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finger over his lips. With one look at his dimpled smile, Abby no longer felt restless.
    When she smiled back, Dallas looked at her beautiful smile and gazed into her brown eyes and once again, his heart raced to a dangerous number of beats per minute. It was the kind of heart pounding that would bring tunnel vision to a sniper, making it nearly impossible to aim a rifle.
    “You’re in a lot of danger. I have to get you out of here.” He whispered.
    “My mother’s inside. I can’t leave her.”
    An armed man walking on the veranda approached Abby. Dallas quickly rounded the corner and hid against the wall.
    “Is my mother ready to go?” Abby asked.
    He nodded and motioned with his gun for Abby to follow him inside.
    Abby returned to her mother and before they could leave, Maurice asked, “Would you two ladies like to accompany me for dinner Monday night after the closing of my new purchase?”
    Abby looked at her mother hoping she would say no but Maurice insisted that he had no one else with whom to celebrate the purchase of his new home. To Abby’s dismay, Susan obliged.
    Mother and daughter safely boarded the ferry not knowing that Maurice had asked two of his men to follow the ladies with strict orders not to be seen.
     
    * * * * *
     

Chapter Three
     
    Capt. Santos sat in a wheel chair with his broken leg extended.
    “Dorothea, how did I end up in Tampa, Florida?” He studied her hands taking his blood pressure.
    She squinted as she stuck a flat disposable thermometer under his tongue, and veering left to make sure no one was listening, she whispered, “I overheard that you insisted they bring you to Tampa. They was just followin’ your orders.”
    Javi hung his head in silence.
    “You must be somethin’ special. Cause ain’t no one around here get that kind of treatment.”
    His hands formed a fist as he tried to remember.
    Dorothea raised her voice saying, “Why don’t I go get that sweet girl Jasmine to take you outside. It’s about time you breathe some fresh air.” She noticed Javi’s crooked smile appear at the mention of Jasmine’s name.
    He motioned for her to come back as she headed towards the door, “I got to ask you something first.”
    “Better make it quick, I need to change a man’s diapers across the hall.”
    “Dorothea, do you believe in angels?”
    “Have you been sneaking extra pills off my cart?”
    “No, I’m serious.” He looked up. “I remembered something today.”
    “Sure, I believe in angels. How you are alive today with the type of injuries written on your chart, I do not know. You got some kind of angel protecting you, that’s for sure.”
    His eyes then looked down as he focused his mind inward. “There was an explosion and I felt my body being thrust in the air. Capt. Joshua Wittemore saved my life. He protected me. He was my guardian angel.” His mind drifted in deep recollection.
    “From what I’ve heard around here and from what I seen on the news, you are a blessed man. God must have an important mission for you.” Dorothea walked out the door.
    Jasmine entered the hospital room wearing a soft pink sweater. Her blond hair neatly picked up in a ponytail, and her fragrance filled his room with the scent of sweet violets. “The doctor gave the ok for you to venture outside. It’s such a lovely day. Not too hot, not too cold.” Her voice was a smooth melody.
    “So, doc. is letting me out? Sounds good to me,” he cleared his throat, “I need to warn you, I got a lot of pent-up energy. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into taking me outside.”
    “Well you seem okay to me. I guess I’ll take my chances.” She backed his wheelchair into the elevator.
    “Wow…I haven’t heard birds squawking like this in a long time.” He shielded his eyes from the sun.
    “They’re chirping. Squawking makes it sound like they’re being so aggressive. Even better, they’re singing.”
    “Did you see that little guy right there?” Javi