gil is...is that necessary?"

"I sure hope not, but the running has to stop. We can't go to the police because we can't tell them who is chasing us or why. Hell we can't even tell them what kind of car it was because I wasn't about to let them get that close to us if I could help it."

"Are you a good shot?"

"I'm a very good shot. Not the best and in fact Jim usually bests me, but I'm good." He pumped his gas and then they went inside and used the restrooms and got a snack and a cold drink.







         Chapter Nine





They rode on and as they neared town Gil slowed down and told her, "We have to find a Wal-Mart or something and pick up a few things to keep us going."

"It's going to be so embarrassing to go into a motel carrying plastic bags instead of luggage."

"Good point, motel first then shopping."

"When can we eat."

"As soon as we clean up and you get out of your slacks."

"Excuse me?"

"And into jeans. Dress slacks on the motorcycle could draw attention."

"I'm just lucky I wasn't wearing a skirt today."

"Now wouldn't' you have been a sensation going down the highway at ninety miles an hour."

"Were we going that fast?"

"Well the one time I took time to check we were but other than that I couldn't say because I was pretty busy."

"So was I trying not to cry or faint. I've never even been on a motorcycle before."

They found a Holiday Inn and Gil gave them his credit card and said, "One room two beds." She squeezed his arm and stared at him and he just smiled at her and waited to sign the form.

AS they walked back out to the bike she said, "Gil what are you doing? One room?"

"Angie I'm not letting you out of my sight. Where one of us goes both of us go."

"What about the shower or the bathroom?"

"Of course those too."

She stopped walking and he just smiled and said, "I'm just kidding. I'll wait for you outside of the shower curtain."

"You wouldn't."

"Of course I would." She wasn't moving so he put one arm around her and said, "Come on I'll behave I promise."

As they reached the bike she said, "After all we've been through and you're teasing me."

"Okay I'm sorry but I just couldn't resist. It just feels so good to actually feel safe and able to relax for the first time in several days at least." After the harrowing ride they had just experienced, the causal ride to Wal-Mart was almost pleasant. They each bought a change of clothes plus toiletries and then Angie tried to find a conservative nightie of some kind. He patiently followed her around and she rejected one after another. "My God they are either almost see through or heavy flannel that a grandma might wear."

"Want me to pick it out for you?"

"I thought you were going to behave."

"I am, I'm asking for your permission."

"Permission denied." She finally settled on one that wasn't too risqué and then she stopped and asked, "What about you?"

"Sorry, but I'm not wearing a woman's nightie even for you and I don't care how sexy it is."

She had to smile as she said, "No I mean, you know what will you wear?"

"My briefs that I just bought."

"Gil now..."

"Angie honey I'll be covered. I hate pajamas of any kind and if you weren't along I'd be nude so I'm doing this for you."

"Why do I feel like I'm going from the frying pan to the fire?"

"I got you here safely and I'll get you home safe and unmolested I promise." Maybe just a touch more worldly but safe."

She smiled again and said, "Okay have your fun but you stay in your own bed."

"I promise."

"Do you snore?"

"I've never watched me sleep so I'm not sure."




Old Dishes And Oak Cabinets



"Did your ex wife ever complain?"

"Almost constantly, but not about snoring. That's one she missed I guess."

She laughed and then said, "Take me back to the motel so we can change and go eat before I faint from hunger."

Gil was a perfect gentleman as they changed. Then as they walked the few blocks to the Ponderosa Steak House he took her hand and they walked on like a newly married couple. As they stood n line at the restaurant he told her, "Yes indeed I believe in taking my woman to the nicest places with the best food and quiet environment where we're waited on hand and foot."

"I'm so hungry I don't care if we eat in the kitchen and we have to wash dishes afterward."

"You just want to delay having to share a bedroom with me tonight."

She smiled and said, "No I'll be ready to go back after dinner. You've convinced me I'm safe."

"That you are my love."

Between bites of dinner Angie asked, "What will happen tomorrow?"

"Well the only thing I've come up with is to call my friend Jim and have him check out your place and mine. If everything looks okay we'll take a chance and go home."

"And if it isn't?"

"Good question. I'll have him come get you and I'll go in first."

"You will not. What if something happens to you?"

"That's better than having something happen to both of us."

"What if you just call the police?"

"I'm sure I will, but I'll also have my pistol ready just in case. Either way I don't want to see you in harms way."

"You don't have to prove to me that you're brave. I'd rather have you in one piece."

"Angie I'm not brave, but I've had it with these games of theirs. Before this weekend is over things will be settled one way or the other."

"Promise me you'll be careful."

"I do promise you I'll be careful. If something were to happen to me I'd miss the pleasure of your company very much."

"Gil let's not talk about this craziness for awhile. Let's just take our time walking back to the motel and pretend that we have something approaching a normal life."

As they left the restaurant she took his hand and they walked slowly as she said, "Tell me about your friend Jim."

"Jim and his wife Sandra are a great couple. Good true friends and they are fun to be with. They worry about me and won't hesitate to tell me if they think I'm going down the wrong path. I think you'd like them as much as I do."

"Do they know about me?"

"Yes they do. I'm not sure but I think I may have given them the impression that you can walk on water."

She smiled and leaned into him slightly as they strolled on. "What about Renee, does she know about me?"

"Very little. She knows how we met and that we've had coffee a few times and that you are engaged to somebody else."

"What does she think about any of that?"

"She thinks like I do, that it's too bad you're already engaged."

"Now you just made that up."

"I can show you her e-mail where she said that."

"She sounds pretty mature for her age."

"Well she certainly thinks she is, but I love her too much to be very objective about that."

Angie stopped and said, "Do you realize that we're walking down the street without a care in the world? The night is quiet and the air is warm and nobody is chasing us or shooting at us. God how I wish it would stay like this."

He looked at her and said, "I do too, just exactly like this." The he realized he was putting her in an awkward position so he started to walk with his arm around her waist and said, "It won't be long before we can just get together on Saturday morning coffee and talk about yard sales again and pretend none of this has happened."

She stopped again and said, "I don't want to pretend that none of this ever happened. Just the bad parts and always remember the good parts like tonight."



          Chapter Ten





When they reached their motel room they took turns washing up and then she changed into her nightie in the bathroom while he pretended to watch television. When she came out he shut it off and tried in vain not to stare at her as she walked past him to her bed. She pulled the bedding back and slipped in and pulling the sheet up almost to her chin. "Angie may I approach?"

"She smiled and said, "Yes of course you can."

He knelt down and she turned to her side to face him as he said, "I told you when we were in the field that day that you have beautiful legs, but I have to change that. You have gorgeous legs."

Thank you."

"I'll just tell you this and then I'll get ready for bed too. With all the hell we've been through and especially you have I've been thankful that one bright light in all that gloom is that I've been able to be with you and talk to you. That you've been in my life."

She gently touched his face and said, "Thank you. If it wasn't for you I don't know what I would have done. You've worried about me, entertained me and done all that you could do to help me through this mess."

"Of course because I...well let's just say it was my map that started this whole mess in the first place."

"We don't know that though."

"That's true, but for the time being that's what I'm going with. Now I'm getting ready for bed before I break my promise and kiss you."

"Gil...," and she pulled him to her and kissed him softly. "You still haven't broken your promise." 

He looked at her and touched his own lips with his tongue for one more taste of her and then said, "Thank you," and got up before he said or did something he shouldn't. 

He was back about ten minutes later and made no effort to hide his near nakedness from her as he went to his bed and pulled his sheet up to his waist. "Gil thank you for getting us out of that mess safely and for keeping us safe all the way here."

"You're welcome, but we're not out of the woods yet and I'm sorry I put you in danger." Then he laughed and told her, "You were in more danger than you knew because I haven't ridden my cycle in almost five months."

She suddenly sat up forgetting to keep herself covered and the sudden move threatened to expose her breasts to his eyes as she said, "You're kidding me." 

He openly studied her near slip in the soft light of their room and said, "I'm not kidding. I've been too busy to ride I guess."

"You raced through traffic weaving in and out and cutting people off and I don't know what all and now you tell me that? We could have been killed if you crashed the cycle."

"Yeah I know. That's another reason why I insisted on you wearing the leather jacket. It would have helped you with road rash had we crashed."

"So you really did see that as a possibility?"

"Very much so yes. That bike wasn't designed to be ridden the way we were riding it. It's a sport touring bike, not a high powered racing bike."

"Oh my God." She paused a second and then said, "Would you shut off the light?"

"Yes of course."

"And then come over here for a second."

He was next to her in seconds and she pulled him down and kissed him again as her hands felt his warm back. "I really do think you were a hero for me today. For you to do what you did by riding that cycle with such skill really impresses me."

"Thank you, but I won't tell you how surprised I am that I managed to pull it off. You were the perfect co rider by the way. You were perfectly still and held on tight all the way through."

"I had to because I didn't want to fall off."

"We're one hell of a team is what it comes down to and that's what will get us through all of this."

"If we ever get our normal life back it's going to seem almost boring."

"I know what you mean." Being that close to her and feeling her warmth through her thin garment was driving him crazy so he stood up and went back to his bed.

"You know what Gil? Even with the lights off I could see you in your underwear."

"I thought you could but that's okay because I saw your breasts too."

She sat up again and said, "You did not."

"Oh but I did darling."

She looked down at herself and realized he probably could see most of her breasts, but she smiled slightly and then lay back down again. "You are just too sneaky."

"And you are so sexy."

"Night love."

"Night Angie honey."



         Chapter Eleven





Gil was awake first and eased into the bathroom and then came back. He was surprised to see it was past seven thirty so he quietly took his shower and then came back, carefully eased under the sheet and lay next to her. She stirred so he lay very still until she settled down again and he just looked at her. He touched her hair and held it close so he could smell it. Then very carefully he eased his arm around her and slowly let it relax so it draped over her waist. He was on his side watching her face as she stirred again and then opened her eyes. It took her a second and then she smiled and said, "Good morning."

"Morning beautiful, sleep okay?"

"That's the best I've slept in a long time." He moved closer to her and she put her arm around him as she asked him, "Did you sleep okay...wait, what are you doing in my bed?"

"Admiring you for one thing."

"How long have you been here?"

"Well all night, don't you remember asking me to join you?"

"I did not...did I?"

He smiled and said, "No you didn't. But to be technical, since I paid for the room it isn't your bed, it's my bed so it's okay if I'm lying here next to you. Now can I have permission to kiss you good morning?"

She smiled and almost whispered as she said, "Yes you may."

He pulled her closer to him and they kissed again. The first kiss that they had ever shared was a long tender one, but this one was longer and started out so very tender, but as her hands moved over his bare back and he felt her every curve and movement under the silky fabric of her garment the kiss became more urgent. They pulled and moved closer until he could feel her warm breasts against his chest and her hands moved down to his waist until she felt the elastic of his briefs. She pushed him away again but with less conviction as she told him, "My God Gil what are you doing to me? I shouldn't even be in the same motel room with you but I am. I shouldn't be wearing this thin nightie around you but I am. I sure shouldn't allow you to lie next to me when both of us are nearly naked, and my God what am I thinking when I kiss you like that?"

"I think you're over analyzing it."

"Gil honey...damn it I shouldn't even say that. Gil I'm engaged to be married."

"I know and I should be ashamed of myself, but I'm not. Am I taking advantage of you at a time when you might be feeling very vulnerable? I don't know, but I'm not going to think about that too much because I don't want to know the answer. I just know that words fail me when I try to tell you what I'm feeling right now and no it's not just passion. You make my heart dance and my world go crazy."

Before he could say more she put a finger on his lips and then kissed him before telling him, "Gil I don't know what I'm feeling. Right now I can't trust myself to make any kind of intelligent decision, but I do know that you are a wonderful guy that I can't stay away from. Remember when we were in the field and you stopped me from falling? Remember how I looked at you and started to tell you something? I was going to tell you to take me home and that I couldn't see you again because you were becoming too important for me to handle. I was afraid of you. But I just couldn't make those words come out of my mouth. I couldn't tell you that I never wanted to see you again because I wouldn't stay true to my decision. Now I have to add that I loved waking up next to you and feeling you close to me. I loved smelling your skin freshly showered and your face smoothly shaved. I loved feeling my arm around you as we kissed. Damn it Gil, please get up before I go crazy."

He got up and pulled the sheet all the way down and helped her up pulling her into his arms once more. "I have to feel you close to me once more before we leave here." She fought a valiant battle with herself, but in the end she had no choice but to kiss him once more. She was wrapped in his arms and her right hand found the elastic of his briefs again and slipped inside and felt the tight muscles of his ass under her hands and his hardness pressing against her. She quickly broke away and ran to the bathroom and slammed the door behind her. Gil just sat down on the edge of her bed and stared at nothing. He tried to focus and sort out his thoughts, but his head was spinning and all attempts at thinking straight were a waste of time. Instead he just sat there and gave his mind the freedom to go wherever it wanted to go.

About twenty minutes later she remerged with a towel wrapped around her and said, "Gil I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about Angie. You did the right thing even though I hated your decision. I'm sorry for making all of this more difficult for you."

"No, don't think that way. I wanted to kiss you and hold you and I wanted you to hold me. Now turn your back so I can get dressed because I still won't trust myself until I have some clothes on." He turned his back and pulled his jeans on and then finished dressing too.

Their bond had been there all along, but now it was so much stronger than before. But she was still engaged to Tony and she showed no signs that would change. Was she that in love with Tony or was she confused? Was she just vulnerable as he had mentioned, or was their bond so strong that it was usurping her determination to marry Tony?

As soon as Angie was ready they walked to the restaurant for breakfast and didn't mention anything about all of the temptation they had just experienced.



          Chapter Twelve





The restaurant was noisy so Angie leaned closer to Gil and said, "You're pretty quiet, you okay?"

"More or less. I'm just thinking about what we have ahead of us and that I don't want to take you home."

She tried to ignore the last part of what he said and asked, "What do you think will happen?"

"That's the problem, I don't have any idea."

"I called Tony while you were in the bathroom and finally reached him."

"How did that go?"

"He sounded indignant and was not pleased when I told him where I was and that I was with you."

"You did tell him about our close call right?"

"I did and I reminded him of that in words that left no doubt about my fear and the fact that I couldn't reach him. He told me to get home as soon as possible and he'd see to my safety."

"Can he? I mean is he somebody that can handle that?"

"I don't know, but I'd guess he probably could."

"That gives me an idea to keep you safe. Have him meet us someplace outside of town. That way you can safely transfer from the bike to his car."

"What if somebody follows him?"

"Good thought. Give me a minute to think about that."

"Gil what about...are you familiar with the rock and gravel quarry a couple miles out of town?"

"I remember that there is one but that's about all."

"It hasn't been used in a long time and Tony is working with the owners to clean it up so he can sell it."

"He's in real estate?"

"Yes, commercial mostly and seems to be doing rather well. Anyway, my idea is to meet him there. That way if anybody does follow him we'll see them well in advance."

"I've said it before, you are good."

"Thank you. We can hide as he arrives and once we can tell he's alone I can join him."

"So I will get to meet him. Okay let's do it that way. When we get to the quarry we can call him with the details." Gill tossed some ones on the table and they walked back to the motel to gather their few belongings and check out. Before they left their room she put her arms around him and said, "Gil, once things settle down a little we have to talk."

"So I will get to see you again."

"Yes," and she moved to the door to leave.

As they stuffed their meager belongings into the saddle bag Angie asked, "Do we have to wear the jackets?"

"No, the ride home will be a lot slower and safer."

"What about your gun?"

"It goes in the saddlebag but on top of everything."

They weren't on the road north more than a few minutes before she put her arms around him and leaned into him. He put his left hand on her arm and up the road they went at just below the speed limit.

Just before they reached Columbus they stopped to use the restroom and stretch their legs and she asked him, "You nervous?"

"About the bad guys?"

"Yes."

"Not much, but I am worried about how I'll handle it when you walk over to Tony and drive away with him."

"Gil I can only tell you that I'll call you and we'll see each other again. I just don't know how or when."

"I understand. Jim and Sandra warned me that this day would come and I told them that being with while I could and then hurting when you left was better than not having been with you at all."

"Had we stayed in that motel one more night I don't think either of us would have been strong enough to stay away from each other."

"I know and I wish we could have stayed there a lot longer." There was nothing more they could say so they got on the bike and headed to the rock quarry.

They were quiet as the went down the road and to the only road into the quarry pit and stopped. "Angie I'll have to take the bike up to the top and hide it."

"Why hide it?

"We don't know if we'll have company other than Tony and I'd rather not have my bike shot up and be left stranded out here. Plus there's nothing wrong with the element of surprise. Tony will know I'm with you, but if he's followed out here the bad guys might not know about me. It's all about control of the situation."

"So how do you want this to go?"

"Just like you were thinking. If he is alone and nobody has followed him you can go to him. Then I'll walk up, get on my bike and go home."

"And then what?"

"I'd rather not even go there right now. You better call him and get this going."

She saw his holstered pistol clipped to his belt and said, "I just hope you don't have to use that thing."

"That makes two of us honey."

She dialed her phone and a minute later was telling him where they were and what he was to do. She looked at Gil after closing her phone and said, "He sounded mad and thinks we're being overly cautious."

"He's not the one that was shot at or chased." Gil rode his bike to the top and then half ran and half walked back down the road and into the pit and rejoined Angie. "Got a place picked out to hide in?"

"Yes and it's big enough for both of us."

"I won't be with you. I'm going to move over to those large rocks so there is some distance between us."

"Gil I'm scared."

"I am too, but your plan is a very good one and we have all of the advantages. Unless they bring a small army our chances are very good." He kissed her lightly and said, "Now tuck yourself into your spot and I'll do the same." He found a place to hide about forty feet from her and once she saw where he was she got into her pocket amid some boulders and got as comfortable as she could.

Gil was in position, but as he sat there he realized there was a chance that Angie had unwittingly been helping the bad guys all along. If he was right, things could very easy turn sour for them in the next few minutes or so.

She waited for a few minutes and then called out, "Gil?"

"Yes."

"I just wanted to be sure you were still there."

"Honey I'm not going anywhere until this is settled."

"Wait I hear a car."

"I do to so call him and stick to your plan. Don't let emotions interfere with anything now. Stay with the plan."

She dialed Tony's number and when he answered she said, "Hi it's me. Keep going forward until I tell you to stop."

"Holy shit Angela, don't you think you're being melodramatic about this?"

"Tony for once just do as I say because if you don't I'm not coming out."




Old Dishes And Oak Cabinets



"Yeah okay."

She watched his car creep forward and then said, "Okay stop there and get out but stay on the phone."

"Damn it Angela I have to get back to town."

"You weren't the one that was shot at or chased across town so you'll have to do this my way." He got out of his car and looked for her as she said, "Now open all four doors and the trunk."

"I've had enough of your theatrics now just get in the car so we can leave."

"Tony I'm not telling you again. I don't know if somebody is hiding in your car with a gun pointed at you so do as I say because nobody will find me in this hell hole unless I want them to." He gave in and opened the doors and the trunk and just stood there and said, "Okay now are you happy?"

Angie had done a good job of positioning Tony and his car no more than thirty feet from him. Gil had a good view of the unfolding events and had his pistol in his hand and pointed at Tony but he still didn't like it. He was close enough to Tony, but he wanted to close the distance between them if he could. 

When he saw Angie stand up and Tony's head turn to face her he moved forward to a closer position. Angie slowly approached Tony as her head swiveled left to right looking for any surprises, but what she couldn't see was the pistol in Tony's hand hidden just behind his back.

As she neared him Gil saw his hand move raising the pistol toward Angie just as Gil pulled the trigger. His hand gun kicked

back slightly as the cracking sound echoed across the quarry and back in a rapid staccato of diminishing sounds and then went silent.

Tony fell but not before he pulled is trigger in a wild and uncontrolled shot that missed Angie by a few feet. She raced to the nearest rock and tried to hide behind it and Gil ran over to Tony and made sure he couldn't reach his gun. With his weapon pointed down at him Gil watched as Tony moved and then looked up at him. "Help me I'm bleeding."

As Angie carefully approached, Gil said, "Yeah I know."

"Damn it call an ambulance."

"I'll do that but not until you tell us what this is all about."

"I'm not telling you anything."

"Then bleed to death I don't really care. No information means no help Tony."

"Please," Angie pleaded as she looked at Gil. He just put his arm around her waist and looked at Tony.

"Angie we have to know what's going on or this will just keep going until one or both of us are dead." Then looking back at Tony he said, "Talk to us Tony because there's quite a pool of blood now. Why were you going to kill your fiancée?"

"I didn't want to damn it. I told her both of you needed to give up on that damn map, but you wouldn't listen to me."

"Then why were you so willing to let her be at my house and even go searching in that field?"

"I needed to know what you were up to and if you found anything."

"So you were using her."

"Yes, now get the damn ambulance."

"Not yet. Why did you try to kill Angie before?"

"I didn't."

"Then you sent somebody to do it so tell us because you're running out of time."

"Yeah okay I sent somebody but they were supposed to just shoot into her apartment."

"Well they did do that and as you know she almost died that night. Now what was that crap about chasing us?"

"It's like I said, it was all to scare you off but you were too stupid to do that one simple thing. All you had to do was give up on that damn map. That's all just get rid of that fucking map."

"Okay here's the last question Tony. Answer it and we'll call the ambulance." Angie couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her own fiancée, the man that she had thought she was in love with was responsible for every bad thing that had happened in her life for the last several weeks.

"Okay Tony, what's in that field that you don't want us to find?"

He hesitated and then said, "A body."

"Don't stop there Tony."

"Joe was a business partner with me and Peter Borlund."

And you killed him why?"

"I didn't kill him, my partner did, but I helped him bury the body."

"How long ago?"

"Almost a year ago. We learned that Joe was going to report us for some things we had done to get the city to buy that chunk of land."

Gil motioned for Angie to call for an ambulance and quit questioning him.





         Chapter Thirteen 





It was close to a hundred degrees down in that pit and as the police questioned them and Tony was hauled off in the ambulance, Gil was getting soaked with sweat. A couple of detectives finally arrived and after a few questions detective Conover said, "You don't seem all that upset about any of this."

"I'm not. Let me remind you that Angie had her apartment shot up and both of us have been followed and chanced It had to stop."

"But you didn't consider calling the police why?"

"And tell them what? We were chased by bad guys? How lame would that sound? We don't...or rather didn't know who they were. We don't or didn't know why we were being chased and we didn't even know anything else beyond they used a mid sized dark colored car. How much effort would you put into a report like that? Where would you start looking? Stake out our houses? For how long? Sorry Detective, but that seemed like an exercise in futility to us."

"Okay we're going to the station and go through all of this step by step. This damn heat out here will kill us if we don't."

"What about my cycle."

"Okay ride it but say with us."

"And Angie?"

"She'll ride with us in the car."

Once at the station Gil and Angie were led to different rooms and were questioned for the next hour. The detectives were walked through everything that happened starting with Gil and Angie meeting at the yard sale and on through Tony's confession.  

Near the end the detective said, "I'm bothered by the fact that you spent a night in a motel room with Tony's fiancée and now he's in the hospital with a life threatening gun shot wound."

"Yeah it looks bad, but nothing happened in that motel room other than us getting our first good night's sleep in quite awhile."

"But nothing happened."

Gil smiled and said, "Detective you've seen Angie. Let's say you spent the night with her and then told your wife nothing happened. Would you expect her to simply take your word for it and not be suspicious at the very least?" The detective just smiled and let the question drop.

"Okay Gil, what are your feelings for her?"

"Let me see if I can really screw things up for myself. I love her. She doesn't know that and I'd rather she didn't know but that's the truth."

"Why don't you want her to know that?"

"Because her life is already so screwed up and tough to deal with. The last thing I want to do is complicate her life even more. I knew she was engaged at the beginning so I never had any intention or expectation that anything would happen, but it did. So now I have to deal with it and leave her alone so she can put her life back together."

"Okay I'll be right back." It was close to ten minutes later when the detective came back and said, "You're free to go and Miss Phillips is waiting for you. We'll talk to the D.A. but I doubt there will be any charges filed against either of you. By the way, did you mean to shoot him in the belly?"

"No damn it, I was aiming for his arm or shoulder but he was moving so fast. Bottom line, I didn't shoot worth a damn."

"You risked getting shot by aiming for his arm?"

"I was behind about a five ton rock so I was safe enough and I had nine more rounds in the clip. I knew my shot would at the very least draw his attention away from Angie so I'd have time for a second if I needed it."

"Well it's not how we're taught but it worked for you."

He found Angie and they held each other and he noticed her eyes were red and puffy. He kissed her cheek and asked her, "How are you holding up?"

"I'll be okay."

"You up to one more ride on my cycle?"

"Yes."

It took them over twenty minutes to get to her house and she invited him in. "Angie is there anything I can do for you?"

"No, I just want to hide and cry for awhile. Gil it's going to take me awhile to sort things out, but I promise I'll call you."

"I understand, but I'll worry about you until I hear from you."

"I still like knowing that you worry about me."

"I do and I will until I can talk to you and know that you're doing okay." She walked him to the door and kissed his cheek and he headed home. He didn't even remember the ride, but when he reached his driveway there was a car sitting there and Renee was just getting into it as he pulled up next to her.

"There you are Dad, where have you been?"

He walked over to her and they shared a hug and he told her, "Honey you won't believe me when I tell you."

"You didn't respond to my e-mails and didn't return my calls so I got worried and came over."

"Got time for something cold and a long story?"

"I have three hours or so."

As they walked to the door he asked, "Who's car?"

"Mom's but she doesn't know I have it."

"Oh boy you're living dangerously."

"I know, but I had to check on you. Does this story involve this Angie that you told me about in that e-mail?"

"Yes and in a big way in fact." He grabbed himself a beer and her a Coke and they dropped on to the couch next to each other and kicked their feet up on the coffee table. He took a long taste of his beer and started his story at the beginning. She forgot about her Coke and watched him intently as he once again told his tale. The part about finding the map intrigued her and she looked over at the cabinet as he continued laying it all out for her step by step. She interrupted him and said, "So both of you thought that you were being pursued because of that map then."

"Yes we were pretty sure of it in fact." When he got to the part about Angie's house being shot at she gasped and stared at him in disbelief. He moved on to him being followed and then on to them on the motorcycle as he described how they split lanes, faced oncoming traffic and all of the weaving and tricks he could come up with as they blazed their way through and out of Columbus. "My God Dad you were her hero."

"Thank you but that's overselling it. Had I not gotten her involved in that damn map in the first place none of that would have happened."

"And you two wouldn't have been together and you couldn't have saved her that day." He smiled and kissed her cheek and then went back to his story. When he came to the motel part of the story she stopped him and said, "Dad I'm almost eighteen, you can be honest with me. Trust me I've heard a lot of stories."

He smiled and said, "I'm sure you have honey, but I'm telling the truth."

"You two really didn't do the dance?"

"We really didn't. We kissed a few times and it was torture for me, but we behaved. You have to remember that she was engaged."

"Yeah so, but you weren't."

"I know but it would have been so wrong and you know that. Besides it was more her strength that saved us than mine." She took his beer from him and drank the last of it as he stared at her as she smiled and put the bottle down.

Getting up she said, "That was totally warm, let me get you a fresh one." 

When she sat back down again he said, "I suppose you smoke too."

"Oh yuck, no of course not and I only have a beer once in awhile." 

"Good because you're under age."

"No kidding, now quit stalling and tell me more."

"You're just looking for some juicy sexy part."

"I am not. Were both of you naked at least?"

"Renee, what a question."

"Well? Here you were with this beautiful woman in the motel and all and you're crazy about her and she must really think a lot of you. You have to get undressed so..." 

"First, how do you know I'm crazy about her?"

"You must be kidding. I can see it and besides don't you remember telling me you are?"

"Okay I am. In fact I'm so in love with her I can't see straight." Renee wiped a tear from his cheek and kissed him before putting her arms around him. "Sorry honey."

"Don't be. I think that's awesome and so sweet."

"It might be under normal circumstances."

"So you were naked in the motel room but you didn't make love."

"Damn you're persistent. No we weren't naked. Sh was in a nightie that she bought at Wal Mart and I was in my briefs."

"How very sexy."

"Okay enough about that." She grabbed his beer and took another long pull on it and handed it back and smiled innocently. "You go home with beer on your breath and you'll not see the light of day for a month."

"So okay but tell me the rest of the story before I have to go."

He looked at her and said, "You haven't been over here in almost two months and right when I need you the most here you are."

"I'm a woman and I have intuition."

"You indeed are a woman." He went on with his story and when she reached for his beer again he pulled it away and smiled as he continued. When he came to the part where he shot Tony her eyes went wide and she held her breath. Dad you didn't."

"Honey I had no choice."

"Are you in trouble now?"

"No I don't think so because it was self defense."

"God this is so sad. You're in love with her but you're here. She's wearing his ring and she's alone and he's in the hospital recovering from you shooting him. That sound like a soap opera. So what happens now?"

"I'm the one that created this mess so it's up to me to get over it somehow. Jim and Sandra tried to warn me that this day would come and it has, so now it's up to me to man up and face it somehow."

"But she must love you at least a little bit."

"Why?"

"Well you saved her, not once but twice. You two have spent hours and hours together and talking and sharing. You've shared a motel room and kissed and I don't know what all. She wouldn't go along with all of that if she didn't really care for you."

"That's a long way from loving me though Renee." Look at it from her point of view. She loved Tony or she wouldn't have accepted his ring. Now she finds out he was part of a murder and that he was using her to get at me and if that wasn't enough he tried to kill her. How can she just turn off her love for him and come running to me? That just isn't realistic. It's going to take her time to sort it all out and I may or may not have any part in her future at some point down the road." He put his beer down on the table and said, "Now enough of this because I want to tell you how great it is to see you again."

"Yeah I'm sorry I'm not coming over more."

"I know you're busy. I'd come see you but...well you know."

"Yeah I know and I don't blame you."

"How are you and your mother getting along?"

"We pretty much operate on a truce arrangement. Our latest go round was about what classes I'd take for my freshman year of college."

"What did you decide?"

"That's it exactly, I'll decide, not her. Besides a lot of my classes are required anyway. It was just the idea that she was trying to dictate and control my future." Then before he could react she grabbed his beer and jumped up and took another good taste of it before handing it back to him. "Mom has reminded me dozens of times that you're not my real father, but I always thought of you that way and always will. You've been the only real father figure I've ever had and that says it all."

"Well if I was a good father I'd give you a whippin' for drinking beer."

"You can't whip me."

"Now never challenge a hero remember that."

"Well I better get home and face the music."

"What will you tell your mother?"

"What else but the truth. I went to the library to look up colleges."

"I won't tell on you if you'll promise to come back one of these days soon."

"I promise. By the way, what is Angie's last name?"

"Phillips why?"

"Just curious. The woman stole my dad's heart and I don't even know what she looks like so I should at least know what her name is. Bye Dad."

"Bye honey, be careful going home."





         Chapter Fourteen





The next couple of weeks were pretty rough for Gil. He hadn't heard from Angie and Renee hadn't been back to see him. His way of coping was to bury himself in his work, but that was wearing thin. His boss was after him to take a vacation to regroup after all the excitement in his life but Gil just wasn't in the mood to go off somewhere by himself.

He'd managed to put Angie in a position in his mind where she was still with him constantly but he could get through his days without falling apart. He had e-mailed Renee and she promised to come see him and with it being Saturday he hoped that would be the day. He heard a small sound like a scooter but he went back to his reading until his door opened and in came Renee. "Hi Dad I'm home."

He jumped up and met her half way and they shared their usual hug and kisses on the cheek. "How did you get here, your mom's car again?"

"Nope a motorbike."

"A what?"

"A motorbike, you know, two wheels and an engine."

"Don't tell me your mother bought that for you."

"Earth do Dad, we're talking about my mother, remember? No I borrowed it and it's pretty cool."

"Those things are dangerous."

Renee laughed and said, "And this from a guy that just blew across part of Ohio hauling a sexy woman behind him on a cycle as he dodged weaved and rode like a mad man. Yes I know they're dangerous so I came by the back roads. What are you drinking?"

"Coffee."

"Great," and she went to the kitchen and came back with cup in hand.

"Since when do you drink coffee?"

"Since like about forever is all. Well at least a couple of years anyway. Want to hear the latest?"

"Will I like it?"

"I hope so. I'm going to Ohio State."

"Really? That's fantastic."

"Yeah well not to Mom. She wanted me to go to Georgia Tech."

"Why Georgia?"

"Who knows. She probably read some propaganda somewhere and fell for the pitch."

"That's great, what will you major in?"

"Probably business and hospital administration. I mean there will always be hospitals right?"

"I'm pretty sure there will be."

Then he heard, "Gil are you decent?" He almost tripped over his own feet as he raced to the door and they fell into each other's arms and held on tightly.

Renee waited for a minute and then walked over and said, "Well don't I feel like a fifth wheel now. I'll see you two later."

"No wait honey I want you to meet Angie."

"Oh we've met Dad."

"You have?"

"Yes, Angie and I had a nice talk a few days ago. I'll see you two soon."

"Renee," Angie said, "Wait a minute because I have something to show Gil and I think you'll even find it interesting. Did he show you the treasure map?"

"No but he told me about it."

"Well I think I've solved the mystery."

"Really? That's so cool, tell us."

Turning to Gil she said, Get it for us honey and I'll show both of you."

Gil stopped and said, "Wait a minute I haven't heard how you two met."

"Dad I called her."

"How, you didn't even have her number."

"Dad you need to get out more or something. You told me her name so I just looked it up in the phone book, called her and then went over to see her."

"But...you tricked me Renee. That's why you asked me for her last name. But...why?"

Angie said, "Oh we can go into that later, I want to tell you how I solved our mystery."

Gil was about half dizzy from all that was happening, but he pulled the map from the oak cabinet and handed it to Angie as she sat down on the couch and Renee dropped down next to her. Gil sat on the other side wishing he could just hold Angie in his arms and talk to her. But he behaved and looked at the map. "Gil honey we've been reading it as land here she lies, which makes no sense. But if you take the L away it's 'and here she lies,' which makes a lot more sense. The so called L is really an arrow pointing to something and that could be what we're looking for."