“Were you at the murder scene? I heard they shot a thousand rounds, or something like that at him.”
Hunter took a long swallow and signaled the server for another, “I wasn’t at the scene. Just read the report.”
“That Sheriff Rockman must have been something. The way they described him in Time and Newsweek, he was like Rambo on steroids. The shootout in Mexico, and facing down a whole town of killers? Man, o man. You knew him, right?”
“I did.?
?? The new Maker’s arrived and Hunter took a drink, “He wasn’t the same after his wife died.”
The other Miami detective, a handsome, silver-haired man named Jesse Coda, said, “You’ll have to forgive Jason. He’s dying to get in a shootout. Thinks it will be exciting and fun.”
The other detectives said, almost in unison, “It’s not.”
Hunter said, “I think I’ll take a short walk. You guys stay here, I’ll be back.”
She downed the Maker’s and started to pay when Jason said, “We’ve got the table. Our treat.”
“Thanks.” Hunter went south on Ocean Drive, then crossed to the beach and walked by the gentle surf. Not many people were around. While she walked, Hunter thought about Sheriff Wayne Rockman, and shooting him to death near Outlaw Road.
A voice came from Ocean Drive, “Hey, are you ready to put that ling on a grill?”
She looked at Randall’s grinning face as he slow-drove in his pickup. John was in the passenger seat and yelled, “Come on, I’m hungry!” She trotted to the street and slid in behind John.
Randall said, “We introduced them, now they can continue their date.”
John said over his shoulder, “You okay?”
She said, “Yeah, no worries.”
John said, “I talked to a psychologist after our Prendell Taylor thing. It helped, Hunter. Didn’t fix everything, but I was better. I’m not saying you should or you shouldn’t, just don’t dismiss it out of hand.”
Hunter patted his shoulder twice and withdrew her hand, “Thanks, I’m fine.”
Randall said, “Good, because I’m tired of you white-eyes whining all the time because your chi-chi is all out of whack.”
“It’s chi, you goof,” Hunter said. Randall turned his head and winked at her. She said, “Let’s get to your house and eat before I pass out from hunger.”
~~***~~