Chapter 4-

Bruce Hawkins parked his Jeep outside the main building and cast an appreciative glance out on the air fields. The late afternoon sun cast a bright, orange glow across the two runways which were the beginning of his new business and partnership. The runway lights contrasted, as they were supposed to, with their surroundings making Bruce long to be in the cockpit and preparing to take off. With a wistful grin he turned and headed in through the main entrance. The smell of fresh paint accosted him as soon as he was inside. Glancing around he found the source in his friend, and now partner, Samuel Dawson. Standing on a stepladder with a paintbrush in hand, he was hard at work painting the walls a boring shade of tan.

“Not going to go with Luc’s suggestion?” he asked lightly has he crossed the room to stand beside the ladder.

Samuel looked down in surprise. “I didn’t hear you come in, Bruce.” He smiled and set the paintbrush down. Agilely he climbed down the ladder. “And no, I’m not going to paint it some outrageous color.”

“Aw, come on it would definitely make us distinctive,” the voice came from Samuel’s twenty-three year-old son, Lucas. Grinning he was carrying to cans of paint and had a tarp slung over one shoulder.

“I want to be professional not scare the customers away,” Samuel replied dryly.

“If you even get any customers,” Lucas fired back with a wry grin.

“With you piloting, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Bruce interjected.

Lucas set the cans of paint in the corner, and tossed one end of the tarp at Bruce. He caught it instinctively and helped Lucas spread it next to the wall. The floors hadn’t been done yet, but they were hoping just to clean them. Dripping paint all over them would definitely not encourage that. He picked up one of the cans of paint Lucas had brought and used it to secure his end of the tarp. Lucas followed suit.

“Are you going to stay around and help us paint or have you done enough work today?” Lucas asked.

Bruce frowned. “What do you mean?”

“When I went in to buy the paint, Miles told me you saved a girl from getting hit.” Lucas explained as he mixed his paint with the ruler-like paint stick.

Bruce shrugged modestly. “Well I wasn’t going to just watch her get hit.”

“Was she all right?” Samuel asked worriedly. He’d paused in going back up the ladder to hear the story.

“I believe so, the man who was with her rushed her away. I didn’t even get her name,” Bruce answered.

“You sound quite sad about that,” Lucas teased.

Bruce shot him a dirty look. “Like I said she was with a man, but I am a bit upset about it. She dropped a book and I lost her in the crowd.”

Samuel resumed his ascent on the ladder. “Was there a name in the book?”

Lucas disappeared into a different room to find a ladder, while Bruce handed up a newly filled pain tray to Samuel. “No, just some pictures.”

“What do you plan to do?”

“I thought I could go into a few of the establishments and ask around,” Bruce mused aloud.

Lucas reappeared weighed down by a second step ladder, but he was definitely strong enough to handle it on his own. “What did you do with the new pack of paintbrushes I bought, Dad?”

With a frown, Samuel glanced around. “They might be in my office.”

With a nod, Lucas was off again.

“He’s a good kid, Samuel,” Bruce said with a smile.

Samuel nodded thoughtfully. “After everything he went through as a kid, I’m pleased he turned out so well.”

When Lucas had been six, his alcoholic mother had abducted him and disappeared. Despite Samuel’s hardest efforts, it had been two years before he found his son again. After serving six months in prison, Samuel’s ex-wife had committed suicide. “It’s a testament to you. You know that right?” Bruce asked seriously.

Samuel grinned. “Your influence hasn’t hurt either. You’re like his big brother.”

“A few more years and I’d be old enough to be his father,” Bruce replied wryly.

“Starting to feel your years, are you?” Samuel teased as he climbed off the ladder, moved it, and being working on a new section of wall.

“That’s why I didn’t re-up,” Bruce said evenly.

Samuel gave him a searching look. “Are you sure?”

“I can’t talk about it, Samuel, you know that.”

“I found the paintbrushes and a nest of mice,” Lucas announced with amusement as he came back in.

Bruce’s eyebrows rose. “That’s my cue to leave.”

Lucas laughed. “Afraid of a little mouse, Bruce?”

“Not afraid, just not anxious to meet one,” he answered. “I’ll let you have the fun.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Samuel.” Bruce said as he headed towards the door.

“Are you still going to meet me for breakfast before I fly?” Lucas called after him.

Bruce turned. “What time do you leave?”

“I have to be at the airport at nine-thirty and it’s a thirty minute drive,” Lucas explained easily.

“Around eight at Nancy’s all right then?”

Lucas nodded. “All right, see you then.”

“Do you want to join us, Samuel?” Bruce asked.

Samuel shook his head. “I’m going to meet Andrew Hauntle for brunch, and I don’t want to ruin my appetite.”

“Missing your law practice already?”

Samuel shook his head. “Not at all, but he’s a good friend. And the stories are always interesting.”

“Okay, I’ll see you both tomorrow then,” Bruce waved as he went back outside.

The sun has sunk farther towards the horizon, he noticed. He unlocked the Jeep and started it up. The book he had mentioned still sat on the passenger seat. He glanced at it before backing out of the parking lot and heading back to his apartment. Nestled into the older part of town, his apartment building was brick and was adjacent to a small parking lot for its residents. All in all the building was made up by four apartments, two per a floor. After parking in his usual spot, near one of the two lights in the parking lot, he locked his car and made sure to grab the book from the passenger seat. He bypassed the main entrance to the building in favor of the fire escape. He unlocked the back door to his apartment and stepped inside, flipping the lights on as he did so. A sharp bark pierced the still air and a moment later Samson, his German Shepherd, bounded into the room.

“Hey boy,” he ruffled the dog’s hair. “Do you need to go outside?”

Samson’s barked in response. Bruce laughed, set the book on the coffee table, and snatched Sam’s leash from the hook next to the door. It was a bit of a trial to get it on the hyper dog, but after a moment they set off outside. Together they started out on their usual path. They walked a mile weaving through the town; then they headed back home.

After feeding Samson and making sure he had water. He settled onto the couch and flipped on the television. Once again his attention was caught by the mysterious book. He could still clearly picture its owner long blonde hair and clear blue eyes. Picking it up, he wondered about the cloth cover. Opening the book to the page where the pictures were stuck, he gently tugged them free. They all appeared to be of the same child, a little boy whose resemblance was similar to that of the girl who had carried them. The boy’s hair was brown, not the same brilliant blonde, but the blue eyes were similar. He stuck the pictures back in, resigned to the fact that they wouldn’t help. As he shut the book again he noted a crinkling sound that didn’t quite fit. Frowning he opened and closed it a couple times. Finally he tugged off the cloth cover and several sheets of notebook paper fell into his lap. Curious, he began to read.

Please forgive any typos, I tried to fix as many as I caught, but I'm sure I missed a couple. Anyways enjoy getting to know my men. lol. And I know Luc's appearance will please my sis!

Please review!! :)