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Little Toy Bikers and a Woman on the Run

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Chapter 334 Cosmic Destiny

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Living in Charming was all about learning to enjoy life's small pleasures because that was all the town could provide. Hale was enjoying his own special moment building up his charcoal pyramid and waiting for the coals to get hot enough to spread out. He was going to grill an extra large pack of chicken drumsticks and then slather them with his homemade barbeque sauce.

He'd just ducked into his house to grab a beer out of the fridge when Tara called. He suggested she come over so they could discuss the Kohn situation face to face.

"You sure you don't want a beer? Or something else to drink?" Hale asked her when he let her into his house.

"No thanks."

"You sure you don't want to stay for dinner? I'm making barbequed chicken."

"I ate a late lunch, but thanks."

"Let's go outside," he said leading her through his patio sliding glass door, "I have to keep an eye on the coals."

They took seats in patio chairs and Hale took a sip of his beer.

"It's always strange to see you in your PD uniform," Tara said. "I always picture you like this in jeans and a T-shirt."

"Adjusting to the uniform took some doing. I never mastered the cleaning and ironing part of uniform maintenance. I take them to Antoine's and have them put extra starch when they iron them. I'm just glad we don't have to wear hats."

"I kind of wanted to be a nurse before I became a doctor. I liked the idea of wearing a nurse's hat. There were so many styles. Now nurses don't wear hats, so it's a good thing I didn't become a nurse to wear a hat. They don't even wear white nurses' uniforms anymore."

"I do like not having to figure out what I'm going to wear to work."

"Do you have any news on Kohn?" Tara asked.

"I didn't forget about you. My ATF source said there's no official reason for him to be in Charming. The meeting with my source and Kohn at the PD didn't happen because Stahl, my ATF source, got called out on an emergency. Some guy was going to make moonshine and almost blew himself up."

"He came to the hospital cafeteria while I was there. He threatened to put me in jail. I haven't done anything," Tara said, anguish in her voice. "He's unhinged. He told me when I lived in Chicago that he planted evidence twice to get convictions. I'm afraid he'll do that to me."

"Did he give you any details?"

"No," she said shaking her head. "He could have been lying, but there was just something about the way he said it that made me believe he was telling the truth."

"I'll call Stahl in the morning and put together another meeting. I think I'll blindside Kohn by waiting until a little before the meeting. I'll call him and lure him to the PD promising a big lead on the Sons. I know the waiting is hard, but give it a week. Kohn's going to pay for his off the books investigation. I'm not talking a slap on the wrist. I think he's going to end up getting fired from the ATF and doing some prison time."

"You really think it's that serious?"

Hale nodded.

"When I pass on your information about Kohn bragging about planting evidence that will fire up Stahl even more. It's going to happen."

"He's just so crazy."

"You want to try getting a restraining order?"

"Restraining orders don't stop the mentally unstable."

Hale got up and began to spread his coals evenly in the grill.

"I'll be right back. I need to get the chicken. Sure you don't want a beer?"

"You've convinced me. A beer sounds good," Tara said.

Hale returned with the chicken and carefully arranged it on the grill before closing the grill's hood. He went back inside and returned bringing out two bottles of beer with him. He opened one and handed it to Tara.

"Thanks," she said.

"You know for a few seconds, I thought I might have a chance with Scarlett," Hale confessed. "The day I met her, she mentioned L.A. Confidential. It's one of my favorite movies. It was such a random unexpected thing for her to say. I thought it meant we had some kind of destiny. A cosmic connection," he said ruefully. "She came over a couple of times to watch the movie with me. She's also read Ellroy's novels. We talked about the books. I really enjoyed her company."

"Kind of like me. I thought Jax and I were destined to be together too. That was part of the reason I came back to Charming. He knew that. It was kind of embarrassing. He told me that we were done and he didn't love me anymore. He wanted me to move on with my life. It freed me. I realized I'd been carrying the weight of the fantasy of getting back with Jax around for too long."

"I had a similar experience with Scarlett. She called me and told me she couldn't see me anymore. We were just friends. I was hoping over time, it would turn into something more. She said she and Jax were exclusive, so she couldn't spend anytime alone with me. She phrased it more tactfully and graciously than that. It was nice that she actually called and told me instead of ducking my phone calls."

"She and Jax are really serious about each other. She isn't just a fling for him. I don't know if that makes it easier or harder."

"I haven't had feelings for a girl in a long time. She's really great. Smart, funny and beautiful."

"Believe it or not, Scarlett and I have become friends."

"I should have known I wouldn't get her away from Jax, but I had to give it a shot."

Tara finished her beer and got to her feet.

"Sure you don't want to stay for dinner?"

"My stomachs still in knots from Kohn."

"I'll call you when I know something."

"Thanks Hale."

He walked out the garden gate and returned to his barbeque. He flipped the chicken and returned to his chair.

He thought about Scarlett and cosmic destiny. Maybe he still had some kind of chance with her.