CHAPTER 35

Part 1

The boys had worked up quite the appetite and finally, Joe had to give in to their demands, especially when Jamie started acting out that he was dying of starvation.

"Ham," Joe mumbled as he watched the two of them. They were a handful, they were comical, and yet, he loved them both, even if they were going into overkill here on the lunch thing.

That being said, they all agreed that hamburgers on the grill sounded perfect.

Soon, the aroma of the grilling food filled the air and even Joe had to admit that he was hungry as well. They'd had a great morning and this was only the first official day of their vacation.

Jamie and Phillip busied themselves getting their drinks and the potato chips together while Joe manned the grill. He listened to their teenage chatter, laughing at some of their comments. There were times that he found it hard to reconcile the fact that they were no longer little boys and he regretted not being there in the past.

But, as Amanda always reminded him, it didn't help to dwell on what they could not change. The past was what it was and, more than once, she'd gently reminded him that he was here now.

And the here and now was, at this moment, singing up a ruckus inside the cabin. Joe barely recognized the butchered Michael Jackson tune and had to fight from laughing aloud. Yes, they were his sons. They had inherited his total lack of vocal ability as far as singing was concerned.

"Don't forget the pickles," he called out to them, hoping that they would hear him over their garbled singing.

Part 2

William looked around the table, at the group of people sitting at the table.

"I know that McJohn has to get going and we've got work to do," he said.

"Remember, if you come up with something, need anything, I'm just a phone call away," McJohn said.

Billy nodded, then spoke to the rest of them.

"We've got a lot of ground to cover. Cheryl, I'd like for you to have your group finish assembling the PWS forms. I know you've been here all night, take a break as needed. I don't want anyone here falling sick if we can help it."

He turned to Joyce. "I need you to stay on top of making sure that everyone gets treatment. Kelford's got his hands full with those that are sick already."

"Yusef, I'd like for you and Lee to work any angles on tracking down the culprits. I want names and I'd like to have them yesterday."

Yusef nodded. "It would be my honor to hand them to you."

"Lee, I need for you to stay a moment, if you don't mind."

"Yeah, sure," the younger agent replied.

The rest of the staff filed out, leaving Billy and Lee alone.

After the door had closed and a few seconds of silence had passed between them, Billy cleared his throat.

"We need to talk, Scarecrow."