Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Author: Willy Tamarack
Title: Surfers Rule
Part: 4 of 11
Universe:
Summary:
Keywords: (love story, adventure, war viol)
Language: English


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   @(C) 1996-2015 Willy Tamarack Commercial use in any form requires the
written permission of the author and will ensure a portion of the proceeds
goes to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

   Surfers Rule

   by

   Willy Tamarack

   With thanks to the founding fathers and the U.S.  Constitution

   Chapter Ten

   The Piper Malibu was climbing south out of LAX on the way to Torrance
Municipal.  Senora Isabel Morales was sitting in the co-pilot's seat. 
Maria was sitting in the furthest reaches of the airplane, looking out the
windows and taking pictures.  Ed looked over at the mother.  He hardly
recognized them when they arrived at exactly fourteen hundred hours for the
charter...Huge black limo and they were dressed like they were going to a
high mass...All black and white, both of them with hats and veils.  Ed
noticed Cindy's approval.  Craig was nowhere to be seen.

   The trip to LAX was uneventful and Ed waited a little over an hour
before mother and daughter returned from the international terminal,
dressed in jeans, blouses, heavy coats, wearing their cowboy boots. 
Craig's LAX gate agent followed their limo to the terminal in another of
Cindy's panel trucks and brought them back...Then put them aboard and
secured the door.  Ed had the engine started and was taxiing in under a
minute.  The women remained in the rear of the Malibu until they were
airborne and a mile off shore.  They were still climbing out when Senora
Morales moved up to the co-pilot's seat.

   "Senora Morales, everything so far meets with your approval ?"

   "Yes and please call me Isabel, Ed.  I think it will make it much
easier, yes ?" She smiled over at him as he piloted the airplane south,
toward Torrance.  Ed smiled back.

   "Yes, I agree.  What should I call the crazy one in the back ?" He
nodded toward the rear.  Isabel laughed.

   "The wicked widow.  Oh !  That's it !  That's what we shall call
ourselves if this Malibu insists.  The `Wicked Widows' !  Do you think
Malibu will like that name, Ed ?"

   It was Ed's turn to laugh.  They were about to be transferred to
Torrance tower's frequency.  To Isabel he said, "`Wicked Widows' will do
very well, Isabel.  What should I be called ?"

   "Why the `old man' of course ?"

   Ed smiled and told the tower he was four miles out with the field in
sight.  Both of the women were sitting in the rear when Ed touched down and
rolled to the end.  He got the hanger doors coming open as soon as he
cleared the runway and noticed Cindy's truck parked just outside the side
door to the hanger.  Ed shut down the engine well before entering the
hanger and rolled the Malibu right on to it's spot.

   The hanger doors started to close.  Ed took his time cleaning up the
cockpit.  The ladies were fidgety and anxious.  When the doors closed all
the way, he moved to the rear and opened the cabin door.  Their luggage
consisted of three large suitcases on wheels.  They each took one and moved
into the van without anyone noticing them.  Ed drove off; the women in the
back with all Cindy's test equipment and junk.

   When Ed drove into the Hansen's back yard the garage door was open.  The
yellow bug was parked on the lawn so he rolled right into the garage. 
Craig was out in the backyard cooking on an old kettle barbeque.  He waved
as they drove into the garage.  The women would stay in Ed's place above
the garage.  It had a double bed; they could share.  Ed directed them up
the stairs and showed them around.  Craig remained at the barbeque.

   "Make yourselves at home.  That's barbeque chicken, Craig's cooking.  It
takes a while...So freshen up, whatever.  See you in a bit." He closed the
door and hurried down the stairs.

   Maria was looking out into the backyard through the only window in the
apartment.  Ed went right by Craig and into the house.  The blonde woman
was not around.  Her mother was in the bathroom.  Tonight she was going to
wear something to make the men turn their heads.  At least the young one,
the old one was obviously smitten with her mother.

   Ed had come back into the yard with a drink in his hand.  The old one
and the young one were talking.  Still no blonde.  It was dark out.  She
crossed the room and turned on the television.  The weather guy was talking
about some storm that had come through.  She found what she wanted to wear
and stood speechless while the guy went right on into a surf report.  Her
mother had just come out of the bathroom.

   "Maria !  You will not wear that dress tonight, do you hear me ?" Isabel
commanded in Portuguese.  Maria was still staring at the television.

   "I'll wear what I want, mother.  Look...They actually have a surf report
up here.  I think they're saying it's going to be good tomorrow."

   "If you must...You're going to freeze your rear end off, Maria.  Just
don't distract them too much.  I believe we're actually going to get some
action tonight."

   "No, mother, you don't get it.  Tonight starts the six `P's.  Any action
is months away at the earliest." She slipped out of her jeans and stripped
off her blouse.  She discarded her plain white bra and exchanged it for a
very flimsy black one then slipped the dress on over her head.  Her mother
was listening to some L.A.  news program.  She closed the bathroom door and
looked at herself in the mirror.  She smiled and rushed to join her mother
on her way down the stairs.

   Ed had his back to the apartment and only noticed Craig's double take.
He looked back over his shoulder then whistled.  Isabel turned to her
daughter half way down the stairs and said something in Portuguese.  Ed
left the barbeque and entered the house.

   "Buenos noches, senoras.  Welcome to our home.  If you need anything,
please don't hesitate to ask.  We're having chicken with my special sauce,
you'll love it.  Cindy, my wife, made some margaritas.  She'll be out in a
moment." There were a couple of beach chairs and a lounger of some sort
littered around the yard.  Craig gathered up a couple of the chairs and
brought them over for the ladies.

   "No DEA, Malibu ?"

   "No DEA, Senora Morales."

   "Call me Isabel, please."

   They had just sat down when Cindy and Ed came out into the yard with a
pitcher of margaritas and several salt rimmed glasses.  In flawless
Spanish, Cindy welcomed them to her home and hoped that they would be
comfortable while they discussed business.  Isabel arched an eyebrow.  This
one had witnessed their entire act and never let on, a wily one here. 
Maria said, to no one in particular, "I told you it was her."

   Cindy continued immediately in Spanish, "Yes you did, Maria.  It took my
best acting to make you back off just a bit.  I didn't think of the F-15
mural or I would have brought you to the hanger.  You know men, always
bragging about their accomplishments."

   Isabel interrupted this banter in English, "And they should...A woman
could never accomplish what my husband accomplished.  That is the way it
is."

   Ed stopped it all.  "A toast to Alfred Morales." He held his tumbler of
Jack Daniels high.  Craig and Cindy followed suit.  All three of them
parroted, "Hear, Hear !" Isabel and Maria, unaware of their meaning,
toasted with, "Salude !"

   *****

   The five of them were wined and dined.  Cindy had lit the incense and
candles.  Ed was eager to start although to be honest he had no idea where
any of this was going ?  What the fuck could anyone do against the air
force of any foreign country ?  Twice now Craig had mentioned how lucrative
it was working for very rich people.  If you do them a service, they return
the favor.  That thought kept running through his head.  Cindy was smoking
a bowl.  The sweet scent of marijuana filled the front room.

   Craig was setting up a microphone on the coffee table, which was
littered with surfing magazines.  Some music was playing in the background,
late sixties shit.  Ed collapsed on one of the bean bag chairs.  Isabel and
Maria sat on the couch.  Craig was pulling over a bean bag from across the
room.  He took a hit off Cindy's pipe before starting.

   "Ladies...The microphone is going to produce a written account of what
we say here tonight." The cord trailed off into one of the back rooms.  He
paused and took another hit off the pipe.  Maria was sipping on a coke and
Isabel was drinking wine, something they bought yesterday afternoon, she
said.  "We'll condense tonight into a report with achievable goals and go
from there.  Isabel, start at the beginning."

   Isabel was about to inquire what Malibu and Surfer Girl were smoking but
noticed Maria shaking her head back and forth.  So she started with the day
her husband failed to return.  The months of agonizing waiting with nothing
seemingly being done.  And then the airplane was found, right on the border
between Brazil and Peru, technically in Brazil.  Two weeks went by with no
further word.  Then out of nowhere comes the pilot error rumor, some
official some where.  It's in the papers.  The Morales countered with
newspaper stories of Captain Barrias' aviation experience.  Then the
official word came down stating mechanical failure caused the crash.

   Isabel spent tons of money, she claimed, to finally learn that they
suspected her husband was smuggling drugs.  She had copies of the pictures
that the government of Brazil had in it's possession.  From the United
States Government these pictures came, so she was told.  The pictures show
bundles of drugs in the wreckage.

   "Let's see the pictures, Isabel." Craig interrupted.  Isabel directed
her daughter to run up to the apartment and get her laptop computer which
was charging in Ed's bedroom.  "Do you have the official report that goes
with the pictures, Isabel ?"

   "Only the condensed version.  It came with the pictures and will ensure
one of our public servants back in Brazil lives very comfortably during his
retirement." She paused and looked around the room with a very pleasant
smile on her face.  Ed smiled back.  He knew exactly what she meant and was
sure that Craig and Cindy were already dialed in.  "It says that the
airplane took evasive action when hailed.  Offensive action was then
commenced.  It's on the laptop with the pictures."

   Isabel explained how she came to the realization that she wanted to do
something and declaring war on a small part of Peru was not out of her
reach.  Then it just germinated, first Felix, then her daughter and now
they're here.  Only six people know.  Maria was back and starting up the
laptop.  They all gathered around the coffee table.

   Isabel quickly brought up a picture of a wrecked airplane with bundles
of what appeared to be drugs littered about the wreckage.  They all took a
look at the pictures.  There were three of them.  As soon as the third one
appeared Ed blurted out, "That ain't no four oh two, gang."

   Chapter Eleven

   "Look, Craig, it's a high wing airplane and the fuselage is much wider
than a four oh two.  Look at the huge windows.  A four oh two doesn't have
anything like those."

   "I think he's right, Craig." Cindy opined from over his shoulder. 
Isabel and Maria looked confused.  Craig just nodded his head up and down.
Maria brought up the report and Cindy translated it for the boys.  Isabel
had left out little but the date and time of the encounter.  The suspected
drug smuggler, after being hailed, made an evasive move and was shot down.
Craig went over, sat in a bean bag chair and gazed at the ceiling.

   Ed stated matter of factly, "If the pictures are bull shit, so's the
report.  If the report is bull shit, I bet it was a cluster fuck.  Who the
fuck knows what happened ?" He was off to the kitchen to get another slug
of Jack Daniels.

   "The pilots do." Isabel stated calmly, just realizing that it was all a
frame up...Everything !  Her blood was boiling causing her skin to turn a
warm tan color in the candle light.

   Craig stopped his ceiling gazing and glared at her.  "And just how do
you know what the pilots know ?"

   Ed was entering from the kitchen with a fresh drink and the wine bottle.
He refilled Isabel's glass.  She nodded her thanks.

   "She paid them." Ed answered.  "Anyone need anything ?"

   Cindy was taking a hit off the pipe.  She squeaked out a reply, "Ed,
you're getting real good at this shit, for a fucking new guy."

   Maria got up off the couch and left for the bathroom so Ed sat down next
to Isabel.  Isabel started again.  "Let me continue.  I will get to how I
know.  Beside your names and general location, Felix shared with me all he
knows about the operation.  And Ed is right, the information was paid for.
He has lost eight of his aircraft.  Others more.  So he pays to get
information to defend himself.  He's a business man first.  These losses
cost him money in lost personnel and equipment and most important,
product."

   Ed rolled his eyes toward the ceiling at the mention of narcos being
just regular business men.  But then the godfather considered himself a
business man and look what a hit he became...A movie hit !  He chuckled. 
Maria was coming back from the bathroom and headed right into the kitchen.

   "Felix paid some official in the Columbian government and was given a
broad outline of this operation.  It starts with some radar plane, high in
the sky, above Columbia."

   Ed interrupted, "AWACS ?"

   Cindy answered, "No, but close.  Probably a P-3.  It's cheaper."

   "Keep going, Isabel." Craig pushed her.  Isabel had his full attention.
She looked confused again.  What were they talking about ?  She continued.

   "This radar plane finds the narcos and then sends a smaller jet that has
radar and cameras on board.  They determine if the fighter is called to
shoot down the narcos.  The smaller jet with the radar and cameras is a
Cessna Citation and the fighter is a Dragonfly.  That is all Felix knows."

   "Which pilots ?" Cindy asked.

   "Felix has a man in the Dragonfly's pilot's lounge.  Shortly after my
husband was shot down this man heard about the kill.  That's what they call
it, a kill.  So he calls Felix.  Well, not Felix, but somebody and the word
eventually gets to Felix.  So Felix asks around and nobody has lost an
airplane.  So he contacts his man and asks for more details.  Well, this
guy explains how this is all a big mistake.  A big fuck up !  The pilot
involved was in training and wasn't doing well.  But then they were all
drinking when he hears this so it could be bull shit, too.  I realize that
is a possibility but then why talk about it at all ?  Felix's guy said that
all the previous kills were celebrations.  This one, not so much."

   "Killing friendlies is never heroic." Ed was filling Isabel's glass
again.  "Makes sense.  Ooops, can't admit that we fucked this one up; find
some old pictures of a drug runner's plane all full of drugs.  Attach them
to an official report.  Your son-in-law may have bolted toward Brazil if he
figured he was close to the border.  I don't imagine there are a lot of
land marks out there.  But this is all speculation."

   Craig asked, "Is that all you've got, Isabel ?"

   "Felix also gave me the name of his banker and I have opened an account
with him in the amount of one million U.S.  dollars.  The money your
government paid to compensate me for my loss.  Maria also received a
million dollars.  We intend to put in as much as is necessary to accomplish
our objective.  Felix said that shooting down one of their airplanes would
be very expensive." Maria wandered out of the kitchen with some more
coleslaw and another coke.

   Cindy smiled at Craig then asked Isabel, "Did Felix give you any idea of
how you might shoot down one of these planes ?"

   "He said that he could think of only two ways: using a missile from the
ground or having another airplane shoot it down.  He thought the missile
would be cheaper.  Lure the seeing eye dog, that's what he calls the
Cessna, over an abandoned air strip.  Fire three or four, then run like
hell." She laughed, remembering how Felix pointed to himself, explaining
that if she was successful he would be the one who paid the price.  Ed and
Craig laughed with her.

   Ed pointed out that the Dragonfly was also a Cessna...The Cessna A-37B
Dragonfly.  Cindy looked over at Craig and winked.

   "Ed, didn't you fly the A-37 in Vietnam ?"

   "Hardly, darling, I flew the A-1." Ed spat back, realizing a moment
later that she knew exactly what he flew in Vietnam.  She was smiling back
at him.

   Craig jumped in, "Hey, Ed, could an A-1 shoot down an A-37 just using
the gun ?" Ed was taking a long slug of Jack Daniels, mother and daughter
just watching the exchange.  For the first time Maria looked interested but
then she had heard her mother's story before.

   "Sure...A navy guy shot down a MIG-19 up north..." Ed stopped abruptly,
realizing what the two of them were up to.  He stood.  "You two are
seriously fucked up !  This is nuts."

   "Sit down, Ed.  We're just tossing around ideas here." Ed was staring
Craig down.  Isabel reached up and took a hold of Ed's hand, pulling him
back down on to the couch.  Maria had a big shit eatin' grin on her face.

   "Okay, ladies.  That's it for tonight." Craig was standing and
stretching.  Cindy had disappeared with the microphone.  "Ed, we going
sliding tomorrow ?"

   "Shit yea, man !" He was already heading to the kitchen with his glass
and the empty bottle of wine, the confrontation forgotten.

   Cindy came back into the front room and said in Spanish, "There are more
blankets in the closet in the front room above the garage." She was
pointing out toward the apartment.  She continued.  "I imagine my husband
will want to talk with you privately.  Sleep well.  I'll see you tomorrow
morning."

   Ed wandered into the front room from the kitchen.  Craig was escorting
the ladies out into the kitchen so Cindy took Ed to the guest room.  Ed
appeared disappointed.

   They were at the bottom of the stairs.  Maria had already gone up. 
Craig lit a cigarette.  Isabel asked if he had another.  They smoked in
silence for a couple of minutes.

   Craig broke the silence.  "The missile thing is out.  Those things are
way too hard to get.  We'd never get the license to buy them legally.  So
that makes them way too expensive.  Plus I can't think of many who'd want
to be on the ground and shoot them.  No...It's got to be airplanes and
surprise that makes this an even fight." Craig took a drag.  "That's what
I'm thinking off the top of my head, Isabel.  It will be expensive."

   Isabel took a drag before replying and smoke drifted in the night air as
she spoke.  "I know this will be very expensive, much more than a couple of
million dollars.  I am a very rich woman, Malibu.  Those who help me
accomplish my goal will be very well paid, I assure you." She took a deep
drag off the cigarette.

   "Yes, that would be of utmost importance to those who might take this
challenging project to task and of course would have to be negotiated
before any action was committed to." Craig took a drag and blew a large
smoke ring straight up into the air.  The night air was calm and the ring
hovered in the air above them.

   "So you think it's possible ?" Isabel was alive, excited.

   "Don't have a clue, Isabel.  You can transfer money with your computer,
right ?" She nodded, taking another drag.  Craig continued, "I'll need you
to transfer a hundred thousand to an account in the Cayman's.  I will use
it to do a feasibility study.  If it's feasible, we'll discuss the rest. 
Sound good to you, Isabel ?"

   "Yes, Craig, it sounds very good."

   Craig flipped his cigarette out on to the driveway and offered his hand.
Isabel shook it.  Craig backed away toward the house while Isabel took the
stairs to the apartment.  It was dark in the bedroom but Maria was wide
awake and waiting for her in the double bed.

   "Well...What did he say ?  Are they going to help us ?  I think Ed likes
you." It all rushed out, she was keyed up.  Maria had already decided. 
They were going to help her mother.  She could tell by the way the girl and
her husband traded looks.  She was sure the old man was out of the loop on
that but he was hot for her mother so it didn't matter.  It was so obvious,
except to mama, who thought her daughter's imagination was running away
with her.

   *****

   The house was dark when Ed wandered into the kitchen at five minutes to
five the next morning in his wet suit.  He slipped out into the back yard
and felt the dew on the grass with his bare feet as he headed for the
garage.  He was in the garage, strapping his board to the roof racks on the
Bug when Craig joined him.  Once the boards were strapped to the racks, Ed
pushed the Bug, with Craig steering, down the driveway.  Out in the street,
Ed pushed the Bug until Craig called to him.  Ed backed off, the clutch
popped and the Bug roared to life.  Ed ran to catch up.  They were off,
surfing.

   It was after seven before Cindy noticed any life in the upstairs
apartment.  She had the kitchen door open and was watching the stairs. 
Maria came down first.  Isabel followed about three minutes later.  Maria
was just sitting down to a cup of coffee when her mother entered the
kitchen.  The younger women were silent but for greeting each other.  Cindy
waited until Isabel had a cup of coffee in her hand.

   "I'll be leaving this morning with Ed for LAX.  Isabel, you'll accompany
us as a prospective investor in Blake Hansen Air Taxi Service.  Maria,
you'll remain here with Malibu and man the phones.  I should be back in two
or three days and then we'll discuss what I discover on my trip.  Now the
six `P's really get started."

   "Thank you very much, Surfer Girl.  We very much appreciate what you are
doing for us." Maria said before taking a sip from her coffee cup.

   Chapter Twelve

   The fog had drifted further off shore and the sun would eventually rise
above the cliffs of Palos Verdes Cove.  But for now the cove was bathed in
shadow.  The waves were truly excellent; some sets head high and with
little wind the faces were as smooth as glass.

   Ed was sitting further outside than Craig.  They had been riding waves
for over an hour.  A set was appearing on the horizon.  Ed stretched to see
beyond the first swell.  He started paddling further out.  Craig remained
where he was.  Ed tried to catch the second wave but was too far out.  When
he finally quit paddling he was almost abeam Craig.

   "I need you to take Cindy to LAX about ten this morning.  Problem ?"

   "And where is Cindy going ?  To buy a C-123 so you can modify it with
guns ?" He laughed.  "You guys crack me up !" He continued laughing.

   "Very funny, old man.  No, she's on the way to Alabama to see if she can
get some intel on the seeing eye dog.  She's got a friend who she thinks
works for them.  Old service buddies."

   "Hey, Isabel called me the `old man' yesterday ?" Ed changed the
subject. "Did you put her up to that ?  Do I look that old ?"

   "Older."

   Another wave was humping up on the horizon.  Ed turned to paddle out
further.  "Fuck you, Hansen !"

   "Stay here, `old man,' you're paddling for nothing." Ed kept paddling.
Craig turned to follow moments later.  This was going to be a big set. 
Twenty feet ahead of Craig, Ed sat astride his board and wheeled the nose
toward shore.  The wave was walling up and starting to break off to his
left.  Ed took one paddle and was up on his feet, sliding down the face. 
Craig was going to eat some white water.

   Ed flew by Craig as he ducked under the wave Ed was riding.  At the
bottom he cranked his ten footer to the right and watched the wave come
down above him.  It was a good eight feet and the face was still smooth. 
He trimmed up the board and stood there racing across the face.  The
shoulder fell away so Ed cut back, bringing the nose of the board around to
the left until he was heading right toward the shore.  When the wave
steepened up he leaned to the right and started cutting across the face
again.

   That's what he loved about the "Cove," you could ride so far and so
long. He was now just riding one foot high white water and was going to
ride it as far as he could then paddle for shore.  It was coming up on
eight-thirty.  He assumed Craig would follow; after all he was the one who
wanted Ed to fly Cindy to LAX.  He wondered what mother and daughter would
be doing while he was gone ?

   Ed waited until they were driving home.  "You know what you're doing
could be classified as espionage against the United States Government ? 
Maybe even treason ?  These are facts here, twin-tailed sissy."

   "Hold on here, Ed.  Cindy is going to visit a friend she knew in the
service.  That's all." They were both smoking cigarettes.  Craig had
started bumming when Isabel and Maria showed up.

   "No amount of money is worth spending the rest of your life in prison or
worse.  Even if you made it happen they'd be all over you like stink on
shit.  You'd never live to spend it."

   "We'll see, old man, we'll see."

   "You two are nuts.

   When the two of them arrived back at the house, the women were cooking
breakfast.  They insisted the surfers eat in their wet suits.  Later, at
exactly ten hundred hours the two vehicles departed for the airport.  When
they arrived Ed went right to the hanger and began moving the Malibu out on
to the ramp.  Cindy filed his flight plan and instructed Maria on how to
answer the phones before taking Isabel to the aircraft.  Craig was with Ed
at the airplane.

   "This morning you asked me what I knew and didn't know about some shit.
They're good questions, Ed.  So I'll tell you what I do know.  A Peruvian
jet attack plane shot down an unarmed civilian aircraft that was probably
lost.  And then it covered up the incident with some bull shit photos and a
report.  You ever work for any U.S.  officers who would give that order. 
Even the poor rag heads we slaughtered in the Gulf War had weapons.  Maybe
these guys have a handgun...Okay, an AK.  That makes them a combatant ?  I
don't think so.  So like I said last night, we're just tossing around ideas
here.  Too much for you ?  You can be excluded.  No hard feelings.  Cindy
and I are committed.  This will set us up for life if it all works out.  I
intend to give it one hundred percent effort.  So will Cindy.  Think about
it, Ed.  We'd like to have you on the team.  But hey !  No hard feelings if
you opt out.  Have a good flight, buddy.  See you around noon.  We'll take
the ladies to lunch.  I think the old lady is hot for your ass."

   Craig backed away as the ladies approached.  He kissed Cindy good-by and
then ran back to the hanger.  When the Malibu taxied ten minutes later
Craig was on the phone to a guy out in the San Fernando Valley.  It was the
same guy he worked with on the C-123 sale many years ago.  The guy wasn't
in but would call back shortly, he was told.  He leaned back in his chair
and gazed up at the ceiling.

   *****

   Cindy slept the whole way to LAX in the back of the Malibu.  Ed made
small talk with Isabel over the intercom.  He avoided any of the issues
they discussed last night and so did she.  It was a very smooth flight so
Ed remained on auto pilot until just prior to touchdown.  He didn't even
shut down.  Cindy kissed him on the cheek before she scampered to the rear.
The gate agent had the cabin door open and out she went.

   Ed taxied a minute later.  The que at LAX was always a bitch.  It was
over a half hour before they were airborne and on the way back to Torrance
Municipal.  The flight back to Torrance was uneventful...Again more small
talk.  Ed waited until clearing the runway and the hanger doors were coming
open before asking, "Isabel, since Cindy will be gone for a couple of days
or so.  You think it would be possible if you and I got together for a
drink, maybe dinner ?" Shit !  It had been so long since he'd done any of
this.  He felt like a fool, rambling on like this.

   "I would be delighted to, Ed.  Would it also be possible to take me
surfing with you some morning ?"

   "Well, it's a long hike and you wouldn't get to see much..." Trailed off
into nothing.

   Craig and Maria were waiting for them in Craig's office.  The four of
them left immediately and had lunch at some ritzy place down in Redondo
Beach.  And while the women wanted to talk about what Cindy was doing on
her trip, Craig forbid any talk that even came close to the subject.  When
they arrived back at the hanger, Ed took Isabel back to the Hansen's. 
Craig and Maria spent the afternoon manning the store.

   *****

   Maria had just come back down stairs from the apartment and was sitting
with Craig in the Hansen's kitchen.  She'd been upstairs since they got
back from dinner, watching mindless T.V.  in English, no less.  The two old
folks had taken the Bug and been gone since they broke up at lunch.  It was
close to twenty-one hundred hours, again, nine p.m.  to you civilians. 
Craig and Maria were both still a little drunk, having consumed two
pitchers of margaritas at the Mexican restaurant they'd shared dinner at.
Craig offered her a coke.

   "Well...Where are they ?  Do you think something happened to them ?"
Maria was anxious.

   "Hardly, Maria.  They're out having a good time.  Who knows what they're
doing ?  Who cares ?" Craig got Cindy's stash out and started packing a
bowl full of marijuana.  The look Maria gave him was full of apprehension
and concern for her mother.  More concern was in her voice.

   Craig held the smoke in his lungs then exhaled as he talked.  "Ed's an
old fashion kind of guy, Maria.  The furthest thing from his mind is to
take advantage of your mother in any way, I assure you.  He's a straight
arrow, babe." He held out the pipe toward her.

   "You sure `Surfer Girl' won't mind ?" Craig laughed and the pipe bobbed
up and down.  Maria took it.  The pipe made a couple of rounds, maybe more,
in silence.

   "Helps me conceptualize, brain storm.  But to answer your question. 
Surfer Girl has total trust in me.  I wouldn't compromise that trust.  I'm
sure she told you before she left.  This is purely business."

   "She said you left a promising air force career to marry her.  Is that
true ?  My husband did the same for me.  I would not dishonor his name by
coming between you and your wife." She blurted it out.

   "Well then we're lucky your mother and Ed don't have that constraint."
He laughed.  Maria attempted a weak smile.  It was nine-thirty.  "Hey !  I
got some info today on possible airplanes.  You interested ?"

   "Do the others know ?"

   "Shit no, I didn't get it until after they left for the afternoon or
whatever."

   "Cindy ?"

   "No.  Just you and me, Maria."

   "Good.  I want to be an equal part of the team.  Like my mother. 
Understand, Malibu ?"

   "Yes.  Loud and clear, `Little Widow'.  Cindy will be stoked you're a
part of the team.  We won't make you feel like the third wheel, I promise."
Maria had no earthly idea what "stoked" meant but wasn't about to ask. 
Where was her mother ?

   The night silence was broken by the sound of the Bug, engine off,
coasting into the garage.  They both looked out into the backyard through
the open kitchen door.  Maria got to her feet and wandered over toward the
door.  Craig took another hit off the pipe.  A couple of minutes went by.

   Maria looked back at Craig, "What are they doing out there ?  Is he
showing her the surfboard shop ?"

   "With the lights out ?  No, Maria, this is what's called watching the
submarine races." Maria Barrias looked very confused.