Author's note-Sorry it took so long to update.Not only did I have a major Chem lab test to study for and take but the hard drive in my computer decided that it was time to bite the big one.So now I'm back up and running.

Chapter 2

HILL RIDGE TOWN HALL

Matt was on duty and standing just inside the city hall building when his cell phone started ringing.

"Hello," said Matt holding the phone up to his ear."Oh hey Lanny,what's up?"

"...">

"Oh nothing much on this end just working," said Matt.

"...">

"No, I can't I'm no where near that part of town. I'm down here at city hall waiting for that guy from Conner's Enterprise to get here so I can escort him into the city council meeting."

"...">

"You sure got that right," said Matt while watching a man that for some reason had caught his attention as he entered the city hall building and started going through security "Yeah I hope my sister and her merry little band of happy protesters stay under control at this meeting. I don't want to have to arrest one of them and haul their butts down to a jail cell."

"...">

"What do you mean but that's my job now that I'm The Man," said Matt getting irritated taking his eyes off the man for a second to reach up and subconsciously touch the policeman's badge on his uniform "Ha ha that's real funny,Lanny!"

'No freaking way!' Matt's mind screamed at him when the man he had been watching got through security and turned so Matt could get a better look at him.

"Hey look Lanny I got to go, duty calls."

"...">

"Yeah you can call the guys and tell them that our normal Sunday night poker game is still on for tomorrow."

"...">

"Yeah lets just hope that Melina doesn't clean all of us out of our money again. Bye Lanny," said Matt closing up his phone just as the other man spotted him and started heading his way with a big smile on his face.

"Matt McGuire is that you?" asked Gordo sticking out his hand to the younger man.

"Yeah Gordo it's me," said Matt smiling while taking Gordo's offered hand "Long time no see pal."

"Yeah man I know,I'm sorry. But the truth is I don't get back this way much anymore now that I live in LA and my parents are now living in Seattle," said Gordo his big smile still in place "But enough with all this boring chit chat about me. Tell me man what,when and how did you become a cop?"

"Felt like I need to do something new with my life, something important," said Matt shrugging "So I applied, got in and made it through the police academy. And for some reason Hill Ridge decided to hire me and let me carry a badge and gun for them.And that's what I've been doing for the last two years."

"Well, good for you man," said Gordo nodding "How did the family take it? You becoming a cop and all?"

"Mom hates it and begs me to quit just about every day.Dad says his proud of me which is cool." smiled Matt.

"And Lizzie?"

"She's always asking me to take care of her parking and speeding tickets for her," said Matt getting a small chuckle from both men.

"But the best part though is Melina," said Matt puffing his chest out a little "She keeps telling me that I look real hot when I'm in my policeman's uniform.And add to the fact that she usually makes some type of lewd comment about my handcuffs when she says that."

"Same old Melina I see,"said Gordo shaking his head"How are you two guys doing?"

"We're doing fine. Still together after all these years."

"Good, good to hear," said Gordo "So should I be expecting a wedding invite from you guys anytime soon?"

"Hell if I know" said Matt smiling "I get up every morning and wonder if this will be the day when Melina comes up to me to tell me it's time and orders me to propose to her."

Gordo got a big chuckle out of that one but after a quick check of his watch he knew he was going to have to cut this reunion short."Matt I had fun talking with you but there was a wreck on the interstate and it put me a little behind schedule. So if I don't start heading for the city council meeting soon I'm going to be late."

"Wait a second," said Matt 'Oh God please don't let what I'm thinking be true' "Gordo you don't by chance work for Conner's Enterprise do you?"

"Yeah I do Matt," asked Gordo with his eyebrows shooting up in surprise "How did you know that?"

'Oh boy has this situation just gotten a whole lot more fun,' thought Matt.

"Well, the reason I'm here is becuase I'm the one who is supposed to take you to that meeting," said Matt pointing and than the two men started walking down the hallway.

"Gees I didn't realize things here were so serious that I had to have a police escort," laughed Gordo.

"You're closer than you think," said Matt.

"Oh and Gordo before you go in there," said Matt turning to Gorda as they reached the meeting hall doors " I think there's something I better let you in on."

MEANWHILE INSIDE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HALL

"Ms. McGuire as much as we all here would love to find some type of way to compromise with you," said Taylor Stevens, the head council man for Hillridge "I'm afraid that the situations involving the Digital Bean and the proposed new down town area does not allow it."

"What do you mean it doesn't allow it," Lizzie asked getting to her feet. Her closes friends sitting around her giving her their support. "The Digital Bean is a historic landmark of this town and we came here hoping to find someway to save it."

"Ms. McGuire the building that you are talking about was built in nineteen eight-nine," sighed Taylor "The Digital Bean itself didn't open there until ninety-six. So there for neither the building nor the business quite qualifies as a historic landmark."

"Look Councilman Steven me and my group," said Lizzie trying to stay calm while she pointed her hand back toward Miranda and the other women around her "Have brought you a petition filled by people who want to save the Digital Bean. People who are YOUR voters who signed this..."

"If I'm not mistaken it was only slightly over one hundred people who signed your petition isn't that right Ms. McGuire,"asked another one of the council members, interrupting Lizzie and flipping through the petition.

"Well yeah it was only one hundred and nine but..." started Lizzie but to only be interrupted by the councilwoman again.

"Yes that is nice Ms. McGuire," said the councilwoman "But I get more than that many calls, letters, and emails a week. All from people supporting the business deal that we're making with Conners Enterprise."

Lizzie was about to make comment on that but was stopped when an aide to Councilman Stevens approached him and whispered something in his ear.

"Oh good," said Stevens smiling after talking to his aide "It seems that Mr. Gordon the representative of Conners Enterprise has finally arrived and can now be heard."

.'Mr. Gordon?' Lizzie thought to herself 'No it can't be!Must be a coincidence!' But upon hearing the doors to the council room open Lizzie turned and stared in shock at the man who was standing next to her brother. So shocked was she that Lizzie could only manage to get one word out.

"Gordo?"

TBC