NOIR

Chapter Five

Secrets

By Steve Edward

Randy Baldwin rose early on Wednesday morning and reviewed the e-mails. One from Sheriff Phil Nagel caused Randy to laugh as Phil's attempt to warn Randy had already come too late. Sending a brief reply to calm his friend, Randy headed to the basement of his home to work out.

Kirika Yumura having risen early as well heard the sound of a punching bag being punched and followed it to the basement where she found Randy absorbed in his workout. She watched Randy who was dressed in loose fitting sweats, pummeling an Everlast bag suspended from the overhead with various martial art attacks.

Though approaching 50 years of age, she noted Randy was still fit and trim his muscles well toned. Approaching from his blind side, Kirika about to greet him verbally; found that she had to defend herself from Randy who had sensed her presence.

Spinning rapidly and striking blindly, Randy scored a direct hit that was narrowly deflected and which sent Kirika skidding and sliding across the mats.

Randy not expecting Kirika had lashed out with a karate kick that was partially blocked, and realizing his error Randy already beginning to advance stopped, "Kirika? Are you ok? I am sorry." Kirika shaking off the attack said nothing but came after Randy.

Kirika threw four kick jabs and then spun and leaped into the air, and sent a kick of her own landing a hit on Randy in return, which knocked him to his knees.

Kirika landed then launching herself like a line backer, slammed into his chest; sending Randy backward where he landed heavily on the mat trying to shake the stars from his eyes with Kirika who was rearing back with her right fist stopped, "Mr. Baldwin? Perhaps I should have said something sooner. Did you have to attack me unprovoked?"

Looking upward at Kirika, Randy mused that this was how he and Kirika had ended up the last time. Debating for a moment Randy acted, as Kirika only heard, "What the hell can't hurt to try it again", as she suddenly found herself pinned to the mat, her wrists being firmly held and Randy with a sly smile replied, "Ms. Yumura, please don't do that again remember the last time?" As Kirika tried to head butt Randy he moved his head aside as she hit her head on his shoulder.

Mireille having come downstairs heard the commotion in the basement and witnessed the attempted head butt, "Randy! Kirika! That is enough!" Randy distracted, did not see but felt the second head butt, "OW! Damn it Kirika knock it off!" Kirika seething, "You attacked first! I am returning the favor," as Kirika tried a third time to head butt Randy who was trying to disentangle himself only felt her legs pulling him closer and tighter to her. Mireille grabbed Kirika by her shoulders and pulled her free.

Rubbing the bump on his forehead, Randy warily stood and apologized again "Kirika, I said I was sorry." Kirika regaining her composer stood as well, but her eyes communicated her anger, "I will accept Mr. Baldwin, but you must accept a combat match with me and do so now!"

Mireille could feel the anger seething through Kirika, "Randy, that would not be a good idea," as Randy studied Kirika.

Kirika focused on Randy, tried to shake free of Mireille's grip "Mireille let me go!" at which she slammed her foot down on Mireille's ankle. Randy watched as Mireille winced in pain.

Randy thought a moment, "Ok Kirika I accept but on the following conditions. We will wear padded gloves, ankle and wrist pads with head protection and mouth pieces. Mireille will be the referee; there will be no hits below the belt line except to the leg areas. Is that understood?"

Kirika smiled, "I accept!" as Randy sighing shrugged his shoulders at Mireille "Might as well get it over with. I should have warned both of you about coming down here when I work out. I'll have to remember to tell Gina and the kids the same thing."

Mireille frowning tried to make both reconsider, "It was entirely an accident. This is not really necessary." Kirika turned to Mireille, "Yes it is. Mr. Baldwin deliberately mocked me." Randy retrieving the padding from a nearby storage locker, "Mireille you were not there the last time, so I guess it is time for Kirika to pay me back." Randy tossed the padding to Kirika, "Ok young lady. Get dressed out into something more comfortable first then put the padding on. I'll wait."

Kirika left briefly to change and while gone Mireille still rubbing her ankle while sitting on a weight bench gave her own view of the situation, "Randy you should know that Kirika is well trained in various techniques and that she could conceivably do harm to you even with the padding."

Randy cinching the gloves tight nodded, "Yeah I know, but at least I will get a good workout, but don't count me out. There are a few tricks that I have not displayed to Kirika or you. It will be a challenge for both of us, but Mireille I have to admit I did push Kirika's buttons too many times."

Kirika returned to the basement wearing a pair of shorts and nothing but a sports bra and she had already put on her padding. Slamming her gloves together with a loud smack, Kirika looked at Randy "Mr. Baldwin. Take your position now."

Eyeing Kirika, Randy observed her stance. Relaxed but confident, balanced on the balls of her feet her leg muscles rippled with subdued power, her athletic build well toned; Kirika exuded confidence.

Mireille watched as both opponents eyed and studied each other. Randy who is 49, a retired field agent of the Central Intelligence Agency with years of field experience as well as hand to hand combat in various forms of the martial arts to Kirika who is a mere 24 years old soon to be 25. Kirika had started her training but when very young.

The pros and cons were evident, Randy had yet to demonstrate all of his hand to hand abilities, but he was much heavier but also slower and older than Kirika. Kirika much lighter, and very agile would strive to get close in and mix it up with Randy, in short Randy would be contending with a human buzz saw bent on giving him his punishment.

Taking positions, Kirika and Randy then bowed to each other and upon the signal from Mireille the challenge began; it was 5:30 AM.

Kirika came in hard and fast, landing repeated hits to Randy's chest and head then attempted an ankle sweep, which Randy avoided and instead of coming back down from his leap twisted and spun landing a hit onto Kirika's left hip slamming her sideways to her knees.

Kirika countered and caught Randy when he landed and knocked him violently to the matt.

Leaping from her position, Kirika tumbled through the air and hooked her legs around Randy's neck driving him backward, then with a left hook landed a blow that initially dazed him as he tried to lift himself upward.

Randy bent backward with a 110 pound fighting mad Kirika atop of him, twisted and briefly broke Kirika's legs free from his neck and drove a hard hit into her kidneys, then as Kirika leaned backward he sent a hard hit into her chest knocking her breathless.

Mireille watching intently, as Kirika deprived of the head butting by the padding attempted to do so anyway.

Kirika flustered, grabbed Randy's left arm and bent it over past his head, but felt the back of his foot as he landed a furious hit into her lower back, kicking her forward into Randy, who then rolled and ended up on top. Pinned to the matt, Kirika continued to strike Randy repeatedly with her free hand, even going so far as to finally jabbing him with her elbows.

Randy absorbing the punishment debated on whether to declare victory, when Kirika managed to send a pile driver hit onto the left side of Randy's head. Mireille stopped the match and had the aggressors separate.

Kirika attempting to circle around Mireille found her movements blocked. Mireille noted the small cut below Randy's left eye called the match to a close "Enough! Fight is over with. I declare it a draw." Mireille noted that both had been sparring for nearly 15 minutes.

Randy sighed with relief as Kirika relaxed her stance, "Ok, I have to agree Mireille. That has been enough of a workout for the both of us," as he turned away Randy winced and rubbed his side, "Definitely time for the hot tub."

Mireille watched Randy Baldwin walk slowly to a nearby bench and sit down where he began to remove his padding turned to Kirika, "You do the same. I'll be in the hot tub." Kirika having briefly forgotten that she had slammed her foot down on Mireille's ankle hurriedly removed her gloves to help Mireille up the stairs.

Randy removed his t-shirt and noted the bruises beginning to show mused, "Damn even with the padding that me and Kirika were wearing it is going to be a black and blue day. No more hand to hand with Kirika, that young woman can beat the hell out of a man."

Bending painfully over to remove the ankle padding, Randy striped down to his boxer shorts and headed to the hot tub.

Mireille shrugged off Kirika once they reached the main floor, "Kirika, what were you trying to do?" Kirika who was calm again replied, "Randy provoked me deliberately!"

Mireille looked at Kirika, "That I seriously doubt. If Randy Baldwin was trying to provoke you, he would have found a different way all together. You did come up from behind him and did not give Randy any warning. He can become focused and will ignore his normal surroundings have you not noticed that before?"

Leaving the gym, Randy entered the next room housing the hot tub and setting the controls climbed in and let the bubble jets begin to work their magic. Kirika soon entered the hot tub wearing a full body bathing suit and Mireille wearing the little red number that Randy had given her several months earlier, sat opposite of Kirika.

Mireille enveloped in the bubbling, looked Randy over as he relaxed "Mr. Baldwin, care to explain what happened between you and Kirika?" Briefly opening his eyes Randy glimpsed just how little the red swim suit did cover Mireille, "It was when you were unconscious in bed back in October of last year and Kirika was scouting the perimeter of the house. I had a feeling she was out there and decided to confront her which I did. We both ended up in a similar position as the last time so I decided that I could use the same move that I used against her previously, but I made fun of the predicament; so that is why Kirika wanted to have a fight with me." Kirika who had submerged all but her eyes rose briefly from the water, "You took advantage of me."

Randy chuckled, "Kirika, you are probably right about that. I kind of enjoyed the moment. I don't have a regular sparring partner, so I over did it. Still it was refreshing to say the least." Kirika hearing the reply submerged again. Mireille leaned backward and let her neck muscles get massaged by the spray jets. Stretching her legs out a bit too far, Randy felt her feet and grabbed her ankles.

Randy watched the surprised expression on Mireille's face as he tickled the bottom of her feet as she tried to pull her feet back, Randy began to massage her toes, "Randy please don't do that!" as Mireille broke out into a fit of giggles. Kirika fully submerged briefly and watched through the bubbling water as Randy Baldwin playfully tickled Mireille's feet.

Finally letting go, Randy relaxed back again only to find another pair of feet landing in his lap. Eyeing Kirika, he repeated the tickling much to the amusement of Mireille who watched Kirika's eyes also open wide in response and then Kirika began to laugh as well.

Finally withdrawing her feet, Kirika elicited a smile at both Mireille and Randy then submerged. Neither Randy nor Mireille expected what came next. Kirika grabbed both pairs of feet underwater and yanked them towards her. Yanked underwater by Kirika, Mireille and Randy thinking they had grabbed Kirika, instead found each other.

Surfacing together face to face, Kirika watched as Randy and Mireille their faces flushed deep red after realizing who they had grabbed. Randy who had grabbed Mireille above her waist and had pulled her towards him could only blink at Mireille who did the same in return. Mireille breaking the silence "Mr. Baldwin, is what you are doing really necessary?" Randy who had moved his hands slightly stammered, "Um uh nope. I was kind of feeling for someone else Mireille."

Mireille saw Randy's eyes go wide with shock, "Mireille! I am really sorry about that, but tweaking me there..." Mireille pulled back slightly and glanced downward, "Tweaking you where?" as Mireille finally saw what was going on but getting tweaked herself by Randy again.

Completely involuntary Randy had tweaked Mireille again, "Honest it was reflex!" Mireille, brushed Randy's hands off her chest and went after Kirika, but missed hitting Randy underwater, "Damn it that is not funny" as Randy on the receiving end of an underwater punch though slow still had an impact reacted by reaching up again and pinching Mireille as hard as he could on her breasts.

Kirika retreating surfaced on the other side of the hot tub out of reach and with a smile "Now we are even, Mr. Baldwin!" Mireille realizing who had been tweaking Randy tried to grab her but missed and loosing her footing, Mireille toppled backward onto Randy Baldwin; who grabbed Mireille to keep her from sliding underwater.

Randy felt something let go and realized what it was and closed his eyes, "Mireille you lost something" as he held the top of her swim suit in the air Mireille spun around to find Randy had closed his eyes. Snatching the top from his hand, Mireille furious at first realized it had been partly her fault as well began to laugh as she retied the top.

Kirika watched as Mireille got close to Randy then planting a kiss pulled him underwater with her. Randy could only follow through and returned one as well out of sight from Kirika. Both surfaced a moment later and they were looking directly at Kirika. Randy still slightly sore glanced at Mireille "What the hell, might as well" as he reached out and grabbed one leg and Mireille snatched the other and together they pulled Kirika towards them both.

By 9 AM when Angelina Lopez and Roberto Lopez had arrived at the Baldwin farm they found the trio fully dressed enjoying breakfast on the front porch. Roberto having let out Toby and Cumquat could hear the laughter coming from the group. Angelina having begun cleanup found the hot tub had been used and though the room had many drains; Angelina wondered how so much water could end up on the floor.

Gina Frazier who was in second period gymnastics coaching several young girls through their routines paused briefly to chat with Jill Nagel, "Jill how did it go with Phil?" as she guided one girl through a back flip.

Jill tapping her foot and looking crossed, "Phil did what I expected and that was to avoid the matter entirely. What about you?"

Gina smiled, "Me and Randy came to an understanding. It was really a miscommunication on his part and my part. I found out what I needed to know." Jill with a slight grin, "So you two are going to get back together?"

Gina nodded, "Yes we are. He is going to set up a weekend out with me and the kids." Jill crossed her arms, "So do you think it might get more serious?" Gina blushed, "I think so."

Jill with a soft laugh wished Gina luck and left the gym.

Angelina answered the phone when it rang and carried the handset out to the porch to Randy, Sheriff Phil Nagel was calling. Thanking Angelina, Randy answered, "Baldwin speaking, what's up Phil?"

Phil Nagel responded, "Hey Randy want to do lunch at Mama's Place?" Glancing over at Mireille and Kirika, Randy replied "Sure, but I am bringing some friends." Phil chuckled, "Sure bring them along, they might enjoy the cooking." Randy replied that he would and gave a meeting time of 12:30 PM, to which Phil agreed. Turning off the phone Randy set it on the table, "Mireille, Kirika. I am going to treat you both to some honest to god southern cooking for lunch.

Randy excused himself and headed for the garage, where he stopped at the Model A Ford sedan. Roberto having tended to Toby and Cumquat joined him. Mireille retired to do some light reading and study several tourist brochures with Kirika. Mireille in the sitting room had been amazed that there was so much to do in the southeastern United States.

The replacement starter motor for the Ford which Randy and Roberto were installing was a rebuilt unit. With Roberto measuring the spacing the men finally were able to get the starter properly adjusted. The antique Ford had been an ongoing project for Randy; the car had been bought at an estate sale in Tennessee two years earlier. Finally satisfied that everything was in order, Randy and Roberto pushed the car out of the garage for a test start. Kirika having just exited the house was greeted by the sound of the engine backfiring and enveloping both men in a cloud of smoke. Hurriedly adjusting the controls Randy finally got the engine to idle smoothly.

Kirika eyeing the antique car approached Randy from the side, his upper body inside the engine compartment jolted suddenly as he withdrew, "Jeez, Roberto watch that wiring." Both men appeared to be nursing their hands as Kirika interrupted, "Mr. Baldwin is there a problem?" Randy turned and smiled, "Ah no Kirika. Just getting the old girl running, the spark plug wiring carries a bit of a bite."

Roberto laughed, "Yes it does, but it is a love bite. The car is happy to be running once again," as Roberto bent over and adjusted a hose clamp. Angelina exiting the house joined her husband, but at a distance warily eying the open engine compartment.

Speaking briefly with her husband, Angelina turned toward their car and waved goodbye as she drove off to the market.

Mireille exiting the house as well watched as Kirika, Randy and Roberto stuck their heads into the engine compartment. Randy pointing out the various components of the engine felt a tap on his shoulder and turned. Mireille smiled, "If you are finished playing with your toy; you might want to remember the lunch appointment that we have with Sheriff Nagel."

Glancing at his watch and seeing it was nearly 11:45 AM feigned shock, "Oops almost forgot. Let me put the car back in the garage and get washed up. Mama's Place is only 15 minutes from here."

Backing the car under its own power into its parking space, Randy shut the engine off and in the confines of the building the engine backfired yet again leaving every ones ears briefly ringing. Mireille, who was standing outside wondered if the car was supposed to do that.

Taking the Ford Crown Victoria, Randy with Mireille and Kirika drove at a leisurely pace to their destination. Mama's Kitchen located in a shopping center served a variety of southern foods. The owner Mama Edna, an African-American woman had run the eatery for nearly 35 years at its various locations through the years. The developer of the shopping center had lured her there with incentives and they had both enjoyed a fruitful partnership over the past 5 years.

Sheriff Nagel, having arrived first waited for the lunch crowd to thin out. Relaxing in a rocking chair outside Phil casually scanned the crowded parking lot. Observing Randy Baldwin driving up, he waited till Randy with Mireille and Kirika exited the car before standing.

Randy shook hands with Phil and held the door open for Mireille and Kirika. Sheriff Nagel taking note of the bruise under Randy's eye, "Ok Randy who was the sparring partner?" as Randy briefly touched the bruise replied, "Kirika."

Sheriff Nagel, chuckling "Will you not ever learn that having her for a sparring partner can be detrimental to your appearance;" as Randy quipped back, "Well at least it was not Jill."

Unlike a buffet where one would shuffle along from item to item, Mama's Kitchen utilized Lazy Susans on the tables themselves. The lunch fare placed on the Lazy Susan's allowed the patrons to get their fill without having to get up and return for seconds.

Settling down to eat, Sheriff Nagel paused briefly to give Randy a manila envelope which he opened and read the contents. Glancing up at Phil, "So you have a new gang in the county;" as Randy took a bite of country fried steak Sheriff Nagel nodded "Unfortunately yes. They are migrating northward recruiting new members both male and female. The gang has been raising all sorts of hell in Gwinnett, Dekalb, Rockdale and Cobb counties."

Mireille enjoying a piece of fried chicken interrupted, "Has this gang been causing extensive problems?" Sheriff Nagel nodded, "Yes they have Mireille. Three years ago Randy and me tangled with Hispanic gang members in a shootout. That particular gang had been involved in home invasions, street robberies, car thefts, and drugs among other things. After the Hispanic community found out what happened, many became more friendlier with talking with us when they had problems. Now this new gang is trying to slam the door shut and undo all of our work."

Randy glancing out into the parking lot saw Angelina Lopez pushing a shopping cart from the nearby Kroger store to her car. Mireille saw the hardness come to Randy's eyes as he quickly stood and walked towards the exit, "Phil we got a problem."

Angelina enjoyed working for Randy Baldwin, who had in the middle of a Georgia summer thunderstorm come to her family's rescue along with Sheriff Phil Nagel. Pushing the cart from Kroger, she had not noticed the two men following her until she opened the trunk and the two Hispanic men stepped to either side of her.

Three steps behind Randy, Sheriff Nagel on his portable radio requested that any available patrol unit be sent to the shopping center. Mama Edna watched both men and then the two women leave behind them at a brisk pace. Gazing into the parking lot she saw where Randy was headed and reached for the telephone on the counter and dialed 911.

Angelina felt the jab in her side, the bad breath from one of the men made her nearly gag. Speaking in Spanish, Angelina pleaded with the men to leave her alone. Jose standing to her right, his teeth badly discolored pressed the knife a little bit harder as he reached for Angelina's purse. Jesus momentarily focused on Angelina's breasts, placed his hand on top of her blouse and grinned, "You will enjoy me," as Jesus pictured himself ripping her blouse open heard the unmistakable sound of a semi-automatic having a round chambered.

Jose briefly baffled by Randy's appearance, grinned as he wrapped his arm around Angelina's neck and pulled her towards him. Jose now had Angelina as a hostage and flashing the hunting knife as he placed it against Angelina's neck speaking Spanish, "Come any closer, she die!"

Randy replied in kind but gave some sage advise his voice cold, "Harm her in anyway, you will find your next resting place to be a pine box." Sheriff Nagel his own weapon drawn watched as Jesus pushed the shopping cart to the side and joined his partner.

Phil with no expression kept his eyes locked with those of Jesus, "Consider where the both of you are at. Let her go and no harm will come to you. But take my word; the man next to me will not hesitate in killing both of you."

Mireille and Kirika watching the Mexican standoff unfold before them circled away and came from the rear. Sheriff Nagel and Randy Baldwin kept both men attention focused on themselves. Angelina though terrified made eye contact with Randy who briefly nodded. Carrying on a conversation in Spanish with both men, Randy watched as Kirika crouching as she moved along the parked cars was finally in striking distance.

Mireille coming up on the opposite side of Angelina's car heard the men demand that they be allowed to leave. Angelina still having eye contact with Randy Baldwin observed him blink three times.

Sheriff Nagel hearing Randy agreeing to the hoodlums demands cracked a smile and shifted his weapon slightly and waited. Angelina on cue of the final blink did as she had been taught by Randy Baldwin and said a silent prayer then with all her strength slammed her foot down onto the top of Jose's right foot.

Jarred by the sudden action and thrown off balance, Jose instead of trying to drive the knife into the side of Angelina threw his arm back to add a greater strike to his attack felt his arm being grabbed. Kirika with her free hand pushed Angelina away towards Randy then spun inside of Jose driving a bone crushing elbow into his face. Jesus having managed to open the car door slid into the driver's seat only to feel the cold steel of a Walther P-99 9MM pressed solidly against the side of his head. Mireille greeted Jesus with a smile then sent a fist into his face.

Randy winced, his left side still sore from the sparring match with Kirika earlier in the morning absorbed the impact of Angelina as he fell backward to the pavement, the Colt Combat Commander still tracking Jose as Kirika briefly jumped back having taken Jose's knife with her sent a kick directly into the man's groin. Sheriff Nagel watched as Jose fell at his feet rolling about on the pavement, begging for mercy.

Making sure that Angelina was uninjured, Randy helped her stand then as Kirika began to advance again on Jose; Randy called Kirika off. Jesus toppled out of Angelina's car onto the pavement joining Jose, who's nose was broken and bleeding. Scooting across the seat, Mireille planted her right foot on top of Jesus's forehead and forced him back onto the ground.

Mama Edna watching the event unfold before her breathed a sigh of relief and began to have the food on the Lazy Susan removed. She wanted her patrons to enjoy the freshest available so Edna chided the waiters to get busy.

Sheriff Nagel keyed up on the radio to advise that the situation was under control but hearing the multiple sirens approaching knew it would do little good as six sheriff units raced into the shopping center from different directions and more were coming. Handing two pairs of cuffs to Randy, Phil stood back to cover as Randy angrily tossed one then the other onto their bellies. Mireille grinding her foot into the upper back of Jesus drove home the point that he should not attempt to move. Kirika expressionless except for the anger in her own eyes continued to press her foot into the back of Jose.

The backup units screeching to a halt nearby the deputies joined Randy and lifted their prisoners painfully to their feet. Deputy Vargas after being briefed by Randy Baldwin advised both men that they were under arrest in Spanish and stated their rights. Sheriff Nagel having holstered his weapon turned to Angelina Lopez to make sure she was fine.

Sheriff Nagel looking at Angelina who was standing next to Mireille Bouquet, "Angelina, are you ok?" as Randy having departed briefly with Deputy Vargas returned. Angelina nodded, "Yes sir, I am fine. The men did not hurt me." Randy walking up to her, peered into her eyes, "Angelina you did good. Exactly as I showed you, if you like I will drive you back to the house."

Angelina replied she was fine, but Sheriff Nagel interrupted "Angelina, I will have a deputy escort you back. I insist." Motioning for one of the nearby deputies, Sheriff Nagel instructed the female deputy to drive Angelina to the Baldwin farm and to obtain a written statement.

Randy turned to Sheriff Nagel, "Phil if I may have a word with you," and both men walked off together as Mireille and Kirika returned to Mama's Kitchen.

After the brief conversation, Randy followed by Sheriff Nagel returned as well and sat back in their seats to return to their interrupted meal.

Mama Edna walked next to Randy and patted him on the shoulder "Mr. Baldwin thank you. There has been some talk of problems in the area. Those two were part of it."

Taking a sip of his tea Randy replied, "Your welcome Edna. Hopefully someone will get the message," as Randy watched Angelina being driven away in her car. Mireille resuming her meal paused, "It seems just as in France, your country has the same problems. It does not matter whether it is within the city or the countryside men bent on causing harm will proceed to do so."

Sheriff Nagel replied, "Unfortunately in societies that have freedom, there are those that seek to oppress the freedom of others by instilling fear and mistrust. Many of the Hispanics that have migrated come from countries who's police forces are sometimes no better than the criminals that they are supposed to protect their citizens from hence a great deal of mistrust of our law enforcement officers."

Kirika who was sampling fried okra looked up, "Perhaps efforts to locate the organizers could be conducted thereby removing their influences over others?" Randy nodded, "That is one goal Kirika, however just simply arresting and putting those who are responsible for the organization of individual street gangs is nearly impossible. Sheriff Nagel and his deputies could arrest one but another would take his or her place. Doing what I and Phil did nearly three years ago is out of the question. Having to kill was the last thing on my list at that point and it was unfortunate that the incident turned out the way it did."

Mama Edna walked up to Sheriff Nagel and passed him a note which he read. Standing up and excusing himself, Phil exited the restaurant and opened his cell phone.

Randy ignoring Phil for the moment turned to Mama Edna, "Edna? Do you have any of that lemon pie?" Mama Edna smiled and turned back towards the kitchen.

Sheriff Phil Nagel returned put did not take his seat, "Randy, ladies. I have to get going. It was rather enjoyable except for the interruption. Randy give some thought to that information that I gave you. Maybe you can offer some constructive input. Randy stood and shook hands, "I'll give it some thought Phil. The proposal has some interesting prospects."

Randy sitting back down paused briefly, "Phil the tab is on me. See you later." Sheriff Nagel smiled and waved goodbye. As Sheriff Nagel left several patrons stuck out their hands as Phil passed and he shook them on the way out.

Mireille had a slice of lemon pie placed before her by Mama Edna who put one before Kirika and Randy. Mireille sampling the flavor was pleasantly surprised, "Mama Edna you certainly do rather well with the desserts." Mama Edna nodded and smiled, "Thank you so much. I use my own ingredients and do not buy any massed produced desserts."

Randy grinning, "Mireille if you take a look on the walls, you will see the famous and not so famous have dinned here. Folks do come out of their way to sample the fare."

Kirika looked at Randy, "Can I get a slice of lemon pie to take back?" Randy chuckled, "Sure Kirika."

Settling the tab, Randy with Mireille and Kirika walked out of Mama's Kitchen and headed towards the car. Randy stopped before opening the door and looked at Mireille and Kirika, "This may sound kind of nutty, but could the both of you hold out your hands?"

Taking first Mireille then Kirika hands into his own Randy examined both then looked at Kirika, "Ms. Yumura there is a favor I need of you. Could I use your ring finger please as a model? I have decided that it is time to ask Gina.