Mel stood outside the house with her arms around Stephen. It was a bittersweet moment; an odd mixture of regret and anticipation. She was leaving him behind to begin a new adventure. She kissed him goodbye.
"I'm going to miss you," Stephen said.
"I'm going to miss you," Mel said.
"I think you'll like the program at UCLA," Stephen said.
"I think you'll enjoy law school and work," Mel said.
She knew that she was trying to draw out this parting as long as possible. Now that the time to leave had come, she didn't want to go. She was going to have to leave soon to make the drive across the country to California.
"It won't be the same without you here," Stephen said.
He was trying to draw out this parting for as long as possible. He didn't want to see her leave. Of course, they had started the goodbye last night with a little private time in bed.
"You'll have your harem of study partners," Mel said.
"They'll remind me of you," Stephen said.
Mel said, "It is kind of spooky how we all look alike."
"Magus was involved," Stephen said.
Mel said, "I guess I better go."
"One last kiss," Stephen said.
"Okay," Mel said.
It was fifteen minutes later that she pulled away from the house. Stephen stood at the street watching her car until it disappeared around a corner. Jane opened the front door and called out, "Come in and have a cup of coffee before you go to the office."
"That sounds like a good idea, Jane," Stephen said. He wasn't sure that he was ready to face a day in the office.
It was an hour later when Titus shuffled into the office with a sad face. Julia was seated at her desk. Hagar was standing next to it talking to her.
Hagar said, "We're going to miss having her around."
Looking over at Titus, Julia asked, "Did she leave?"
"Yes," Titus answered.
"You'll miss her," Julia said.
"I know," Titus said.
Thursday came out of her office and looked at Titus. She said, "I take it that Mel left for UCLA."
"She left this morning," Titus said.
"You'll miss her," Thursday said.
"I know," Titus said.
"Titus!" Magus shouted.
Titus went into the office. He said, "You bellowed?"
Magus held out an envelope. He said, "Here's a plane ticket to visit your parents. It's been a while since you've seen them."
"Thanks," Titus said.
Magus said, "Hagar will be going with you."
"Why?" Titus asked.
"That little business with the city is about to explode. I'd hate for you to be subject to a little retribution by a disgruntled sleazeball," Magus said.
"That's makes sense," Titus said.
Magus shifted in his chair. He frowned. Finally, he said, "I usually leave the area after something like that. It is a little safer that way."
"Smart," Titus said.
"I'm going to be heading to Houston after you get back," Magus said.
"For how long?" Titus asked.
"A couple years maybe. It's hard to tell," Magus answered.
"A couple years?" Titus asked.
"I'm setting up an office there," Magus said.
"What about the office here?" Titus asked.
"It's yours," Magus answered.
"What do you mean it's mine?" Titus asked.
Magus said, "You're the boss of Solutions Incorporated Boston Division."
"I'm still in school," Titus said.
"It'll be a cakewalk. Don't forget that you have the smartest study group that exists," Magus said. "Those young ladies were handpicked by yours truly."
"That means that I'll have to study," Titus said.
"It will help take your mind off of your other problems," Magus said.
"What other problems?" Titus asked wondering if he had missed something important.
Magus said, "Mel left this morning."
"I'm going to miss her," Titus said.
"I know. That's why I think it is a good idea for you to be busy," Magus said.
Titus said, "It just seems to me that everyone is leaving. Irene has gone to Washington. Cathy has moved in with her fiance. Mel has gone to UCLA. You're going to Houston."
"Don't forget that Igor and Claudia will be going there with me," Magus said.
"That's what I mean. Everyone is leaving," Titus said.
"That's not quite true. Julia, Jane, Jack, and Jill will still be here. Don't forget Hagar and Poindexter, They'll be around for a long time. In ten days your study group will be showing up for school. Believe me, you won't be lonely," Magus said.
"Doesn't it bother you to have people come and go from your life?" Titus asked.
Shaking his head, Magus answered, "Not at all. I have hundreds of friends scattered across every part of the country. I am a fortunate man to have known so many different people. I'm friends with lawyers, doctors, scientists, authors, artists, and just regular folk. I feel blessed.
"You can't look at moving on as losing people because you don't lose them. They are still there and you can talk to them whenever you want. You have to look at moving on as gaining friends. It is hard to meet new people if you stay in one spot your whole life."
Titus asked, "What about marriage?"
"Marriage? What can I say about marriage? I've met a lot of women. I haven't met the one for me, but I've met a lot of women who came close. I loved each one, just like you've loved Mel. When I do meet the right woman, I'll marry her that day. You can bet your life on it," Magus said.
"I didn't think you ever considered getting married," Titus said.
Magus said, "You have be honest with yourself regarding the relationships that you have with the women you'll meet. Most of the relationships will be nice comfortable friendships and there might even be benefits of an intimate kind. You'll do things together and have a good time, but you'll know that marriage isn't in the cards."
"I guess," Titus said.
"You never entertained the idea of actually marrying Mel, did you?"
"No," Titus answered.
"That didn't stop you from caring about her, did it?" Magus asked.
"No," Titus answered.
"Just because she's in UCLA is no reason to stop caring about her," Magus said.
"You're right," Titus said.
Magus said, "By the way, you got a real good payday."
"How much?" Titus asked.
"You got a little over four hundred thousand," Magus answered.
"That was a good payday," Titus said.
There were a lot of federal agencies who paid a hundred thousand dollars to be part of the upcoming raid. A lot of departments at the state level were willing to kick in ten thousand dollars to be able to boast that they were doing their jobs. There were even a few companies that coughed up some money. It was a very profitable solution to a problem brought by a guy who wanted to open a submarine sandwich shop and was tired of bribing folks to get permits that should have been granted without a problem.
Magus said, "The IRS will be sending us another eight hundred thousand each when they recover the money that was taken in bribes or embezzled."
"That will be useful," Titus said.
Magus said, "Don't spend it all in one place. It may be years before you get another payday that good."
"I understand," Titus said.
"It'll be better when you get out of school," Magus said.
"I look forward to it," Titus said.
Magus said, "I think you better head home and pack. Your plane will be leaving in a couple of hours."
"Thanks, Magus," Titus said.
"Don't mention it," Magus said.
"I won't," Titus said with a grin.
Magus said, "Say hello to your mother for me."
"I'll do that," Titus said.
While Titus and Hagar were on their way to the airport, the radio announced a raid netting over six hundred city and county employees accused of taking bribes and embezzling government money. Just about every city and county department had employees arrested. It was the largest raid of its kind and involved federal and state agencies. Even the school system was going to be run by the state until a new administration could be put into place.
Hagar said, "I wonder if Boston will ever be the same."
"There's a reason why being coerced into paying money to a stronger individual is one of the top fifty problems people have," Titus said.
"Why do you think that is?" Hagar asked.
Titus answered, "It is too easy and tempting for the strong to prey upon the weak. It is going to happen. It is a rare person who has the strength and will to protect the weak."
"There's always you and Magus," Hagar said.
"I never thought about it that way," Titus said.
Hagar said, "Ten dollars and a favor for the first solution. If they
can't pay, you give them a chance to earn the ten dollars. And what do
you get? Two dollars. What do they get? A solution to their problem
that is priceless."