The Case

by Lee Cunningham

  While they were waiting and trying to de-stress, Kate seized the opportunity, now that they were alone, to ask Shane a question from their time at their espresso café.

  “Shane, who was the older man you often talked to at the espresso café? I noticed you almost always sat with the gentleman, and when you weren’t looking at me, you seemed to be talking…mostly listening, intently to your friend. There must be a story there, and I’m dying to know it.”

  Shane said, “I’m surprised you noticed him, or paid any attention to him at all.”

  “Well, you do recall that, even though it was the best espresso I’ve found in the city, other than Juanita’s, I actually went there to see you, right? Since I was there to see you, I didn’t miss anything you were doing.”

  Shane smiled, still getting used to events of the last few days, and his new partnership with Kate. Now, his comment seemed foolish.

  Shane looked out their bay window at the distant hills, as he pictured the man. A smile came to his lips, as he explained, “When I arrived at the espresso café my first day here, I walked in and placed my order, then looked for a place to sit. The place was packed, as always. This old gentleman was sitting at a table by himself, and motioned for me to come over and share his table. He had been reading a newspaper, and asked me if I wanted to share a section.”

  “We introduced ourselves. He said his name was Jimmy O’Brien. He told me he was recently retired. We chatted about nothing really, just easy talk getting to know each other. Before I left that first day, Jimmy said he came in nearly every day, and he would save a seat for me. It became part of my routine.”

  Shane looked up at Kate and grinned, “Every day I came and sat with him, and couldn’t take my eyes off you. Eventually, Jimmy started teasing me about you. I’d walk in and order while scanning the place for you, and if you weren’t there, Jimmy would call out, ‘She’s not here yet, Romeo,’ while laughing out loud from behind his newspaper.”

  “I told him he was blowing my cover, and he would just laugh at me and tease me more. He kept prodding me to go up to you and introduce myself. On the rare occasions he wasn’t there in the morning, I really missed his prodding and conversation. Jimmy is quite a character.”

  The smile drained from Shane’s face, as he continued. “He’s had some sad turns in his life, though. His only son was killed in a traffic accident, while driving Jimmy’s grandson and daughter-in-law to a soccer practice in Sacramento, where Jimmy and his wife lived. Jimmy ran a produce business there, with his longtime best friend and business partner. His daughter-in-law and grandson died of complications months later.”

  “About a year after the accident, Jimmy and his business partner sold their company to a large corporation, and then, Jimmy’s wife left him and took off with his business partner. The tragic events of that year broke his heart.”

  “Jimmy’s whole life had been his family. He was still in love with his wife, who had worked in the business with him for 20 years, as the purchasing agent. He and his wife had planned for their son to take over Jimmy’s part of the business, when Jimmy retired. Their daughter-in-law worked as the bookkeeper and billing agent for the business. Jimmy was so proud of his son and his family.”

  “Jimmy brags that he brought his son up the right way, teaching him everything about the produce business, from the ground up. The kid started out sweeping floors and loading trucks with produce, using a forklift, on weekends. Eventually he graduated to driving a delivery truck. Then they taught him the purchasing side of the business, and finally, he started securing new accounts.”

  “Jimmy said his son was a whiz at business. He also said he was the best son he could have asked for. Jimmy loved his son’s wife like a daughter, and he doted on his grandson. To make matters worse, as a result of the autopsy after the accident, Jimmy learned that his daughter-in-law had been pregnant with a little girl when she died. The whole thing was a family tragedy, and he and his wife never fully recovered.”

  “Jimmy told me he just lost interest in the business, and when he convinced his partner to sell to the corporation that had been after them for years, the last thing he expected was to lose his wife in the deal, too!”

  Shane took the opportunity to tease Kate with a grin, saying, “You know you just can’t trust women.” Kate’s jab to his ribs came with the speed of a summer-time rattlesnake strike, catching him completely off guard. He held up his hand in submission, “Just a joke, a joke, a bad joke, a really bad joke…okay?”

  Kate eyed him suspiciously. “Are you making this up?” she demanded. “Because if you made this whole story up and I was sad enough to cry at Jimmy’s loss, the next jab is really going to hurt, buddy!” Once again Kate drew back a hand like a coiled rattlesnake, preparing for the strike, casting a sly smile at Shane.

  Shane threw his hands up in submission and assured her. “It’s all true, I swear! Jimmy said he couldn’t bear to go to his favorite places anymore. He and his family used to go through the shops in Placerville on weekends, or in Nevada City during the winter festival. He and his wife got away for special weekends to their favorite Bed and Breakfast there. Jimmy told me about family vacations to the Oregon Coast, and the beach house he rented at Cannon Beach, near Haystack Rock. The family had a great life that suddenly came to a screeching halt.”

  “His family was his life, and, in the space of a year, he lost it all. After Jimmy sold the Sacramento house, he moved to Carson City just to get away from the bad memories. That was nine months ago. He said he’d started over and made a few friends here, mostly fishing at Topaz Lake, hiking and playing golf in the valley and up at Lake Tahoe. Still, when he talks about the loss of his family, you can see the enormous sadness in the man…even through his well-developed sense of humor.”

  Kate pressed Shane for more. “Well, what happened to his wife and his best friend? And why did he come here? And does he date anyone? Because Delores’ mom is single, and maybe we could introduce them, you know…I, I mean we could bring her to coffee. I think he might like her because she is very nice and pretty, and she loves hiking…and she’s a golfer!”

  Shane threw his hand up again, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, you have him dating already and you haven’t even met him? I mean, slow down, girl…let’s start with him meeting you first. You can’t plan his life like you all did mine…well, and yours. I mean, he is his own man. But he is very lonely…and maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea…”

  As Shane realized Jimmy didn’t know yet that he had finally met Kate, he started to like the idea. He pictured walking into the café with Kate, and he suddenly wanted to see the startled look on Jimmy’s face. He said quickly, “Okay, after this all calms down, we’ll set it up. Seeing the look on his face when I walk in holding hands with you will be priceless!”

  Somewhat surprised by the quick turnaround, Kate placed a hand on Shane’s knee, giving him a conspiratorial smile, as she started to make plans, wondering what Delores and she could come up with as a special outfit for Delores’ mother to wear. Her mind was racing.

  She said, “We can do better than that. I can go in first and sit down. Then you walk in and wave at him, and come up to me and give me a big passionate kiss. That will surprise him!” They both laughed.

  Shane continued, “Jimmy is a smart guy. We spent hours in conversations about everything from women to politics…not that the topics are much different.”

  Shane immediately jumped up to avoid the jab. Kate’s mental plans for the blind date had distracted her and slowed her response. She missed him with a delayed strike. Shane chuckled triumphantly and sat right back down, quickly grabbing the jabbing hand playfully, to hold and caress, and prevent a second strike.

  Shane really liked Jimmy, and continued to describe him to Kate. “He really is a character, though. One day we were talking about political debates, and Jimmy recalled the days when people were courteous to each other, even in disagreement. He said people used to talk to each other and listen, rat
her than yelling at and talking over each other. Jimmy said he missed the days when you weren’t demonized or accused of being some type of misogynist or ‘phobic’ just because you had a different opinion than someone else.”

  “Jimmy is disgusted at how people twist and spin facts now, just to make their point. He said the media take sides, reporting facts with such bias that they cut out all the facts and information that doesn’t prove their case or further their agenda. Jimmy said that nowadays, the media leaves us with no clue as to what is true or false. They just spew out enraged opinions that foster more hatred and division. He often quotes a guy named Arthur Conan Doyle, who said, “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.” He hates what the world is becoming.”

  Shane suddenly thought aloud, “I can’t believe I remember Doyle’s name. I guess I’ve heard it enough times now, so it left an impression. Anyway, Jimmy explains very eloquently what we all really know…facts can belie, or give a false impression, when they are forced to stand alone, having been surgically removed from the rest of the story. He says the proof is in the video that edits out the reason the police officer made an arrest, using force. Or the picture of the guy holding the gun that killed someone…after he took it away from the real killer. Jimmy hates the way society is manipulated by an angry media he says is working, not to report the truth, but rather, to deceive the public and promote its own agenda.”

  “Jimmy always says he was born 50 years too late. He longs for the good old days of honor and integrity. He wishes we could all go back to a time when all people, who were capable of working, did work for a living, and didn’t expect handouts from the government. A time when you could look back on a lifetime of achievements, and be proud of what you built, on your own. A time of loyalty and honesty…and most of all, commitment.”

  “You know, I don’t know why you brought him up right now, but I just realized I miss the old guy. Just talking about him makes me feel good.” Kate smiled.

  Kate was visibly touched by Jimmy’s story and his obviously good heart. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought how much Jimmy longed for the same things she and Walter had always wanted. Knowing Delores’ mother as well as she did, Kate couldn’t help but think that she and Jimmy would be perfect for each other. Nor could she imagine why they would want to continue on alone, both yearning for a companion and the right match.

  Kate sat up straight and pledged confidently, knowingly, “We’re definitely getting them together.” Shane realized, maybe for the first time, how utterly lonely Jimmy was, and he knew Kate was right. They looked at each other, smiling and nodding in agreement. The plan was forged.

  Shane checked his watch, drawing him and Kate both back to matters at hand. It was 1240. Back in their room, he walked to the closet to change clothes, donning his level IIIA body armor vest, which he placed over a T-shirt and under a long sleeve shirt that was one size too large for him. The extra size concealed the vest nicely, but gave the appearance of adding 15 pounds to his trim, muscular frame.

  He then pulled out his duty bag and selected two handguns. He placed his Glock 17 into a shoulder holster on his left side. The smaller Glock 19, he placed in a flat holster, strapped by his belt to the small of his back. It was a left-hand holster, so when he reached behind, with his right hand, the gun would be in the correct position to retrieve. Both handguns were 9 MM caliber semi-autos. Extra magazines, each holding 17 additional rounds, made for the larger weapon, could be used interchangeably in both weapons. Shane placed the two extra magazines on his right side, in the magazine pouches provided by the shoulder holster.

  Next, he strapped a Kimber Micro. 380 caliber semi-auto handgun, in an ankle holster, on his left leg. The Kimber was small and easily concealable, and he was going to be prepared for a gun fight, if it came to that. As a final touch, Shane strapped a tactical knife in a sheath to his right calf. The knife had a 5-½ inch blade, and a smaller handle than a typical military knife. It was balanced, easy to conceal, and retrievable with his right hand, in case of any emergency.

  He jumped up and down to check that everything was secure. He immediately winced in pain, having forgotten about the shin injury. He hoped he didn’t have to run anywhere.

  As he turned to meet Kate’s eyes watching him, Shane grinned and said, “You know it just occurred to me, that Pete was the one that recommended the espresso café the first day I arrived. Coincidence you think?”

  Kate smiled and cast a sideways glance his way, saying, “As a general rule, I don’t believe in coincidence, my love.” She took his hand in hers, and they walked out of their room, down to the kitchen for water and a snack.

  Shane was still thinking about Jimmy and how much he really liked and cared for the man. Jimmy had been the only person, other than Pete and Kate, he had looked forward to seeing in the last few months. At the top of the stairs, Shane looked at Kate and asked, “What’s her name, anyway? I only know her as Delores’ mother. What does she do?”

  Kate’s voice brightened, as she said, “Delores’ mother is a wonderful woman. Her husband, Delores’ dad, died of cancer at a rather young age, a few years back. Her name is Angela, and she is a complete and unbridled riot. She loves to laugh and have a good time, and is always teasing someone or instigating some type of innocent misadventure. She likes to be called “Angie” by her friends, and brags that she is no angel. But she really is…an angel, I mean.”

  “The woman doesn’t have a malicious bone in her body, and she would give you the shirt off her back, if you needed it. Angie won’t rest until everyone is comfortable and has everything they need at a get-together. And then she’s the life of the party, but not trying to be the center of attention. She’s more like the force that drives the good times, encouraging everyone to participate, until the ball is rolling and she can back out and let it happen. Do you know what I mean?” Shane nodded his understanding.

  “She’s a good golfer. Angie, and her late husband, travelled and golfed, sometimes camping along the way in their travel trailer. They brought Delores up golfing. She’s pretty good too.” Shane cast a doubting look at Kate.

  Kate countered, “Good enough to get a golf scholarship to a four-year college! Delores was too focused on school, though, to make golf her life, but she might have been able to make it to the LPGA, if she had been so motivated. That’s what her coach said, anyway. But Delores has always wanted to come back to work for our family, in a more important role for us and for her. She has always been very focused on making a good life for herself…something that lasts a lifetime, and limits the need for constant travel away from home.”

  As they reached the kitchen, the aroma of homemade tamales filled their senses. The place was bustling with people filling plates and talking loudly, as they filtered in and out. A large bowl at the end of the line offered a sweet-looking rice pudding affair. Juanita handed first Kate, then Shane, plates she had personally prepared for them. Today was her turn to be the chef at the second crew lunch, and she had made two of Kate’s favorites, to complement her infamous pork tamales. Shane was intrigued. He loved good authentic Mexican food.

  Juanita explained, “The small bowl on the plate is filled with arroz con leche, my grandmother’s recipe for rice pudding. The larger bowl is champurrado, a special drink, also from my grandmother. The little pretzel-shaped pastries are churros, from my mother’s recipe. Kate can show you how to dip them in the champurrado, which doesn’t have any alcohol in it today,” Juanita added with a smile, as she left.

  Kate was obviously pleased with the surprise, and beamed with pride, as if Juanita were family. As they sat at their usual table, Shane marveled at the meal. The combined aromas tantalized his taste buds, and he realized he was very hungry. Diving into his first bite of tamale, authentic flavors burst through Shane, forcing him to wonder about the roots of the dish.

  “These tamales aren’t like any I ever ate before,” he exclaimed. “They’re wonderful!”

  “Thank you,”
Juanita said, as she returned to them with water. “The original recipes go all the way back to my family’s Aztec and Mayan roots.”

  Shane tried to imagine the Aztec and Mayan civilizations that created the original recipes which had been handed down through generations of time. Juanita explained that these root dishes had been modified by the influence of the conquering Spanish. This special plate prepared for him today, by a distant decedent of that culture, had been passed down through countless numbers of grandmothers to mothers to daughters to their children, all over again, for hundreds of years.

  Kate said, “I like to take the churro, and dip it into the champurrado for a few seconds, letting it absorb some of the juice, before I take a bite. I do that after every bite of tamale, but Grandfather thinks it’s weird. He eats the tamales first, followed by the champurrado and churro, and finally the arroz con leche. Definitely not as fun!”

  Juanita laughed.

  “I think your way will be my way,” Shane said, having followed Kate’s advice. “Very tasty! And I have to think we are so spoiled to eat like this. I know I’ll need to work out more often.”

  Kate looked stunned for a second. “Work out. Damn! I forgot to show you the basement. We have a gym there, with a steam room. That’s where I take my karate lessons every Friday afternoon. Shit! I need to call Jack and cancel today.”

  Kate grabbed her cell phone and hit a speed dial number, explaining to Jack that she would have to cancel today, due to a family emergency, but that she would plan on next week for sure. Turning to Shane after the call she said, “Delores, Lana and I take a lesson together every Friday.”

  Shane just smiled and shook his head, saying, “When do the surprises ever end? No wonder the jab was so fast! How long have you been training, anyway? Should I be worried about you abusing me? I mean, I do bruise easily, as you have seen,” he teased. “And you said ‘shit’ by the way.” He smiled as he ate.