Roach Stone
From
Ransom on the Mountain NC
Book 1
Chapter 1
Grady "Roach" Stone took his time getting out of his pick-up. He had also taken his time finishing the joint he was snubbing out. It made little difference to him that the truck was parked outside the big windows in the very front of Shoney's. He looked inside at the folks eating their evening meal, wondering if they could see him. "I reckon not," he mumbled to himself. He put the now cold roach into the little film canister, replacing the container back in the console. He took the bottle of Brut which was stashed next to it and dabbed a little on his hands to cover up the smell of weed. He knew the chances he was taking carrying it with him, but he found the benefits of it were worth the risk. He tried to remember the last time he had actually gotten a buzz from the weed. Rarely did he take over two or three tokes, just enough to ease the pain.
If Roach Stone felt anything right now, it was a bone deep weariness. The kind that penetrated the bones just before it took over a man's soul. He needed to stretch his tired body and re-gain some circulation. After he returned the bottle of Brut to its own little spot in the console, he opened the door and un-curled himself from the seat. Pain wracked him through as he stood on solid ground. From his feet to his shoulders, he felt the muscles (which had been used little in the last fourteen hours) groan as he stretched them out. He berated himself, as he always did, for driving straight through and not laying over somewhere. But, this was Grady Matthews "Roach" Stone!
The man who needed little and asked for even less! Hell, if truth be known in his day, he could drive ocean to sea and still do what he come to do. Then turn and go the way he'd come and let the reflector- bumps along the highway be a guide as he slept behind the wheel. But these days a fourteen or fifteen hour drive was about it for the older-than-he-was man of so many miles and stories to tell. Stories mostly untold! Some of those stories were written in magazines and newspapers and the ones that have been told in poolrooms and bars along nearly every Road, Highway, and Interstate in the country. So here he stood, about two months short of fifty, and having to brace himself against the truck as he stretched himself to something resembling a half man - half ogre type. He found himself gripping the truck tighter as the pain overtook him.
Again he scolded himself for not taking at least a few breaks on these damned trips. He turned and looked back inside the restaurant at the people looking back at him. "Screw 'em!" he mumbled under his breath, Forcing himself upright, he closed the door of the truck and headed for the front entrance of the restaurant, mumbling the whole time "Screw 'em!" under his breath. He felt grouchy, tired, worn, and tattered as he reached for the door handle. He was looking forward to a cup of Shoney's coffee and a chance to unwind. He felt keyed up and needed to collect himself.
Once inside he took a second to let his eyes adjust to the florescent lighting just outside the inner door. He checked his zipper, tucked in his shirt and ran his fingers through his short silver hair. Then he entered, and didn't bother to look for the little sign that said, “Seat yourself” or "Please wait to be seated." He just stood there until a rather stout looking woman came up to him and said, "Just one?” He looked around him and then decided against saying, "Ya see anyone else?” He just nodded his head as he said "Smokin' if ya don't mind.” Without any real thought he added "Little lady!” If there ever was a time Roach Stone needed to be shocked back to life it was now. As with almost everything in life he needed, it would come to pass just as this one would!
He was taken aback by its coming and felt the flush come to his face. The rather tall heavy-set gal standing a few feet from him seemed to suck herself up a few inches and a few pounds lighter as he felt a feeling of sudden despair. "Shit!" he said a little too loudly, as he watched that rosy red face become a mask of pure un-adulterated distain. He watched in almost fearful silence as her hair whipped around when she turned her head from side to side to see if anyone was in ear-shot. Even more dread encased him as the face came to a wiggly sort of stop even with his own. The two beady eyes looked him up and down not less than three damned times before coming to a rest on a fearful Roach Stone!
It was his turn to look around for people, only he was hoping for someone close enough to witness what he knew was going to happen next. He took in a deep breath and steeled himself for the inevitable, as he saw the angry woman looking him right in the face! She sucked herself up even taller, walked right up to him, and in what was almost too calm a voice said, "Listen here!" and getting even closer to him. "My momma was big; her Momma was big and so was hers!" coming even closer, she added, “Now, I've got a husband at home that likes it just fine, so you can keep yur smart ass remarks to yurself!”
He involuntarily backed up as she kept coming at him, "Now," she said as she took in a deep breath, which even sucked her up another two inches taller, "Let me re-phrase my question, so even an old gray headed drifter can understand it!”
He felt like a school kid who had been caught looking up the teachers dress. She finished her somewhat soft spoken yet firm slap at him. "Sir," she continued, "Will it be just you, or did one of your sneaky, small-minded friends slip into the john when I wasn't looking?"
He saw things in the woman's face that brought back memories of a time long ago. He had witnessed that fire before, and had felt the same heat cross his face. He pulled himself up straight as he did so many years ago, looking into the eyes of his mother. He had watched his mother clean up the worst bar back home with that same look and attitude he was faced with now. He also remembered the few times his mother backed down. These were few and far between. Hell! He thought to himself, maybe that's why he remembered them so vividly at this very moment. Yes, every one of those few times flashed through his mind along with the others he had only heard about. He became suddenly aware of the situation and needed to get hold of himself.
"Ok," he said, with what he hoped was a solid look on his face, "Just me, and I'd like to be sittin' in the smokin' section when my company comes.” He now stood at his full six foot one inch, and his broad shoulders were almost squared when he added, "They'll ask for Stone, and that'd be me!” The lady seemed to melt back into her frumpy self as she again took him in from head to toe. "Follow me," she said as she turned and headed toward the back of the Shoney's, leaving a somewhat bewildered Roach Stone staring after her. He would have expected a lot more from this one. A hell of a lot more! He followed her through the place feeling the stares from the people eating. He raised his chin and didn't bother looking back at them. "Screw 'em!" he muttered under his breath again.
Once he was seated in a corner booth, he looked around and was not surprised that he damn near had the whole smoking section to himself. There were a couple of older folks here and there, and a young fella sitting in the opposite comer of the room from him. As he pulled out a smoke and lit it, he took in the rest of the place, or what he could see of it from his corner. He thought about how tired he was and wondered how long he would have to sit there and wait. Waiting had never been an easy thing for Grady Matthews Stone, and was something he had to learn to conquer as a young boy.
It was one of the most difficult tasks he had ever needed to undertake. He found himself gazing out of the window beside him. It overlooked a few trees in a yard next door, and in the darkness of night he let his mind go back in time. He didn't notice the waitress standing beside the table until she touched his shoulder. He came around to look into her eyes, and saw a strange kind of commitment he had seen in the eyes of a very few. Sure, he knew that the word commitment may not cross the minds of others who looked into them, but that's what Roach saw.
He had seen the same commitment in the eyes of his mother when he was very young! At times he thought of all five of his siblings, he was the only one who ever saw it in her eyes. He was brought back to the present when the lady said, "Are you Mister Grady Stone?" It took him a few minutes to actually realize she was talking to him. "Yes, I am!" he said quietly, almost afraid of what she was going to say.
The look on his face must have told her he already knew what she would say, as she only said a word or two when he stopped talking and just looked at him. He was sure it had only been a few seconds of silence, but seemed to drag on and on. Finally he raised his hand and allowed his version of a smile to come over his face as he said. “I know Mister Williams wants me to call him, right?" He looked at the name tag pinned a top one of her huge boobs and said, "Mary, I get these calls all the time from Mister Williams, and I'll call him, thank you." Almost as an afterthought he added, "Could I get some coffee?”
With a warm smile on her face now she said “Sure." And she turned and walked away, as he slid his tired body out of the booth to retrieve his damn cell phone from his truck!
******** Mean While ********
Murray Williams paced the floor of the office tucked in the back corner of his home. "Damn it Grady, Why can't you keep that damned phone on you?" he said to himself as though it would Will Roach to call sooner. He knew Grady would be pissed, but also knew he would take it upon himself to see to things in Missouri. He sat down in the chair behind his desk and stared at the phone. Then he picked up the quarter that lay on the legal dictionary on the corner of his desk. He rolled the quarter between his thumb and finger on his left hand, trying to decide if he should flip it to decide if he should call Grady or wait, when the phone on his desk rang.
He looked at his caller ID and saw it was Grady. He hadn't even put the phone to his ear when he said, "Grady, where the hell are you," not giving Roach time to answer. "And damn it, why can't you keep that phone with you?" he demanded.
“Damn it, Murray, did you forget to take your Midol again?" Roach chuckled back at him.
Murray didn't take the time to answer with a smart remark. Instead he asked, "'Where are ya Grady?"
He already knew that Roach was in Missouri. That was just Grady Stone!
“I’m in Missouri, Why?" Grady asked.
There was a short silence before he spoke. It was a silence, Roach knew, that wasn't good. He wondered if maybe the man was losing his mind, but just for a second. He knew this extended silence was even more ominous. He looked into the Shoney's through the glass, and waited.
Finally Murray spoke. “Grady, you need to be at the hospital there as soon as you can. I have already got ya a room at the Days Inn there in town. “It's,”.”
Roach cut him off and said, "Murray, I passed both places on my way into town, they ain't far, but what the hell is goin' on?" he almost demanded from his friend of some twenty or so years.
Again he went silent, and Roach closed the door of his truck, starting for the restaurant. He was entering the inside door before Murray’s voice came back over the phone. "Grady, I asked you to pick this one up, 'cause I knew it would be a close one!" Silence, then, "I didn't know it would be this close, but please get over to the hospital and ask for Doctor Sill, he will fill you in on their end and I'll get things together here."
Roach was now standing at the cashier's station, and lay down a five and said "Coffee.”' to the cashier, and added "Keep the change.”
"What?"
'Nothin' Murray, just payin' for coffee I didn't drink!" he said chuckling as he headed for the door.
Murray was still talking as he walked back out into the cold December night. "Grady" he said, "There will be a couple of Lawyers and a Judge waiting on you at the hospital, too. They have everything you will need, sign it and assess the situation. Call me as soon as you can!"
Roach was taken aback a little by this last comment. It was the "assess" the situation that set him back. Now he wished he would have bothered to ask Murray what this was all about when he asked him to come here. In the nearly twenty years they had been in this thing, he thought this was only about the third or fourth time Murray had asked him to go personally and make a pick up. So when Murray asked him to drive half way across the country he didn't ask questions. He left within a half hour or so. He owed Murray Williams that and more. In fact, he owed him for the freedom he now enjoyed and for everything he had. If Murray wanted it, he got it! Short of killing! He would do what his friend needed of him. "Ok Murray,” he said into the phone as he started the F-350. "I'm on my way, and screw you!" he said back into the phone.
"Screw you too!" Murray said back.
Roach backed out of the parking space and headed in the direction of the hospital he had passed a short time ago. He pulled out of the Shoney's and onto the highway. He turned on the radio and re-lit the kind bud. He didn't care that he was going to be meeting with Lawyers and a Judge at a hospital. He only cared about the fact he was hurting. It came to him that it was damn near ten o'clock at night, and a Judge and a couple of Lawyers were waiting on him. This made him ponder whether or not it was his or Murray's pull which made these things happen. Deep down he knew it was Murray Williams who made things happen as they do. Hell, he was the reason for everything Grady stone did!
Sure, Roach and so many others had rebuilt Ransom on the Mountain NC, but it was Murray who had given him the tools and the freedom to dream! He also knew without a doubt, it was God touching him, through the hands of Murray Williams who had let his heart be what it was. He realized at that very moment, God would see him through whatever it was he was about to do, or he wouldn't be sitting in the seat of that truck, knowing it would come to pass. He didn't ask God for help, it was just one thing he had never made a habit of doing! He knew it pissed people off, because of the way he felt about his relationship with God. It was one thing only he understood. He had also been known to say "Don't bother God!” and "He might be with someone who really needs him!
Roach Stone
Book 1
Chapter 2
Roach eased the big pick-up into a parking spot, near the main entrance of Rising Hope Hospital. He shut the diesel engine down and snuffed out the roach. It looked like an average sized hospital, with all the usual things going on during this time of night. He did wonder at what he thought was an unusual number of cop cars sitting in the covered entrance at the front of the place. He slapped on a little Brut and got out of the truck. He took time to take in his surroundings, as was his habit. It was this noticeable scene which made him wonder if maybe the place wasn't under some kind of siege. He realized there were more cop cars than he had originally thought, and looking even closer at the building it seemed like they were guarding every entrance.
He could see this from where he had stopped to take it all in. The parking lot was almost empty and from what he could see of the place, it looked empty except for cops. He turned and noted the highway and the surrounding area. It was well lit, and there were businesses pretty much all up and down the other side of the highway. Some open, some closed. Even the closed businesses were well lit. He took note of a cafe looking a little busy, but it was the team of patrol cars each holding two officers each sitting in the parking lot that got his attention!
He was glad to see the "Open twenty-four hours" flashing in red neon in the window. He might get a cup of coffee despite Murray Williams, just as soon as he took care of his business.
He turned back towards the hospital and headed for the entrance. He was asked for his name by a cop at the door, and told to sign in by a security guard. He didn't consider the signing in as unusual, it was somewhat after hours. However, he did consider being asked his name by a cop a little weird - even for
Missouri. "Names Grady Stone, here to see Doctor Sills." he answered softly, while looking the cop in the eye. The cop looked as though somehow he was relieved by this information.
"That won't be necessary!" the almost too young to be a cop said, as he reached out and took the clip board Roach was about sign his name to. Then the young cop stood up straight and said, “'I'm officer Dickmyne, Mister Stone," and now even standing taller and even straighter, "Can I see some ID?" he said as he seemed to shrink back to his regular height.
Roach reached for his wallet and at the same time he looked at the nametag on the young cops ID tag. It was all he could do, not to laugh as he read the name "Dickmyne" right there on his nametag. He handed him his driver's license and forced himself to keep it inside. For now anyway he thought to himself. He knew that Jake and the other fella’s would love this when he told them about it. The cop spoke into his radio and said, "Follow me Mister Stone, their waiting for you up on five." He turned and walked through the automatic doors into the lobby. Roach allowed himself a bit of a smile now as the cop could not see him and took to following him.
He followed the young man into an elevator, then back out onto the fifth floor. He was surprised by the number of Cops lining the hallway. What was even more surprising was the fact every one of them was looking directly at him! There was a civilian standing just outside the elevator with a relieved sort of look on his face. Roach took him for a lawyer, a young lawyer at that. He didn't know what it was that made him feel it, but he did.
"Mister Stone, I'm Attorney Melvin Banks, it is very good to see you!" the lawyer said a little too nervously.
Reaching out and taking the attorney's offered hand, he introduced himself.
"Mister Stone, we have a real mess here!" and seeming to take a minute to collect himself, he added, "A mess that shouldn't be!"
Roach was taking in the place again as he listened, when his eyes came up on a sign that said "Maternity Ward.” "Shit!" he said, before he could catch himself. The attorney was set back by his unplanned utterance, but so was he! “Sorry!" he said without really meaning it, "Tell me about this mess?" he asked.
"Judge Harrison will do that, sir, if you'll follow me!" the lawyer said as he turned and went down the hallway with Roach falling in behind him. Roach took note of the room number as he followed Melvin Banks into room 512. Room 512 was more of a Nurses Quarters than it was a normal room. All the furniture was pushed to the walls and a large table and several chairs were in the center. Sitting at the table were four men and very pretty woman looking to be in her forties. Three of the men wore uniforms that let him know they represented, the Local City Police, The Sheriff’s office, and there was a Captain with the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Roach was now asking himself what the hell Murray had gotten him into. He took the little gathering in with one quick look around the table. He felt the tension of the folks seated at the table as though he was drenched in it. Even worse, resignation had all ready sat into some of them. He was invited to sit down by the woman. She pointed to a chair next to her as she introduced herself as Probate Judge Amber Harrison. He took a second to openly admire the woman's pure beauty. She wore very little make-up and sported almost honey colored hair. Her nose was narrow and straight, and her face looked as though it had been sculpted just for her. She had deep blue eyes that almost looked as if there were only a sea of life in them!
This was a real woman, no pretence involved in her, he concluded. He didn't care that he took a little too much time to gaze at her. She had a square, firm set to her shoulders and she sat straight up in her chair. He knew immediately that her straight up, square-shouldered, and well-mannered way was the lady in this one. He also knew in his deepest places that the glow upon her beautiful face was for real and it softened the rigid set of her. The rest of the introductions came as he took the seat the Judge had assigned him, or so it had seemed. He looked at the file that was slid across the table to him from the County Sheriff. It was a big file, and he could see the newspaper clippings sticking out of it here and there.
"Gentleman, and Your Honor, I'm not really interested in reading this," he said quietly and hesitated until had their attention, "I have come to get someone, and that's all!” Seeing the puzzled looks on their faces, he added, “I think it would be easier and faster if someone would just tell me what the problem is." If the room had been quiet when he came in, it was absolutely silent now. He could see the others at the table struggling with where to start.
It was the Sheriff who spoke after several seconds. "Mister Stone," the sheriff began. "Have you ever heard of the Sly Coyote Motor Cycle Club?”
Roach didn't let his face show his surprise at the question, he just looked at the Sheriff and then the others in turn. He could see them all waiting for his answer. He didn't keep them waiting, "Yes. I have," he waited before going on, "But what do they have to do with this, and the reason I came here?”
It was the sheriff who spoke again, "Well, Mister Stone, some months back, one of their members beat and raped a sixteen year old girl, and killed her parents!” This brought Roach to anger, an anger that he seldom felt! It also gave him a small inkling as to why he was here so he listened closely.
"That man was sentenced to death yesterday for the murders, and one hundred-ten years for the rape!" the sheriff said with conviction in his voice. Roach waited for him or someone to continue, taking in the faces at the table again. In the Judge's face he now saw total disdain! She looked back into his face and began to speak. He could see the disdain leave her, and compassion come across her face, “Mister Stone, the girl is in the next room in labor,” she said with genuine concern, "She's having a very tough time of it!” the judge said as her voice softened.
Roach thought, so that's why Murray Williams had gotten him a room! Shit!
"Anyway, Mister Stone, some of the biker's so-called "Brothers,” have made threats against the girl for testifying at his trial, this time it was the Sheriff that had anger on his face. Roach's mind was all ready thinking things through; he didn't see so much of a thing here. "So when the girl has the baby, I'll take her home and it will be over!" he said to the sheriff.
It was the judge who broke the silence this time. "Its babies, with an "s" on the end, Mister Stone!" she said.
He couldn't hide the surprise he felt this time. He leaned back in his chair and said, "Ok, I'll take them all home and it will be over for ya all!” He did not like the direction this had taken.
"Mister Stone," it was the trooper that spoke for the first time, "It's not that easy," the trooper sat up closer to the table, and finished with, "There are about forty of that bikers so-called "Brothers" sittin' across the street in the Burger Binge Cafe as we speak!” Then, as Roach watched all the lawmen at the table sit up in anger, the trooper finished, "And there ain't a damned thing we can do about it" and taking in a breath, “They ain't broke no laws!”
Now Roach understood the presence of so many law enforcement people at the Hospital. He sat back even farther in his chair and said, "Well, let's get this taken care of, if someone will give me the papers, I'll sign them.”
He reached inside his coat and took out his cell phone, pushed a few buttons and put it to his ear. The others at the table just looked at him, as if he was crazy. The sheriff started to say something, but Roach held up his hand to stop him as Janette Wilson answered at the other end, "Hey ya old battle axe are you still up?" he spoke into the phone. He looked over at the Sheriff and asked if he could get some coffee, while listening to Janette Wilson his secretary and trusted friend, berate him for not answering his cell phone or calling sooner. Finally, he had a chance to talk and knew it had to be quick, before Janette started in again. “Jenette, I need you to get a hold of Bill Bamett in L. A. right away and have him call me like yesterday!" he said.
He noticed a shuffle of seats at the table and saw the three law men come to attention at the name, Bill Barnett! He gave these guys credit; they were a little more than local yokels. "Ok Thanks Janette and I need him now!" he said as he pushed the button to hang up the phone. The coffee was brought in and he was glad of it. He felt the eyes around the table staring at him, as he took his time taking the first sip of the too strong coffee. He was in no hurry, as he knew it was now a waiting thing.
The sheriff couldn't contain himself anymore, "Mister Stone" he said a little sheepishly "Would that be the William Barnett that the F.B. I. briefed us on not long ago?” When Roach didn't answer right away, the sheriff went on, "The National President of the Sly Coyote's?”
Roach took another sip of his coffee before answering, "Yes, sheriff, that'd be him!” He took the papers that had been put in front of him, and lay them on the table to sign. Looking at the name on the top of the guardianship paper, he said, "I would like to meet Stephanie now, if it ain't too much trouble.” He closed the folder without signing anything. He thought he should ask Stephanie if it's what she wanted. The judge got up and left the room. Roach found he was enjoying himself, the law men all wanted to know about Bill Barnett and how it was that he could just get a badass biker on the phone, as if it were a brother. The truth was that Roach was somewhat of a brother to the leader of one of the largest motorcycle Clubs in the world!
He didn't wear the club colors, but he had saved Bill's two sons and a nephew from the life. Over the years he and Bill Barnett had become friends! The Judge came back into the room and asked him to come with her. He was in the process of getting his tired body out of the chair, when his cell phone rang. All eyes again came upon him; expectant eyes, could this be Bill Barnett? He took the phone out of his pocket and as he continued his way to his feet. He looked at the caller ID and was glad it was Bill Barnett. He had carefully thought out what he would say to Bill when he called so he answered it. Without thinking, he said, "Hey ya prick, how are ya?" into the phone.
Realizing the lady Judge was in the room, he asked Bill Bamett to hold on and spoke to her, "I'm very sorry, please excuse me and my mouth?” The Judge smiled at him, and said, “No apology needed, Mister Stone, take care of your business." She then looked to the others and said, "Gentlemen, Mister Stone may need some privacy, so why don't we all step outside?”
Roach thanked the judge and got back on the phone as they left him alone. "Bill, I'll come right to the point it’s goin' on about twenty-two or three hours since I've seen a bed and I'm a needin' one!" he said into the phone. Bill said that would be fine so he continued, “Bill, I’m in Missouri and there seems to be a little misunderstanding here, I’d like your help to clear it up!” He knew this might be a touchy subject but went on, “Bill one of your Members is goin’ to death row tomorrow and his victim is one of mine!” he said firmly. Not giving Bill time to say anything, he went on, "Some of this man's brothers seem to think revenge on this child is in order!”
Now he gave Bill a chance to respond. "Roach, that's bull shit, pure and simple, I've heard about this and he got what he deserved!” Bill said angrily. Roach knew he meant what he was saying and said, "Bill, I need you to call off the forty or so of his Brothers who are sittin’ at the Café across the street, from where this girl is in labor, giving birth to twin babies that come out of this man’s actions!” Bill was genuinely surprised by this news, and Roach wanted it to be even more profound for his friend, so he said, “And I understand there are several members outside the County Jail here,” giving a second for this to sink in he added, “Bill, I understand how you feel about changing the direction of the club, and this would be a be a good place to start!”
Bill was silent for a spell and said, “Roach, if that son of a bitch was where we could get to him I’d banish his ass!” Roach had a sudden idea and asked Bill if he could call back in a half an hour. “Man you know I’d walk to hell for you after what you did for the boys, you know that!” and taking a few seconds to find words added, “Ya, man, I’ll call back, and I’ll get busy on the problem now!” and hung up.
******** Mean While! ********
Janette Wilson hung up the phone and tried to go back to sleep. She couldn't put her finger on what was bothering her exactly. She finally gave up and got out of bed and went to her kitchen. She was making a pot of coffee when she realized it had been a long time since she had taken a look at herself. She didn't feel tired even though it was nearly four-thirty in the morning. When the coffee was brewing she turned on the small television that sat just a few feet down the counter. She put it on Fox News and got herself a cup from the cupboard as she thought about when she came to Ransom Mountain.
She sat down at the table and waited for the coffee to brew and remembered. She had known Roach before he ever came to Ransom on the Mountain. She smiled as she remembered the one time they had come close to ending their friendship with romance. It was a night that changed her life and even more importantly she had saw for the first time the man called Roach Stone. She poured herself some coffee and sat back down at the table. She thought back to the night she met him. It was a few years before the nearly disastrous close call. She remembered him standing at the end of the bar in the little poolroom in her hometown.
He had just won all the money her ex-husband had. She remembered too, her husband storming out of the poolroom leaving her there alone. Her heart felt the kindness of Roach Stone as she sat there at the table just as she had that night so many years ago. She saw the young tall blonde Roach walk across the poolroom and hand her the money he had just won from her husband. She heard his words of that night just as clearly on this night as she did back then, “Take this and find a man that can lose with dignity and smart enough not to lose what he don’t have!” She had taken his advice and divorced the worthless husband. From time to time Roach would come back to town looking for a game and the two of them became friends.
She got up and filled her coffee cup as she thought about the night that nearly ruined life. She remembered standing at the door of Roach's hotel room and he had the key in the lock. She sat back down at the table and let herself remember. Just like she was there that very night she saw him take his hand away from the keys that would have opened the door to a certain night of passion. She saw him turn to her and even heard him say to her, “Janette I don’t think you will understand this but some day I might need a friend and I ain’t sure we could stay friends if we do this!” As she sat at the table so many years later she finally did understand what he meant. Oh sure, she had thought about it many times over the years and even though it was a few years later before she saw him again, she finally understood!
She sipped her coffee as she thought about the next time she saw him. It was at a pool tournament in St Louis. He didn't win the tournament but won a good bit after the tournament gambling on the tables with the winners of the tournament. She remembered every shot he made that night to this very day! He played without holding back; after all he was playing the winners! She sat through two days of play and watched as the last ball dropped. When it was over Roach asked her to breakfast at the Waffle House. Over breakfast she told him her life story. When she was finished he handed her a large share of his winnings and said. "Janette, one day I will leave this game and become a business man or something and I might need someone to keep me organized!” She remembered sitting open mouthed and wide eyed as he said, "Use this money to go back to school and learn something that you and your boy can get buy on!"
It was some years later that a private detective delivered a letter to her from Roach. She smiled as she thought about him actually hiring the private detective to find her. She remembered opening and reading the letter, it was simple and to the point! "Janette, I hope this letter finds you and yours well. I find myself in need of that friend now. I need someone to organize this place!” The letter also told her how to get to a Mountain called Ransom! She took the last sip of her coffee as she remembered that it was the day after she had received the letter that she packed up her belongings and her Son and headed for the Mountain called Ransom and her friend. She gave little thought to the fact that her and Roach had never been romantically involved. She knew that she had the friend that very few people can claim to even know! With that she went to get dressed to go to the office. There was a lot going on in town and she wanted an early start!
