Charlie was in the middle of hugging the boy when he felt Brad stiffen as the headlights from a car swept across the living room wall. Charlie released the boy and shook his head. "I wondered when he'd show up. You let me do all the talking, Brad. Understand?"

"Who is it?" Brad said.

"Deputy Lyle Dumbshit. He knows you've been out here and he probably wonders why. He'll be full of questions but won't get any answers from us. He's come to the wrong place tonight and I believe we call that trespassing in this county."

Charlie got up and left Brad in front of the television. They heard the car door slam and then steps coming up on the porch.

"Good evening, Lyle," Charlie said before the man stepped into the porch light.

"Hello, Charlie," Lyle said as he opened the screen door and walked right in.

Lyle looked around the room, his eyes stopping at Brad sitting on the couch.

"You haven't met my cousin Brad," Charlie said. "Brad this is Deputy Lyle Dennison. What brings you out here tonight, Lyle?"

"Heard you were off to Florida this weekend, going on vacation?"

"Bobby Lee also should have told you that I was taking Brad down to his brother's house in Jacksonville, but I don't suppose he did or you would have had that answer already."

"I didn't know who the boy was, Charlie. You know I saw him yesterday getting off the interstate and thought he was hitching rides."

"No you were wrong about that. His sister called me on Monday and said she was going to drop him off here on her way to Mobile. Said I'd be sitting down at Bobby Lee's like I usually do this time of year. You just missed her because I saw you pull up right after we got back from lunch."

"My mistake, I thought the boy was doing something wrong," Lyle said.

"Brad? Boy's never been a lick of trouble. Is that all you need from us tonight, Lyle?"

Lyle shifted his gun belt a few inches higher. Stalling for time, Charlie thought. Lyle knew he wasn't welcome here but Charlie had never felt like pushing the man out the door as much as he did right then. The look in Lyle's eyes as the man gazed steadily at Brad almost made Charlie angry. Lyle suddenly seemed self conscious and looked back over at Charlie.

"Mrs. Winters said she heard some gunshots up here this afternoon."

"Yes, she sure did. I was showing Brad what I do when varmints come sneaking up through the orchard to steal my peaches."

"You don't fire off guns very often, Charlie."

"Well, I'm sorry if upset her but I can shoot at anything on my property any time I want."

"Yes you can," Lyle said. "Well, that seems to cover it so I'll say good night."

Lyle looked over at Brad once again and then turned for the door.

"Say hello to Janice for me when you get home," Charlie said. Janice Dennison was one of Charlie's good customers. He wondered if things were right between her and Lyle.

"I will. You have a safe trip," Lyle said as he walked back across the porch towards his car. Charlie watched from the doorway until Lyle started the engine and drove back down the driveway towards the highway.

"What was that all about?" Brad asked. The poor boy had sat quiet as a stone the whole time.

"Fishing expedition, that's all," Charlie said. "He just wanted to see what you were all about. Secretly Lyle isn't all that straight about his sexual feelings."

"Him? Aw, shit. How do you know that?"

Charlie sat back down on the couch and put his arm around the boy. "Long story but I have him by the short hairs. I know some things about him that would get him in a whole lot of trouble. But since you need to know, Lyle and I were boyfriends back in high school."

"You and ... him?" Brad said.

"We all make mistakes and back then I was pretty dumb about stuff like that. I imagine if you decide to live here then he'll have even more questions. If he asks too many then I imagine I'll have to deal with it. But don't worry about him, Brad, he's my problem."

"Poor Lyle, he doesn't know about your past in the military, does he?" Brad asked.

"Not a bit of it," Charlie said with a smile. "And what he doesn't know will hurt him if he fucks with me."

"I'm glad I'm on your side."

"And I'm just glad you're here. What say we just go to bed a little early tonight...and sleep," Charlie suggested.

"Yeah, I'm tired."

Charlie shut out the lights and they climbed the stairs together.

"You sleeping in my bed again tonight?" Charlie asked.

"Am I welcome?"

"Only if you behave."

They stripped down and crawled in under the sheets. Brad slithered close and laid his head on Charlie's chest.

"Have you ever loved someone, Charlie?"

A moment of silence. "Besides my parents, no, I don't think I have."

"Could you love me, Charlie?"

This time the silence seemed to go on forever. "In many ways I already do, Brad."

It was a moment before Charlie realized the boy was crying. He slipped an arm around Brad's neck and pulled him close. Sobs erupted from the boy's mouth and Charlie felt tears fall on his chest and neck. His arms encircled Brad's body and he began to rock back and forth. Before he knew it Charlie started to sing softly under his breath. "Hush little baby don't you cry, mommas gonna bake you a cherry pie..."

Brad pushed himself up on his elbows and Charlie could feel the boy's eyes looking down on him. "I love you, Charlie." With that Brad leaned down and kissed Charlie on the lips. It lasted only seconds but Charlie felt that this was the first true feeling Brad had allowed him without all the pretense and story telling.

Without saying another word, Charlie rolled the boy over on his stomach. His hands ran slowly up and down the boy's back, his fingers softly kneading flesh and muscle. In slowly descending circles he rubbed up and down the boy's spine, feeling the young body relax and melt into the mattress. He knew his hands were rough but he tried to be as gentle as he could. His reward was the sound of Brad's rhythmic breathing. The boy had fallen asleep.

The distant cock crow awoke him just before dawn. Brad had a leg thrown across Charlie's thigh and was scrunched in real tight. He had never allowed anyone to invade his space so totally, but evidentially this was the exception.

Having thought that, Charlie wondered if he was doing the right thing by including Brad in the rescue attempt. What if the boy got hurt? He would never forgive himself if something bad happened to Brad during the operation. He'd never forgiven himself for the loss of those five men in his squad even though he knew their Intel was to blame.

Charlie went through his morning routine of coffee and a cold shower. He put on a pair of shorts and then backed the Cadillac out of the shed and loaded up the supplies. Climbing back up the stairs he went down the hall and into his old room. Maybe he should take some fire power, but what if? Supposing they managed to snag Danny and get away, wouldn't do to get busted and face a weapons charge on the way home.

Instead he opened the bureau drawer and took out a long slender box. Inside were a row of dull black throwing knives and his switchblade. Been a while, old friends, he thought. Wonder if I still have the skill? He carried the box downstairs and out onto the porch where he set it on the couch.

Taking out the four throwing knives he sighted in on the furthest support post about fifteen feet away. With a quick flick of his wrist Charlie made his throw. Thunk, the knife stood quivering in the center of the post. Thunk, thunk, thunk, the other three lay in a row beside the first. He smiled to himself, guess it's something you don't forget He put the switchblade in his pocket and added the small box to the load in the trunk of the car.

Carrying his coffee upstairs, Charlie looked forward to waking the boy. But Brad looked so peaceful it was a shame to disturb his slumber. If only he knew what Danny looked like he'd go snatch the kid himself and leave Brad here. Leaning over he gave the boy a kiss on the forehead.

"Huh?" Brad said. "Oh, is it morning?"

"Sun is up and we should be going soon," Charlie replied.

"Ok, I'm awake."

Brad slid from the bed and Charlie watched the boy pad across the floor towards the bathroom. The sound of the boy pissing in the toilet brought back memories of his brother. Back when, they had stood side by side and peed in the bowl while Charlie stared in awe at his brother's huge cock. The memory faded as Brad returned.

"You didn't flush, butt brain," Charlie said.

"Oops," Brad said and turned back to hit the handle. He started back towards the bed but Charlie made the intercept halfway across the room.

"Go get yourself a shower and get dressed, you can sleep in the car once we're on the road."

"Yes, sir," Brad said and snapped out a rigid salute.

Charlie laughed, "Wouldn't be so funny except your cock is still saluting too."

Brad blushed and covered his crotch as he scurried out the door and down the stairs. Charlie went around the upstairs making sure everything was locked up before taking the stairs two at a time. He could hear the water running in the pipes as Brad showered.

He put the padded box of flash-bangs in a small gym bag and placed them on the floor behind the driver's seat. It was too hot in the trunk and he didn't want the smoke generating chemicals to melt. It would be above ninety again today, good thing the Caddy had air conditioning.

He stepped out on the porch and watched Brad standing under the spray. If Danny headed back north what would Brad do?

"Come on, boy," he yelled. And then with a little smile he waved at nothing, "Oh, hello there, Mrs. Winters."

Brad froze under the spray, his hands flew to cover his crotch and he turned his head to look where Charlie was gazing but nothing was there. He turned back to see Charlie busting with laughter.

"Sure faked you out," Charlie laughed.

"Oh, you bastard. I'll get you for that," Brad said turning off the water.

"You'll try anyway," Charlie said. "Get some clothes on. We'll catch some breakfast on the road later."

Interstate 95 was not one of Charlie's favorite roads. Heavy traffic was usually filled with all kinds of people. Most of them Charlie figured had never learned to drive properly. The ones to watch out for had New York plates and there were two kinds of those. First there were the drug dealers on their way south to restock their businesses, they were always in a hurry and that meant speeds of over ninety miles an hour.

Second were the elderly folks who looked like they had not been behind the wheel in years. A couple of them doing forty, often with a huge camper in tow, would back up traffic for miles. It was funny though. The dealers drove like little old ladies when they went back north, as if the cops weren't onto that by now.

The Caddy purred as they sped south passing a sign that said Jacksonville 90 miles ahead. As they crossed the Altamaha River, Charlie figured Bobby Lee was probably just opening the gas station and Sally was making the morning coffee for her first customers. Charlie knew he should be selling peaches today instead of chasing after some fool boy in Miami. But life didn't always allow him to do what he should be doing.

He looked over at Brad, the boy's head leaning against the window, eyes closed. I'm here and for a damn good reason, Charlie told himself. Danny needed their help or he just might end up broken and battered on the bottom of a dumpster. Both boys were throwaway kids, abandoned by parents and overlooked by a society that should have been nurturing them.

Funny, Charlie thought, I don't feel like a white knight in shining armor but that was the role he found himself playing. Despite all the things Brad said about love, he could be saying those things just to keep me involved. The proof of those feelings lay in Miami and Charlie knew the truth would come out before the trip was over.

By nine o'clock they were approaching the northern outskirts of Jacksonville. Charlie woke the boy and decided they had better stop for breakfast. A line of truckers were headed off the next exit and Charlie followed. You could always depend on a trucker to lead you to the nearest diner with halfway decent food at a reasonable price.

Brad ate a huge breakfast in record time as only a young appetite would allow. Charlie had a small omelet and coffee, he didn't like a lot of food in his stomach when he drove. They were back on the road by ten-thirty.

"We'll be in Miami by dark and we can find a motel near the highway," Charlie told the boy. "I suppose all we need is a phone book to get the address of the Noble building."

"So tomorrow you say we ride around and check things out? What if we don't see him, Charlie, how long can we wait?"

"If he doesn't come out on Sunday we'll go back on Monday. After that we will have to switch to plan B, we go in after him."

"How can we do that?" Brad asked.

"I'll get you a Boy Scout uniform and you can tell the people in there that you're selling cookies."

"Boy Scouts don't sell cookies, Girl Scouts do."

"Well, if you came to my door in a tight uniform I'd buy all your cookies," Charlie laughed.

Brad punched him in the arm. "Very funny."

"Don't hit me when I'm driving," Charlie said.

They traded stories to pass the time. The signs came and went, Crescent Beach, Flagler Beach, and Daytona. "Have you ever been to Miami, Charlie?"

"A long time ago, when I was a piss ant. My father took me and my brother Brian down to Key West. It was supposed to be a week of fishing but we ended up scared out of our minds. That was the week a big old hurricane came ripping up from Cuba and damn near tore the island apart.

"I remember the Navy guys riding around with bullhorns saying everyone had to evacuate the island and head north but my pop wasn't about to leave. The Navy and police finally searched the hotel and made us get on a big truck. It was too late to drive back to the mainland by then so we ended up in a bunker at the Navy base.

"I remember the howl of the wind as it tore up the island and then it became completely silent. Pop said we could leave but a policeman said it was only the eye of the storm and there was worse to come. Sure enough an hour later the storm was back and the bunker got flooded."

"I bet you thought you were going to die," Brad said.

"That's about what I felt, all right. But I slept through the end of the storm and the following morning they let us out of the shelter. You can't imagine the damage. There were trees lying in piles, great big fishing boats tossed up on the island and many of the houses were simply piles of wood and brick. Our car was parked under the hotel but it had all the windows broken out and the inside had been almost cleaned out by the sand and water."

"How did you get home?"

"The Army brought in medics and rescue teams because there were lots of injured folks. They loaded us all on trucks and drove us up to Miami where we took the bus home. Pop wanted to go back and get the car but it was a total wreck. He ended up buying that pickup I drive now.

"I was really scared but I remember how brave Brian was. I think that's when he fell in love with the Marines and why he eventually joined up."

"But he was killed in Vietnam," Brad said.

"Him and a lot of others. But Brian studied to be a medic because he wanted to help people. He was on his second tour when the ambulance he was in drove over a mine in the road killing everyone. He had two Purple Hearts and a Distinguished Service Medal so they gave him a military funeral up in Savannah. "

"I'm sorry," Brad said.

"So am I," Charlie said. "He was a knuckle head and Pop could never understand why Brian didn't want to be a peach farmer. But I knew why he wanted more than that. Stony Creek was too small for him to live in comfortably. The Marines got him out and showed him a little of the world before he died. Brian was a happy man when his life ended. He wrote me all about the places he'd seen and how wonderful the people were."

Charlie sighed. "I think he might have stayed over there after he got discharged. I saw a bit of Thailand and the Philippines while I was in the Marines. The people were so friendly, so beautiful and their culture so rich. You need to see the world too Brad."

"I'm getting there. See, I've never been to Florida before."

"Flat, sand, palm trees...next," Charlie said.

They both paused as they passed a sign that said Miami 200 miles.

"About four hours and we'll be there," Charlie said.

"I'm scared," Brad said," what if we can't get Danny away from them?"

"We could always go to the cops but then you guys will end up with the Child Welfare people once they find out who you are. Have faith, Brad, we can do this."

"Easy, huh?"

"No, I never said it would be easy. But we'll practice our moves and we have one really big thing on our side, the element of surprise."

They stopped for a late lunch and some gas. Brad wasn't eating much now. Charlie knew he was getting more nervous as they approached the target. With no training Brad would be a liability unless they did several dry runs. Seeing a Walgreen's drugstore across the street he decided it was the right time to begin.

He paid for the gas and drove them across the street and parked beside the store.

"Look, there's a back door over there by the dumpster. We'll go inside and figure out how to get to it and then I'll run you through a mock simulation of the operation, ok?"

"A practice, right?"

"Yeah. We'll be coming out that door so you know what will happen. In the real thing it will be you and Danny, I will use the front door for cover. Ok, let's do it."

They walked through the front door of the Walgreen's and slowly worked their way back towards the rear of the store. Charlie stopped now and then and picked up an item, looked at it and put it down. Brad looked around for the employees and spotted several cameras in the ceiling.

"They have cameras, Charlie. Won't they get our pictures?"

"Sure, but you'll be wearing a baseball cap and I'll have a hat and mustache. Trust me; it won't look like us on the video."

They moved past the pharmacy and Brad saw a door marked Employees Only leading into the back. Charlie checked out the angles from the front of the store and the pharmacy. Someone might see them go through that door but by the time an employee could follow they would be outside. Charlie imagined that most of these stores had similar layouts. And he knew the outside door would have an alarm.

He led Brad back to the front of the store. "Ok, let's begin. We'll walk together down the cosmetics aisle. See that lady, pretend she is the guard. Danny won't be far away from the guard, not if he's good at his job."

They approached the lady and Brad smiled at her. "Excuse me," he said as they passed her. "Now," Charlie said, "we're between the guard and Danny and this is the critical point. If the guy becomes suspicious we'll have a more difficult time because he'll crowd us and you won't be able to talk to Danny.

"You need to give Danny a few words about what we plan to do. You might say something like "Charlie will take out the guard, you follow me and we'll go out the back door." This way he knows the guard won't hurt him and he knows you're going to lead him safely out of here. If he hesitates we will have problems."

"What about the flash-bang?"

"I'll have two and so will you. Anyone tries to stop you going out the back door you can use one. I may drop one on the guard before I go."

"What if he pulls his gun?" Brad asked.

"My choice, I'll play it the way it happens. If he points it at you he won't know what hit him. If he points it at me...well, he won't get the chance to point it at anybody, I assure you."

"What's the worst that could happen?" Brad asked.

"Good question, we need to think about that. Worst is that we never get near the guard before he knows something is happening. Say Danny sees you and says, "Hi Brad, come to rescue me?" That would be a major problem."

"Danny isn't that stupid."

"Hope so. But if the guard starts to pull his gun while we're still too far away I have a solution but it's messy."

"I won't ask," Brad said. "What if there is more than one guard?"

"For one kid I think they will have a single guard in the store. There may be a backup outside. I would put a backup outside if it was my operation. Him I take out on the way out."

Brad gasped. "Take him out, like kill him?"

"Too dramatic, I'll just disable him and then walk around the corner and drive you boys back to Georgia. We can do this Brad. We'll go over it at the motel and again tomorrow if we have time. Practice will make us move together, sort of like good sex."

"Oh, when do we get to practice that, Charlie? You still think I'm too young."

"Yep, but you're getting older by the minute, kiddo."

Brad smiled and went back to looking at the road. They had been listening to FM stations throughout the trip and suddenly there was salsa music on the airwaves.

"Must be getting close," Charlie observed.

"You know anything about Cuban culture?" Brad asked.

"They hate gays, their food is too hot and they smoke damn cigars. What else is there to know?"

"What about Puerto Ricans?"

"No, not a thing," Charlie said.

"Danny is Puerto Rican. Light skinned boy but he has that Latin look too."

"Does he speak Spanish?"

"Very well, he was trying to teach me," Brad said.

Charlie smiled. "That's good intelligence, Brad. How well do you know Spanish?"

"Enough to say screw your momma. I was a failure, sorry."

"I speak Spanish pretty well, learned it in the Marines, thought it might come in handy," Charlie said.

"But Danny doesn't know you?"

"True, but it may give us one more advantage."

They passed a sign for West Palm Beach. Miami was only seventy miles away. Brad tuned out the salsa music and found an oldies station.

"You like this old stuff?" he said, referring to the Led Zeppelin tune they were playing.

"Some of it, what do you listen to?"

"Rap, hip-hop and sometimes disco."

"Ugh, that stuff isn't music to my ears. But you can listen to it if you want."

And so they rolled into North Miami about an hour before sunset. The Caddy was filled with hip-hop rhythms but nothing Charlie could relate to. They got as far south as Hallandale before Charlie decided to call it quits. This was far enough for one day. If The Noble was far enough away they would make this the base of operations. Charlie wanted a little distance from the target in case they had to hide.

If they grabbed Danny late in the day he would run a hundred miles back up the coast before they stopped. If things went bad then the cops would become involved and one guy with two boys would be obvious to just about anyone.

They got off the highway and started seeing the motel signs. One was as good as the others so Charlie picked the one with the fewest cars in the lot. He checked them in using his own name and put Brad down as his son. It didn't matter, the guy behind the counter just wanted money. Charlie paid for three nights in advance. This might take a while and if it didn't they could always walk away and mail the key back. Brad asked where they might find a good dinner. The guy said most of the places nearby were ok, but he favored the Chinese restaurant across the street.

They settled on the Chinese because Brad said he liked the food but never got much of it. Charlie ordered for the both of them and they settled back.

"Have you ever been anywhere outside of New York before?" Charlie asked.

"I went to Atlantic City once, with one of Taylor's friends. The guy was pretty cool, he didn't try and get in my pants if that's what you wonder."

"Did you go places with guys very often?"

"You mean was I a pro out to make a few bucks?"

"I wouldn't be that crude, Brad. You can tell me what you want about your life. I know it's been hard. I promise never to pass judgment on what you had to do to survive."

"I did some things I ain't proud of, ok. But I never had unsafe sex, I'm not crazy and there is just too much shit going around up there."

"Do you want to change the subject? We don't have to talk about this," Charlie said.

"Sorry you asked? But I trust you now, Charlie. I won't tell you any more lies about my life."

"I'm not sure I want to hear any more right now."

"How did you know you were gay?" Brad asked.

"I don't suppose this will help my cause but I had sex with an older man when I was twelve. I didn't have to, he didn't force me. It just seemed like something I wanted to do. But that experience and the ones I've had since then have been meaningless. I may have been out there looking for a relationship but nothing happened."

"I don't know why, you're a handsome man, Charlie."

"Thanks, but unfortunately the outside isn't a reflection of the inside. My head was pretty screwed up after my experience with the Marines. It's taken a long time to come back from that horror. Being just a plain old peach farmer has been good therapy."

"And then I got you into this, I'm sorry," Brad said.

"No, I got me into this, kiddo. Being able to help Danny, and you for that matter, is just what I needed to bring my life back in focus. I'm not sorry about that."

I'm only sorry that I might get you in over your head, Charlie thought.

Their food came and Brad was amazed at Charlie's dexterity with a pair of chopsticks. He tried to teach the boy but after spilling food on the table Brad ended up with a fork. After their meal the waitress brought them the bill and two fortune cookies.

"Do we dare look at what they say, Charlie?"

"These things come in a box of a thousand. There are probably only two dozen different fortunes in each box so what's the difference? Don't tell me you're superstitious after all you've been through."

"You don't believe in fortunes?" Brad asked.

"A man makes his own fortune, my friend, to believe anything else is nonsense."

"Then I won't touch them," Brad said.

Back in the motel room they sat on one of the beds and looked through the phone book for the address of the Noble. They found it in the white pages, the address in a part of town known as Coral Gables. Charlie went back up to the desk clerk and asked for a map of the city.

The Noble didn't seem to be more than ten miles away on the southern side of the city. Tomorrow they would scout out the building and the surrounding area. Shopping centers and drugstores were likely places for Danny to shop. Charlie didn't think they would bother to take the boy far from the apartment.

They watched television for a while and then went to bed. Sleeping arrangements as usual with Brad cuddled up in Charlie's arms. For now just having a routine like this with Brad provided comfort.

Cars came and went in the parking lot, most of them waking Charlie who was a light sleeper under such circumstances. Brad slept like a log, his body in constant contact with Charlie's. A sign of trust and a need for security. He couldn't be safer, Charlie thought. Let's just hope it stays that way.

The following morning they had breakfast at the Waffle House and headed down into Miami. Finding Coral Gables was easy; all they did was follow the signs. Brad traced their journey on the map.

"We just passed the Noble, or at least the back of it," Brad said.

"I saw that little sign too. We'll go down and over a block and drive past the front. Charlie turned twice and they were headed back to the apartment building. Fortunately they caught a stoplight at the corner and got a good look at the building.

A circular drive led up to the entrance of the three story building covered in tan stucco. A few balconies were strung along the upper story. Cars were parked in the drive and as they watched a man emerged from the building. Charlie noted that there were no security guards outside but there might be one in the lobby.

The light turned green and Charlie watched the same man go back to the door and swipe a plastic card in a box beside the door. The place had a key card system and that was good. Systems like that made people feel secure; there would be no guard inside the lobby.

They turned at the end of the block and followed a narrow side street to the rear of the Noble. A trash dumpster sat in an alcove behind the building. There was a narrow loading dock which might accommodate a small truck but not much more. Charlie looked at the cars parked in a lot behind the building. No guard there either but then he saw several cameras perched high up on the wall.

Cameras meant some sort of security service, although this could be a remote with a central watch station at a distant location. There was only one way to find out. Charlie drove down a few blocks and turned right. He saw a gas station and grocery store on the left and pulled into the parking lot.

"Wait here, I'll be right back," Charlie said.

He went in the grocery and returned a few moments later with a handful of sale flyers. Turning the Caddy around, Charlie drove them back towards the parking lot of the Noble. He pulled over across the street and out of sight of the cameras.

"I'm going to check out the license plates of those cars. You stay here and watch the building. We can't afford to have them see you anyway. Remember, they know your face but not mine."

"Be careful," Brad said.

Charlie took off his shirt and left it in the car. Wearing shorts and no shirt he hoped he looked like a local guy just handing out flyers. He started at the far end of the lot, stepping over the chain that surrounded the cars. He slid the flyers under the windshield wipers of every car he passed, looking at the plates as he went. Most of them were Florida but a few New Jersey and two New York. Mentally he made a list of make, model and color.

As he reached the end of the row a man came out on the dock behind the building with a trash can in his hands. He dumped the can and then saw Charlie.

"Hey," the guy yelled as he hopped down from the dock and quickly walked towards Charlie. "Hey, you can't be putting papers on these cars, didn't they tell you that?"

The man was of Latin extraction, possibly even Cuban. But Charlie saw from the uniform that he was a custodian and not security. Putting on his best smile, Charlie apologized in Spanish. The custodian immediately returned the smile and resumed the conversation in his native tongue.

Charlie said no one had told him to stay out of this parking lot, but these were only grocery store sales flyers. The man laughed and said did Charlie think these people did their own shopping? No, they sent their maids to the store, these were rich people.

Charlie agreed, rich people didn't know how to shop and that's why guys like you and me have jobs. The custodian laughed and agreed.

Charlie then asked if these folks lived here year round because he saw license plates from up north. Oh some do, the man said, but often they come down for the winter or retire here. I see plates from New York, they probably didn't drive down very often, Charlie said, pointing at the Lincoln with the NY plates. Him? That's Mr. Lamont's car, he goes back and forth, brings his boys down here but leaves the wife at home.

What kind of man would leave the Mrs. at home and bring only the children, Charlie wanted to know. Not children, the custodian said, boys as in bodyguards, he's got two of them. Oh, a big shot, Charlie said. Exactly, but I think he's funny, you know, the custodian said.

The guy looked around and glanced up at the camera overhead. He brought a couple of young boys too, I think they are queers. Queers? That's disgusting, Charlie said, his wife should cut his balls off. They laughed and the custodian reminded Charlie about the flyers. I'll take them all back, don't want to get you in trouble, Charlie said. They shook hands and Charlie retrieved every single flyer.

As the custodian went back in the building Charlie ducked across the street and hopped in the Caddy.

"Who was that guy?" Brad asked.

"A fountain of information, he was the custodian and he knows entirely too much. It seems our man Taylor is actually Mr. Lamont and he has two bodyguards. He brought two boys with him. At least we can be fairly certain Danny is one of them."

"Another boy? I didn't think of that."

"If he's up there making movies he'd need another boy, Brad. This complicates things. What if Danny goes out and the other boy comes with him? I would guess if there are two boys then there will be two guards. I don't like those odds."

"Does that mean we can't do this?" Brad asked.

"No, I don't give up that easy. It's just that the harder it is the more likely that someone will get hurt unless we take precautions. We may end up going for the save and then have to abort if the odds are against us."

They drove around the block and went past the Noble again. Charlie kept looking up at the windows hoping he might see something that identified where the boys were. He steered the Caddy around and around the Noble in ever widening circles looking for likely stores where Danny might shop.

He ruled out the grocery but then saw the Eckerd Drugs in the next block. A block away from there and across the street was a Walgreen's drug store and a video rental store. Going out four blocks they passed an ice cream store and on the other end of the block a trendy coffee shop.

"Danny is a coffee addict," Brad said.

"Oh yeah? Does he eat ice cream too?" Charlie asked.

"Hardy ever, he has sensitive teeth," Brad said.

"Good to know. Coffee shop a possibility, two drugstores and maybe a video store. They may travel further away but let's start with these."

One by one they checked the stores for exits and layout. The drugstores were about the same as the one they scoped out the other day. The video store had an exit door on the side near an alley but the door was right inside the store and not in a back room. The coffee shop had three exits, the one in the rear opened out into an alley.

"None of them seem to be a problem, although the video store will be the most exposed for you and Danny to escape. Nice thing is that the silly alarm they have on the door won't sound off until thirty seconds after you're out the door. I vote the drugstores as the easiest, keep your fingers crossed."

It was almost noon when they cruised back by the Noble.

"Wonder if they have a swimming pool," Brad asked. "Danny and I used to go swimming in the river, he likes it a lot."

"Really? Thanks for the suggestion. It gives me an idea."

He'd seen the sign for the pool supply store back out by the highway north to Hallandale. Charlie pulled into the lot beside the store.

"Back in a minute," Charlie said.

"I want to come with you this time. I'm tired of sitting in the car."

Charlie smiled and figured he had been dragging the boy around. "Come on then."

The supply store had everything Charlie wanted. He bought a pool test kit, complete with chemicals, a large thermometer and a log book for recording the data. Brad looked at him funny but Charlie decided to explain later. On the off chance that Brad might be of help he bought the boy a bathing suit, mask and a snorkel.

Brad was virtually jumping up and down by the time Charlie paid for the items and headed back to the Caddy.

"What are we doing?" Brad said.

"We're going to the pool at the Noble because I think I know where it is," Charlie said.

"Are you crazy, what if they see us?"

"See me you mean, you will be wearing that mask. I on the other hand will be there to test the pool water and record it in my little book. Here, take the book and open it to a page in the middle."

He had Brad label the columns and fill in some phony results. Charlie knew all this stuff because he'd been a lifeguard at school when he was seventeen. The basic chlorine and PH balance of a pool were critical to destroy bacteria without burning up the eyes and skin of the swimmers.

Brad slipped into the bathing suit and tried on the mask. "I never used one of these things before, Charlie."

"Then try not to go in the water, or at least don't go under the water. The pool has to be behind that ten foot wall running alongside the parking lot. It joins the building on the second floor but I'll bet there is an outside staircase that will take us inside from the alley."

"And what do you hope to find in there?"

"Danny and maybe the other boy too," Charlie said.

"Won't the bodyguard be with them?"

"Probably, but this is only recon, no snatching Danny today. If the guard isn't paying attention I want you to let Danny know that you're here. Just a few words, that's all. But more important, he needs to go shopping tomorrow if he can, say at the Walgreen's. Tell him to buy shampoo or something. Just keep the conversation short and if possible avoid the other boy, he might give us away."

"This is dangerous, what if they discover us?"

"I'll bet there is no lifeguard at the pool. Someone coming in to test the water has to be normal. The law requires them to keep records."

"Ok, we'll try it. If Danny isn't there, then..."

"We split fast, ok? I don't know Danny but I imagine if there are two boys at the pool and one of them looks a little bit Puerto Rican then that's him. Whatever you do don't get into a long discussion, just find out if he has any shopping plans and if not then send him to the Walgreen's tomorrow. Got it?"

"Yes, sir, " Brad said, and again he saluted which knocked the snorkel off his head.

They parked on the street half a block away. Charlie left on his white T-shirt and pushed the record book in his back pocket. He carried the test kit in its box along with the thermometer. They approached the high wall from the blind side of the cameras looking out over the parking lot. Sure enough there was a metal door in the wall but it was locked.

"Now what?" Brad said.

"This," Charlie said as he slipped a credit card into the latch and popped the door open. He jingled his key ring as if he had just used it to open the door but no one was inside. Stairs led up into the sunlight and an open door on the right gave them a view of the filter room. Charlie took a quick glance in the doorway but the room was empty. Beside the door was a clipboard on a hook and Charlie lifted it off. Titan Pool Services it said across the top. Cool, he just became their newest employee. The last date of record was the previous Monday so they were clear to move along. Tucking the clipboard under his arm he turned to Brad.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Sure," Brad said as he pulled the mask down over his face.

They climbed the stairs and Charlie cautiously stuck his head up above the level of the pool deck. The place was deserted, not a soul in sight. Brad let out his breath in a big sigh.

"Waste of time," he said.

"Nothing is a waste if it gives you information," Charlie said.

"So we leave?"

"No, now I test the water and you go swim for a bit. The scenario might change in five minutes."

Charlie took out the record book and wrote in the day's date. Brad had written Noble across the top. Brad walked over to the edge of the pool and dropped in with very little splash. Charlie watched Brad float across, the mask under water but the snorkel dangling beside his head.

Charlie noted there were no cameras pointing down on them here. Stupid, what if someone was drowning? He saw the sign saying tenants swam at their own risk. Ok, so they don't care. He looked across the deck to the building and saw a glass door that let into the second floor. Bet that was locked and then he saw the little card access pad beside the door.

Charlie took his time testing the water for chlorine and PH balance. He lowered the thermometer on its string into the deep end and let it stay there for the required five minutes. He made note of everything in his log.

He walked around the pool with the clipboard in hand and checked the life preserver hung on the wall. He started looking in the skimmers and was just replacing the lid when a man stepped out onto the deck from the hallway. The guy looked at Charlie and stopped.

Charlie went on to the next skimmer and pulled the basket out. He took the basket over to a trash can and dumped a few bugs into the bin. Then he slowly walked back and replaced the basket before shutting the lid.

The man at the door watched him and then shrugged. Charlie must have seemed to be what he was supposed to be. The guy opened the door and beckoned to someone and Charlie held his breath.

Brad had seen the man too and was looking up, his face halfway below the water. When the two boys emerged from the building Brad turned away from them but Charlie didn't.

Here was the target and his buddy. Charlie knew they would have the dilemma of deciding if they should take both boys. They knew nothing about the other kid and there didn't seem to be enough time or a safe method of finding out about him.

Danny was easy to spot. He was the cute one in the tight bathing suit. The other one looked older, maybe eighteen. The guard didn't sit down. Instead he came over to where Charlie was inspecting the bolts clamping down the short diving board.

"You new here?" The guy asked. His New York accent thick with thuggish overtones.

"Brian Adams," Charlie said," Titan Pool Service."

"That your kid?"

"Yeah, I bring him along to check out the bottom. We get a lot of complaints about broken glass in pools, really dangerous. Those your boys?"

"Naw, I'm just the babysitter," the guy said.

Danny and the other boy had entered the water and were swimming around. Brad was working his way over closer to Danny and Charlie needed to distract the bodyguard.

"I noticed someone left the door open downstairs, not a good idea with the crime rate in this town."

"Really?" the guard said. "I'll tell Manuel right now, he should check it out, maybe the lock is broken."

The guard walked over to a phone set into the wall by the glass door to the building. Charlie watched him dial a number. He heard Brad talking too. He chanced a glance over at the pool and saw Brad and Danny in an excited conversation. The other boy was pulling his way along the wall towards the deep end. Charlie knew from the look on the poor boy's face that the kid didn't know how to swim. Danny and Brad were treading water in the deep end; the other boy wouldn't be able to reach them.

Charlie watched the guard in conversation with someone then he stopped talking to listen. The phone had his entire concentration, sloppy guard work. Charlie looked back over at Brad and Danny as they touched each other and then Brad swam to the side of the pool. He looked up at Charlie and nodded. It was time to go.

Charlie wrote something on the clipboard and then waved to the guard who was still on the phone. The guy waved back as Brad got out of the pool and headed for the stairs with Charlie right on his heels.

Charlie was halfway down the stairs when he heard the guard yell, "Hey." He looked back up and saw the guy standing at the top.

"Thanks for telling me about the door. Manuel says he's going to fix it now."

"Good," Charlie said," can't be too careful."

He reached the bottom of the stairs and reached into the filter room to hang the clipboard back up. He waved at the guard as he and Brad went through the door which securely locked behind them. Manuel would be trying to figure out what the pool guy had been talking about, the door was fine.

They hurried back to the car where Charlie cursed for not bring a towel for Brad to use. He took off his shirt and made the boy sit on it while they drove back to the motel.

"Ok," Charlie said once they were a block away," spill the beans."

"Danny was so glad to see me he almost yelled out loud. I told him we were here to rescue him, tomorrow if possible. I said we would make the rescue when they went shopping. He said he didn't need anything. I said he had to go to the Walgreen's tomorrow, we would get him there. He said he would pour out his shampoo bottle and tell the guard he needed some."

"Great, when will they go?"

"He says they just sit around on Sunday mornings while Lamont goes to church. Imagine a fucker like that at church? Danny says the other boy will probably go with Lamont like he did last Sunday. I think that kid is Lamont's latest boyfriend.

"The bad news is that there will be two guards. One stays in the car and the other sticks to Danny like glue. I don't know which one will go inside with him? The guards like to go early so we had better be there when the store opens. Nine o'clock, wasn't it?"

"No, it said ten o'clock on Sunday, nine during the week," Charlie said.

"Sorry."

"You did good Brad, in fact you did great."

"But two guards, Charlie, two."

"The inside guy will probably get hurt the worst just to make sure you get away clean. I may be able to avoid the outside guy."

"What if they both come inside?"

"We abort. Remember, one guy has seen me already and I have to consider your safety."

"So we go when the store opens?"

"I plan to be their first customer. We'll be inside when they arrive. Safest place to be since the outside guy won't know we're there."

"I hope it works. I would hate to walk away and leave Danny," Brad said.

"Me too. Now how about we go to the Walgreen's and then get some lunch? We have plans to make this afternoon."

"I'm not very hungry," Brad said.

"But you'll eat to keep up your strength and sharpen your mind, soldier."

"Yes, Sir, " Brad said but he didn't salute this time.

They cased the Walgreen's one more time. Charlie even "accidentally" walked through the rear door into the back of the store so he could look at the exit alarm. An employee was sitting back there eating his lunch and Charlie asked if there was a bathroom. The guy apologized and said the restroom was for employees only. The alarm was of the paddle type, pushing it opened the door. Oh well, couldn't have everything go their way.

Because Brad was still in a bathing suit they went through a fast food drive-thru. Charlie hated food like this but they each ordered a burger and fries. He pointed the Caddy back to the highway and within fifteen minutes they were back in the motel. Brad had consumed his meal on the road so Charlie handed over his bag.

"You eat it, I hate that crap," Charlie said.

"I'll go get you some Chinese take out if you want?" Brad said.

"Not now, maybe later, but thanks for the offer."

Charlie needed time to think about the day's events and the information they had gained. He stretched out on the bed while Brad showered off the chlorine. Danny was a cute boy and that made him wonder why Brad would even think about staying in Stony Creek. But if Brad and Danny wanted to go back north then Charlie knew he would buy the bus tickets and send them.

He also knew that Lamont would immediately start looking for Danny back there. If the guy had any kind of organization he would find them both. Why did Danny have to go back? Brad made it sound as if there was nothing left there for either of them. And what would he do if Danny stayed?

Charlie knew he would put them both in school and play step-father until they were old enough to leave home. Imagine having two lovebirds under his roof while the old cock sat in the roost and crowed at the dawn in frustration.

Brad had flirted with him, even offered his body but when Danny returned that would end. No, it was time to be the adult and keep the kids in their place. Funny, Charlie had never thought about getting married just to have kids. But the idea of having sons was appealing.

As for Danny, he would deal with that when it happened. The boy would have to be willing to share the modest life of a peach farmer. He didn't want the boys to fight about staying. It all boiled down to how strongly they felt about each other.

Brad ended his shower and Charlie stopped thinking about the boys and their relationship. He was staring up at the ceiling when Brad came back into the room. Charlie felt the bed move as Brad crawled in beside him.

"Do you think Danny would be wise to go back to New York?" Charlie asked.

"No, we couldn't do that," Brad said. "Lamont would be looking for us there."

"What will Danny do?"

"He has relatives in Chicago I think, no, Detroit. He told me he had an uncle that works for the Ford car company. Do you think he would want to go live there?"

"He needs to make the decision I guess," Charlie said.

"Don't worry, Charlie. I want to stay with you. I'll talk to him when this is over."

Charlie knew they would have to get up and go over the operation one more time. At least they now had some idea of where they would be working and he felt confident that they had the upper hand.

Brad was being especially quiet, he was nervous. Butterflies before combat was normal and if anything it kept you on your toes. Strength and confidence came only with practice and the certainty that what you were doing was right.

He felt that way about Brad. The boy needed guidance in life, although he had no lack of street smarts. He supposed that Danny had taught Brad most of what he knew on that account. It seemed fair that Danny was now the focus of their rescue. But neither of the boys could appreciate the risks involved.

Facing men with guns was in Charlie's world and he had survived so far. Somehow he had to make sure there was no way they could be traced back to Georgia. They wouldn't need to spend any time looking over their shoulders if everything went right.

"Brad...I hate to disturb the moment but we need to check our weapons and go over the details once again."

"I was just thinking about peaches," Brad said.

"Really? And what brought that to mind?"

"I was wondering what life will be like with you. Going to school, working in the orchard, cooking dinner at night, a whole list of ways my life will be different. And you know I didn't come up with one bad thing. Except maybe for what I've gotten us into here."

"Tomorrow won't be easy so don't be surprised if you get really scared," Charlie said. "I'll tell you a little secret from my past. The first time I went into an operation with my fire team we had to drop from a helicopter into an enemy compound. With all the noise from the chopper it wasn't like they didn't know we were coming. I can't tell you why we were there, that's still classified. But there were twenty or thirty guys waiting for us and each of them had a gun.

"As we slid down the ropes the pilot sprayed the walls with bullets to keep the enemy's heads down. We managed to get all ten guys in my squad on the ground without casualties. The chopper lifted off and the enemy started spraying bullets at us but we were down behind cover and no one got hurt.

"I remember that because of the shape of the place these guys were killing their own men as they tried to kill us. We put on our gas masks as planned and the chopper dropped several large canisters of smoke and tear gas which exploded when they hit the ground. It was total chaos after that except for what we had to do.

"We got what we were after, no casualties up to this point, and headed for the door. Outside there were vehicles waiting to carry us away. I was the last man out and as I went through the door managed to trip over a dead enemy soldier and sprain my ankle. I hobbled into an armored troop carrier as bullets started bouncing off the side. When I sprawled on the floor of the carrier I noticed that my pants were wet and I thought I had been shot. No such luck. That would have been a combat wound and worth some money. Instead it seems I had wet my pants and the other guys laughed at me for a while after that."

"You think I'll wet my pants?" Brad asked.

"If bullets start flying I imagine we both will, that's all I'm saying. You just focus on leading Danny out of there, that's your job. We each have a role to play. You can't let anything I do distract you from moving Danny out of the store and into the car. The flash-bang will disorient you and Danny but if you keep moving, keep focused on getting through that door we will be the winners."

"Got it," Brad said.

Step by step Charlie talked them through the moves as they should happen. The approach would be easier now that Danny knew they were going to be there. It was the guard that was at a disadvantage. But because of that Charlie didn't tell Brad that the asshole might be more tempted to pull his gun.

Charlie unwrapped the flash-bangs and went over how they worked again. He unpacked his box of knives and showed Brad how they were thrown.

"Each handle is wrapped with fishing line in a criss-cross pattern. They found this leaves the least chance of retaining fingerprints from the thrower."

"Are you good with those?" Brad asked.

"At twenty paces I'm deadly," Charlie said. "Should have joined the circus when I had the chance."

He showed Brad how the knives went in a special sheath strapped to his left wrist. Charlie then took off the rig and polished each knife, carefully obliterating any fingerprints on the blades. He didn't think the cops would ever see one of these anyway. Lamont's thugs were likely to be a little shy of the law when this was over.

But the cops would be called in by the store. That was a certainty if the flash-bangs had to be used. Brad's fingerprints weren't on file anywhere, the boy had confirmed that. But Charlie's were a part of government records. He wrapped two of the flash-bangs with light surgical tape. He could easily rip the tape off and drop the shell.

They planned a quiet evening and an early bedtime. They chowed down at the Chinese restaurant and again Brad failed to master the chopsticks. The waitress brought the bill and fortune cookies. Charlie started laughing as he put money on the tray for their meal and a tip.

"All right, Brad, I know you're dying to open one of those so go right ahead, but it won't mean a thing, trust me."

Brad took a minute to choose between the two wrapped cookies and then he quickly grabbed one. He tore off the wrapper and broke the cookie open. Inside was the thin strip of paper with his fortune printed in red ink. Brad read the words and then started to giggle. He was laughing out loud when he handed the paper to Charlie.

"You will marry a wealthy woman and be blessed with many children," Charlie read out loud.

"Oh, I think not," Brad said, his laughter filling the room with mirth. "Go on open the other one, Charlie."

"I told you they mean nothing but if it amuses you I will."

Charlie opened the wrapper and broke the cookie in half. He read the little strip and handed it to Brad without comment.

"Fortune smiles on those who help others," Brad read aloud. "See it does work."

Charlie smiled and munched on the remains of his cookie. "This tastes like wallpaper paste," he said, taking another sip of tea.

It was only seven-thirty when they got back to the room. Brad sat and dialed through the television channels looking for a movie to watch.

"There's a comedy on at nine o'clock, want to watch it with me?"

"Sure," Charlie said," but then we go straight to bed. Wake up call is six am. We have to shower and eat before we go."

"I don't know if I'll be able to eat in the morning," Brad said.

"Then don't, but I better not hear your stomach growl later on."

They settled back on the bed and watched a silly move about talking animals. Despite the air conditioning the room was hot, probably because they were lying so close together.

When the film ended Charlie set the alarm clock and pulled down the sheets. Brad used the bathroom and crawled into bed. Charlie undressed and turned out the lights. As he got into bed he remembered what he wanted to ask Brad.

"Do you know what you want to do with your life? Have you thought about a career?"

"You think I'll make a bad peach farmer?"

"No, joking aside, have you thought about the future?"

"Sometimes I do," Brad said. "Lamont said I had a future as a porn star. But I don't think I had much hope of becoming anything. Life at home was depressing and I discovered the street was even worse. All my old friends were into being thugs. Crime and drugs, that's all you see on the streets where I lived. Leaving that all behind makes sense to me."

"So you don't want to go back, like ever?"

"Back to what? Danny jokes a lot but sometimes I think he does it to cover up the truth about his life and to keep himself from thinking about it. He once told me, "Brad, you can pick your nose but you can't pick your parents." I didn't have parents, just a mom who probably wished I had never been born."

Charlie smiled. "I'm glad you were born."

"I know you don't believe in fortunes but something made me tell that man to let me out at the next exit on Highway 16. If I had gone one more mile I never would have met you Charlie and that would have been the biggest mistake of my life."

"Call it fortune or fate, I'm glad you walked down that exit ramp," Charlie said. "I took one look at you and said to myself, "What a peach." I just had to know what that cute boy was doing on the road.

"And I thought you were a cop, remember?"

"Good Night, Brad"

"Good Night, Charlie"

The only other sounds in the room that night were the hum of tires on the highway. Charlie finally relaxed when Brad fell asleep. He would sleep only after his mind realized the need to recharge his body. Until then he would play out the scenarios of their mission, hoping that fate would be kind since fortune often played with the fool who wasn't ready.


On to Chapter Five

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What a Peach is © 2005 - 2006 by Chris James.
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