Chapter 26

"He's not here –he never came home last night," Bobby called to the living room to Johnny.

"Good for him!" Johnny yelled back, chuckling.

"I –I don't know about this," Bobby said as he rejoined Johnny, a worried tone to his voice. "It's almost ten o'clock...I don't think he would..."

Johnny cut him off mid-sentence. "Of course he would!" he exclaimed. He's a divorced guy who hasn't had any action since God knows when," he laughed.

Bobby still had an uncomfortable feeling, so he did what he always does when he needs reassurance –comforting; he headed to the bedroom to get his cell phone. Just as flipped it open and hit his speed dial to Alex's number, he heard Johnny bellow from the living room.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in!"

Bobby's chest heaved a sigh of relief. He flipped his phone closed. That's weird –I was really worried about him.

When Bobby returned to the living room, he found Johnny smiling, playfully punching Danny's shoulder with a "way to go."

The Captain looked embarrassed, despite his own smile, but took Johnny's good-natured teasing in stride.

Bobby didn't want to broach the subject of where the Captain had been –or what he'd been doing. He was, after all, a grown man and didn't have to answer to Bobby or Johnny. So, he merely offered, "Need some coffee?"

Danny nodded a "thanks" as he took the steaming hot mug from Bobby. He sipped and headed out to the balcony table.

Johnny and Bobby exchanged a look –one that Bobby knew well. Johnny wasn't going to let the subject drop. He stood from the couch and headed to the balcony, as well, with Bobby close behind.

"Your Detective was beginning to worry," Johnny teased.

Bobby rolled his eyes. I'll get you for that.

"Yeah –um, sorry about that," Danny muttered as he sipped.

"So, you get any sleep at all?" Johnny persisted, rubbing it in and enjoying every second of Danny's unease.

"A little."

Johnny and Bobby were both surprised that he'd even answered. They were further surprised when Danny continued.

"After we left that bar...we took a walk on the beach. Then we ended up back by where her car was parked," he added, then sipped his coffee again. "She had a blanket in her trunk –and a bottle of wine...a big one. We went back to the beach and stayed up talking for hours."

Johnny reached and slapped Bobby's shoulder, "See, he was just up talking," he emphasized with a wink and a sly grin. "You didn't have to worry!"

Danny shrugged his shoulders and smiled at Johnny's innuendo. "By the time the sun was coming up, we were pretty wasted, so we just went back to the car and slept a while –then, she drove me back."

"Uh-huh," Johnny nodded, still smiling.

"What?" Bobby asked, surprising himself at his defense of the Captain.

Johnny hit his arm again. "He left out the good parts!" he teased, laughing.

Danny finished off his mug of coffee and stood. "A gentleman doesn't reveal such things," he said in a pretend-scolding tone.

As he stepped through the sliding glass door into the living room, he heard Johnny say: "See? I told ya he got lucky!"

X X X

While Danny went to shower, Bobby finally filled Johnny in on his plan for the Captain.

"So, the idea is to get him downtown, right?" Johnny confirmed.

"Right. Just play along." Bobby said.

X X X

Danny emerged from the bedroom after having a hot shower and putting on clean clothes. He had skipped shaving for the second day and was looking more and more like his genius detective.

Johnny was, once again, playing the stereo while Bobby was reading.

"You want me to get some breakfast? Maybe McDonalds?" Bobby offered.

"What, so you can disappear on us again?" Johnny teased, alluding to Bobby's unusually long breakfast trip the day before.

"How about that diner we went to last time?" Bobby baited him.

"Oh, the one downtown? The Heritage?"

"Yeah –the one with those great breakfast crepes," Bobby said.

"Fine with me," Johnny said.

"You up for breakfast, Cap—Dan?" Bobby asked.

"Sure –whatever. I feel pretty good now," Danny answered.

"I'll bet you do," Johnny kept his teasing up.

After shutting down the stereo and locking up, the three men headed downtown for breakfast.

X X X

"You gonna finish that?" Johnny asked, tossing his head towards the half-eaten order of home fries in the center of the table.

"No," Bobby and Danny answered in unison. "You go ahead."

Johnny spooned the crispy potatoes onto his plate and, while shaking ketchup from the bottle casually said, "Hey, Carlos is only a couple of blocks away. You mind if we stop in and say hello?"

Johnny, my friend. You delivered that line perfectly. This is going right according to plan. "I don't mind," Bobby answered. I haven't seen him in while," he lied.

Danny finished his orange juice, none the wiser. He assumed, correctly, that Carlos was just another one of Johnny's friends. What he didn't know was that Carlos was also the owner of the Eternity Tattooing and Piercing Parlor.

X X X

Johnny stepped through the door first, followed by Bobby and Danny.

"Johnny! How've you been, man?" Carlos cheerfully greeted him, as they shared a handshake and back-patting hug.

Breaking their embrace, Carlos smiled at Bobby. "Bobby, good to see you again!" They, too, shook hands and hugged, guy style.

Carlos knew that the third man with them was his 'mark.'

"Carlos, this is my fr- my Captain, Dan Ross," Bobby introduced.

While Danny and Carlos shook hands, Danny said, "That's all right –he can call me 'friend' today. He doesn't have to go back to calling me 'Captain' 'till tomorrow."

"Good to meet you, Danny," Carlos smiled.

"So man, you been busy?" Johnny asked.

"Crazy busy, buddy," Carlos replied. "You know –summertime comes –everybody wants a new piercing or ink --bikini weather," he laughed devilishly.

"That's good, man. Good for business," Johnny said, as Bobby and Danny nodded in agreement.

"Yup, can't complain, I suppose," Carlos said, as he walked back behind the counter, subtly tossing his head towards Bobby to steer Danny in the right direction. "I did a ton of custom drawings this week –nice stuff –originals, you know?"

"I guess this is where you've gotten all of yours?" Danny asked Johnny.

"Not all of 'em, but most of them," Johnny answered while he perused the new designs displayed in the case.

"Carlos did mine," Bobby interjected.

Bobby and Johnny kept admiring the artwork, gradually making their way down to the spot where Carlos' newest design was displayed. Danny followed. Carlos mirrored their walk from the other side of the counter and stopped when their 'target' was front and center.

Bobby's finger tapped nonchalantly on the glass, indicating to Johnny the reason why they were here. Bobby was smiling. Carlos' work –as usual, was perfect.

They waited for Danny to catch up to them.

Bobby's stomach fluttered a little with nervous apprehension. Maybe this was too presumptuous of me. Maybe he'll be pissed off. Well, the Captain's only five steps away. I guess I'll know soon enough.

Carlos and Bobby shared a smile; Carlos' was a proud one –Bobby's nervous.

Danny was actually enjoying looking at all the different tattoo samples in the cases. There was a little bit of everything, from hard-core biker tats, to cartoon characters, to prettier feminine designs.

Then he reached the 'original' designs. He had a real appreciation for the artwork and realized just how talented and creative Carlos must be. Danny found himself lost in thought. Every picture –every image Carlos imprints on his customers –every one has a special meaning to the person wearing it –like Bobby's. That's an amazing talent –an amazing gift to be able to give to someone.

Finally, Danny reached the spot where the other three men stood and began studying the displays in that case, as well.

Bobby watched his Captain's face for his reaction...and, behind his back, crossed his fingers.

END Chapter 26