I watched his body shake and I knew he was crying. The body on the floor moved, its hand stretched out to find the gun.

"Joe," I yelled bringing my gun up at the same time but I wasn't fast enough. Joe sprung like an uncoiled snake in an instant he was standing over him. He emptied his gun into Tom Winters, not even the vest was no match for Joe's .357 Python at close range. He kept pulling the trigger even though the gun was empty. I walked over and touched his shoulder. "Joe, it's over he's dead."

Joe put his glasses back on and stood over Alyse. I wanted to see the woman who had stolen Pike's heart. A treasure he kept under lock and key. She was beautiful but not Hollywood beautiful, not plastic and perfect. That wasn't something Joe Pike looked for in a woman she had to be beautiful on the inside, above reproach. I only wished I could have known her. What hurt Joe hurt me, too

The paramedics burst through the door but I told them it was too late. They checked Winters for vitals but were afraid to approach Pike, rage radiated from him like heat off the asphalt on a California summer day. Starkey stumbled in behind the rest. Pike bumped into her on his way out.

"Hey Pike," she said. She looked at me and I shook my head. She saw the bodies in the room.

"Oh," was all she said. I'd explain later but I wasn't up to it now.

Pike's Jeep was blocked in by the other vehicles. He plowed through the hedges across the lawn and down the curb. He was so angry all I could do was hope the body count didn't get any higher. Thank God, he left before the feds showed up or it would have been a blood bath.

"Can I get a ride?" I asked Starkey. "Mine just left without me."

She looked outside at the front lawn and said. "Lucky you. I'm assuming self defense here." She motioned to the body of Winters.

"I saw it all. She was Pike's girlfriend," I said.

"The bastards lucky all Pike did was shoot him. Heads are going to roll on this one the feds fucked up big time. They had him in protective custody and he escaped. Killed a fed too. They shouldn't have played it this way."

It was just as we thought. Winters was a loser in Witsec who had rolled on his associates in a drug cartel years ago. The divorce and swindle had brought him out into the open. The fake murder was just a diversion until they got him relocated. Alyse never would have been prosecuted. By helping her, Pike got her killed; that was the irony of life. No good deed goes unpunished. I wasn't sure how I was going to tell Pike or if I was going to tell him. Pike didn't love often but when he did it was forever.

The story hit the papers the next day so whether or not to tell him was out of my hands. Over the next few days I called his cell phone, the condo and the gun shop, but no one had seen him since that day. My last message I told him the cat missed him and wanted him to call. Finally, at the end of the week I got up before sunrise and drove to the pier where they had met. He was standing like a statue. I think the only thing holding him up was the railing. I know he was surprised to see me even though you'd never know it.

I said. "World's Greatest." and shrugged. Maybe today I was the world's greatest friend, too. I don't know. I had a brought a six pack of beer. Beer wasn't the usual for breakfast but this wasn't a usual situation either. I uncapped a beer and handed it too him. He drank it down without stopping. Knowing Pike he had been standing there for the last four days. No food, no water punishing himself for her death.

"She's dead because of me."

"You couldn't have known it would go down this way. You can't blame yourself."

"I was going to marry her." His voice was hollow like he was empty inside.

There was a hint of pain in Pike's voice I had never heard before. I felt like someone gut punched me and I couldn't breathe. I didn't know how to respond to that. In all the years I'd known him he never mentioned marriage. Maybe that's how true love was. It wasn't planned it just sneaks up on you. One day you realize you found the one.

"Does the cat really miss me?" He said as though trying to find some measure of comfort in being needed by my straggly, old cat.

"He's a mess," I said. "I wanted you to know I went to the funeral."

"Thanks, I know."

I'm sure he was there somewhere. A public place wasn't where he'd want to share his private pain. He had arranged the for the plot and service since she had no family. The coffin was draped in white roses with a single red rose in the middle.

"I don't want to remember her that way."

I understood what he meant. I was feeling sorry for myself and said. "I miss Lucy." After, I felt small and regretted my words. At least she was alive and there was still hope for us.

Joe looked at me and said. "I know."

I could maybe see Pike married, but kids? Although, he was great with my ex-girlfriend Lucy's son Ben and the kid worshiped him.

"Kids?" I asked.

He nodded, yes. I'm sure stranger things have happened in this vast universe. I'm just sorry if it was what he wanted he didn't get it. I guess I've always pictured Pike as the terminal bachelor, the lone wolf preferring his solitude. Pike the soldier, the cop, the mercenary I just had never pictured Pike as the husband and father. But, I could see him as a father. Maybe it would have done him good to see he didn't have to be like his father. That he could have broken the cycle of violence. Maybe then he could have made peace with his past. Instead Joe and I stood on the pier together drinking beer and waiting. Sometimes it's the simple things in life like a sunrise that can give us what we need to face another day. I put my hand on his shoulder and said "Let's go home."

I drove him back where he could shower and change and get back to normal. I don't exactly know what normal is for Joe Pike but I do know he changed his jogging route and never went back to the pier.

I couldn't sleep so I stood on the deck in the early morning light. The canyon smelled rich and alive like new beginnings. A dark dot on the horizon grew closer. The hawk had returned alone. He circled aimlessly on the morning breeze. His shrill cries pierced the silence. Unlike the hawks most people don't mate for life or until death they do part. I wondered if there really was only one person, one soul mate for us in our lives. I also wondered if Joe and I had already lost ours…I hoped not.

Thanks to those who read this and thanks to Robert for creating such memorable and timeless characters.