Friend or Foe?
**This story immediately follows "Like a Needle in a Haystack"**
CHAPTER 1
"Babe, are you ready?" Matt Houston had just come back into the house after loading their luggage into the trunk of the car. He and his wife of about ten months, CJ, were making the trip back to Los Angeles for her first ultrasound. She was four months pregnant with their first child. They had spent the last few weeks at their home just outside of Houston, Texas while Matt was getting the ranch ready. He had decided that since he just couldn't bring himself to sell the house that he would run cattle on it once again and let it pay for itself.
"I'll be down in just a minute." CJ hollered from the upstairs. Matt suspected she was making one more trip to the bathroom.
Brian Landers came down the stairs with his backpack thrown over his shoulder, all smiles. The thirteen year old boy had been in the temporary custody of the Houstons for the last couple of weeks now. After spending almost a month homeless when his mother disappeared while buying drugs, he had landed at the ranch. Matt had found his mom and was putting her through a rehab program.
"All set, kiddo?" Matt smiled at the boy.
"Yep. This is going to be great – my first time flying and my first trip to California." He walked into the kitchen where he gave Madre Rosa, the housekeeper, a big hug which was returned. She had taken a liking to the boy.
"You behave, understand?" She patted his cheek. "And you make that one behave, too." Rosa pointed at Matt who tried for a hurt look on his face. He walked over and gave her a hug and a peck on the cheek.
"We should be back in a few days. Think you can keep the boys out of trouble until then?" Matt was referring to the cowboys who were now working for him on the ranch. Marty and Pat Hoffmann were two of the best hands in the area. The brothers had proven extremely useful in helping Matt to get the ranch up and running. Ollie Burckhardt was the other full-time cowboy. He had been homeless until Matt found out who he was and offered him the job. Ollie had saved Matt's life several years before during a rodeo where the young man had gotten hung up on a bull he was riding.
"We're not the ones who seem to stay in trouble all the time." Marty was walking in the kitchen door and had heard Houston's comment.
"Okay, I'm ready." CJ walked into the kitchen, her baby bump preceding her. Matt put his arm around her.
"Alright, guess that's it then. Let's hit the road." They four of them walked out and got in the car and headed for the airport.
After receiving clearance to take off, Matt smoothly launched the jet into the air. He looked back at Brian who was one big smile. "Having fun so far?"
"Oh, yeah!" The teen was soaking it all in.
"Well, I tell you what: after we get a little ways away from Houston, I'll let you come up and help me. What do you think?"
"Cool." He was watching every move Matt made. Being homeless for a month had been rough, but when he stumbled across Houston's ranch, it was the best thing that ever happened to him. Since Matt and CJ had gotten temporary custody of him, he had been learning about horses and was even going to get to help with the cattle when the time came. Now Matt was going to show him how to fly. He couldn't imagine life being any better – except that he missed his mom. Otherwise, the last two weeks had been great.
Thirty minutes later CJ got up and headed towards the back of the plane. "Go on up and have a seat, Brian." She gave him a big smile. He jumped at the opportunity and didn't waste any time plopping into the seat that CJ had just vacated.
Matt started out with the basics, teaching him what each dial and button was for, then quizzed him on them and when he was satisfied, he let the boy take the controls while he stood ready for any kind of problem. After twenty minutes he took back control of the plane. Brian was almost speechless: all he could get out was, "Wow!"
Houston had been flying since he was fifteen and knew the thrill that Brian was experiencing. "Now, after you learn how to fly this," he indicated the plane, "then we'll teach you how to fly a chopper."
"No way! You know how to fly a helicopter?" The teen was incredulous.
"Yup. So does CJ." He grinned over at the boy. "It comes in handy – especially when I don't feel like fighting the traffic." Matt explained that his office was the penthouse suite on top of the Houston Industries building in downtown Los Angeles. He had built the skyscraper when he moved to LA several years earlier. "We land right outside on the patio. Works great."
"I can't wait to see this place." Brian shook his head. Up until he met Matt and CJ his life had been boring. Now there was always something new to learn.
The three hour flight to Los Angeles was over quickly and Brian stepped off of the jet and looked around the airport. In front of the hangar there was a big crew cab truck and an older man dressed in a gray suit leaning against it, who started toward the jet and took CJ's bag, giving her a kiss. She hugged him and turned to Brian. "Brian, this is Uncle Roy. Uncle Roy, this is our new friend, Brian." They shook hands. "Matt was giving Brian his first flying lesson earlier. From what I heard he took right to it."
"Good deal. Nice to meet you." Roy Houston looked over Brian's shoulder and smiled at his nephew. "I'm not sure I know this fella here. Did you pick up a hitch hiker, CJ?" He pulled Matt into a big hug. "What's with all the chin whiskers, boy?"
"That's called not shaving for about a month." Matt rubbed at the beard.
"Well you'd hate to be lazy!" Roy winked at Brian and they headed for the truck. "So how are things going at the ranch?"
"Real good. We've pretty much got all the repairs done. Now we're adding some waterers and working on some last little details. When I go back we're going to be buying the stock." Matt had opened the door for CJ who climbed into the back seat, as did Brian, while Roy got in the passenger seat and Matt slid behind the wheel. "Sure have missed my dream truck, though." CJ rolled her eyes. "I saw that back there." Matt looked up in the mirror and grinned at his wife.
While the adults talked about the detective agency and the goings-on around the office, Brian was taking in the sights of LA. Before he knew it, they were at the office. "Whoa, you mean to tell me this is where your office is?"
"Yup. Up on the very top." Matt grinned over at Roy who chuckled.
As they rode up to the penthouse in the elevator, Matt and Roy continued talking about the business. The reason for their stop by the office was because Matt needed to sign some papers. They stepped out of the elevator on the top floor and a pretty blonde woman ran up to CJ and Matt giving both of them a hug at the same time. "Oh my gosh, I've missed you two so much!" Then she got a close look at Matt. "A beard?! Wow! It looks great, boss." Matt gave her a big hug, then put his arm around her. "Chris, this is Brian Landers. Brian, this is Chris, the lady who keeps this office from falling apart." Brian shook her hand.
"It's nice to meet you, Brian. You sure do look a lot like somebody else I know." She looked between Matt and the boy. "A lot like somebody else." Then her attention turned back to CJ. "You look great! I guess motherhood is agreeing with you."
CJ rolled her eyes. "I look like a beached whale."
"Nonsense. You look perfect." Chris gave her another hug.
"Uncle Roy tells me there are some papers that I need to sign?" Matt looked at Chris.
"Oh, yeah. Got so excited I almost forgot them. They're on CJ's desk." Matt and the others started up the stairs and into the main part of the office as the elevator chimed and out stepped Lt. Michael Hoyt.
He burst into laughter when he saw Matt. "Did we go native while in the great country of Texas?" Matt walked back down and shook his hand and slapped him on the back.
"No, we got lazy and didn't shave for a month."
"Are you sure it wasn't more like a year? That's pretty thick, PI."
"Just a month. What're you up to?" They walked on into the office.
"Just stopped by to see what was going on. Chris told me you two were going to be stopping by today so I thought I'd drop by." He saw Brian and held out his hand. "You must be Brian. Michael Hoyt." The two shook hands.
"So you're the one who calls him a lightning rod for trouble?" Brian grinned at the police lieutenant that he had heard so much about in the last two weeks.
"That would be me – of course I've called him a few other choice words over the last few years." He winked at Brian.
"Hey bud; there are some cold drinks in the fridge behind the bar if you want one." Matt was walking into CJ's office. "Hoyt, I've got to sign some papers but I'll be done in just a few minutes." The policeman nodded.
"Okay, thanks." The boy stepped over behind the bar and pulled out a Fizzy Pop, then popped the top on it and looked out of the windows overlooking the patio and the skyline. "Wow. That's impressive. He walked toward the window and Hoyt followed. "Man that it is a nice helicopter!"
"Sure is. Want to go out and take a look around?" The lieutenant led the way out. Brian ran his hand over the nose of the chopper.
"Houston was teaching me about the jet on the way here. Even let me fly for a few minutes." He was beaming.
"He's a good pilot. You could learn a lot from him. Good Lord, I never thought I'd hear myself say that." He laughed. They walked over to the edge of the patio and looked out over the wall that came up almost to the boy's chest.
"That is a LONG way down." Brian backed away from the wall as Hoyt laughed.
"So how do you like living with Matt and CJ?" The cop walked over and sat down on a chair.
"It's great. They both are so nice and don't mind a bunch of questions." He sat down next to Hoyt. "I guess you heard about what happened with my mom?"
The lieutenant nodded. "But she's trying to make a fresh start. That's important."
"Houston really went out on a limb for me. Hadn't even known me for twenty four hours."
"He usually goes with his instincts – and as much as it pains me to say it, they're usually right."
"I couldn't believe how fast he found my mom. He said he couldn't have done it without the help of Det. Lyons and a whole lot of luck. But I believe a lot of it was him."
Hoyt nodded. "He's one heck of a detective. Did he tell you about our first case together?"
"No, but I'd love to hear about it."