Published: 9 Oct 2025

From the Previous Chapter:

The man and teen shared a hug and while they did that the teen thanked his foster dad for doing that for him and getting him such a big check for his bank account.

Then, as he passed their rooms, Mr. Ken reminded Darrin and Phillip to drain their dragons, as he walked to the stairs to go down to his own retreat. Once there, as he got ready for bed. the owner of The Cove, and foster dad, thought of how busy he and the boys are going to be the next few weeks.

After Ken Thomas had gotten ready for bed and had climbed into his king-sized bed, he hoped the boys were also in their beds themselves. And before long everyone in the house was asleep. And, as was normal in the Cover household, it was peaceful and quiet all night through.

Friday morning, the conversation the boys were having around the breakfast table focused on that evening’s sleepover. The main reason for that was because Darrin had never been to a Cover sleepover, and he was full of questions that Matthew and Phillip were trying to answer for him.

‘Dad’ Ken sat behind his morning newspaper listening to the discussion wondering if Darrin would totally understand everything his ‘brothers’ were telling him. The man figured the teen would figure it all out, as he experienced it himself later that evening.

“So, let me get this right. Tonight, we’re going to watch the movies outside up at the Pavilion and not have a Dive-in Movie. Then afterwards, we’ll go down to the Kitchen Nook for a midnight snack and then to our sleeping bags. Oh, we’ll have to bring our sleeping bags down from the Pavilion, because we’ll be using them to lay on to watch the movies. Do we know which movies we’ll be watching yet?” finished Darrin.

Matthew told his new ‘brother’ that because the weather is still pretty nice, they all voted that the Pavilion was a nicer place to watch the movies than around the pool. Phillip added that when their friends arrive, they would take their sleeping bags over to the Pavilion, and when everyone goes down for the midnight snack, they will bring their sleeping bags with them. Matthew spoke up and included their pillows and anything else they brought.

Darrin said that it all sounded complicated, but he guessed he’ll have to hold his comments until he sees how it all comes together. He then looked at the time and told his ‘brothers’ that they needed to finish up and head up to the Main Gate to catch the bus.

Mr. Ken kept reading his newspaper, as the older boys came down for breakfast. And upon seeing them, Sarge went over to them hoping to get a belly rub and Charles obliged the resident pup, but then he had to go and wash his hands before Momma would serve him his breakfast.

The teenagers talked about how they saw the sleepover developing that evening, indicating that it was going to start out at the Pavilion and wind up with the boys having their midnight snack in the Kitchen Nook and them all going to fix their sleeping bags down in the Great Room.

‘Dad’ Ken then reminded Charles that he needed to help Darrin and his friends find a suitable place for them to bunk down for the night. Billy and Robert then spoke up and told their ‘brother’ that they’d help him figure it out on the way to school.

That morning after he got to the office, Ken Thomas left a call for Judy Turner, the Director of Children’s Protective Services, to call him at her convenience. His message to her centered around whether or not Darrin’s next of kin had been notified, and if any of them had shown any interest, or willingness, to take Darrin into their homes and continue raising the teenager.

The man then went around to those men and women in the office building who had indicated their desire to take one of Chief’s puppies to make sure that they were still interested. He had a list of over ten names and he was sure that some had decided on the spur of the moment, when they heard of how Sarge had helped the woman who was in distress, that they wanted a dog just like him.

Ken Thomas had to be sure that there were going to be at least seven people who were still interested in taking on raising one of Chief’s progenies, as he had no desire to keep another resident pet at The Cove, at this time. As he talked to all the people on the list, he told them that the pups would be ready to be delivered after their first shots and just before Spring Break.

Some of the people on the list told him that they needed to think that over since the puppy would be ready just, as they would be heading off for vacation with their family. They asked if he could keep the puppy until after they got back. A few apologized and told him that a puppy would not work out for them at this time, but that maybe next year they could see their way to getting a puppy, if he had them available.

Mr. Ken was happy, though, that five of the people on his list were absolutely onboard and couldn’t wait until next spring when the puppy would be available. A few asked if they could choose between a male or female.

All Mr. Ken could tell them was that he had no control over how many male or female pups were born, and they would all have to wait to see what were the numbers at the time Chief had her litter. He did tell them that he would recommend that they all get their pup either neutered or spayed, at the appropriate time, if they didn’t plan to breed them, and that they should take care of any perceived issues that come with having either a male or female dog.

At school that morning, Darrin reminded his two new friends to make sure that they brought their skateboards and to wear a medium jacket, since they would be watching the movies outside. They asked him why he didn’t remind his other friends and that was when they learned that the four other boys had a locker at The Cove, where they could keep their skateboard and any other extra things, like extra clothes, gloves, socks and towels.

Jody and Matin asked if they would also get a locker and when they learned that they, too, would have one they were ecstatic over that prospect. It was then that they also learned that they could continue to go back to The Cove whenever Darrin was there.

That was when all of the new Cover’s friends learned that the following Sunday would be a ‘Family Day’ and that none of the Cover’s friends would be allowed to come over, as none of the boys would be home all day.

Also, that morning, Bill Jackson, Mr. Ken’s lawyer, did as promised. He went to the courthouse and filed six separate lawsuits against the six media outlets that maligned and slandered the good name of Ken Thomas, and had defamed him and Bill Dirketson over their reporting of the accident back in July, where the front-end loader backed over the Ford Taurus that injured not only Billy, but sent Phillip to the hospital with a dislocated shoulder and a slight concussion.

The newspaper, which had settled with Mr. Thomas and Billy, was there capturing it all, as Mr. Jackson filed each lawsuit separately and held them up to show the newspaper reporter that they were seeking Compensatory and Punitive Damages to the tune of $10 million and $5 Million respectively for each of the injured parties.

Later that morning, the two television and one radio outlets only reported that they were being sued by Mr. Ken Thomas and a William Dirketson for what they called was their right to report actual happenings within the community. The media markets took the high road in saying that they would fight these spurious, fabricated and illegitimate lawsuits to the bitter end knowing that they had the truth in their corner.

By lunchtime, word had gotten around the high school that a lawyer for one Willim Dirketson had filed lawsuits totaling over $90 million that morning against six media outlets and the students began to ask Billy if he was the person named in the lawsuits.

Billy didn’t know what to say or do. He knew Mr. Ken’s lawyer was going to go to the courthouse that morning and file the five lawsuits, but he didn’t know if his name was going to be used. So, he quickly pulled out his cell phone and called his foster dad. Knowing it was also lunchtime for Mr. Ken, he hoped that the man wasn’t too busy to talk to him.

When the call wasn’t answered and went right to voicemail, he decided to try texting the man.

TEXT: Mr. Ken. HELP! Did Mr. Jackson use my name in the lawsuits? All the kids in school are bugging me. It must be all over the news! $90 million.

Ken Thomas was at lunch over at the Lakeside Hotel and rarely took phone calls while eating. When the phone rang and it went to voicemail, he told himself that he’d return the call when he went back to the office. Then no sooner had the call ended that he got a text, which wasn’t the norm. So, he looked to see who it was. It was Bill, his foster son.

When the foster dad read the message, he knew right away he needed to call the teenager.

“Fellas, I need to make a call. This is urgent and I only have a short window in which to make this. Please excuse me,” offered Ken Thomas, as he got up and walked away from the table.

“Bill, what is going on at the school?” asked Mr. Ken, when Billy answered his cell phone.

“Mr. Ken, thank you for calling me. The news is out that Mr. Jackson … that he has filed his lawsuits and they named … they named a William Dirketson and all the kids … they want to know if that is me, and if I’m going to get ninety-million dollars. Mr. Ken … I honestly don’t know what to tell them,” spoke the riled teenager.

Mr. Ken smiled at the question. “Bill … yes you and I … we are suing three television and two radio stations as well as one major newspaper who have all rebuffed us against settling before these lawsuits were filed today. These are in response to what they reported after your accident and how they kept misreporting afterwards back in July.

“Keep in mind that there is no way that we’ll ever see all that money, or even close to it, Bill. Those numbers … they are just to get their attention and the public thinking about how they misreported and misrepresented what happened back in July.

“They are hoping that the public will have short memories. But if this goes to trial, Bill, mark my words … we will make sure that each and every word and syllable that they reported and spoke over the air waves will be brought forward for the public to see and hear again. We will want them to hear it over and over again to remind them how each and every one of those news media outlets went about to malign and try to ruin our characters. And how they libeled and slandered me and defamed us both,” explained Mr. Ken.

“But, Mr. Ken … what … what should I tell the students?” Billy wanted to know.

“Bill … tell them … tell them that because of the accident you are suing them for slander, libel, defamation of character and their trying to ruin your reputation and you want just compensation. Add that you probably won’t see all that money, but that you want to make them pay for how they treated you, a sixteen-year-old, who couldn’t fight back against big corporate money and greed to make a profit on your unfortunate accident,” advised the teen’s foster dad.

Billy thanked his foster dad for calling him and talking to him about the lawsuits and then they ended the call.

During lunchtime, at the three younger Cover’s school, the students were talking about how Mr. Ken and someone named William Dirketson was suing six media outlets for a combined total of $90 million. Of course, the boy’s classmates asked the Covers what they knew of the lawsuits and if they knew who William Dirketson was.

Darrin and Phillip told their classmates that they didn’t know that their foster dad was filing these lawsuits, as he never talks to them about what he is doing in his business dealings. They then said that they didn’t know who that other person was.

Matthew, on the other hand, stuck with what his two ‘brothers’ had said. But he knew who William Dirketson was, but he wasn’t about to tell them that it was his older ‘brother’ Billy and then had to respond to a bunch of questions that he wouldn’t have the answers to. So, he kept his mouth shut.

In the meantime, Darrin told his friends that they could come over at 5:30 and enjoy the Cove Skate Park before they have pizza for dinner, then they’ll watch two movies up at the Pavilion. He also told them that they would use their sleeping bag to lay on while they watched the movies, then they’d take them down to the house and set them up for sleeping after they had their midnight snack.

Martin told Darrin that he thought that they were going to have a Dive-In movie. The teen Cover then explained to him and Jody that his ‘brothers’ felt that this would probably be the last time they could have them outside before it got too cold, so they voted to put them up at the Pavilion.

Darrin added that he has no idea what it will be like, but that just having a huge sleepover has got to be fun just in itself. Both boys agreed with that. The Cover again reminded the boys to wear a medium jacket for the outside movie.

At The Cove, the company delivered the movie screen and set it up where they did the last time. Mr. Dennis and Mr. Wayne took the popcorn machine from the house and set it up and got it ready for when they began showing the movies. The two men also set up the outdoor projector and focused it as best they could under the bright afternoon lighting conditions.

The entire time the two men were outside doing that both Chief and Sarge were right there watching. Chief knew what was happening, but Sarge was curious as to what was going to happen with all of the new-fangled equipment that was being set up outside. Of course, Sarge got belly rubs any time he could convince the men to accommodate him.

When the three younger boys got home from school, they saw the movie screen had been set up. Darrin wanted to go over and look at it, but Matthew told him that Momma would be mad if they didn’t head directly to the Nook, and have their after-school snack. Phillip then, ‘tongue in cheek’, told his teen ‘brother’ that he didn’t want Momma to get the ‘spoon’ out after him. Then both Phillip and Matthew laughed.

Darrin was puzzled by what Phillip had just said, so he asked him what he meant by the ‘spoon’. Phillip told his ‘brother’ that he’d show him after they got inside and had their snack.

As the three boys ate their Momma snacks, Matthew and Phillip just looked at one another and giggled over Phillip showing Darrin the ‘spoon’. Momma was curious over what was going on, so she asked. Neither boy would tell her, so Darrin spoke up and told the woman that his ‘brothers’ mentioned the ‘spoon’ to him, and that he didn’t want to upset her, so that she’d get it out after him.

Hearing that put a smile on Momma’s face and she told Darrin to wait right there. The woman left the three boys sitting at the table and a few moments later Momma came back into the Kitchen Nook.

“Nows sees heres youngs mans. If youse evers gets Mommas mads atchs chous yous betters bess readies fors thes ‘spoons’,” said Momma Maria to Darrin, as she brought the 18-inch stainless steel spoon from behind her back. Then she and the two boys began to laugh.

Darrin saw the size of the spoon and was shocked that someone would ever use that on someone. But Matthew told him that the ‘spoon’ was sort of like a Cover joke of sorts. The pre-teen explained that when Robert first began living there, the woman who ran the household, like Mr. Chris does now, didn’t think that Mr. Ken should be Robert’s foster dad, and that she should be in charge of him.

Matthew further explained that one day when their older ‘brother’ came home from school, the lady cornered him in the pots and pans storage room and was holding that big spoon and had hit him and was trying to hit him some more.

The pre-teen added how Chief had heard the commotion and went running to his rescue. The story continued and Matthew told how Mr. Ken called his friend Doctor Powers to treat Robert’s injuries, because she had hit him, who in turn called the police and the lady was arrested.

Darrin now smiled that he knew something else about The Cove that he hadn’t known before.

When the older boys returned from school, they saw the stainless-steel spoon out and wondered if Momma had to use it on one of his ‘brothers’. Robert asked Billy and Charles if he should ask Momma.

But Momma had heard what he said. So, she decided to play a joke on him. So, she picked it up and said to the teenagers, “Nos … Ize didn’ts haves tos uses thiesis spoons ons yours brothers, buts if youse don’ts listens tos Mommas Ize wills uses its ons youse!” Then she laughed.

Momma then explained that Matthew and Phillip told Darrin about the ‘spoon’ and how it came to be, and what is meant by it when someone says that they’ll get the ‘spoon’ out after you.

The older teens had a good laugh over that.

Just then Mr. Ken came into the Kitchen Nook and asked Bill if he could talk to him in the Study. Billy asked if this had anything to do with the lawsuits, and if it did then he asked if ‘brothers’ could sit in, as they heard what was being said at the school at lunchtime, too.

As the teens walked into the Study, Robert asked if they thought that their younger ‘brothers’ had heard anything about the lawsuits at their school, since it had been all over the radio.

Billy quickly ran up the stairs to talk to Darrin to see if he had heard anything about a lawsuit that their foster dad had initiated, and if he had he’d better come down to the Study. Darrin told him that he had, but so did Matthew and Phillip. The meeting now got larger.

When all the boys were seated, ‘dad’ Ken began to speak, but it was Charles who asked if Mr. Wayne and Mr. Dennis should know about this, too, as they could be asked questions, since they work here and are thus a part of the Cove.

Mr. Ken called Mr. Wayne and Mr. Dennis to come to his Study. The Estate Manager, Mr. Chris had already gone home for the day.

“Everyone … if you haven’t already heard,” began Mr. Ken, “my lawyer, Bill Jackson, … he filed six lawsuits this morning against three television stations, two radio stations and one newspaper. They were for compensatory and punitive damages to the tune of $10 million and $5 million respectively for each of the injured parties. The injured parties are myself and … and Bill here.”

The boys all began talking amongst themselves and it was Phillip who asked if Billy was going to get $90 million dollars.

“Boys … listen up. The lawsuits … they were filed to get the six media outlets’ attention because they wouldn’t see wisdom and settle for a reasonable amount for the way that they assassinated both my and Bill’s character, and the way they slandered us and mischaracterized the accident and a number of other ways they treated us.

“One newspaper … they did see the wisdom in settling with us, but these other six … they believed they had the high ground and could report, at will, whatever they felt like they could. But there are these two little words called slander and libel and they have to be careful as to what they say and how they say it. That is another reason for the lawsuits.

“Now … as to whether either Bill or myself will see ninety million dollars is doubtful. But … but we are going to squeeze them as hard as we can to get them to cough up whatever we can get from them, minus the lawyer’s share. They do all the work and Bill and I reap the rewards.

“Now the reason for this meeting is to inform you about the lawsuits so you know about them and what they are all about. If any of your friends ask about them just tell them … just tell them that it is a part of me doing business, and it will be a long time before this is settled. There is no need to mention Bill’s name at all. If they somehow know it is Bill, you just refer them to me. Are there any questions?” finished Mr. Ken.

“Mr. Ken … what about me and Billy’s accident? Aren’t we going to get some kind of money for what the front-end loader did to us?” asked Phillip.

‘Dad’ Ken smiled at the question. “Phillip … Mr. Russell … he is working on that problem as we speak. He is working with the construction company and its insurance company and he is trying to extract from them a fair and reasonable compensation package.

“But, understand, they too are stalling and we might have to file a lawsuit against them, too. But you will get what is rightfully owed to you for what you had to endure during and after the accident. Trust me. Just give it more time, which is what we got. OK?” answered the boy’s foster dad.

When the meeting ended, the boys got ready for the sleepover. They all changed into after school clothes, and then the six went up to the Pavilion to make sure everything was ready for when their friends arrived. When they were all up there, Billy then reminded Darrin that he needed to be at the Main Gate to sign in his two new friends, and get them entered into the database, so they can come back over and over.

Then looking at the time, Darrin hurried over to the Main Gate knowing Jody and Martin would probably be early, since they were anxious to come to The Cove.

And sure enough, no sooner had Darrin arrived that Jody and Martin’s parents were dropping both boys off. They had parked in the new parking area and had gotten out and walked over to the Main Gate.

The boys introduced their parents to Darrin and the parents asked if Mr. Ken was available. Darrin told the adults that he had to call down to the house to see if his foster dad could come up there, and then he made the call. Five minutes later Mr. Ken, Mr. Wayne and Mr. Dennis all came to the Main Gate to meet Darrin’s new friends’ parents.

Darrin was surprised when all three men came up there, so he had to make the introductions.

“Mr. Ken, I would like you to meet my two new friends and their parents. This is Jody Coleman and his dad Ayden, his mother Ruth and his sister Lydia. This other boy is Martin Gray and his parents Marcus and Marcie, and his brothers Marshall and Maverick.

“And Mr. and Mrs. Coleman and Mr. and Mrs. Gray I would like to introduce you to Mr. Wayne Mitchell and Dennis Florkert. They work for my foster dad as the Estate Masters who help corral us boys when he isn’t around. They also take us to our appointments and take care of the general things around the estate. Oh, and these two wonderful dogs are Chief and Sarge,” finished the new teen Cover.

Ayden Coleman wanted to thank Mr. Ken for allowing his son to come over to The Cove. He told the owner of The Cove that he’d heard many good things about the estate, and how much fun the boys who’d been coming there had, and he was glad that his son would be afforded the opportunity to see for himself what he’s heard from the other boys.

Marcus Gray seconded those same thoughts, and then he handed the three men his card from the auto dealership where he worked. He told them if they were ever in the market for a car to look him up.

By that time many of the other Cover’s friends had begun to arrive and Darrin’s other friends had stopped by to say hello to Jody and Martin. They also made sure that the two new boys had brought their skateboards, swimsuits, towels and anything else they thought they needed.

But before the boys could scurry off to the cars to retrieve those items. Mr. Ken told Darrin to get the boys entered into the database, so they could come back anytime he was there. As Darrin, Jody and Martin went inside the Gate House, the parents asked Mr. Ken why their boys needed to be entered into a database.

The owner of The Cove explained that he has armed guards patrolling the estate 24/7 and they keep track of whomever enters, and leaves the estate. The man added that once the security teams learn who the boys are, they could just come and say ‘Hi’ and then walk right in.

And that brought up another question that the mothers had, which dealt with the idea that their boys could come back at any time. Mr. Ken told the moms and dads that as long as Darrin was going to be there, their sons could come over at twelve, noon, and leave by six when there wasn’t school the next day and five o’clock when there was. Mr. Wayne then added that next Sunday was going to be a ‘Family Day’ for the Covers and that none of the boy’s friends would be allowed to come over, as they would be gone the entire day

“So, if Darrin is going to be here, my son, Martin … he can come over at noon and stay all day. Well, that is until six or five, whichever is happening the next day?” asked Marcie Gray.

While the adults were talking, the boys had rushed out of the Gate House, went to the cars and grabbed what was needed and Martin and Jody said goodbye to their parents, as they ran past them and into The Cove.

“Let me get another golf cart over here and I’ll give you all the nickel tour, as we call it,” announced Mr. Ken.

Five minutes later, the three golf carts were over at the Main Gate and Mr. Ken, Mr. Wayne and Mr. Dennis were driving the carts with the parents and their other children over to the Pavilion to start the tour.

When Phillip saw Marshall, he went over to him and greeted him, as the two were in the same class. Marshall asked the Cover if that was his band he heard playing when they drove up. A proud Phillip told the boy that it was and that they had a gig tomorrow night and they were practicing for it.

Marcie Gray walked over to the two boys and her son introduced Phillip to his mother, and told her that it was Phillip’s band that was playing when they drove up, and that they had another playing gig tomorrow night. That surprised the woman two-fold, one that a boy as young as Phillip had a band and that they already were playing at venues, and two that another of her sons knew someone that lived at The Cove.

“You see Marshall, if you had kept taking your lessons and practicing your drums you could be in a band like this one day,” teased the boy’s mom.

“Mom, I only just stopped taking the lessons because the man wasn’t teaching me anything new, or different.,” argued back Marshall.

With the mom and son arguing over the drum lessons, Phillip called Jeffrey Jenkins over and asked him to tell Marshall who he was taking his drum lessons from. The Cover then asked Jeff if he could get the man’s phone number to Marshall at school on Monday. The inference was to see if that man could also give Marshall lessons too, as he was learning to play the drums, but his teacher wasn’t advancing him as fast as Marshall wanted him to.

While Mr. Ken explained about the Pavilion and how the boys ‘burned’ the burgers and dogs every day to the parents, Jody and Martin were out on the smooth concrete surface of the Cove Skate Park, enjoying something they thought that they’d never get a chance to experience.

The two new boys got a great thrill, going into the deep bowls of the skate park, riding up and down and all over the smooth surface, while their friends watched how well they could perform.

With the explanation of the Pavilion and why the movie screen was set up, the three golf carts headed down to the back side of the house, where the parents and the children could see the cove and what was there. They also got a quick look inside the Great Room and at the indoor pool.

At the end of the tour, up at the Main Gate, the parents thanked Mr. Ken and the other two men for showing them around the estate. They again thanked him for allowing their sons to spend the night and having an experience that not too many boys get to do.

Marcie Gray told the owner of The Cove that his foster son’s band played quite well for their ages and she wanted him to know that Phillip asked his drummer to give his teacher’s name to her son, so he could continue with his drum lessons. She said that with her son, Marshall, seeing a boy that was his age was able to put together a band of that size and how well they played he surely would be encouraged now to pursue his dream of learning to play the drums better than ever.

Mr. Wayne told the parents that when they pick their sons up tomorrow night around five, there will be loads of other parents waiting outside. He added that they will surely want to talk to them and tell them all about what The Cove has meant to their sons, because some of their sons have been coming there for more than four years. The Estate Master then explained that the time would normally be six o’clock, but that Phillip’s band had a contract for Saturday night and everyone was leaving around five-thirty.

Darrin and his friends were having a good time out on the Cove Skate Park. They were showing one another what they could do on their skateboards, and they also helped one another when it came to trying to learn something new, or perfect what they were already doing.

After the parents had left, Mr. Dennis stopped by and watched the two new boys out on the skate park. After a few minutes he pulled Darrin aside and told him to make sure that they got lockers before the night was over, so they could store their skateboards before everyone went down to the house for their midnight snack.

Darrin asked which ones were available, so he knew what he could offer them. Mr. Dennis called Wayne who came over with the list. The three then went over to make sure no one else was using that locker.

Mr. Wayne looked at the time and said that the pizzas would be arriving soon, so Darrin decided to show Jody and Martin the lockers and to let them choose which ones they wanted. The two boys were thankful for the opportunity to choose their lockers and they both took lower ones.

It was while they were looking at the lockers that they both noticed what looked like differences in the building’s walls. Then they noticed the same differences in the storage garage walls. So, they asked Darrin what that was all about.

Darrin told them that he’d only been living here for about two weeks and he didn’t know everything about what went on at The Cove. So, he called Billy over and asked him.

When Billy came over and looked at the anomalies, he told the boys that during the day they aren’t so easily noticeable, but that it must be from the way the lights from the skate park shine back there that you can see where they fixed the walls from last year’s shootout.

Hearing the word ‘shootout’ caught all of the boy’s attention and they made Billy explain to them what that was all about. The teenager told them that while they were away visiting Mr. Ken’s amusement parks, Mr. Dan, a Sheriff’s Lieutenant, and good friend of Mr. Ken’s, was staying at The Cove and one night a bunch of men tried to rob the place.

Billy told the boys that their resident dog Chief somehow heard them coming over the wall behind the storage garage and went out after them. Mr. Dan put on his Sheriff’s vest and took his gun and went out after the resident pet, Chief, but the men started shooting. The Cover teen explained that with the armed guards on the estate and with Mr. Dan they had them cornered and then the on-duty Sheriff’s arrived and more shooting occurred.

By now a number of other boys had come looking for Darrin and his friends and had heard Billy telling the story about the shootout, and then even more boys came to listen. Billy found himself starting the story all over again, but reminded everyone that they were on vacation and weren’t there and all he was doing was telling them what he heard second hand.

By then the pizzas had arrived, and the boys hurried to get the piece of pizza they wanted. As they ate, the boys continued to talk about the shootout and what it might have been like. It was at that time that Mr. Dan had come to the Cove. He hadn’t been by since Darrin’s arrival, and he finally had the time to stop by to meet the new Cover.

The Sheriff’s Lieutenant heard the boys talking about the shootout and what it must have been like. So, he asked his friend, Mr. Ken, if he should give them a first-hand blow-by-blow of what happened during that middle of the night firefight.

Ken Thomas told Dan that it was up to him, but first he wanted him to meet Darrin.

“Darrin,” called out Mr. Ken, “I have someone here that I want you to meet.”

When the new teen Cover came over to the two men, Darrin said, “Yes, sir?”

Dan said to himself, even before meeting the teen, “I like him already.”

“Darrin, I want you to meet my good friend, Dan Fischer. He’s a Sheriff’s Lieutenant and has his own key and code to the house,” was how the foster dad introduced the two.

“It is good to finally meet you, Mr. Dan. If I may call you that. My ‘brothers’ … they have told me some about you. And you … you were staying here … here when that shootout occurred last summer?

“Billy … he was telling us about what happened, but it was all second hand. Could you … could you tell us what really happened? Well, that is if you have the time and … and it isn’t against any Sheriff’s rules or anything?” almost begged the new Cover teen.

Dan looked to Ken to see if he should or not. Ken told his friend that it was up to him if he wanted to tell the tale. Ken told Dan that he didn’t want him to get into any trouble by telling the boys what actually happened five or six months ago.

Dan told his friend and owner of The Cove that Rafael Ruiz had already taken a plea deal and was serving his sentence and this was just a story anyway.

The saga of Three Finger Cove continues. Let Chowhound know you are reading his story: Chowhnd at Gmail dot Com

If you are using webmail please include, on the subject line, [CR] [name of story]. This let’s the author know 2 things: Where you read the story and which story you are writing about.

54,259 views