Chapter 25
As Bobby ascended the stairs, he could hear the music from Johnny's stereo. Damn, the neighbors must love him.
Bobby entered the apartment with their breakfast, but the music was so loud, neither Johnny nor Danny heard him. Bobby walked to the kitchen and placed the shopping bag on the island, then snuck up behind Johnny and playfully punched him in the shoulder.
"Hey man!" he smiled, rubbing his arm. "What the hell took you so long? We're starving!"
"You know Martinelli's on a Saturday morning...the damn line was out the door," he lied, keeping his smile to himself.
Johnny turned down the volume and he and Danny joined Bobby in the kitchen, as he unpacked the bag.
"Smells great," Danny said. Anybody wanna eat outside?"
Johnny laughed, teasing him. "Ah, the city boy likes the great outdoors, huh?"
"Hey, I'm stuck in the office all week long," Danny replied. "At least my detectives get out in the field every day."
The three men grabbed refills of their coffee, some paper plates and napkins, and headed for the balcony.
"Perfect day for the Crabfest," Johnny announced as he took in the view and took a deep breath of salty ocean air. The sun was shining and the sky was clear blue.
Bobby and Danny nodded in concurrence as they took their seats and, once again, began unpacking their breakfast sandwiches.
"Try this one," Bobby said to his Captain as he passed him a wrapped sandwich. "Crab omelet on a croissant..."
Bobby opened the container holding the side orders of bacon, sausage and pork roll.
"Wow, there's enough food here for an army," Danny joked.
"You've seen Dawg eat!," Bobby teased. "I forgot the OJ. I'll be right back."
"You've gotta try the zucchini and mushroom quiche," Johnny told Danny.
Danny looked skeptically at Johnny.
"I know...I know... 'real men don't eat quiche' ...well, this one does," he said defiantly, pointing a finger at himself.
The three of them happily ate and talked, filling the Captain in on more of their childhood 'adventures.'
Once through with their meal, they cleared the table and relaxed in the living room for a while, listening to more music.
Finally, Johnny announced, "I'm gonna hit the shower and get dressed. I figure we should head over to the pier by one o'clock."
"Yeah, sounds good to me," Bobby answered, while Danny nodded.
Johnny headed for his bedroom and master bath.
"You can go first, if you want," Bobby said, thumbing towards the guest bath.
"No, it's okay –you can go. I um, I wanna sit and listen some more."
Bobby smiled, "Quite a set up, huh?"
"Unbelievable," Danny agreed, still in awe. "All the masterpieces of stereo equipment –all in one room. The Marantz, the Bedini..." Danny said, pointing around the room to the various pieces. "The Krell, the Vendetta," he continued pointing with a wistful look on his face.
Bobby read the Captain's appreciation –and envy—easily.
"And the turntables...Gyrodec...Pierre Lurne...and the Sun Audios..." his voice trailed off. "This is like an audiophiles wet dream," he sighed.
Bobby smiled. The Captain obviously knows his stuff. No wonder he and Johnny hit it off.
X X X
Bobby was showered and dressed –appropriately in khaki cargo shorts and a sea-foam green polo –for the hot summer day. He rejoined Danny in the living room.
"Bathroom's free," Bobby said.
"Thanks. I won't take long," Danny said as he laid the issue of Audio Xpress on the coffee table.
Danny stood up from the sofa and walked passed Bobby, giving him a small smile. He took a few steps down the hall, towards the bathroom, then paused and turned.
"Bobby."
Bobby looked up from the newspaper he'd just begun to read and raised his eyebrows in question.
"Thanks for inviting me along."
Bobby merely nodded and gave him a small smile.
The Captain continued, "It's been a long time since I had company eating breakfast. I'm...I'm having fun. Thanks."
"No problem. I'm gl-glad you came."
As Danny padded off down the hall, Bobby smiled to himself as he realized he really was glad that the Captain came along. He was even happier now that he'd run his secret errand.
X X X
The gorgeous, perfect weather continued throughout the day. The pier was packed with people enjoying the sunshine and the festive atmosphere. There were rows and rows of vendors for various foods (mostly seafood), along with stands selling tee-shirts and other types of souvenirs.
Bobby, Danny and Johnny strolled the length of the pier and the surrounding parking lots. They talked, joked and ate, being easily enticed by the aromas of grilled and steamed oysters, clams, crab and lobster from all the food stands they passed by.
"What do you think of these?" Danny asked Bobby, holding up two tee-shirts for his boys.
"They're nice," Bobby answered with a nod.
"You have boys, right?" Johnny hollered over from the stand where he was browsing.
"Yeah – two," Danny answered.
"Boys don't want tee shirts," Johnny scoffed. "C'mere, why don't ya get 'em these?"
Danny and Bobby exchanged a look of 'why not?' and sauntered over to Johnny, who was overlooking a huge cage of hermit crabs.
Bobby smiled.
"Hermit crabs?" Danny asked. "My Ex would be pissed."
Johnny laughed and flashed Danny and Bobby a huge smile, "Exactly."
X X X
As they strolled from the stand, Johnny was still smiling. Next to him, Danny carried the blue plastic 'aquarium' –the home to his children's new pets. Bobby carried the shopping bag with their food and a spray bottle of water to keep the pets moist.
"She really is gonna be pissed, you know," Danny reiterated.
Johnny laughed again.
X X X
After watching the beginning of the sunset, the men decided to have dinner indoors –in the air conditioning- at a local little dive next to the pier called Clam Diggers. All three were sunburned and the cool air felt refreshing on their stinging skin.
Their sexy blond waitress fussed over the cute little pair of crabs that Bobby had placed on the empty chair next to him and by the time she'd served their dessert had dubbed the little critters "Curly" and "Burly" –in honor of Danny's and Bobby's hair, and Johnny's physique.
After dinner, for which Danny insisted paying, the guys decided to have one last drink at the outdoor bar. A live band was playing and it was apparent that the 'party' atmosphere of the day was going to carry far into the night.
X X X
"I had a feeling I'd run into you today," a melodic voice whispered over Danny's shoulder. His head snapped around, coming face-to-face with Elaine.
"Hi!" Danny said with a smile, as he shifted over to make room for her at the bar. "You here with your sister?"
Elaine nodded. "She and her group will probably close the place," she answered, tossing her head towards the rowdy group of women at the other end of the bar.
"What about you?" Danny asked, feeling extremely self- conscious as Bobby and Johnny looked on.
"No, not me," Elaine shook her head. "I've had enough of this –I want to be somewhere quiet."
Danny stood silently and took a sip from his bottle of beer.
Johnny kicked the Captain's ankle and muttered, "That's your cue, man. I'd go for it if I were you."
Danny pretended a cough, clearing his throat. "Yes, it's getting louder in here. You wanna… go for a walk or something?"
Elaine smiled and nodded. "I'd love to."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Danny said as he turned toward Bobby and Johnny. "These are my friends, Bobby and Johnny. Bobby, Johnny –this is Elaine."
Johnny and Bobby had to practically shout over the noisy crowd. Each offered his hand, gently shaking Elaine's. "Nice to meet you."
"We're getting out of here –going for a walk," Danny said, noting Bobby's and Johnny's congratulatory 'way to go' smiles. "Bobby, would you mind keeping an eye on these guys?"
"Sure thing," Bobby said.
As Danny and Elaine began to make their way through the crowd, Bobby called after them, "Capt'n . . Danny!
Danny spun and Elaine looked on to see what Bobby wanted.
"How long are you gonna be? Where should we meet up?" Bobby called over the crowd noise.
Bobby stood and watched as Elaine whispered something in Danny's ear, then Danny turned and shouted back to Bobby, "Elaine says she can give me a lift back – you guys go do what you want."
Bobby was surprised –and happy- for his Captain. Johnny just looked on smiling, then gave Danny a quick wink and a 'thumbs up' before he turned back towards the bar and his beer.
X X X (Sunday Morning)
Bobby sleepily stumbled to the living room, finding Johnny sitting one the sofa, while Curly and Burly clattered along atop the coffee table.
"Hey – g'morning," Bobby yawned and stretched.
"Hey," Johnny answered. These things are walking all over –I gave 'em a bath already."
"Just don't kill 'em before the Captain gets 'em home to his kids," Bobby teased, walking towards the kitchen to get some coffee.
"You hear Danny get in last night?" Johnny asked.
In his morning stupor, Bobby had temporarily forgotten the events of the prior night. "Oh – um, no man – I conked out 'soon as I hit the bed –all that sun and fresh air."
Bobby joined Johnny on the couch and playfully jabbed a finger at Curly –the smaller of the two crabs. "Did you hear him?"
"No –I was knocked out, too."
Curiosity got the better of him and Bobby got up from sofa and walked to the guest bedroom, then lightly tapped on the door.
He tried the handle and it turned –the door was open.
Danny's bed wasn't slept in.
END Chapter 25