"Oh! Greetings master!" the lieutenant snapped. "Something wrong?"
"No," the man answered, "happened to be in the area on another mission and just thought I'd check in. Everything o.k.?"
"Yes!" the lieutenant answered. "The senator was by again. It's really scary how much he's figured out! I keep expecting to hear he's had an accident."
The man smiled. "No need," he answered. "The senator isn't going to be much of a problem to anyone in a very short time. There's no sense wasting our efforts unnecessarily. Anything for me?"
"Yes," the lieutenant answered. "We heard there's supposed to be a big rally Friday night here in the city, probably down by the harbor."
"Good!" the man snapped. "Make sure your people are up in the hill region. Keep them out of our way! We've got a truck driver that's going to have an unfortunate break failure at a certain intersection."
The lieutenant smiled. The man looked at him mishievously. "All right!" he asked, "What is it?"
"Well, I wanted to express my thanks for you sending Dawn. She's really got attached to the kids, and they really like her. They keep asking me why don't we make the relationship permanent. The kids know we're fooling around a little. Is there any possibility she can stay?"
The man looked thoughtful for a moment. "You two have been doing a good job," he finally remarked. Aren't people going to scream about her being underage?"
"The judge has already said as her guardian, he'd approve," the lieutenant answered. "After all, a stable relationship is much better than what she was in before."
The man nodded. "Tell her I approve!" the man answered, and I wish the both of you good luck."
"Then we'll be sure to have it!" the lieutenant praised. "I kind of feel sorry for the senator," the lieutenant continued. "He's not really a bad sort. Will he make out all right?"
"Probably be a little uncomfortable," the man answered, "but he should be o.k., a lot better than you were!"
"Don't want to think of that!" the lieutenant remarked. "Dying is something I don't particularly enjoy doing! Though I appreciate being brought back to life and given a chance to straighten things out. Send my regards to the people that arranged that, would you?"
The man nodded. "Well, got to get going! Got several other fish to fry!"
"Knowing you," the lieutenant joked, "they'll be done extra crispy!"
"Nawww!" the man joked, "I like my fish lightly cooked. French fries, that's another matter! See ya later, lieutenant!"
The lieutenant returned his smile. When he got home his young housekeeper looked at him curiously. "Why the big grin?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing much!" the lieutenant answered. "He dropped by and I got to talk to him and he says he wishes us the best of luck!"
The young woman's eyes widened. "Yes?" she cried.
"Yes!" the lieutenant answered. "When the girls get home why don't you work on picking the chapel and seeing if you can arrange a priest?"
"I don't know if I want a priest," the young woman put in.
"I think it's best," the lieutenant comforted. "We want to keep up appearances.
"How long?" the girl asked, "And can we have.."
"I have no idea," the lieutenant answered. "But I imagine as long as he can give us!"
"I keep thinking of my brother," the girl put in. "I wish he could've given him a chance, too."
"There's some things even he can't do!" the lieutenant answered. "There's some things even beyond his power!"
"That doesn't seem possible!" the young woman answered, "It simply does not seem possible that there could be anything that he couldn't do!"
She sighed and hugged the lieutenant. There was the sound of laughter and they both looked to see the kids coming up the walk. "Well!" the lieutenant sighed, "I should have part of this evening before I have to go to work. I think I'll go shoot some hoops with Junior while you're making the girls happy."
"Do you ever regret the deal you made?" his companion asked.
"Never for a minute!" the lieutenant answered, "Never for a second! We might be servants, we might be bound to our lord, but I think it's the best thing, I think it's the very best thing!"
His companion nodded, and as the kids came in the door the lieutenant cried, "Hey, kiddo! Time for a few hoops before you do your homework?"
"You betcha, old man!" came the reply.
The lieutenant headed out the door looking back at his companion. "Yeah," he remarked, "not going to hell was nice! Not going to hell was VERY nice!"

 

 

THE END

 

 

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