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  Daddy had not changed their room one bit, Connie and Lexie shared the huge room with two full sized beds, dressing vanities and a bathroom, complete with a dressing room where they stashed the pair. Within moments, small doggie snores could be heard. Connie giggled. The Chardonnay had done its job.

  Jarrett Dade retired to the library and settled into his overstuffed chair. He contemplated Lexie and Connie's surprise visit as he sipped more coffee. While it was good to see his daughters, he knew enough about those two that something else might just be afoot. Although they had good poker faces, they couldn't fool good ole dad. He’d been an MP the last fifteen years of his career and had taken down better liars than those two. Jarett chuckled to himself. Maybe those two would manage not to get into too much trouble on their road trip. Now that he knew he would be having his buddies randomly checking in, he wasn’t too worried. As for Turner, he already had someone trying to shake more information loose. They would be furious if it was discovered, but family was family and their daddy was a cop through and through. Jarrett chuckled again, settled deeper into his chair and rolled his new prescription and lit it. Taking a toke he closed his eyes and sighed. He chuckled again. His kids would be shocked if they knew Daddy had secrets of his own. This was one of them, thanks to it not being legal in this state. “Not yet, anyways,” he murmured.

  Lexie awoke to the sound of her phone alarm. Connie mumbled, “Turn that thing off! It’s annoying.” She buried her face into her pillow.

  “Time for us to get up and go down to check out Daddy’s plan for breakfast.” Connie reluctantly got up.

  “Ugh, I look like shit,” Connie muttered to herself as she walked over to the sink. She leaned into the mirror and surveyed the carnage of the previous evening's drinks coupled with road exhaustion and terror. “I’m going to grab a shower,” she called out.

  “Okay. Daddy’s already downstairs so I’ll borrow his,” Lexie responded. She checked on their companions before leaving the room. “You guys all right?”

  “I need a pee,” Nelson grumped. “And my head hurts.”

  “I could eat,” Nash said.

  “I’ll get you guys something after my shower.” She picked up Nelson and crept down the stairs. Daddy was still busy in the kitchen and she could hear him talking to Dropov. “Okay, out you go,” she whispered as she opened the door that led to the side yard.

  “That you, Lexie?” her father called. Lexie shook her head. Daddy had not lost his touch, somehow always knowing which of his children was nearby. “Yes, Daddy. I just wanted to check on my dog and to tell you I was borrowing your bathroom.”

  “You go on right ahead. But I saw y’all’s critters weren’t out there no more. I know you had them in your room. I don’t care, just be aware of Dropov’s sensibilities. It’s his home, not theirs.”

  “Yes, Daddy,” she answered, taking the stairs two at a time in her haste to get away. She fetched her toiletry bag before going into her father’s room. The quilt their paternal grandmother had gifted her parents as a wedding present still graced the bed. Lexie smiled when she saw it.

  After a quick shower in the en suite bathroom, Lexie sat on the closed toilet lid, putting lotion on her legs. “What in tarnation are those things over by the linen closet?” Lexie stood up and moved in order to inspect further. “Sequins?” she muttered. She smiled. So, dear old dad has had some company of the female variety. “About damned time. Mama has been dead nearly thirty years. I’m certainly not bringing it up if he doesn’t. Ohhh, I can’t wait to tell Connie!” she said under her breath in glee..

  “Thank God the old place was retrofitted for central air,” Connie said as she met Lexie at the top of the stairs. “It’s already humid as hell.”

  “I need to bring the guys some breakfast,” Lexie said.

  Daddy Dade met them at the bottom of the stairs. “Girls, I have decided we should go out for breakfast. I’ll hail us an Uber.” He held up the latest IPhone. “My supervisor made me take a class at the base on the use of smartphones just before retirement. I must say I like having a playlist. Do y’all use Spotify?”

  Lexie and Connie looked mildly surprised as their father had always been a bit of a Luddite. Lexie and Connie then sniffed the air simultaneously, as something tickled their noses. “I smell pot!” Lexie blurted out.

  “I have a medical prescription for that,” Daddy stated defensively.

  “Not from here!” cried Connie.

  “No, I got it when I visited a buddy in California for a few months. Seems to do the trick with these discs in my back. Don't worry, I don’t take it out of the house and I only smoke in the study. Besides that’s from a few hours ago. I’m fine to go out,” Jarrett stated firmly, which meant he would have no more to say on the subject. Connie and Lexie knew nothing more would be forthcoming on the subject and no amount of prying would open up the information pipeline.

  With a few swipes on the touchscreen, Daddy Dade ordered the Uber and he and the girls were on their way to breakfast at the local Ihop. Dropov watched as they left. As their ride departed Dropov uncurled himself, lifting his body off the sill. He arched his back in a stretch before hopping down onto the floor. It was time he questioned the two interlopers who had arrived on his turf, he decided. Landing deftly on all fours Dropov sauntered down the short hall.

  “This is too easy,” he purred “My lucky day, thanks to two girls leaving me a gift wrapped opportunity.” The door was slightly ajar so all Dropov had to do was give it a slight push with his overweight body in order to gain entry.

  Nash peered at the door as it opened. “Hello, my friend,” he heard as the cat came into view. Nash sprang up to his feet as the Russian Blue jumped onto Lexie’s bed and peered down at him, through the open dressing room door. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit to my domicile?” purred Dropov in a deceptively smooth voice.

  “You can talk?” Nash inquired.

  “It seems that I have developed that ability, yes.” Dropov responded. Nash gave a big sigh of relief. The cat grinned as Nash’s body relaxed.

  “So, you’re not an interdimensional traveller. You just acquired the ability somehow,” Nash said. “Maybe our presence triggered it,” he hypothesized.

  “Maybe, maybe not,” Dropov replied, unwilling to give away any information. Information was money and he hadn’t been paid to give any. “All you need to know is that I need it understood that this is my turf, I have a good thing going here. You two must stay out of my way. I won’t be eating you or anything, for right now. One never knows when knowing a talking dog and rat might come in handy. Get in my way and you both will become part of my next midnight snack.”

  “Our plans are short term, I can assure you. We’re here on a mission and that does not include horning in on any enterprises anyone else has going on.” replied Nash.

  “See to it,” replied Dropov, “or you may find yourself drawn and quartered. You know of the Bratva, da? I am Koshka division.” Dropov did an about face and sauntered out of the room. He didn’t care why they were here. All that mattered was they stay out of his way. He had enough trouble with the damned squirrels. They kept triggering the mini portal he had in the house’s crawlspace.

  “Imagine, thinking I’m just a cat,” he sniggered, curling himself up on the wicker sofa in the sunroom. He yawned. “Damn it, now I don’t have time for a nap before my next shipment comes through. The Pixies down at the port will not be amused if I don’t get their dust to them.” He stretched his front legs forward and used his claws to scratch the wicker. The destruction felt good.

  Chapter 14

  At the Hop

  Daddy Dade didn’t even bother looking at the menu. He accepted one of the laminated plastic menus from their waitress but sat it down on their table. It had been ages since Connie had last been to an IHop though, so she eagerly scanned through hers. Across the table from her, Lexie was doing the same.

  “Three regular coffees, please,” Daddy told the waitress.<
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  “Wow, this brings back memories,” Lexie said. “I think I must have been twelve the last time I visited an IHop. In fact, it was this one.” She froze as she suddenly recalled that it had been her grandparents who had taken her and her siblings, the afternoon after their mother’s funeral.

  “I remember we used to get the chocolate chip pancakes from the kids’ menu and they did faces on them,” Connie said, deciding to break the awkward silence..

  “And we drowned them in blueberry and raspberry syrup, mixing them together,” Lexie replied, gratefully.

  “Mmhmm,” Daddy said. “Your brother always insisted on having eggs, bacon, toast, and a side of regular pancakes though and he hated any kind of syrup on his pancakes.”

  “Yeah, Turner’s always been weird like that. I think pancakes taste too dry without syrup!” Connie replied.

  The waitress returned with their coffees and a tiny metal lidded jug filled with milk. “Are you ready to order, then?” she asked brightly as Daddy collected the menus and held them out to her.

  “Yes, ma’am. I’ll have the 55 Plus Treble 2, please. Eggs over easy and my bacon crispy. I want a side of hash browns with that.”

  The waitress finished noting down his order and turned her eyes expectantantly at Connie.

  “Umm, strawberry banana pancakes with a side of turkey bacon and hash browns, please,” Connie said.

  “And I’ll have a Split Decision and an orange juice,” Lexie added.

  Daddy took a sip of his coffee as he listened. Once the waitress had walked away, he took another sip, this time giving both women a long, measuring look as he did so.

  “So, let’s talk about the elephant in the room.”

  “I don’t understand,” Lexie replied. “Do you mean about Turner? We told you what we knew.”

  “But not quite everything I need to know, was it. Fine, I’ll just lay my cards right on the table then, shall I? Last night my back was botherin’ me so I went into the study for a smoke. I went up to go to bed after. Now, I heard voices comin’ from your room. Male voices, and the only dudes you two snuck into your room last night was those critters. So then I thought you had left that old clock radio on but then I heard something that gave me pause.” He took another sip, letting his words sink in. Connie squirmed in her seat. Lexie gave her own cup a look of resignation.

  He put his cup down and continued, “Now, I know Dropov has a local reputation and all, but even I found it hard to believe that a local dj would be speaking to a caller about my cat and how fat he is. So, I opened the door. Y'all were asleep, but damned if I didn’t hear someone shushing the other one from what seemed to be your dressing room. Now either that is some seriously good shit I got this time or Lucy has some ‘splainin’ to do.”

  “You wouldn’t believe us if we told you,” Connie burst out.

  “Con!” Lexie chastised her.

  “What? It’s not like Nelson and Nash haven’t already let the cat out of the bag, pardon the expression.”

  “That’s the name of your critters, isn’t it?” Daddy asked. Connie was amazed at how calm Daddy sounded. The waitress returned with their meal and began handing out the plates. “Thank you,” Daddy said before she turned to leave.”Now, I expect to hear a complete explanation. I don’t care how crazy it sounds. If it’s too over the cuckoo’s nest, I’ll just have to find a way to deal, probably with the help of my, ah, meds that are in my study.”

  Connie looked defiantly at Lexie. “Well,” Connie said, “It all started when our girls went off to do their own things, and Lexie and I decided we’d been apart for too long. So, Lexie took a leave of absence from her job and I used my vacation days.” She took a forkful of pancakes.

  “Go on,” Daddy said, impatiently, as he watched her chew her food and swallow.

  “We decided to meet up halfway between our houses, choosing to meet up at the big Walmart Supercenter in the town Google maps said was closest to being halfway. We went to pick up some stuff to make sandwiches and stuff to snack on back at Lexie’s motel. One thing led to another while we were chatting, pushing the cart along, you know, and we started talking about how we needed some real sister time. We checked out and as we got to the parking lot, I said to Lexie, ‘Hey, you know what would be cool and we could totally do it since the girls are off on their own?’ and she said, ‘What?’. I said to her, ‘We should take a road trip. Just me and you, in a classic car, go down Route 66 or something.’”

  “I admit I got rather excited at the notion. Then I saw something, Daddy. It was like a sign,” Lexie said softly, staring down at her plate, fork and knife cutting through the pancakes on her side plate. “I saw Charlie, right there in the parking lot. He was walking down the row of cars, wearing one of his loud shirts. Then he glanced over his shoulder and I saw it really was him. He looked at me, smiled, then turned back around and kept right on walking. He approached this old car and that’s when I saw it.”

  “It had a for sale sign in the window,” Connie said.

  “Yeah, you’ve told me this before, about how y’all decided to go on this trip and got your car. Without the bit about Charlie, though.”

  “When I glanced back from the car to where he was, he was gone,” Lexie said, her eyes misting. “I knew then it was meant to be. The car, the trip, everything.”

  Daddy swallowed the piece of hash browns he had in his mouth. “Right, so y’all bought it, got it all fixed up, quit your jobs, went to go see Turner, and ended up with these weird ass critters how?”

  “Daddy, the rest of this story needs to be told in the car,” Lexie said firmly.

  Daddy looked around and nodded. “Oh, it’s like that, is it? I suppose it must be, though, what with their ah, gifts. Anyone overhearing such a thing might pass it along to the wrong people.”

  “That’s right,” Connie said as she poured more syrup over her pancakes.

  “Okay, then, but we took an Uber, so that’s a no go then, too. When we get home, you two better march yourselves straight into my study and we will be continuing this conversation. Now, I suppose I should be telling you that it’s great to see you, but regardless of what’s going on, y’all will need to be heading on out tomorrow. I’ll be leaving myself. I have had plans for months to meet up with someone and I am going to be there.”

  “Does this have to do with a lady?” Lexie asked. “I saw some sequins on your bathroom floor.”

  “You could say that,” Daddy replied. “But it’s not like that,” he told them, seeing the look in their eyes as he glanced between them.

  “It’s been a long time, Daddy,” Connie said. “It’s okay if it becomes like that.”

  “My friend is attached already,” he answered. “Anyways, you’re one to talk.”

  Connie had nothing else to say to that. It was true that she’d never even looked at a man the same way she had her Sam. Oh, she’d admired more than a fair few. Phoar, she’d drooled over several, she’d admit to that, no contest. That was all it would ever be, though. Just looking and admiring. The day Sam and Charlie’s chopper went down and they disappeared, Sam had taken her heart with him and she knew it was the same for Lexie.

  “Lexie, you saw Charlie. Do you think my Sam is out there, too, somewhere?” Connie’s voice caught as she spoke.

  Daddy put his fork down and put his arm around Connie, giving her a light squeeze. She leaned her head on his shoulder, needing the comfort.

  “I’m sure he is, Con. I bet he’s still right there with Sam and they’re looking out for both of us.”

  The rest of the meal passed in silence.

  Daddy Dade didn’t even bother to put on coffee once they got home. He paid the Uber driver and herded his girls into his study and shut the door behind him. “Sit,” he told them, pointing to the two chairs on the other side of his desk. They sat, Connie twisting her hands nervously in her lap and Lexie with her lip jutting out stubbornly. He took his own seat.

  “Now, tell me all of it. Do not, under any
circumstances, think of leaving out even one iota of information. I will decide what is pertinent and what isn’t. Do this and I promise everything will be copacetic between us.”

  Lexie looked at Connie. “It’s okay, Con. I’ll take full responsibility for telling Daddy. Turner can just be mad at me.”

  Connie shook her head. “No, it’s both-”

  Daddy Dade leaned forward. “Save the recriminations for later. I’m waiting and I’m not getting any younger.”

  Connie held a hand up at Lexie. “I’m the eldest, let me speak.”

  Lexie gave a soft sigh then nodded. “All right.”

  Connie closed her eyes for a moment, steeling herself. When she opened them, they were clear and filled with self assurance. She looked her father straight in the eye and said, “This is going to sound completely nuts. If I hadn’t been one of the people experiencing this first hand, I’d have thought the whole thing was some kind of practical joke. You know how Lexie saw Charlie and we bought the car and had her restored. Well, things got really hinky once we started our actual trip, even before we made it to Turner’s. First, we had some unexpected car trouble which led to us getting a loaner car.”

  Connie related the events one by one. Daddy Dade’s eyes narrowed and he pursed his lips when he heard about the ghost in the gas tank. When she got to Turner’s buddy having ordered a self-published how to summon book from Amazon and actually managing to open a portal, they widened again. When the young man melted, she noted that his hands shook a bit as he fumbled to open his desk drawer.

  “Go on, don’t mind me,” he said. “Just getting my medicine. It also helps steady my nerves, you know, not just good for my back.” She watched as he removed his stash and began rolling a smoke.