Page 77 of Look for Me

“You had the news on, and you were getting upset by the minute,” Angelina said from the open kitchen. “I didn’t want your blood pressure to go up.”

Martin walked past Pete toward Angelina. “May I help?”

“Yes, you may.” Angelina sounded pleased that someone offered to help. “You can help me set the table.”

“Tell me where the plates and silverware are.” Martin washed his hands at the sink.

“I’m glad you washed your hands…unlike some people.” Angelina laughed.

“I heard that!” Pete said from the other side of the peninsula.

All Martin could see was his head over the recliner. He had turned on the television—in spite of Angelina’s protests—but he switched over to YouTube.

“Turn it down,” Angelina said.

Pete dutifully did so. “I’m going to see what news I missed.”

Martin could see the television from where he was standing by the small dining table. He set three place settings. Then he filled three goblets of cold water.

“…is now behind bars as he awaits trial…”

Martin ignored it. Same old news every day. Crimes everywhere.So what’s new?

“Did you hear that, Martin?” Pete asked.

“What?”

“It’s Flavian’s associate.”

Martin nearly dropped the last goblet of water on his way to the dining table.

Flavian.

Corinne’s ex-boyfriend.

For Flavian’s eternal sake, Martin hoped that he had somehow accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior before he passed away. Even if he couldn’t speak, but had made the profession of faith in his heart, it would be enough. From his heartfelt plea to God’s ears.

Otherwise it would be a very dark eternity for him.

Once again, Martin wondered how Corinne was doing.

Well, I’ll never know.

Carefully, he placed the last goblet on the dining table and went to the living room. “What’s happening?”

Pete pointed to the screen with his remote. “They caught Oscar with no last name in Cuba. He was an associate of Flavian and Nikos. It was all coming out now that they were a trio of diamond smugglers. Oscar’s job was to convert the diamonds into weapons for terrorists.”

“No kidding.” Martin had to sit down. “Wow.”

Corinne had been in way more trouble than he had thought.

“I wonder what Corinne went through those years she had been with his ex,” Pete said.

“We won’t talk about the past any more.” Angelina’s voice cracked. “All we can do is pray for Corinne and her babies. Her newborn must be at least four months old by now.”

“I do miss them,” Pete said.

“Me too,” Angelina chimed in.

---