Thank you to all of you who practically wrote this story for me as I picked your brains: Agnes, Shelby, Di, Sara, Jenni. It was fun chatting with all of you and getting your suggestions, no matter how twisted. Enjoy the story!

Chapter 1

One morning in June, 1979, Kelly Garrett and Sabrina Duncan pounded on the door of their friend Kris Munroe's beach house. They had decided between them to give Kris' younger sister, Sarah, some advance training prior to her going to college and studying to be a private eye in the fall. No one answered the door, so the two Angels banged harder. Kris heard the noise and answered the door. "I'm up!" she grumbled. Krs saw her two best friends outside, and her expression immediately brightened. "Oh, hi!" she exclaimed. "Come on in!" Kelly and Sabrina would've come in anyway if no one had answered, but it was nice to be invited.

"So, is Sal up yet? " Sabrina asked as she sat at Kris' kitchen table.

"You mean Sarah," Kelly corrected her. Sabrina glowered at Kelly. Sarah had recently decided to start using her full name instead of her nickname of Sal.

"Sal, Sarah...same thing," Sabrina responded.

Kris laughed as she put on the coffee pot. "Don't let her hear you say that," she said as she turned on the coffee maker. "She has no qualms about correcting anyone who forgets and calls her Sal."

"So, anyway," Kelly said to get back to business at hand, "Bree and I want to give Sarah" she emphasized as she gave Sabrina a LOOK, "some advance training before she starts her formal studies."

"That's so nice of you guys," Kris said as she put plates and silverware on the table. "What did you have in mind?"

Kellly helped Kris set the table. "First, we want to teach her to shoot."

"You what?" Kris laughed.

"She's old enough, and if she's going to be a PI, she will need to know how," Sabrina reasoned.

"That's true," Kris agreed. She put coffee cups and juice glasses on the table and got some eggs out of the refrigerator. She handed them to Kelly.

"Why don't you start these while I get dressed?"

"Sure," Kelly said as she headed for the stove and Kris went into her bedroom. In the meantime, Sarah woke up and came out into the kitchen, tying the sash of her robe. She just barely missed seeing her sister.

"Hi, guys," she yawned.

"Good morning," Kelly and Sabrina said.

Sarah looked around. "Where's Kris?"

"She went into the bedroom to get dressed," Sabrina told her.

"What are you guys doing here? Are you going shopping or something?" Sarah asked as she started to make some toast.

"We're here for you today," Kelly said as she put her arm around Sarah. Sarah looked at her quizzically.

"Uh, mind if I ask why?"

"We want to teach you how to be an Angel," Sabrina responded.

"OK......" said Sarah as she thought it over, "How?"

"Today we are going to teach you the proper way to shoot," Kelly told her as she pulled items for breakfast from the refrigerator and cupboards.

Sarah started to butter the toast. "Choice!" she exclaimed. Sabrina and Kelly raised their eyebrows and laughed as they shook their heads. Teenagers sure had a funny language all their own.

Kris came out of the bedroom just as breakfast was on the table. They all sat down to eat.

"After we do the shooting, what are we going to do?" Sarah asked, poking her fork into her eggs.

"We thought we'd teach you some more judo moves," Sabrina said as she refilled her coffee cup.

"This is going to be a great day," Sarah said as she put her plate into the sink and headed for her room to get dressed.

The Angels and Sarah pulled up in front of the shooting range in Sarah's new red VW convertible. It was a graduation gift, and she drove it every chance she got. Sarah parked the car away from the others in the lot.

"Why are we clear out here?" Kris asked. "This is going to be quite a hike."

"If I don't park near other cars, I have less chance of getting scratched," Sarah said as she put up the top in preparation for locking her car. She blew a speck of dust off of the car and went towards the shooting range. The Angels laughed as they followed went to the main desk. Kris, Kelly and Sabrina had their guns with them. Sarah, of course, did not have one and she was given one to use while on the shooting range. She filled out the paper work and Kris signed the forms as the others got goggles and headphones.

Before entering the safey area, the Angels showed Sarah how to load and unload her gun. They had her repeat the process until she could do it comfortably. Next, they showed her the proper stance, grip, safety, sight alignment, and smooth trigger press. When she had it down, they had her unload and show clear. They repeated the process several times. When Sarah was confident with the procedure, the Angels showed her how to do it with live ammo. She was a little nervous about holding a loaded gun, but the Angels helped her through it. Then they took her over to the target practice area. Sarah was a quick study, and fired off the rounds safely and efficiently. She hit her mark most of the time.

"The bad guys had better watch out," Sabrina told her. Sarah smiled and expertly fired another round into the target.

"Ok, I think that's enough for today," Kris said.

"Ah, man!" Sarah was disappointed.

"You'll have plenty of opportunities for shooting, and not all of them will be pleasant. Why don't we break for lunch now?" Kris reasoned.

"After lunch, we'll take you over to the gym and teach you some judo," Kelly said.

"Yeah! I've always wanted to know how to flip people over my shoulder." Sarah agreed.

"First, we need to show you how to unload the gun and safely store it," Sabrina said, and began to show Sarah the proper procedure. Sarah watched attentively. Sabrina reloaded and handed the gun to Sarah. Sarah safely unloaded it and gave it back. They turned in the gun and safety gear and left the shooting range.

"Hey, that was fun," Sarah said as they returned to her car and headed for their next stop. After lunch at the local Whataburger, they went to the gym. They changed into sweats and gym shoes, and went to the mats. Kris, Kelly, and Sabrina took turns showing Sarah the proper moves and stances to effectively defend her self with judo moves. She flipped each of them several times. They lay on the mats and gathered their wits about them for a few seconds.

"I think I'm going to be sore in the morning, " Sabrina moaned.

"This was a great idea, guys," Sarah exclaimed. "Who's next?"

"How about me?" said an unfamiliar male voice.

The Angels and Sarah looked up in surprise. There was a man standing there watching them. He was dressed in black sweats. His long dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail. He had a mustache and beard. "I see you've been teaching this young lady here some moves," he continued. "I'm an expert in martial arts. You ladies are using an improper technique."

"We were trained by experts," Sabrina told him coldly.

"Even so, your stance is all wrong. You're feet should be placed like so," he demonstrated. "You should grab by the arm here," he said.

"Oh, you mean like this?" Sabrina decided to play the dumb female. She grabbed the man in the hold and stance he had demonstrated, and flipped him. He lay on the mat as the world swirled around him.
"Like I said, we were trained by experts," Sabrina said as she and the others left. They giggled all the way to the locker room. When they came out, the man was waiting for them. He approached Sabrina.

"Excuse me," he said. Sabrina looked at him in surprise. "Can I talk to you for a moment?" Sabrina looked at her friends who were grinning, and back at the man.

"I guess so," she said as he took her arm and led her away from her snickering friends. They were enjoying Sabrina's discomfort.

"We seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot," the man said. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Jim Montgomery." He extended his hand.

"Sabrina Duncan," Sabrina took his hand and shook it.

"Sabrina, would you like to go out for coffee later on? I see you're with your friends right now," he eyed the giggling group who immediately found interest in the sports equipment kept behind the counter, "but I'd really like to get to know you better. Maybe this evening?"

"Uh, sure," Sabrina was surprised, but decided to accept his invitation.

"How about we meet at that little coffee shop on the corner of 9th and Main, say, 8:00?"

"OK, see you then."

Jim left and Sabrina returned to her group. "Well?" She asked.

"He seems Ok," Kelly said as Kris and Sarah nodded agreement.

"I'm glad you approve," Sabrina said as she marched out the door.

That evening, Sabrina drove her Pinto to the coffee shop located at the corner of 9th and Main. She checked her watch, and realized she was 10 minutes early. She didn't want to give the impression of being anxious, so she sat in her car for a few minutes and listened to a couple of songs on the radio. She didn't understand how teenagers could listen to that stuff. Sabrina checked her hair and makeup in the mirror. She decided she looked fine and got out of the car. She was dressed nicely, but not too nicely. She didn't want to give off any false impressions in case it didn't work out. As Sabrina approached the front door of the coffee shop, she saw a very nice, well cared for, black Harley Davidson parked in the lot. She looked at it with interest. "Nice," she said approvingly as she went into the coffee shop. Jim was already there and seated when she came in. He stood up. He was once again dressed in dark clothes: black jeans and turtleneck, and a black leather jacket. Jim looked Sabrina over appreciatively.

"Hello," he said as he indicated the table to her and pulled out a chair.

"Hello," Sabrina said. She sat down. A waitress came to their table. Jim ordered coffee for both of them.

"Are you hungry?" He asked.
"No, thank you," Sabrina replied. "I ate dinner not too long ago."

"So, Sabrina, tell me about yourself. What do you like to do?" Jim asked as the coffee arrived.

"I like to read a lot. Histories, biographies, I read about politics...I like a variety of subjects. How about you?"

"I like to read those same subjects. I also like art. I paint a lot."

"Really?" Sabrina's interest was piqued. "I've dabbled in some painting myself. Nothing spectacular, just some still lifes here and there."

"Where did you grow up?" Jim asked next, as the waitress brought another pot of coffee.

"All over. My father was in the military. I was born in Philadelphia, but we spent time in Europe before he finally retired in California."

"That is fascinating. I was born and raised in Montana. When I was old enough, I moved to California and I've been here ever since."

"I like California too."

"So, apparently you like martial arts. " Jim smiled at Sabrina.

"Yeah, my friend's little sister wanted to learn judo, so we were teaching her. She's catching on very quickly."

"It never hurts for a girl to learn self defense."
"No, it doesn't.
"So, what do you do for a living?" Jim asked.

"I'm a detective. What about you?"

"Well, remember I said I like painting?" at Sabrina's nod, he continued. "I have my own studio. I do paintings for a living, and I give private lessons as well. I am also a veterinarian."

"That is great! I might like to do that someday. "

"Veterinary work?"

"No, painting. Detective work isn't going to last forever. Sooner or later I will have to give it up." Sabrina realized that they had been in the coffee shop for a long time. She looked at her watch. "I didn't realize it was so late. I need to get home. I have an early morning appointment."

"Let me walk you to your car." They rose. Jim put money on the table to cover the coffee and a tip. He escorted Sabrina out the door and walked her to the Pinto. They passed the Harley Davidson.

"That is a really nice bike, " Sabrina remarked.

"Thanks. It's mine." Jim unlocked and opened Sabrina's car for her. He handed her the keys once she was in. "I had a really nice time tonight."

"So did I."

"I'd like to see you again. Can I call you?"

Sabrina pulled her card out of her purse. "Here's my number. Call me tomorrow."

"I will." Jim kissed Sabrina on the cheek and backed away as she started her car. He watched her drive away.

The phone rang on Kelly's night table. Kelly put down the book she had been reading and answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Kel!"

"Bree! How did it go?"

"It was alright. We had coffee and talked."

"I want to hear all about it. We're going to practice with Sal, I mean Sarah, tomorrow. You can fill all of us in at once.

"Will do. See you then."

Both girls hung up the phone. Kelly went back to her reading. Sabrina relaxed on her couch and reflected on the evening's events.