Page 56 of Gone With the Wine

Business.

“Let’s go. Where’s Diego?”

“I think he’s in the cellar with Antonio.”

“Let’s get him and check things out.”

Chapter12

Jansen

Imeet Miles at Oak Creek Park as the sun is coming up. There’s fog in lower areas and it’s a nice temperature for running, though I do have a ball cap on. We’ve run together a few times now and it’s been pretty good. The first run wasn’t my best, but I kept up with Miles, and I feel better every time.

“Our dispatcher got a great call the other day,” he says as we run along the path.

“Yeah?” He always has good stories from the sheriff’s department.

“It was a lady. She said her friend is getting married and they’re throwing her a bachelorette party.”

I slide him a glance, grinning and waiting expectantly.

“And she asked if we could send out a couple of cops to the party to dance for them.”

I bark out a laugh.

“And so Poppy says, I’m sorry, ma’am, police officers don’t do that. And the woman said, yes, they do, haven’t you seen them in movies? And Poppy says, ma’am, those aren’t real police officers, they’re strippers.”

I’m chuckling as he talks.

“So the woman said, Really? Okay, fine, what about firefighters? Will they come dance for us?”

“Jesus.” I bellow more laughter. “Maybe you guysshouldgo dance at bachelorette parties. You could raise some extra cash for the department.”

Miles guffaws. “Yeah, right.”

The view here is spectacular. We’re on an elevation overlooking a vineyard with mountains in the background. Beside the path, Spanish moss drips from live oak trees.

It’s not the ocean, but it’s growing on me.

We pass by a man in a straw hat and a young kid walking and give them waves. I huff out, “Morning.”

As we approach a bench, Miles says, “Need a rest, old man?”

I snort. “Let’s sprint.” And I pick up my pace and leave him behind.

He laughs and catches up.

Then I skid to a halt. “Aaaaah!”

Miles stops dead, too, behind me, and peers over my shoulder.

“That’s a snake,” I say, unnecessarily, pointing at it.

“You are correct. It’s a King snake.”

We watch the black and white reptile wriggle its way across the path and disappear into the dry, ochre-colored grass.

I swipe at my forehead. “Jesus. And I was just thinking it’s not so bad running here.”

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