And here we are again guys. As you are well aware, we have just lost another semi-major character. That makes three off the good guys in twenty-five chapters. If you are keeping score Eric's team is ahead three to one. Is that the final? Can't say. And as I have stated before, if you have issues, I will let you know ahead of time so you can take your meds if needed.
I want to thank everyone who has read, faved, alerted, followed and/or reviewed. And this is the part where I answer some of those reviews: Uberscribbler, yeah ouch; Gj agent, there will be some kind of revenge…will it happen soon? How can it? They have to know who to take action against and so far they have no idea. Betts is going to open an investigation; Bobtrumpet, still haven't decided Bob, but there is much evil to do yet. Ronnie will do some bad a$$ed things though.
CajunBear73, what they will be. It has already entered Ron's mind that maybe just maybe he was Kim's rebound guy after syntho 901. He knows he can't be around Kim so he ends up with Hanna. Can Kim be selfish…yeah, but part of this is because Doctors Pea wanted Kim to remember on her own; ajw1970, intelligence….actions need to be focused. At this point Yamanouchi has no idea that Ron has been targeted; Jimmy1201, Linda says thanks for the flowers they were beautiful. Yeah, I killed Ron's mom, just like I killed Rufus and Ron's Dad and there is a reason for this, but not on this forum Jimmy.
I also want to thank my long-time beta (editor), CajunBear73, for all his work over the years. I think we need to sit down with some beer and red beans and rice and swap lies for a couple days.
Okay, I need to announce this. The wife, after getting her vaccinations, contracted Covid19. She has recovered. I didn't have any symptoms and have now had my booster. Another thing, I am for the next two and a half years the Prior for the Priory of Saint Louis the Crusader and that will take up some of my time. Yes, it is a thing and can be described as a charity organization and yes, I am in charge of that thing. There are thirty-three priors in the USA, I am one of them.
Now that we have all that out of the way; there will be no character deaths in this chapter so chill out and let's get this show on the road.
ST-103
The Hunter: Book Two
Chapter 25
Middleton:
Ron, after leaving Hanna in the care of Tara King and her boyfriend, Josh Mankey, drove his mom's car into the hospital parking lot. "Damn, I can't wait for spring.", Ron muttered as he walked into the hospital which had several police cars out front.
Thinking nothing of it he walked inside towards the elevators and got in once the doors opened. He then pushed the button for his mom's floor and patiently waited for the doors to close.
About one minute later:
The doors opened and Ron walked onto the floor. Seeing officers in blue standing outside his mom's room, Ron began to hurry. When he got to his mother's room, he could see her form and pushed inside when one of the officers grabbed our hero by his shoulder.
"Son you can't go in there…"
Ron shrugged the hand off that was on his shoulder and warned, "Get your hands off me, that's my Mom!"
Clancy Hobble stopped the blond teen, "Ronald, this is a crime scene. Ye should be waiting outside…"
The former running back's flashed blue momentarily and reached up and twisted the offending hand of the first cop and growled, "I will see my mother, you will not stop me."
Sighing, "Let him through Mathew, Ronald ye cannot touch anything…Ye, ah, Mother is dead…we ah, think someone murdered her."
Ron Stoppable slowly approached the bed as he looked over his remaining parent. He turned his head to look at Officer Hobble and asked, "Do you know who did this?"
Clancy Hobble shook his head as a man in a shoddy brown suit entered the room and ordered, "Everyone out!"
Ron turned to the newcomer and responded with more than a little edge to his voice, "Bite me pal! My Mother is dead over there. I am going to sit here with her and hold her hand, asshole. Then when I am done, you find out who did this and let me know who he is. You won't have to try him. If you can't do that because you're incompetent…then let me handle it. I don't mind getting my hands dirty."
"Young man, when we find him, we will arrest and him and put him on trial. We don't care for vigilantes here in Middleton."
"If I find him there won't be a grease stain left, just so you know, and I don't think that anyone would convict me.", Ron grit out as he pulled a chair over to the hospital bed and sat down in it. The teen's face was something that the detective flinched back from, because he could see his death in front of him from the teen's expression.
Clancy Hobble pulled the detective out of the room, "Ye leave him be, it's the grief talking. The boy just lost his father…now this."
The detective shook his head then inquired, "Are there any more victims?"
"We have a member of the staff missing…A nurse.", Officer Hobble informed the Detective.
"So, we not only have a murder, but we may have a kidnapping as well."
Hobble informed the Detective whose name was Clive Steevers, "The nurse's car is still in the parking lot."
Steevers grunted, "Great, search the hospital. She may have gone home or left with someone else…"
"He, the nurse in question is a man. And one more thing.", Hobble told the Detective.
Clive responded, "What is it?"
"The nurse was Mrs. Stoppable's caregiver last night."
The detective surmised, "So this nurse might be a witness?"
The officer responded, "Or the perp."
"Okay, I want to talk to the floor supervisor."
"Yes Sir, right this way."
At that moment a bearded man in an overcoat came up to them, "Excuse me officers, may I get by."
"Rabbi?", Hobble asked.
Bernie Katz half smiled, "Ah, someone remembers me. How are you, Clancy?"
Middleton's overworked and underpaid police officer replied, "Not bad Rabbi, it's too bad about Dean and his family."
"Yes, I received information that Barbara had awoken yesterday, and I wanted to see her."
"Rabbi.", Clancy Hobble took the holy man's elbow and lowered his voice.
Getting the clue, Bernie lowered his voice, "What is going on?"
"We think Mrs. Stoppable was murdered last night; Ronald is sitting with her at the moment…in shock. We have a crime scene."
"Oh Dear…", Bernie looked at through the door and noticed the blond teen sitting next to the bed, "Excuse me Clancy, a member of my congregation needs me. I will try not to touch anything."
The detective made to stop the Rabbi.
With surprising strength, the Rabbi pushed his way through to give comfort to someone who desperately needed it.
Ron was sitting next to his mother as he thought to himself, 'What am I gonna do now Mom? I was just hanging on before.'
The blond teen was still gathering his thoughts when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Ron looked up and exclaimed, "Rabbi…"
"The officers told me, may I sit with you and your mother?"
"Yeah, lemme get a chair…"
"You stay there Ronald. I am capable."
XXX
The African-American genius typed in his command to check the hospital data base and quietly read through then cursed loudly, then he hacked the police department files and cursed again, "Oh shit! I'm so sorry for you Ron." The genius's eyes narrowed as he began to type.
Wade looked at the screen that was monitoring Kim (another one was scanning the security cameras at Middleton Memorial Hospital where he saw Ron Stoppable push past a man in a sports coat), "Okay, they are almost finished with the basketball game, but I'd better not bother Kim with this since she's driving tonight. It can wait till she gets home."
With a sigh he punched in the number for Doctor Director, moment later he heard the woman's voice. "This is getting to be a habit hearing from you so soon Doctor Load. What may I assist you with?"
"I thought that you should be notified that Ron Stoppable's Mother was murdered last night.", the genius informed the leader of the UN's law enforcement arm.
"Are you sure Doctor Load, the last word we had is that she had woken up…"
"Yes Ma'am, I am sure, the police are at the hospital right now investigating the crime."
"Has Ronald been notified yet Wade?"
"He's in her room at the hospital as we speak, talking with his Rabbi."
Sighing heavily, "Does GJ need to get involved? This about a reserve agent's family member.", Betty Director asked then added, "We try to give security to keep from having our resources compromised."
"Although Ron worked with your agency, the Middleton police are on scene. I suggest on letting them do their job and hack into the case file and monitor the situation without them knowing that you're watching.", Wade responded.
"We shall follow your advice and do so, however I am going to initiate an investigation from GJ's side as well. With both Ronald's parents dying so close together especially since one looks to be a murder victim, we should make sure that the villain community is not involved. We know that they have not targeted families and friends of our people, but that does not mean that they may not have stepped up their game so-to-speak."
"Ma'am, I hope that's not the case. If is then all of Kim and Ron's relatives and friends are at risk. I don't know if I have the resources to monitor all of them."
"I doubt if GJ has the resources either Wade, but we will at least launch some form of investigation into whether some of Kim Possible's foes might be behind this.", Doctor Director promised.
"Thanks Ma'am, but I thought that you should be aware since Ron is going to have even less time to assist Kim than he used to have."
Sighing again, "I understand Doctor Load, thank you for making me aware of this."
XXX
Tom Bridgestone stayed low in the back seat. John Etherton turned around to look at his comrade, "I suppose it is a good thing you left town Tom, we can't have authorities finding you and making you talk."
"Yeah, I suppose too that my face will be on all the news stations soon so you will have to stay with me until I change my appearance enough to not catch any attention. I think a few weeks and we can go back to Middleton, but I have going to have to stay out of the public eye."
"So how are you going to change your appearance, Tom?"
"Dye my hair, grow my beard, gain weight, wear shoes which will make me look taller and put on glasses. I'll look enough different in a couple of weeks that I should be unrecognizable.", the SAS medic (turned bad) responded, "Had to do it once before for Hans, you know."
"You're lucky you got away from that Countess after she discovered that she had a child coming, courtesy of Hans."
"Well, we do have a slight problem.", Bridgestone told them.
John inquired, "What problem? You got away…"
Bridgestone pulled back his sleeve and showed several deep gouges in his arm, "The woman raked my arm with her fingernails during the struggle. She probably got my skin under her fingernails and that means they have a DNA sample of me and the Army had my DNA as well. I would expect the Government still has it on file. If the authorities check they will find me and know about my background and will start asking questions, which could be a problem later."
"Did you wipe your fingerprints?"
"My prints are all over that hospital, John. That, and the DNA the Stoppable woman got under her fingernails; they will know who I am and where I was in the military. The only good thing is that my family does not know about my current affiliations and what I have been doing the last seven years."
"Do you think Hans knows all this?", Etherton inquired.
"No, and I think we need to let him know so that he can have appropriate responses if we come under scrutiny.", Bridgestone told his comrade.
XXX
"Do not worry, we will not send Miss Possible out unless Ronald Stoppable is free to watch her back, Doctor Load. The only thing she will be qualified for to act on her own is to get cats out of trees."
"Thank you, Ma'am, but we both know how stubborn Kim is."
"I'm sure that I can convince Miss Possible's parents and the local police as well as school authorities to make her behave.", Doctor Director chuckled as Wade heard a slurp through the phone connection.
"You know Kim will be growling too Ma'am, but it's for the best."
XXX
Middleton Memorial Hospital:
"Ronald we should let the staff and the police do their jobs even if it hurts us at the moment.", Bernie Katz rose to take his leave.
The teen's eyes narrowed then he relaxed, sighing, "Yeah Rabbi, I know…it's just…now everything changes. I can't help Mom and I have to step up for real now. It's gonna be tough, but you said I'm a man…it's time to prove you right.", Ron replied as he too rose and then turned to the woman who raised him, "I love you Mom. I'll bet you and Dad are together again having a cup of coffee. Me and Hanna are sure gonna miss you guys."
With a sad smile Bernie Katz led the blond teenager out of the hospital room.
They walked by Clancy Hobble, "I'm sorry for ye Ronald, I truly am. We are going to need ye statement when ye have some time."
"Yeah, I know Officer Hobble. I haveta call our insurance agent and the funeral home and start making arrangements. Can I come into the police station in the morning?"
Clancy Hobble looked over at the detective (who nodded), "Aye Ronald, tomorrow will be fine."
The blond teen muttered, "My favorite way to spend a Monday, I'm gonna need at excuse for school…"
Clancy Hobble raised his eyebrow, "Ronald lad, ye are the head of your house I do not think ye need an excuse for school, but I will call them up in the morning."
Bernie Katz replied for Ron, "But considering the problems that may arise with certain individuals in Ronald's school you should nip that in the bud, so-to-speak, Clancy." (AN….the good Rabbi knew of the blond teen's troubles with one Steve Barkin.)
"I will do that Rabbi. I am sure that if I tell them I have need for Mister Stoppable at the station he will be given a pass."
"Not only that, but I am responsible for myself now, right?"
Officer Hobble nodded, "I see your point, Ronald."
"Right Sir, I'll be at the station in the morning.", the former running back informed the policeman.
As they walked away Ron began to tremble. Ron put his hands to his head as he and the Rabbi walked past the nurse's station, "At least Sis won't know, I mean I wonder if she even remembers Mom and Dad?"
"Ronald, at this point I am very worried about you. Let's go out for a cup of coffee.", Bernie suggested.
Ron muttered, "What's the age to drink in Israel?"
"I…I'm not sure. Why?"
"A reason to immigrate.", the new patriarch of the Middleton branch of the Stoppable family told him.
"Do you wish to?"
Sigh, "I don't know, right know everything is like a whirlwind. I have ta get my mind around it…"
"I understand, do you know where Joe's is at?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Good Ronald, are you well enough to drive?"
"Yeah, yeah I can drive there it's only a few minutes."
"Good, you need some coffee and maybe a Danish too."
Ron rolled his eyes then chuckled, "Sure Rabbi…"
"Bernie, I think you have earned the right to call me by my first name Ronald.", the Rabbi patted Ron on the shoulder as he walked the teen to the elevator.
X
Joe's twenty minutes later:
Ron was hunched over his coffee across from the older bearded man when the door chimed (to notify the waitress that people were either coming in or leaving).
"Scoot over sidekick.", Tank growled.
Curt half-smiled as he slid in with the good Rabbi, moving over to accommodate the former fullback.
"Huh?", Ron asked as he looked up and then scooted over, "What are you guys doing here?"
Curt leaned over the table, "Takin care of your sorry ass. Your Rabbi called the tech guy and then he called us up. We know what happened…We're sorry about your mother."
Tank put his paw on Ron's arm, "We're here for you Ron."
"Ronald, I need to be going, I will call later. You are using the same funeral home you did for Dean?"
"Yeah, yeah Rabbi. I know it's going to be a couple of days though."
"I will start working on the service and notify your school tomorrow."
"Thanks Rab…err Bernie.", Ron responded as Curt slid out of booth to let the older man out.
Bernie Katz also picked up the bill and walked to the cashier.
"So,", Curt asked, "you are feeling like shit?"
"Yeah, pretty much. Anyway, Mom was murdered last night…"
"Shit! Your geek friend didn't say anything about that.", Tank muttered, "Why would anyone want to hurt your mom?"
Ron hunched back over his coffee, "I don't know, I mean…I'm starting to wonder about Dad's death too."
Curt's eyes narrowed, "What were your parents into?"
"Nothing as far as I know.", the blond teenager mumbled as he took his cup and drank from it while trying to just hope this was a dream.
XXX
The Possible home:
"Dad, I'm going up to the hospital to see Mrs. Stoppable."
"Okay honey, tell her I'll try to drop by tonight."
"I will Dad, keep the tweebs out of my room. They've been trying to hack into my diary again."
"I'll talk to them Kimmie, what should I tell Eric if he calls?"
"Just that I've got some things to do and I'll call him before he comes to get me for dinner.", Kim replied as she put on her coat.
X
The teenaged red head walked to the room and peaked inside. A woman was mopping the floor. Kim knocked on the door frame and asked, "Ma'am do you know where Mrs. Stoppable is? I was told this is her room, did they move her?"
"Stoppable? Oh yes, she passed away last night. I'm sorry are you related? They should have told you."
"Mrs. Stoppable is dead?", Kim gasped, "Are you sure this isn't some kind of sick joke?"
"No Ma'am, I saw the body as they were taking her down to the morgue."
The auburn-haired heroine almost collapsed against the wall and began to weep.
XXX
The Stoppable home:
Dave and Liz rang the doorbell. Moments later Josh opened it up, and inquired, "What's up Dave?"
"Can we come in?", the cheerleader asked as Tara watched from behind, holding Hanna.
The artist stepped aside, "Yeah, we can use the company, Hanna is going down for her nap though."
Liz giggled, "You guys were gonna do some hanky panky while the rug rat is snoozing?"
Tara blushed as Liz walked up, "Maybe, but we have to finish up some homework first. Ron should be getting home soon."
Dave butt in, "Maybe not for a while."
Josh looked confused, "Why is that?"
"Curt and Tank have him cornered to keep him from freaking out."
Now the artist frowned, "Why the hell should Stoppable be freaking out?"
"His Mom was murdered last night in the hospital.", Liz explained.
"WHAT? How the hell can Ron's Mom get murdered in the hospital! They have security.", Josh responded as he reached for the cheerleader in shock as the baby began to cry at the sudden outburst.
"They don't know, and they don't think it's random either."
"Come in and sit down while we calm lil intruder down.", Josh muttered as Tara backed up.
The high school QB and his GF removed their coats and went to the closet and hung them up.
When they got to the sofa Tara asked, "What happened?"
Dave explained, "I don't know, I got a call from Tank that he and Curt were gonna meet Ron at Joe's coffee shop. He said that Ron's Mom had been murdered last night…He got the call from that tech geek who works with Possible."
Tara pointed out as Hanna tried to crawl out of her lap, "Kim's tech guy couldn't find Ron while he was walking back from that rescue mission Dave…."
"Ron's cell phone was shut off too cutie, that wasn't Ron's or Wade's fault.", Liz informed her cheer bud, "Or Kim's either except that she didn't give Ron his PDA unit back."
The artist leaned back on the sofa and crossed his arms, "I can see this whole semester is going to end up going oblong."
Dave Alberts frowned, "We'll be lucky if aliens don't try to overrun us at this rate."
Tara giggled as she finally gave up and let Hanna down. The bubbly blonde responded, "As if. If we were going to be invaded it would've happened with the Martians attacking in the '30's."
Liz flat out laughed, "That was a radio show, my grandparents told me about that."
Tara (still giggling), "I know, I was just making a point."
XXX
Joe's:
"Ron how are you holding it together?", Curt inquired as he leaned in.
Sighing heavily, "Trying, I guess. I'm my own man now."
"Screw this you clutz, I'm telling Possible.", Tank began to scoot out of the booth.
"Don't…Please?", Ron asked.
"Why?"
"There's nothing she can do 'cept maybe talk to me on the phone. Right now, I can hold it together…She doesn't want to deal with this and her boyfriend is gonna put roadblocks in her way if she tries. Please, leave it alone. I have all the help I need with you guys."
XXX
Denver:
"Anne?"
Doctor Anne Possible responded into her speakerphone as she took her shoes off to rest them a little while she took a break with a cup of black coffee, "Yes Geoff, what can I do for you?"
"Please call James, your friend, Mrs. Stoppable, died last night.", the current chief of staff informed the new one.
"Did Barbara relapse? I thought she was in the clear.", blue eyes narrowed.
"No, she was murdered in her sleep Annie. The boy knows."
"Oh my…Ronald must be devastated. I'd better call James right away and have him check on my third son."
"Third Son?"
"Yes Geoffrey, that is how close we are to the Stoppables."
"I suppose you'd better contact James then. The boy looked very down when he left, however his Rabbi was with him."
"Ronald has no one but his sister now. I'm more than sure he needs support. How did he look when you saw him last?"
"Terrible. If looks could kill, everyone in the wing would have been dead. I fear that young man is very mad and may do something stupid."
Anne informed her friend, "The Stoppable family, to most, appeared not to care for their son. They did, however. They just showed their affection to Ronald by having him learn from experience. Which he did. He would ask Kimmie, myself or James if he couldn't figure it out for himself. Dean and Barb wanted their son to learn through experience."
"Sometimes that is a hard way to learn Annie…"
"Sure, I know that Geoff. There were some hard knocks there, but the boy worked his way through things. We didn't prefer to do that with our children, but Ronald was less pampered. He developed skills that showed up when he needed them. I still don't think Kimmie understands that yet. The boy is a noted chef, he has been rich. He is willing to do just about anything to make money no matter who said that he couldn't do it. Those are life skills. He can walk across the country in savage terrain in terrible conditions and survive. He is intensely loyal as well. A young woman could do much worse than picking Ronald Stoppable as her husband, if you think about it and I think many of the reasons that Ronald is able to accomplish all this is because his parents raised him the way they did."
"But the boy doesn't look like he's able to do anything Annie…."
"Looks are often deceiving Geoff, the first time Kimmie fought that super powered green woman our daughter ended up with an explosive insect on her face. Do you know who removed it?"
"I had no idea this had ever happened…"
"Ronald removed the tick with a straw and a drop of hot sauce. You see when needed, Ronald always steps up to the plate, but no one ever notices. He will step up to the plate again when he buries his mother. And then he will raise his sister while going to high school and then will probably go to college while working, and still will raise that little baby. That boy is one of a few who could do something like this at such a young age.", Anne explained. (of course, Anne had no idea of what young Mister Stoppable could really accomplish or already had accomplished in his young life….AN)
"Annie, I had no idea he was that accomplished. Except for football everyone thinks he…well doesn't have it all there."
"He does in my opinion Geoffrey, I think he acts like he does so that Kimmie has gotten all the glory, sigh, and now it has cost her their relationship and I don't know if she and Ronald will ever be very close again." [Anne…you don't know how prophetic this statement will be…CB73]
XXX
Joe's:
"Listen guys thanks for sitting with me, but I need to be alone for a while to try to work this out in my head."
Tank Woodson asked, "You ain't gonna do anything stupid like jump off a bridge are ya?"
"Huh, no suicide is sorta frowned upon in my faith, I just need some time to think. Then I have ta get home, I've been away from Sis too long."
Curt shook his head, "Ron, you have four friends over at your house right now. Take your time then go home with your head on straight. Can you do that?"
"Yeah, I can…Even I can do that.", Ron responded.
Tank thought for a moment then asked, "Hey have you gotten your entrance exam scores yet Stoppable?"
"Huh…uh no come to think of it. Of course, now I think I am gonna have to move outta Middleton and get a job somewhere. The insurance policies are only gonna last for so long and since I can't work here in this crappy town, I have ta leave ya know.", Ron replied, "I should be able to sell the house and get a decent price out of it."
"So, where do you think you're gonna be movin to Stoppable?", Tank asked.
"You know I've been looking at Lowerton. I can get work there; housing is cheaper, they have apartments that are reasonable too. It might be the best place for me in the long run. I won't be far from you guys, but since most of my friends will be gone, I just don't see a reason to hang around in Middleton. Like I said, I can't work here thanks to Martin Smarty."
"Barkin will be happy, that you will be out of his hair.", Curt chuckled.
"Screw Barkin! I talked to my Rabbi and he suggested staying in the same congregation. It's only once a week and I think I can get a work schedule that lets me have Friday nights and Saturday off."
"Why those?", Tank asked.
"Hebrew Sabbath or Shabbot…It sort of means 'rest' basically.", Ron explained, "I mean I haven't been to Temple a lot lately, but I think that's gonna change. Of course, when I was a fireman, my schedule didn't always allow me to be observant. That was also true when Kim and I had missions to screw up some villain or somebody."
Curt chuckled, "Or you lazed around."
"Yeah, I am lazy. There, I admitted it."
Tank frowned, "I thought that you guys went to chur…ah temple the same day we went to church."
"Nah, for Christians it's Sunday for most, for Muslims I think it's Friday and for Jews it's Friday night till Saturday night, or at least that's how I understand it.", Ron said as there was a nagging thought in the back of his head to make sure he 'observed'", then our hero advised, "Considering how lucky we were during the season all the guys might want to go if they…ah choose to do so in their faith."
Curt smiled, "We take our old ladies to church about once a month, sometimes at night cause our weekends are usually crap."
"Sooo,", Ron asked as he leaned back in the booth, "how are your 'old' ladies?"
Tank grinned, "I'm gonna be a daddy."
"I'm not…yet.", Curt grinned.
"Congrats Tank, is it gonna be a little Ansel or a little Mel?", Ron inquired.
"Don't know yet, not sure I want to.", the former linebacker chuckled.
"Ya know Tank, ya might want to look for a house instead of an apartment.", Ron advised.
"Maybe in a couple of years, we ought to have five stores by then.", the now 'retired' linebacker laughed, "See money will be easier then 'cause we'll have more money coming than going out."
Curt added, "We're breaking even now. Anyway, we have the ins with some businesspeople in Lowerton and can help you with finding a decent job. Tank still has family there and Martin Smarty has less influence there because they hate his ass for trying to drive the mom and pop stores out of business. And most are willing to do anything to screw with that bald jackass."
"Why do the people from Lowerton hate Smarty so much?", Ron queried.
"That's where he started with his first mega store, and when it got big, he tried to gut retail there after that. Come to think about it, it's a wonder that Tank can work there in Middleton.", Curt responded as he stared at his friend.
"Right now, easy money.", Woodson informed the two, "Soon I won't need their cash to do what I need to and I'm on their stock option so I know when they're trying to pull shit like cutting their gas prices. I can beat them to the punch and make a little extra money."
Ron laughed as he cried a little, and he wiped the offending tear away, "I find that justified, but Martin Smarty is a penny pincher and it's damned hard to make changes to his business since it's so huge. When you make a mistake, it'll cost ya maybe a hundred bucks, when Smarty does it costs him millions."
(Of course, Ron laughing at Martin Smarty's problems is sorta weird since Ron has a ton of stock in Smarty Mart World Wide although Dean Stoppable never revealed that his only son was 'loaded'…oh, the only one able to give THAT information to the teen was the investment firm Sainter's Investments LTD and the Law Firm Winterbottem, Stine, and Kirtschmitt Attorneys at Law since both parents are now gone to the hereafter and the Trustee, aka Anne Possible, has not been informed that SHE was the trustee yet….fireworks to come later, but Annie is gonna 'own' Martin Smarty. She is going to turn her own legal attack dog loose on the billionaire…AN)
Curt nodded, "Listen Stoppable, you aren't gonna do anything stupid, are ya?"
"No, I have someone depending on me now. I have ta take care of my sister while I try to graduate from the dump that is Middleton High.", the former running back responded.
"Okay Ron, but make sure you keep your mind on your driving, you don't wanna leave your sister a complete orphan.", Woodson warned, "She's counting on you to be there for her."
"I promise to be a safe driver and a good older brother. Are you satisfied?", Ron frowned as he slid out of the booth.
"Yeah but keep reminding yourself. Oh, and make sure the school knows about what's going on in your life."
XXX
"Dad?", the red-haired heroine asked as his voice came through her Kimmunicator.
"Yes honey, what are you doing?"
"Looking for Ron.", she replied.
"So, you know then."
"Yes, I was at the hospital, and they told me there."
"Of course, I do not know where Ronald is at the moment. I do know Liz, Dave Alberts, Joshua and Tara are at his house right now however."
"Okay, I am going to drop over there to see if Ron's alright."
"Yes, do that, but be careful of your reaction to him. I don't want you getting sick as well."
"I'll keep my distance Dad just to be sure Dad.", Kim assured her father.
Kim then closed the connection and hit the 'connect' button again.
"So, you're heading over to Ron's?", Wade inquired.
"Yeah…"
"He's not there, he's at a coffee shop with his Rabbi right now and some of Ron's friends are heading over there too.", Wade informed Kim.
"Who's going over there?"
"Some of Ron's friends from the team, too many people there might be awkward since Ron's friends have 'issues' with you.", Wade warned.
"Who has issues with me?"
"Whiney and Woodson Kim, remember how they were to you when we left Ron in western Colorado?"
The red head blushed. It hadn't been very fun being called out like that and she knew it.
"I guess I'll go hang with Monique after I check on Hanna. When we're done you wanna connect me with her."
"Go ahead and I will, anyway, Ron has friends taking care of his sister right now while he's trying to get his anger issues under control."
Kim frowned, "Why would Ron be angry?"
Wade asked, "How would you be if someone murdered your mom right after your dad passed away?"
Sigh, "Not well…"
Wade's visage frowned, "Not well, at all. With your temper, if one from your villain's gallery did the deed, they would end up dead by your hand, Kim. Cut Ron some slack, he could use it right now just like anybody in his sitch would."
"Okay Wade, you made your point, please connect me with Monique."
"Gimme a minute, okay the next voice you hear is Monique Jenkins.", Wade informed Kim as he faded out.
"Hey GF, what are you doing?", the fashionista inquired.
"What some company today?"
"No Eric?"
"He's doing something with his guys, Moni."
"Sure Kim, wanna go to a movie and then burgers?"
"Sounds great, I have to get my mind off some things, meet in about thirty minutes?"
"GF you read my mind."
XXXXX
[Wow! Kim's got some pretty good priorities, doesn't she? Ron's mom's been murdered, can't talk to him because of the reaction…Hey Monique, wanna take in a movie?... Yeah, she's really dedicated to her 'best friend'…Or the one that matters most to her, anyway…CB]
My take: Kim is in a position, and she needs to speak with someone she can trust. Enter Monique Jenkins.
Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable, Felix, Tara, James and Anne Possible and all other canon characters of the show 'Kim Possible' belong to Bob, Mark and the Disney Corporation and not me nor CajunBear73. Heck we don't even make any 'claude' off it.
We'll see ya down the road,
ST-103