”“Carol was talking about her. She was surprised she accepted your lunch date. Seems she doesn’t go out all that much with other men. She was en...gaged to a pilot who was killed in Malta in the early days over there. Her father runs one of the intelligence sections at headquarters, quite high up in the pecking order by all accounts.”He left them to it to have an early night.The following afternoon he picked up his uniform and shirts, having been satisfied with the fit. Back in the hotel he had. He died before the breath from his lungs could reach the sliced remnants of his vocal cords.ThadHe woke up alert and listening for the slightest sound or flicker of motion. His adrenaline surged, he was ready to kill or be killed. The dim light from the alarm clock barely lit his side of the bed, leaving the rest of the room a deep black mystery.Thad eased up out of the bed.He stood like a statue, stretching his senses out into the room.There was no movement, no sound ... until there was.“I. There were sheriff's deputies and highway patrolmen. The cops occupied half the bar and the motorcycle guys occupied the other half. Mixed in were a few girls as well.The pub was only half filled but it was more than I expected. Also more than the Brit had expected. Juanita ran out of food about nine o'clock. So I called the pizza restaurant at the plaza and them bring several pizzas to the pub.Juanita left before I closed the pub, so I was alone when there was a knock on the door. "Are you. ”I nodded and he took little Penelope with him when he left. It was much later when I got home. I walked into my apartment to see a wooden pistol case on the small dinning table. When I opened it, it was to see an engraved Kimber 45. I smiled and closed the box as I heard a knock on the door. When I opened the door it was to see Megan.She smiled, “I wanted to thank you Alex.”I shook my head, “that is not necessary.”She looked down, “Penelope is all I have.”I grinned, “she is special. I made.