Chapter 8 Summer Vacation

Sarah kept busy over the summer. She had her job, and sometimes she helped out in the office. With Tiffany gone, the Angels sometimes needed an extra hand in cases or paper work. Sarah got together with friends from highschool, particularly Mark and Lisa. They hadn't seen much of each other since the previous summer. They were hanging out on the deck of the beach house one afternoon when Kris came bursting into the house.

"Sarah! Sarah! Where are you?"

Sarah could hear Kris running through the beach house, and decided she'd better make her whereabouts known before her sister ran into something. I"m out here!" she called. Kris came out of the sliding glass doors. She saw Sarah with her friends.

"Hi," Kris said as she gasped for breath.

"Hi," Sarah said. "Is something wrong?"

"No, why?"

"Well, you came running in here like a crazy person, and wanted to know where I am. I thought maybe something was wrong."

"No, nothing's wrong." Kris looked at the group. "I'm just excited, that's all."

"So why are you excited?" Sarah asked.

"Because.....I am going to .............."

"Yes?"

"HAWAII !!!!!!!!" Kris fairly screamed the word. Sarah shrieked too. Liz and Mark offered their congratulations.

"So, why are you going to Hawaii?" Sarah asked. "Vacation?"

"No, Charlie is going to open a branch of the office there, and he wants us to help!"

"That's great! When do we go?"

"Well, uh.....we're going right after you go back to school."

"Darn. And I was looking forward to a trip to Hawaii."

Mark and Liz exchanged a look. "Maybe we'd better go now. It looks like you two have things to discuss," Liz said.

"Yeah, I'll call you guys tomorrow after I get off work," Sarah said as she saw Mark and Liz to their cars.

Sarah went back into the kitchen and found Kris starting to fix dinner. Sarah started to help. "So, tell me all about it," she said as she started to brown hamburger for lasange.

"Well, Charlie just closed the deal on a building for a new office. He wants us to go there and open it while he hires people to run it. The office is gorgeous, he tells us. It's got a pool, and it's next to a beach. There are living quarters inside. I can't wait to see it!'

"I wish I could go too," Sarah said. She started opening bottles of sauce.

"I know. But you have to finish school."

"Well, maybe in a few years, I'll be helping Charlie open up a new office somewhere exotic."

"Maybe."

The two sisters worked together in silence for a moment.

"I know!" Sarah exclaimed.

"What?"

"You guys need a party before you go!"

"Sarah, are you serious?"

"Yes, I am. Leave it all to me. I'll take care of everything."

The day for the party arrived. Guests were inside and outside of the beach house to bid the Angels farewell. Jill came home to be part of the party. Sarah and Jill were working their way through the crowd offering food and drink. Sarah had a tray of cocktails in her hand and was about to offer one to a former client when she heard a familiar voice behind her."Miss, could I please have one?"

Sarah turned around to see who was speaking. She shrieked and threw her free arm around Sabrina.

"Careful there! I've got the baby!" Sabrina cautioned as Jill, Kris, and Kelly came over. Sarah handed the tray off to hug Sabrina. All the girls passed the tray to each other as they took turns oohing and ahhing over the baby and hugging Sabrina.

"So, tell us about married life," Kris demanded.

"It's great!"

"How about parenthood?" asked Jill.

"Tiring," Sabrina said, "but worth it." She held out her little baby boy for all to see. They each took turns holding him. Sarah held him first.

"He's so tiny," She said in awe. She held the baby for a moment and then passed him to Kris. She was about to excuse herself to tend to her guests when she saw another familiar face. "Tiffany!!"

she shrieked. Sarah hugged Tiffany, and then excused herself as Tiffany and Sabrina were introduced.

Bosley joined the group.

"What have we here?" he asked as he hugged his way around the group. The angels and Bosley spent some time getting acquainted and catching up. Sarah watched them for a bit, and smiled. The party had been a success. Sarah offered food and drink to a former client named Shelby. The Angels had helped her track down a cheating ex husband, and get back alimony from him.

"They're a good group," Shelby remarked.

Sarah nodded. "Yes, they are," she said. "I am going to miss them."

Sarah next offered some refreshments to another former client, Sara. Sara had ties to the underworld. When she turned state's evidence against some local Mexican gang members, the Angels had protected her. The members of the gang were arrested and Sara's name was cleared. Sara looked at the tray of finger sandwiches. "Do you have any chips and salsa?" she asked. Sarah pointed to the buffet table. "Thanks," Sara said.

Sarah continued to work the crowd. She almost bumped into another former client. "Oh, excuse me!" she exclaimed.

"No problem, eh?"

"Are you from Canada?" Sarah asked.

"Yes. I'm Diane. The Townsend people helped with a drug smuggling ring up north."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Sarah. Excuse me." Sarah worked her way back to the Angels and Bosley.

"I knew you guys had helped so many people, but not from so many places," she said.

"Charlie has clients everywhere," Kris told her.

"I can't wait to get started!" Sarah said.

The guests continued to mingle, and then migrated out to the beach. Sarah, with Charlie's help, had hired a Polynesian catering service. They had dug a pit out on the beach and were roasting a pig in it. The guests had dinner Polynesian style, and then took their leave. Soon it was only the Angels, Bosley, and Sarah. They sat on the deck and reminisced. Soon it was time for the Angels and Bosley to leave as well. Sabrina looked down at the baby sleeping in her arms.

"Looks like it's bedtime," she said regretfully. "I have loved catching up with everyone, but I really must go."

"Me too," Kelly, Bosley, and Tiffany agreed. They all hugged the Munroe sisters goodbye and left.

"It was a great party, Sarah," Kris said.

"It really was, " Jill agreed.

"Thanks," Sarah said as she turned to look out at the water.

"Is something wrong?" Kris asked.

Sarah turned back to look at her. "Not really. It's just that everyone is going to go away. Jill will be in Europe, you'll be in Hawaii, and I'll be in college. It's the farthest we've ever been away from each other."

Both Jill and Kris rose and put their arms around their little sister. "Well," Jill said. "We've done pretty good keeping in touch this past year. I think we will be alright."

Sarah nodded as the sisters went inside to clean up the party mess. A few days later, Sarah left for college. She sad to leave her sisters, but was excited to try living on her own. It was with glee that she and her friends moved into the apartment they had found last spring. In the meantime, Jill returned to Europe, and Kris left for Hawaii. A few weeks later, Sarah recieved a letter from Kris.

Dear Sarah,

Once again, we have a new partner. Her name is Julie Rogers. She is from New York. She had a hard time growing up, and lived a lot of her life on the street. We met her while we were on a case in Hawaii. She is also learning to be a private detective. She's catching on very quickly.

We met some very nice girls in the airport while we were waiting for our plane to be called. They were exchange students. One was named Jenni, and she was from England. The other was named Agnes, and she was from Sweden. Talking with them really made me miss you. They're about your age. I'll send you some pictures and other momentos from Hawaii.


Love,

Kris

The following year was a busy one for Sarah and her friends. They went to classes and studied hard. They did their volunteer work. They also had part time jobs so that they could afford their apartment. It was easier for them to get their studying done without the hustle and bustle of living in the dorms. Each of them had finished their general ed requirements and were now working on their majors. At the end of the school year, Sarah decided to move back home and transfer to UCLA. Jill and Kris were often gone, so it made sense for Sarah to live in the beach house and keep an eye on things. Lisa and Kianna decided to stay in Long Beach for the time being, and got another roommate to replace her. They would all meet up again at the police academy. Like Jill, Kelly, and Sabrina before them, they made a pact to stick together and to look out for each other.