Chapter 1

The 707's tires barked in protest as they touched the runway. As the jet taxied towards the terminal, the passengers began getting their things together and readying themselves for departure at LAX. James Everhard reluctantly ended a dream he was having about a beautiful, scantily clad, green-eyed alien female. He yawned, and looked out the window as the terminal building came into view. "Please keep your seat belts fastened until we have reached the terminal," droned the flight attendant over the sound system. Moments later, Everhard was making his way through the crowded terminal. He looked around but saw no one familiar. "Where were Phil and Emily?" he thought as he made his way through the crowd to the baggage claim area. "Maybe they were late getting away from L.A.," he reasoned. "Hell, they were probably still in the sack," he chuckled as he thought of the long separated couple making up for lost time in Phil's Redondo Beach apartment. He would just catch a cab out to Redondo, and surprise them just half-way through the many positions of the Kama Sutra. Maybe even offer Phil some pointers….hahahahahahaha. Everhard retrieved his bags and hailed a cab.

Thirty minutes later the cab pulled up to address he had read to the cabby from the note Phil had sent him. It was an art deco high-rise, surrounded by palm trees, a block from the beach. He paid the cabby and carried his bags into the foyer. He summoned an elevator and once inside, pushed the button for the ninth floor. Everhard fumbled in his pocket for the key Phil had sent to him. The brass key was engraved with a decorative "969" and he walked down the hall until he found three identical decorative numerals on the door, "969". He knocked softly on the door. He heard nothing, complete silence. He slid the key into the lock and turned it until there was an audible "click" and the door opened inward. Everhard stepped in and looked around. Obviously, Emily had not, as yet, had time to add her feminine touch to the décor. The living room was adorned with Middle Eastern furniture and accessories, undoubtedly from the couple's time in Saudi Arabia. Statues that appeared to be a global study of nude female breasts dominated the room as did the paintings on the wall. "Good old Phil, he hasn't changed a bit!", he thought. Everhard quickly found the master bedroom suite down the hallway, and hoping to find the couple in a compromising position, threw open the door. "Surprise!" he yelled, but the greeting merely echoed off the mirrored walls and ceiling. The sheets were rumpled and the dozens of pillows had been thrown from the huge, round bed to the floor. Everhard bent and let the scent that was on the sheets penetrate his nasal senses. Ahh, it was Emily's perfume all right. He had not missed them by much.

He turned and moved down the hall to what was undoubtedly the guest-room and threw his bags on the bed. He stripped off his clothes and took a hot, sudsy shower. After toweling off, he pulled

on a pair of boxers and lay down on the bed, switching on the tv. The news anchorwoman, who looked vaguely familiar, was giving the details of a breaking news story. "This afternoon, in a daring day light assault, a Redondo Beach couple was kidnapped in Long Beach, near the Los Angeles International Airport! This amateur video was shot by a tourist as the assault took place." Everhard sat up and watched the screen. The shaky video showed a black Humvee violently swerve in front of a white, stretch limo, forcing the limo to screech to a sudden stop. Two hooded men with assault rifles hopped out of the Humvee. One of the men fired shots into the driver's window while the other opened the rear door and pulled a beautiful blonde and a muscular man out of the luxury car. The man and woman were hustled into the Humvee at gun-point. The two men jumped in behind them as the black Humvee tore away. The entire incident taking only a few seconds. The anchorwoman continued. "The driver has been identified as John Laww who is employed by the Fantasy Limo service, he was taken to L.A.County Hospital in fair condition. The kidnapped couple are reported to be Phil and Emily Murphy. Mr. Murphy is reported to be an International financier. He and his socialite wife, Emily were reportedly on their way to the airport to pick up a number of visiting friends from their hometown, for some type of high school reunion." Everhard switched off the tv and hurriedly began to dress.

Chapter 2

His first call was to an old friend; Detective Lieutenant Bill Chaple at L.A.P.D. Headquarters. After being transferred to the Robbery/Homicide Division and asking for the Lieutenant, he heard Bill's gruff voice, barking around his ever present cigar. "Chapel." Everhard said, "Hello, Bill, Everhard here". The policeman's voice boomed through the phone, "Jesus, Joseph and Mary, how come every time things couldn't get much worse around here, you enter the picture?" The gruff policeman sounded genuinely irritated. "I'm glad to hear from you too, Bill, Long time no see." There was a brief silence on the phone then the Policeman said, "Don't tell me, I should have guessed; this Murphy guy and dame, they're members of your group, right? The 46 Knights or something like that?" Everhard smiled and replied, "64 Knights Bill. That's why you're L.A.'s finest Bill, with your amazing deductive powers, I'm amazed you haven't made Chief by now". "Politics, James", the detective quipped. "I thought you had moved back in your hometown. Where is it ?? Iowa, or Nebraska some where?" the Detective deadpanned. "It's Oklahoma Bill, and I'm back. And, yes, Phil and Emily are close friends. What's the story?" Everhard replied. "First bit of advise James," the police detective warned, "No amateur detective work from you on this case. These are some very bad boys! This is the third, high profile kidnapping in the last few months! It's like these bastards have a kidnapping franchise!" grumbled Chaple. Everhard could envision the cop chomping on the foul smelling cigar butt. "How profitable has the franchise been on the other grabs? Everhard asked. "They've made a couple of scores but we've yet to get a victim back in one piece." The detective admitted angrily and warned, "No Bullshit Everhard, you get involved with this and I'll bust your ass for obstruction of justice. We'll get your friends back." There was a long silence and then Everhard said, "Like you got the others back? I'll take my chances." "I'm not kidding on this Everhard!" the angry detective insisted and then he realized that Everhard had already hung up.

Beside the telephone, Everhard noticed a notepad that had been written on. The top sheet was gone but the impression of what had been written was on the second sheet. He picked up a pencil and shaded the page, revealing the words that had been written in Emily's lovely script handwriting. It read; "Pick up JE at LAX, 10 AM Friday. Others getting rooms at Beverly Hilton. Party Saturday, noon at Bev Hilton". It was apparently the plan for the weekend that she had noted from a telephone conversation. They had missed the first meeting and it looked as though the second might be in Jeopardy. He had a bad feeling about this, and he needed information. And when he needed information in L.A., there was only one great source. Sherry at the Times.

Chapter 3

Everhard needed transportation and he skillfully deduced that Phil must have a car in the parking garage since he and his lovely wife were traveling in a limo when they were nabbed. He looked around the luxury apartment until he found a set of house and car keys. Pocketing the keys, he headed out the door toward the elevators. When the elevator car arrived, he punched the parking garage button.Inside the dimly lit parking garage, he was glad to find that each parking spot was marked with the apartment number. He walked down a couple of rows of expensive luxury cars until he found the spot marked "969." Everhard whistled at the sight of the fire engine red Dodge Viper parked in the spot. "Always did appreciate your taste in cars and women, Phil old pal," he murmered to himself while unlocking the Viper and sliding behind the wheel. Seconds later, the red Viper shot out of the garage and sped toward the freeway that would take Everhard into downtown L.A.

Outside the Times building, Everhard glided into a parking spot along the curb. He grimaced at the parking meter and gave the machine a practiced karate chop in its upper right hand corner. The meter whirred and registered a full hour of time. "Trick my old man taught me," Everhard muttered to no one in particular, as he headed inside the building. Everhard entered the elevator and pushed the 4th floor button. Moments later he entered the office of Sherry Demenor, ace crime reporter for the LA Times. Sherry was at her computer with her back to the door as Everhard stealthfully entered. He put his hands over her eyes and said, "Guess who, Miss Demenor."

The gorgeous red head answered, "If it's who I think it is, what's about to happen is considered a felony!" Everhard slyly quipped back, "Wouldn't be rape, I'm a consenting adult…" "Wasn't rape I was considering, it was murder!" Sherry said without cracking a smile. She turned and looked at the handsome, tall man with curly black hair and sky blue eyes. "James, you no good SOB, how come every time I am just about to get over you, you burst back into my life? I thought you went back to Oklahoma. And you left without even saying goodbye!" "I did darlin', Everhard said in his best Okie drawl, "Had some pressing business back home. But I'm back for Phil and Emily's reunion, and of course, to see you. But someone has nabbed the host and hostess." Sherry, hadn't taken her eyes off his tanned face since he'd walked in. "I know, I read the report. Sounds bad." Everhard pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She returned the slow and gentle kiss. "Grab your purse beautiful, I can pick your brain over dinner. We need to find out who has them." James said. Sherry grabbed her purse, took his hand and they headed out the door.

The couple weaved through the heavy, early evening traffic in the red Viper. Everhard pulled into a small Italian place that he and Sherry knew well. The valet opened the door for Sherry and he smiled at the couple. "Long time no see Mr. Everhard, glad you're back in town! Good to see you, Miss Demenor." "Take care of the wheels Jimmy," Everhard said, "belongs to a friend." Inside the dark Italian restaurant, the couple sipped the rich, red house Chianti as they waited for their meal. "Who would the bad guys contact about ransom for Phil and Emily Sherry? Doesn't seem like it would be family." Everhard queried. "Doubtful," Sherry said, "Most likely it would be Phil's corporate partners. He is worth billions to them. Especially since their corporation has been awarded a multi-billion dollar federal contract for Phil's Popcicle Project." "What the hell is the Popcicle Project?" Everhard asked her. "It's a dual bodied rocket, looks like a friggin' popcicle," she told him, "Our government wants them and Phil's the mastermind behind the design." Everhard shook his head and said, "That guy was always such a cockhound, when did he find time to design frigging rockets?" Their dinner arrived before Sherry could comment. After the delicious meal, the couple went through another two straw woven bottles of Chianti as they seriously discussed the possibilities of the case until the restaurant closed. Everhard paid the bill and told the beautiful redhead, "I'll take you home." Sherry purred, "I'm off tomorrow James, take me to your place." Everhard, smiled and said, I've got the use of a beautiful apartment, I think you'll love it!" The couple headed out the door arm in arm.

Chapter 4

Everhard whipped through the late night L.A. traffic skillfully behind the wheel of the flaming red Viper. Within twenty minutes, the red sports car turned into the parking garage of the Redondo

Beach luxury apartments. The amateur sleuth and the beautiful reporter hurried to the garage elevator. As the elevator door closed behind them, the couple embraced and kissed hungrily. Sherry whispered something into Everhard's ear, which seemed to fan the flames of an already raging fire. She giggled as he nuzzled her neck and held her close to him. The couple watching the numbers on the indicator slowly move, 2…..3…..4…."Oh my God, can't this elevator move any faster?" Sherry moaned. The combination of wine and passion had them both aching to get inside the apartment and out of their clothes. Everhard's hands were all over her, and if the elevator ride were to last even a minute longer, the couple could add the slow moving cubicle to the list of "strangest places you've ever made love." The number "9" at last illuminated, the car stopped, and the door slowly opened. They hurried down the hall to "969" as Everhard fumbled for the key. Sherry nibbled on his ear and teasingly ran her hands under his shirt as he tried to unlock the door. To the couple's utter surprise, the door was not locked. As Everhard pushed it open, the sound of 60s' rock and roll music, and laughing people greeted them. Sherry, with her blouse unbuttoned to her waist, her black bra clearly visible and Everhard with his polo shirt half off and an unmistakable bulge in his slacks, met face-to-face with at least a dozen familiar faces. The 64' Knights were assembled and partying in the apartment's huge living room.

Chapter 5

Before a great deal of damage could be done to the couple's reputations, Donna Vadelle, an old friend of Everhard's, came to the door, stepped into the hallway with them and pulled the door closed. Thus sparing them the embarrassment of the entire graduating class seeing them in this somewhat compromising position. Quickly, James and Sherry readjusted their clothing and hair and made themselves presentable. "What in the world is going on Donna?" Everhard asked the petite blonde with more than a little sarcasm. "Are you guys throwing a Phil and Emily have been nabbed party?" Donna looked at the amateur investigator incredulously. "Well you two seem to have an unusual way of grieving too!" Donna quipped. "We got together to discuss the news and find out if anybody knew anything that wasn't on television, and then we had a few margaritas, and well, you know the 64 Knights!" Donna explained. She continued, "No one knows a thing! We have been looking for you two, hoping you could shed some light on this thing." "We don't know much." Sherry offered, "But we have a few ideas that might prove interesting." Donna arched an eyebrow and said, "Yeah, It looks like things were just about to get interesting for you two." Everhard felt a dull ache in his lower abdomen that he hadn't remembered feeling since high school. "Well, come on in and fill all of us in on what you think has happened."

Donna told them and opened the door again.One half hour later, James and Sherry had filled the group in on everything that they knew and even suspected. "Hey, I have worked with Phil on a few projects and I know his business partners very well." Tom Manners said. "You think I should call one of them and see if a ransom demand has been made?" "Not a bad idea Tom, If you feel comfortable doing it," Everhard said. Manners pulled out his cell phone and immediately tapped in a number.

Everhard felt a light touch on his shoulder. He turned and looked into the eyes of Donna Vadelle. "Sorry we messed up your plans for the evening James." Donna said quietly. Donna was short and looking down at her like this, Everhard could see and appreciate her impressive cleavage. "It's okay Donna, it looks like something that was probably never meant to be anyway." Donna looked puzzled and asked," Why James?" Everhard smiled and studied the ice cube in his drink. "I don't know. We've been almost there several times and something always happens that changes the plans. It's like it's a sign or something." "Then you two are not, like, engaged or something?" Donna asked. Everhard chuckled, "Engaged, hell, we can't even get along for more than a day or two." "Looked like you were getting along okay tonight," Donna quipped. "Well", he admitted, "tonight was a lot of wine and hormones. She hasn't spoken to me since our little grope in the hallway. Odds are she's really pissed because I embarrassed her." "James", Donna said, "embarrass me like that some time, will you?" She kissed him squarely on the lips and then turned and walked away. James was still staring at the retreating Ms. Vadelle's very impressive posterior when Tom Manners walked up to him and said. "I talked to Ken Oldman, Murphy's closest associate, and he has had contact with the kidnappers. They want $20 million in cash! And you know what else James? They plan to pay it!" Everhard asked Manners. "Have they gotten the cops involved? "No, they said they'd kill the couple if the cops were involved." "Good," Everhard answered, "Let's go see Mr. Oldman."

Chapter 6

Tom Manners walked up to him and said. "I talked to Ken Oldman, Murphy's closest associate, and he has had contact with the kidnappers. They want $20 million in cash! And you know what else James? They plan to pay it!" Everhard asked Manners. "Have they gotten the cops involved? "No, they said they'd kill the couple if the cops were involved." "Good," Everhard answered, "Sherry, feel like an adventure?." Sherry looked up and nodded the affirmative. "Let's go see this Mr. Oldman." The two got directions from Tom Manners who had told Ken Oldman that Everhard would meet him at his waterfront warehouse in 20 minutes.

Everhard and Sherry hurried to the parking garage and the waiting Viper. Once inside the car, Everhard turned to Sherry and said, "Sherry, I am so very sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you back there." Sherry laughed out loud. "James", she said, pausing long enough to kiss him passionately. "It was funny! I wasn't embarrassed at all. Sooner or later, we'll get our time alone. Count on it James." "I will", James answered. He silently marveled at how much better that had gone than he had thought it would.Minutes later the Viper turned into the parking lot of Klean Propulsion, the company owned by Ken Oldman, Phil's business partner. Ken Oldman, a tall red haired man, met the couple at the door of the office. "You must be the infamous James Everhard," he said, shaking the man's hand. Everhard introduced Sherry to him. "Tom told me that no one would be a better person to make the drop of a large amount of money." Everhard looked at the tall man and said, "I can handle a drop, have you received instructions?" "Yes," Oldman answered. "We have the money ready. It's right in here in a large suitcase." Oldman led them into his office where they stared at a huge, black nylon suitcase on wheels. "Pretty bulky piece of baggage," Everhard quipped. "They insisted on this specific brand, color and size of suitcase. You can only get them one place in all of L.A.! It's heavy too!" Oldman told him. "Hell it's stuffed with 200 thousand, one hundred dollar bills, banded in $10,000 bundles. It took my secretary and I two days to put that much together!" Everhard whistled. "Most people couldn't put that together in a lifetime!" Sherry remarked. "We've done pretty well over the years but this will absolutely wipe us out." Oldman lamented. "But I'll give it all to bring Phil and Emily back alive." "Do we have any guarantee that it will?" Everhard asked. "No, we only have the word of some very bad people," Oldman said grimly.

The instructions given to Oldman were to take the suitcase to the L.A. International Airport. Everhard was to purchase two tickets on the 11:00 AM Flight to Vegas at the Air West counter and check the bag. Further instructions would be waiting for them at the baggage claim area at the Vegas airport. The bag was too large to put into the red Viper so Ken Oldman gave them the keys to a company van. Everhard looked at his watch, 3 AM. We have a little time. We better get some rest before we get onboard. Sherry looked at him and said slyly, "My place. I can guarantee us some rack time, but not necessarily any rest." They drove the van towards her apartment.

Chapter 7 (WARNING .HERE COMES THE LOVE SCENE….IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED, STOP HERE IF NOT ENJOY.)

At Sherry's North Hollywood bungalow, the couple wheeled the huge suitcase into the living room. "I need a shower", James said. "Go ahead my love," Sherry pointed to the bathroom at the top of the stairs. Everhard had packed a change of clothes in his gym bag. He took the bag and headed for the shower. He stepped into the hot, steamy shower and let the hot water cascade off his back. It had been a long, tiring day. He was looking forward to a good night's sleep. He let the warm water ease his tension as the stress began to disappear. As Everhard let the hot water soak his curly, black hair, he felt the shower curtain open and watched Sherry enter the shower with him. "Can a girl get her back scrubbed? Sherry purred. Without a word, Everhard began to soap the beautiful red head's naked back and shoulders. "Mmmmmm, that feels fantastic," Sherry told him softly. As Everhard allowed the water to rinse the soap from her back, he began to soap her lovely derrier. After the water rinsed the soap from her lower back, she turned slowly and faced him. He slowly soaped her breasts and hard abdomen. He felt her nipples harden with his touch. She threw her arms around him and kissed him deeply, her tongue probing. After they rinsed in the warm water, Everhard turned off the water and the couple stepped from the shower. They toweled each other dry hurriedly. "My James, it appears that you have certainly risen to the occasion" Sherry observed. Everhard carried her to the bed and tossed her playfully onto the black satin sheets. He covered her from head to toe with passionate kisses, spending more time and loving attention to her most private areas. Their playful laughter slowly turned to more passionate sounds. An hour later, the couple collapsed into each other's arms, totally spent and exhausted.

Chapter 8

Everhard's internal alarm clock awoke him at 9:00 the next morning. He felt rested and refreshed. Sherry was already up and he smelled frying bacon. He pulled on a pair of slacks and followed the wonderful smell into the kitchen. "Good morning Lover," Sherry called over a pan of sizzling bacon. Everhard kissed her gently and said, "Good morning." Sherry asked, "How do you like your eggs?" "In the chicken," he answered, "never eat them. But do you have any peanut butter?" "Sure, in the pantry," Sherry pointed to an oak paneled door in the corner. Everhard found a jar of Skippy Super Chunk and dug out a large scoop with a fork. "Breakfast of champions," he laughed as he put it on his plate with the bacon. As they sat eating, Sherry questioned him about his strange breakfast selection. "Atkins diet," he told her, "no carbs, lot's of protein. It keeps the love handles away." Sherry eyed his rock hard abs and remarked, "Hmmmm, seems to work pretty well." After eating, they finished dressing and headed for the airport. Everhard noticed a plain looking Ford sedan in his rear view mirror. "I think we've picked up a tail. I'll lose him on the San Diego freeway," Everhard told her. As the Ford van entered the freeway, Detective Lieutenant Bill Chapel and his partner, Sgt. Dennis Gagliardi, who was behind the wheel, drove up the freeway ramp behind them. Everhard accelerated to 80 mph and the unmarked police cruiser stayed close. Both vehicles were in the far right hand lane heading south and were passing slower moving traffic. The detectives watched as the van suddenly locked its brakes and swerved left across 5 lanes of traffic. The van rocked hard on its springs as it hopped the curb and tore through the center median that separated the north and south bound traffic. The police officers could only watch in shock as the van screeched back onto the north bound freeway lane and disappeared into thick traffic. Lt. Chapel cursed and bit down on his cigar slamming his fist onto the cruiser's dash. "Dammit! Who the hell drives like that?" In the van, Sherry buckled her seat belt and exclaimed, "Holy Crap James! Where'd you learn to drive like that?" "Five o'clock traffic on Northwest Highway in Oklahoma City. Everybody drives like that there, "Everhard chuckled.

Twenty minutes later, the couple arrived at the airport. They parked in long-term parking and wheeled the suitcase into the terminal. "James, what will we say if they check this bag?" Sherry asked pointing at the oversized suitcase, stuffed with cash. "Well hell baby, we're going to Vegas. We always need to take along a little gambling money," he answered. Sherry rolled her eyes in disbelief and followed him to the Air West counter. They purchased two round trip tickets on the 11:00 plane to Vegas and checked the huge bag without comment from the desk clerk. The couple took a seat in the waiting area by Gate 4 and waited for their flight to be called. Everhard thought how naked he felt without the .357 magnum he usually carried in a shoulder holster. The kidnappers had apparently thought of everything. They knew he would be unable to get a weapon onboard the airplane. He hoped he wouldn't need it.

Chapter 9

Their flight was called and the couple boarded the Air West 747 hand and hand. They took their seats and buckled themselves in. The 11:00 AM flight was completely full and both Sherry and James slept soundly during the forty-minute flight. When the flight attendant's voice came over the speaker giving landing instructions, the two awoke and smiled at one another. "You absolutely wore me out James. You must be exhausted!"" Sherry said dreamily. James kissed her gently and said, "Labor of love my sweet."They took their carry on bags and exited the plane, entering the festive, Las Vegas airport. They walked straight towards the baggage claim area. Everhard was alert, even a little on edge, having absolutely no idea what to expect next. While waiting for the baggage carousel to start delivering the baggage that was being unloaded from their plane, a huge black man whose head was shaved and must have been 6 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 350 pounds muscled his way next to Everhard. The menacing looking man wore a black suit and mirrored sunglasses. A large suitcase, the same style as the one James and Sherry had checked, but a shade or two lighter in color, came into view. "That's yo' bag Jack," the huge man said to Everhard. "No, I don't think so.." Everhard began but was cut off in mid sentence as the huge man threw his arms around Sherry and embraced her. To anyone watching, it merely appeared to be two old friends greeting one another, but Everhard knew differently. "Pick up the bag, Jack, and leave the airport or I break yo' Lady's pretty little neck." The huge man hissed, still smiling broadly. A gold tooth glistened. "Yo' instructions on how to find yo' friends are in the bag." Everhard waited until the bag came into reach and then pulled it off the moving belt. The huge man released Sherry who immediately took refuge behind Everhard. James hoisted the bag and let it swing behind him in a high arc. The very heavy bag then swung forward on that arc and painfully crashed into the huge man's testicles, bringing the huge man to his knees, howling in pain. "Oh, sorry friend," James exclaimed, "and the name's James, not Jack!" he told the barely conscious man as he and Sherry hurried away with the large, wheeled bag.

"James, do you think that was wise?" Sherry asked worriedly as they hurried to the taxi stand. "I had to make him mad enough to come after us Sherry, It's the only way we'll ever see Phil and Emily again.

Chapter 10

James and Sherry put the big bag into a waiting cab and told the driver to take them to Caesar's Palace. "Please be careful," James told the driver, "There's some very fragile stuff in that bag." "Sure Mac,' the driver replied as he eased into traffic and headed to the Strip. "It's James," he told the driver. "Whatever.." the cabby grunted.Ten minutes later, the cabbie let them out at Caesar's Palace. Everhard paid the driver and told him he'd get the bag. As they headed to the registration desk, Everhard fended off three attempts by bellhops trying to take the huge bag. The couple got a room on the 22nd floor and James carefully wheeled the suitcase onto and off of the elevator, and just as carefully, lifted it over the threshold into their room. "James, I don't understand," Sherry questioned, "why are you being so damn cautious with that bag?" "Well darlin', his Okie drawl showing again, "unless I'm way off, this thing will be wired to blow us into tiny pieces as soon as we open it." Sherry staggered as she heard this news. "Well you didn't seem quite as concerned when you smashed King Kong it the nads with it!" Sherry exclaimed, unconsciously backing away from the bag. James looked up at her from the floor where he was closely examining the bag, "Well, I was pissed off then", he reasoned, " I didn't stop to think, however, since that time, I have reevaluated our position in this whole fiasco and I'm now thinking, explosives." Sherry nearly stumbled as she backed to the door. "Wha-what are you going to do now?" she asked him. "I was an explosives guy in Nam'. I think I can defuse about anything. You wait in the casino, and if the hotel doesn't come down around your ears before then, call me on my cell phone in fifteen minutes.' Everhard told her. "Right," Sherry said, "I'll be in the casino all right,, the casino at the Hilton!" she said and rushed out the door to the elevator where she began furiously pounding the down button.

Everhard took a small case from his bag. When he opened it, an array of small picks, scissors, pliers and surgical pickups became visible. Each tool was hardened plastic so that the case could pass through a metal detector, even the zipper teeth on the case were made of the space age plastic.. He began by making a large incision in the middle of the bag, slowly and carefully enlarging it until he had taken all the nylon off the front of the bag. What was now visible was a half circle of what looked like lead with a wire tightly connecting it to the snaps on the top of the case. A name had been placed on the front of the lead semicircle at the foundry where it had been cast. It read "Claymore." Beads of perspiration dripped from Everhard's brow as he began carefully working on the triggering mechanism of this Vietnam era, highly explosive, anti personnel mine.

Slowly, cautiously, Everhard began snipping wires. He was cautious because it could have been wired to confuse someone trying to defuse it. It was extremely tedious work his shirt was completely soaked through with perspiration. He had seen through the defusing process that everything had been reverse wired, very ingenious. Had he cut the usual wires, he would have blown himself up. He was now down to the last two wires on the detonation unit, one was green, the other red. Standard procedure would be to cut the red wire, but everything else had been reversed. Which one should he cut? He put the plastic nipper blades around the green wire, then he hesitated. Everhard tried to think like the bomber who had wired this monstrosity, "If I had reversed all the other wires, and the defuser had safely gotten this far,,,,, wouldn't it be wise to then go back to standard wiring on the last wire, just as a little surprise?" Everhard moved the nippers to the red wire and began, very, very slowly to squeeze the nippers shut and cut the wire.

"Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnngggggggggggg", Everhard's cell phone suddenly broke the silence. "Holy Shit!" Everhard yelled as he dropped the nippers and grabbed his heaving chest. "Brrrrriiiiinnnnnggggg," the cell phone again rang. Everhard tried to answer but his mouth was too dry, a barely audible grunt came from his parched throat. "James, James, is that you? Are you okay?" Sherry's voice came through the phone. "Jesus Sherry," you just scared me out of twenty years of life." Everhard said, still breathing very hard. "James, is the bomb defused?" Sherry asked him panting. Everhard answered her by saying, "Hold on, if I do this wrong, you'll be the second person to know. He rolled over, picked up the nippers, gritted his teeth and cut the red wire. The total silence that occurred after the wire was cut was music to his ears. "Sherry, we're safe now. Come on back, and hurry, we have to plan a little surprise for a rather large black gentleman."

Chapter 11

James opened the curtains and peered down the twenty-two stories to the parking lot. Far below he watched a black Humvee squeal and smoke its tires as it roared into the parking lot. It jerked to a stop and the huge black man came from behind the wheel. Another, smaller man seemed to be trying to reason with the huge, angry man, but he wasn't listening. The big man shoved him aside and hurried into the lobby. Everhard hurriedly grabbed a pillow off the bed, shook the pillow out, onto the floor, and raced out the front door into the hotel hallway. He went to the ice and beverage alcove a few feet down the hall and immediately began feeding change into the cold drink machine. Cans of soda began tumbling out of the machine and Everhard began stuffing them into the pillowcase. In the hotel lobby, the huge man went to the bell hop stand and grabbed a bellhop by the neck of the uniform. He pulled the smallish man around the corner, out of the view of passersby, The bellhop knew the huge man, but a look of fear was easily seen on his face. "Okay Bobby, what room is Everhard in?" He demanded. "Twenty-two o' four, but what are you going to do?" "Im gonna' rip his friggin head off, that's what I'm gonna' do," the huge man yelled angrily as he released the bellhop and let him fall to the floor. The bellhop muttered to himself. "That crazy son-of-a-bitch is going to screw this whole thing up." Pulling a cell phone out of his pocket, he frantically punched in a number. The huge man hurried to the elevators and punched the up button. A door opened almost instantly and the huge man picked up and threw aside a man whom he felt was too slow getting his ass out of the elevator! The huge man punched the number "22" with so much force that the plastic button shattered, exposing the tiny bulb inside. The huge man bellowed with rage at the elevator as if he were threatening the elevator if it even considered stopping before reaching the twenty-second floor. Fortunately for anyone who might have pushed the up button between 1 and 22, the elevator went nonstop to the 22nd floor.As the door slid open, the huge man in the black suit looked down the hall, turned to his left and hurried toward room 2204. As he approached the door, he ducked his shoulder and lowered his head, planning to crash into the door with enough force to take out the door and the frame. His speed built up and he was just a few feet from the doorway, when suddenly the huge, ex-NFL lineman saw a white blur, felt a horrible pain and heard the crunch of breaking bone. The huge man crumpled to the floor, unconscious. Everhard, hiding in the ice machine alcove, jumped out and swung around the pillow case, stuffed with eight ice cold cans of Grapette, as hard as he could, squarely into the charging man's face. Everhard drug the unconscious man across the hall, blood streaming from his ruined nose.

Twenty minutes later, Roosevelt Mason, former all-pro offensive lineman with the Raiders began to come around. He peered through the slits of his eyelids, as they were almost swollen completely shut. The first vision that came to him was James Everhard. The huge man growled angrily and tried to jump at Everhard. He discovered that he had been securely tethered at each wrist and ankle to the bed. "Easy there, Jack!" Everhard told him, "before you thrash around too much, I'd take a look between your legs". The huge man quit squirming and looked. As his eyes focused, he read the words "Claymore" that had been cast into the lead detonator that lay facing his crotch. The huge man froze. "That's more like it," Everhard said. He was holding a detonation switch in his hand, that was wired to the lead anti-personnel mine. "You know what this will do, don't you?" Everhard asked him. "Yeah, I know," the former football star replied. "Well let me tell you anyway," Everhard said, "I've had a lot of experience with these. Your balls will catch it before your head will, so the last thing you'll ever see is your manhood heading for Arizona!" "Shit!" the huge man spat. "Another thing, Jack! I'm in a big hurry. You've probably got some pals on the way here right now, and if they get here before you tell me what I want to know. You're an old highlight film. Understand?" Jack asked. "The one thing I want to know. Is, where are they? And If I even think you're lying," Jack jerked the detonator up with his hands, but did not push the plunger; the former football player screamed.

Chapter 12

James and Sherry exited the room through an adjoining room door. It was a simple matter of some minor league lock picking. The adjoining room was occupied, but no one was home at the moment. "Probably feeding the slots downstairs". James said, as they hurried through the room. James opened the door to the hallway slowly, and looked to see if anyone was in the corridor. Finding it empty, he and Sherry hurried out the door and pushed the down button on the elevator. Everhard inventoried the items he had relieved the former All-Pro of. A 9 MM Glock automatic with four extra, loaded clips, the keys to a Humvee, and a nasty looking Chinese knife with a sling open blade. As the couple exited the elevator, they saw a bellhop and three mean looking characters hurrying into the elevator next to theirs. "They're on 22!" the bellhop was saying excitedly, "Hurry!" James and Sherry casually walked through the lobby and into the parking lot. They walked to the Humvee Everhard had watched the huge man arrive in. Everhard unlocked the door and helped Sherry up into the vehicle. As the couple was exiting the parking lot, a Las Vegas Police car squealed into the lot. The blacked out windows on the Humvee allowed James and Sherry to see the cigar chomping, Detective Lieutenant Chapel from LAPD riding in the front seat, without him being able to see them. "A bit late, old friend, to visit us, but you might really enjoy the company currently residing in room 2204." Everhard chuckled and drove east toward the desert.The bellhop and the three mean looking fellows got out of the elevator on the 22nd floor. The men in dark suits pulled pistols out of their shoulder holsters as they approached the door. The bellhop knocked on the door, "Room Service," he said. "Don't you dare touch this friggin door," the huge man's voice boomed. "He's got it wired to blow my nuts off!" "Roosevelt, Is that you?" one of the men yelled back. "Hell yes, it's me, and don't touch the friggin' door. I mean it!" The four men looked at each other, puzzled. "Come through the room next door," The desperate man called. The four men moved cautiously to the adjoining room. The bellhop used a passkey and unlocked the adjoining rooms door. They hurried through the currently unoccupied room and opened the door to 2204.

Once inside the room, the four men stared in disbelief at the huge black man. His nose was badly displaced and covered with blood. His eyes were both black and swollen shut. He was tied, spread eagle to the bed with a Claymore mine between his knees, the business end facing his business.. "Holy shit!" one of the men exclaimed, "What are we going to do now?" No one had the opportunity to answer before the door was kicked in by a cigar chomping man holding a 12 gauge shotgun. "Drop the weapons skumbags!" he shouted pointing the shotgun at one, then the others. Detective Lieutenant Bill Chapel was followed into the room by Sgt. Dennis Gagliardi and two Las Vegas uniforms, all pointing their weapons at the group. The men dropped their pistols and raised their hands. The huge black man was screaming shrilly. All eight men in the room stared at the huge black man. Suddenly, he quit screaming and looked, through his nearly swollen shut eyelids at the bomb. "The Mother Fu_ _ _ r didn't go off. It didn't go off." He shouted excitedly. Chapel took a close look at the Claymore and said, "Of course it didn't go off Dipstick! It's not wired to detonate. Looks like Everhard's work to me." He said, matter of factly. "I'm gonna kill that Motha Fu_ _ ing Everhard," the black man howled. "You ain't killin' nobody ass _ _ _e!" Chapel said around his cigar, as he shoved the harmless explosive device onto the floor with the butt of his shotgun and brought the gun's butt back hard into the man's over abused genitals.

Forty miles east of the hotel in what was seemingly wasteland, the black Humvee turned off on an old, abandoned mining road. James and Sherry bounced up in their seats as the Humvee bounced hard over the washed out road. After about a mile of terribly bumpy road, an old, rusted, corrugated steel building came into view. They drove very slowly up to the building. A man carrying an M-16 rifle watched the Humvee approach and waived. "Yet, another reason to have blacked out windows." Everhard chuckled as he drove up next to the rifle wielding man. The guard did not expect trouble, so he lowered his rifle and leaned on the door. Everhard hit the power window button and jammed the Glock into the surprised guard's chest. Before Everhard could order him to drop the rifle, the guard began raising the rifle to firing position. Everhard squeezed the trigger and the guard's chest exploded with a spray of blood, tissue and bone. Everhard jumped out, grabbed the M-16 and was ready to take on anyone who might be coming out of the metal building. It remained very quiet. Everhard remained alert and ready to fire. When no one came out of the building, he handed the Glock to Sherry. "Be very careful baby. That guy probably ain't alone here." Everhard told her. Sherry stared at the still smoking, and blood spattered handgun. Her look was one of fear and nausea. Everhard crouched and advanced on the building.

Everhard kicked the rusty door open and jumped in, pointing the rifle in first one direction, then another. Immediately to his right, he saw Phil and Emily. They were standing, chained to a ceiling beam where their hands were pulled above their heads. They were gagged with duct tape. They both looked dirty, tired and very weak. Everhard carefully approached the couple. As he got very close, Phil opened his eyes and tried to warn Everhard, but it was too late. "Drop the rifle dude!" a young man about twenty was holding a shotgun on Everhard. James let the rifle slip to the dusty floor as he slowly raised his hands. "You just shot my dad you assho_ _! And now I'm taking YOU out!" A loud blast echoed through the old building!

Chapter 13

Everhard carefully approached the couple. As he got very close, Phil opened his eyes and tried to warn Everhard, but it was too late. "Drop the rifle! " A young man, about twenty, was holding a shotgun on Everhard. James let the rifle slip to the dusty floor as he slowly raised his hands. "You just shot my dad you assho_ _! And now I'm taking YOU out!" The young man raised the shotgun and aimed it squarely at Everhard's back. A loud blast echoed through the old building!

Everhard hit the ground. It took a second or two for his senses to tell him that he was not dead. He could still see. In fact, he could clearly see Phil and Emily, still chained to the ceiling beam. He could feel no real pain. He felt his chest, expecting to bring back a blood streaked hand, but he did not. Then he tried moving. He rolled over and looked back at the spot where the young man with the shotgun had been standing. But instead, he saw Sherry, still holding the smoking Glock with both shaking hands. In front of her was the young man, lying on the floor, staring, with open, lifeless eyes at the ceiling. Everhard jumped up and took Sherry into his arms, she was shaking and crying. "He, he was going to kill you, I had to do it." Sherry said, still very shaken. "Yes, you did baby, you saved my life." Everhard assured her as he took the Glock from her shaking hands. "Come on, let's get Phil and Emily."

Ten minutes later, James and Sherry had the kidnapped couple down and free again. They found food and water in a small refrigerator and the couple was now busy wolfing down balogna and cheese and drinking bottled water. "First food we've eaten in a couple of days." Phil told them between huge bites. "You could stand to lose a pound or two Phil, old pal," Everhard teased. "Maybe, but this is not my idea of a fun diet!" Of course, even dirt streaked and tattered, Emily still looked beautiful. Everhard told her so. "Oh James, you've always been such a shameless flirt!" Emily told him.

Everhard shamelessly agreed, smiling broadly.Moments later, three Las Vegas police cars, with red lights flashing and sirens wailing, skidded to a halt in front of the old building, creating a horrendous cloud of dust. Detective Lieutenant Bill Chapel and his partner, Sgt. Dennis Gagliardi jumped out of the lead car with weapons drawn. They cautiously entered the old building and saw the two couples calmly eating balogna sandwiches and drinking bottled water. "Only two bodies Everhard?" the Lieutenant asked sarcastically. "They wouldn't turn over the Murphy's without a fight." Everhard replied, "I really wish they had been more cooperative." "And what about the money, Everhard?" Gagliardi asked, "Where do you suppose it went?" "Well, I believe you'll find it in the clutches of Tom Manners and Ken Oldman. You see, they were both just a little too anxious to get Sherry and I involved. Then there was the Claymore mine. Those were Oldman's specialty in Nam'. They should both be covered with permanent orange dye right about now. We rigged a little orange dye surprise in the money suitcase before we turned it over to Manners' friends at the baggage check. He's a big wheel at Air West and could easily have arranged the baggage switch. He and Ken Oldman planned to liquidate and bankrupt the corporation and split the 20 mill between themselves."

"Those bastards!" Phil cursed.

Lieutenant Chapel punched a number into his cell phone and then ordered the two conspirators to be picked up immediately back in L.A. "Dammit Everhard, I hate it when you're right! Why don't you come to work for me?" Chapel asked around the ever-present cigar butt. "Couldn't do that Bill. You guys are just too structured." Everhard replied. "Well, we hate to run Lieutenant, but we have to get back to L.A. We have a reunion to attend." Everhard said. "Come on kids," Everhard told Phil and Emily, you're gonna' love my new Humvee. Bill, we'll check with you in a day or two." With that, the four friends climbed into the Humvee and headed west.

THE END

Dear 64 Knights,

Thank You for allowing me to have fun writing these stories for you. Please realize that they are, in reality, only a group of rough, unedited scenes. The finished product, if it were ever to become a finished product, would not be written and sent out without rewrites and edits, and a connecting story body. These are just straight out of my muddled mind. But thank you for being a noncritical, hopefully amused audiance.

WW, Spring 2003