“My parents love him,” Holly said, leaning closer to Bull. “They just didn’t want me to have Ken’s baby.”
“I’m still not looking forward to forcing the issue of marriage with them, but I really think they know how much I care about Holly,” Bull added. “I don’t know if we can pull off a two week date, but maybe we can do the week after. Tahoe sounds like a great idea. What made you pick it, Jill?”
“That’s where Ed and Nancy married, and we can get the license in Carson City without blood tests,” Jill answered. “I’ll throw some clothes in a bag, and be right back.”
“Would you really like to get married in Tahoe, Hon?” Holly asked Bull.
“Sounds good to me,” Bull replied, kissing her forehead. “I just don’t want to shortchange you on wedding plans.”
“What about you? Won’t your folks want to come?”
“My folks will be fine with Lake Tahoe. I’ve already called them and explained everything.”
“I bet that went well,” Holly said, covering her face with her hands.
“They’re happy as hell. Back where I come from, in Iowa, appearances don’t mean much. I told them how much I love you. I’ve never lied to them before, so they said they’d fly out whenever I need them. My three older sisters will send their congrats, but they have families. It would be tough for them to get away.”
“Lake Tahoe sounds wonderful,” Holly said, hugging Bull tightly.
“Why don’t you two go up with Jill and me? I’ll rent one of those big ski lodge places, and we can all stay in the same place. Dan’s kids will love it. I bet they haven’t been anywhere for a long time. All of the folks can stay there too. Maybe once everyone gets to know each other, things won’t be so tense.”
“Where will you get that kind of money, Peace?” Holly asked. “Those big lodges cost a lot of money to rent.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Peace replied. “I have some money put away for good things like this. So, how about it.”
“It sounds wonderful,” Holly replied. “I’m not too sure how well everyone will like each other, but there’s only one way to find out. I’ll tell my folks as soon as we get back.”
Jill came into the living room with her small suitcase in hand. “I’m ready whenever you guys are.”
Peace took her bag, and led the way out of the dorm room. Jill locked up after them.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Into The Zone
Bull noticed there were four young men leaning against his car, when they were about twenty-five yards away. Bull looked at Peace accusingly.
“That’s my car. Okay, what did you do now, Wolvy?”
Peace shrugged. “Nothing Captain. I am not known in these parts. I…”
Peace saw recognition in Jill’s face. “You know these guys, Jill?”
“The tall guy with blonde hair is Eric Stanford. He’s the one…”
“Who went down into Chile with you,” Peace finished for her. “I recognize him.”
“Yea, now that you mention it, he looks familiar,” Bull agreed.
“You’re going to think we’re locked into a parallel universe when I tell you how well Jill knows him,” Peace warned.
“She was engaged to him, right?” Bull asked, a big grin spreading across his face.
“You’re getting really good at this, Cap,” Peace said, looking at the four men, who had turned to glare back at the two couples. “Ed was right, we’re in the Twilight Zone. We should call Rod Serling Polasky, and get his take on this.”
“You don’t want to get his opinion on this; because if we did whatever he suggested, we’d be in jail tonight. They better not have scratched the paint or I will be in jail tonight.”
“Is this Eric guy mad at you, Jill?” Holly asked.
“After Chile, I wouldn’t see him anymore,” Jill explained. “He’s not violent or anything, but he has been kind of stalking me since I broke up with him. I don’t know how the heck he would… oh crap, I bet he does know you, Peace. He’s probably seen you visit the dorm.”
“Well, we don’t have a big enough trunk for even one of these guys, so what do you suggest, Wolvy?” Bull asked.
“Either Eric has been hanging around the dorm parking lot enough to know when I would be coming here, or else someone’s been giving him info. In any case, he’s a little more persistent than I care for,” Peace said thoughtfully. “Do you think he found out I was coming today from your roommate, Jill?”
“I don’t know. I thought she couldn’t stand him,” Jill answered. “I can handle him. Come on.”
“Wait a second there, Wonder Woman,” Peace said, taking her arm. “I don’t want you handling anyone. Let Bull and I ask them what this is all about - then we’ll get it straightened out so we can leave.”
“I don’t think you and Bull are people oriented enough to handle this in a civilized fashion,” Jill objected, winking at Holly.
“I saw that wink,” Peace said accusingly. “I’ll have you know, Bull and I are first class people persons, right Bull?”
“Yea right, Wolvy. Let’s get to it before they slide around on my paint any longer,” Bull replied, pointing at the two women. “Like Peace said, stay here until we sort this out. You two have been through enough already.”
Holly nodded her understanding, and took Jill’s hand. “They’re right, Jill. We’re probably overreacting, and your ex isn’t dangerous, but let’s not find out the hard way.”
As the two Seals approached the Chief’s car, the four men straightened up, and spread out a little. Bull looked over at Peace with some surprise.
“I think these ladies want to dance, Wolvy.”
“It does look that way; but seriously, let’s at least make an attempt at not ending up incarcerated today. I’ll never be able to explain it to Jill’s folks, and Holly’s will be trying to yank her back out of the Twilight Zone.”
“Okay, you do the talkin’, Wolvy.”
Peace stayed a step in front as they walked up to the four men.
“Hello, gentlemen, what seems to be the problem?”
“You’re the problem, you little freak,” the man, Jill had pointed out to be Eric, growled. “I’m engaged to Jill.”
“You were with Jill in Chile, were you not?” Peace asked reasonably.
Bull stepped back a step, pointing at the man near the end of his car. “You stay where you are, Sir. I will take it as a threatening gesture if you move around anymore.”
The man halted, looking questioningly at Eric, who shook his head negatively.
“Yes, in answer to your question, I was in Chile. I…”
“Do you recognize Chief Jenkins here, and me?” Peace interrupted.
“Yea, I know you two were with the Seal team. We never needed…”
“Wait a minute, Eric,” the man who Bull had been speaking to cut in. “These guys are Navy Seals?”
Eric was silent for a moment, and then he just nodded. The man looked at the other two men with Eric, who appeared less than thrilled with this newest piece of information. He made a little gesture with his hand.
“Sorry, Eric, you told us a couple of guys were hassling Jill,” the man said, now pointing at the two women standing together, “but Jill doesn’t look like she’s here against her will. You also left out the part about these guys being Seals. See ya.”
The man looked at Bull, and Bull nodded. As the man walked away, the two men on the other side of Eric looked at each other, and then walked past Eric to follow their retreating friend without a word.
“Eric, you seem like an intelligent guy,” Peace offered quietly. “If Jill was engaged to you at one time, I know you can’t be all bad. You two had a harrowing experience together, and things changed between you two. Jill and I are going to be married in two weeks. She’s also pregnant with my child.”
“Pregnant?” Eric asked, looking towards Jill. “I…I didn’t know. I saw you going into her dorm before, and you two leaving together. I…”<
br />
“Listen, I can’t blame you for being down about losing Jill, but you need to quit following her around,” Peace reasoned. “You’ll only get yourself into trouble.”
“Wait a minute,” Eric said, gesturing angrily. “What kind of trouble, and from who?”
In a split second, Peace pinned the larger man against the car with his right forearm under his throat, and his left hand at the man’s groin.
“Stay very still, Eric,” Peace whispered in his ear, as Bull moved closer to block what Peace was doing as best he could. “I have a razor sharp blade between your legs. Feel it?”
Peace moved his hand slightly, and Eric quickly nodded his head fearfully.
“Good. Now, you asked what kind of trouble, and from who. Let me put it this way. If you continue to stalk the woman I’m marrying soon, who is carrying my baby, you will wake in the dark one night, slit from your dick to your chin, in a lake of your own blood. That answer your question?”
Eric nodded again, trying to look away. He gasped as the material of his pants began to part. “I…I understand. Do…don’t cut me.”
“I’m going to let you go now, because you seem like a nice boy,” Peace said menacingly. “Don’t ever go near Jill again. One other thing, how did you know I’d be here today?”
“Jill’s…Jill’s roommate. I talked her into… telling me.”
“Okay, now, I’m going to step back, and we’re going to shake hands like old friends, and you’re going to walk away with a little wave at Jill. Understood?”
“Ye…yes.”
“Oh, one more thing,” Peace said, stepping away, and extending his hand, while smoothly putting the blade away with his other. “You may need to get somewhere and check to see whether you’ll need a Band-Aid.”
Eric shakily took Peace’s hand, and then backed away. He turned to go, but remembering what Peace said, Eric spun around. He waved at a surprised Jill, who barely had time to wave back before Eric hurried away, patting himself between his legs with some trepidation.
“You know, Wolvy,” Bull said, looking after the fast walking Eric, “you really are a people person.”
“Thanks Cap. What say we get the women, and get the hell out of here? I think I’d like to buy you a Bushmills before we have to eat with the folks.”
“That sounds lovely. Here come the women even as we speak.”
Holly and Jill hurried up next to the Seals, with Jill in the lead. She looked at Peace closely, as Holly took Bull’s hand in both of hers.
“What the heck did you say to Eric?” Jill asked suspiciously.
“I told him I understood how losing you could make him mental, but that he needed to move on with his life, right Cap,” Peace gestured at Bull.
“That’s right, Wolvy,” Bull smiled. “The two of them are just like old friends now.”
“And the three other guys?” Holly asked, leaning against Bull’s chest provocatively.
“Oh, they found out it was just a simple miscommunication, and left,” Bull replied, giving Holly a kiss. “Can we go now? Peace promised me a Bushmills before we meet up with Jill’s folks.”
“Okay, but I want a complete report of how you guys handled this confrontation,” Jill stated, looking towards Holly, who nodded her agreement with a smile.
“If not for you, Wonder Woman,” Peace retorted, “Bull and I would not have been confronted at all. You could have told me at the beginning you were being stalked. You told me the relationship was in the past.”
Bull had started laughing as Jill gasped, mouth open, in mock surprise at the statement. Holly, when she saw Jill’s pretend outrage, began laughing too.
“So, this is all my fault, an innocent woman, caught in a romantic vortex?”
“Vortex?” Peace said derisively, covering his face with his hands, as if unable to absorb the concept. “You deserve a good spanking for that remark, young lady.”
“Oooooohhhhh, not that,” Jill said mockingly, bending slightly, and turning her rear end towards Peace.
“Jill?!” Holly exclaimed, trying to stop laughing.
“Oh, you two are destined for one another,” Bull said, shaking his head. “Peace, give it up and get Wonder Woman into the car so I can get my Bushmills.”
Jill immediately straightened, her hands on her hips, chest out, glaring at Bull. “Are you addressing me?”
Bull collapsed against his car, bellowing in laughter at Jill’s imitation of superhero outrage, hugging Holly, who could no longer retain composure enough for solidarity with her friend. Peace, observing the play with an eye to comeback, jumped in instantly.
“That posture would work better if your belly didn’t stick out, Wonder Woman.”
Jill, with an intake of air, grasped her middle, and turned accusingly towards Peace, not realizing for a moment she had been had. She started laughing with Bull and Holly when she saw Peace pointing and dancing in front of her.
“Oh, you will so pay for that, Mr. Peacenik,” Jill threatened. “Don’t think for a moment you will not be subjected to Klingon vengeance.”
“Klingon vengeance?” Bull asked. “She’s a Trekkie too? God, Peace, it’s no wonder we’re in the Twilight Zone. The bonding between you and Jill has upset the cosmic balance.”
Holly hugged Bull helplessly, laughing so hard she was having trouble breathing. Peace had grabbed the reluctant Wonder Woman, and stuffed her, protesting, into the back seat. As he slid in next to her, he motioned to Bull. “Get moving, Cap, I don’t know how much longer I can hold her.”
Still laughing, Bull and Holly made their way into the car.
__
“Peace, that was an incredible weekend,” Bull said, as Bull pulled up near Ed’s house to let his friend out. “Thanks for having us along.”
“Wait until the marriage party up in the mountains,” Peace replied with a grin.
“I think Jill’s Dad really likes you Peace,” Holly said, as Peace opened the door to get out. “Her Mom’s going to need some work.”
“Yea, she retained that stricken look throughout the dinner,” Peace agreed.
“Wait until I tell Ed about what a hit you were at the piano,” Bull said, as Peace leaned into Holly’s open window. “Man, we had a party going after you started singing. I’m surprised the management didn’t offer you a contract.”
Peace nodded. “It was all good after the parking lot stuff. I still don’t know why Jill didn’t let me know he was hanging around her like that.”
“Best not to think about it too much. He seemed honestly hung up on her,” Bull replied. “His eyes bugged out of his head when you told him Jill was pregnant. I doubt he wants anymore trouble.”
“Yea, I guess,” Peace said, squeezing Holly’s hand at the window.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Chief.”
“Until that time, until that time,” Bull waved.
Peace watched the car move away. He looked around before going into the house, noting how quiet the neighborhood was at ten o’clock on a Sunday night. His cell phone rang just as he crossed the threshold into the house. Peace answered it with some trepidation, remembering Chuck was one of the few people to have the number, and the one who had directed him to start carrying it.
“Hi, buddy,” Chuck greeted him cheerfully, taking note of the snort of disappointment on the other end of the line. “I’m just calling as a friend.”
This meant he was calling as Peace’s CIA case officer.
“That’s really sweet of you,” Peace sighed.
“I hope you enjoyed your weekend,” Chuck added ominously.
“A little too much, it seems. It’s always bad Karma to have too good of anything, be it a good time, or even a good feeling.”
“Yea,” Chuck agreed, “something happens to the balance of the universe when any one person gets more than a few moments of happiness. You screwed up. Consider this a heads-up to start preparing for some less than good times.”
“Thanks,” Peace replied. “I’ll
call Jill just to tell her I’ve returned home safely.”
“Come see me when you get back to the good times.”
“I will, Uncle Chuck, thanks again for the concern.”
“Always good to talk to my favorite relative, adios.”
Peace slowly put away his phone, and went out to get in his Buick. He drove to a Seven Eleven three miles away, and called Jill. His heart caught in his throat when he heard her voice.
“Hi, Baby, I just got home. I wanted to tell you what a great time I had this weekend. I…”
“You’re at a phone booth again,” Jill cut in, her voice solemn in tone. “I had a wonderful time. Come back to me.”
“I will, Honey. I love you.”
“I…I love you too,” Jill said, her voice wavering. She hung up.
Peace clutched the phone longingly in his hand for a moment before dialing Bull’s home number. Bull answered on the second ring.
“Hey, Chief.”
“What’s up, Peace?” Bull replied, concern creeping into his voice. “You don’t need me to tuck you in or anything, do ya? In case I never mentioned it: I don’t do that.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Holly there with you?”
“Yea, she’s staying here with me tonight. I’m going to drop her back at the dorm tomorrow morning. Why?”
“I’m glad,” Peace commented. “Have fun tonight.”
“Shit!”
“Yea, it is.”
“When?”
“Unknown, but right away probably.”
“Thanks,” Bull said tiredly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Hey, it’s what we do, right?”
“Hoo-ya,” Bull said before hanging up.
By the time Peace returned to the house, Ed and Nancy were already home, having closed the restaurant a little later than usual. They were sitting at the kitchen table, sipping a glass of wine together.
“Good day at the restaurant?” Peace asked, getting a wine glass out of the cupboard when Ed motioned him to join them.
“It would have been better with some after dinner entertainment,” Ed said gruffly, pouring Peace a glass of wine, “but it wasn’t bad.”
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