"I feel really bad about this, Hank," said Tina that evening.

"Tina, you don't have to apologize. I've eaten plenty of delivery pizza in my time," Hank assured her.

"I don't mean the pizza, I mean this business at the..." Hank was looking down at his plate, smiling. She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. You're a menace, Crank." She looked at Logan. "He's a menace. My God, remind me never to play poker with this man. He'll skin me."

"He skins everybody. That's why he won't play with his family except for chips, or maybe favors," said Logan.

"Favors?"

"I didn't have to mow my lawn once last summer," said Hank. "And do you know how often grass needs to be mowed on the Gulf Coast? Seriously, Tina, don't worry about it."

"But so far you haven't had a chance to do anything except investigate."

"Hey, I've met two wonderful people." Chase was sitting next to him, and Hank rubbed his head, receiving a grin in return. "One of whom is a potential nephew-in-law. Do you like football, Chase?"

"Yeah!"

"What's your favorite colors--gimme two."

"Blue and white."

"Cowboy colors. He's looking better all the time."

Tina's mouth was slightly open. "You coached him on that, didn't you? Last week it was red and green, because those are Christmas colors."

Hank, put his hand over his heart. "You wound me, kind lady. Chase just happened to notice my Dallas Cowboys key chain and expressed an admiration, so we had a discussion."

Chase dug a shiny key chain out of his pocket and held it high. "Go, Boys!"

Tina laughed helplessly, looking at Logan. "Logan?"

"You think I'm going to try to block him on that? Go, Boys!"

She threw up her hands. "Fine. Like I wouldn't have been one of the cheerleaders if I got half a chance. But you've still been sort of shackled to this mess."

"You didn't let me finish my list of the good things I've done while I've been here. I've toured a real television station, been in the audience of a fascinating cooking show, and I'll even be on the broadcast. That will make me an even bigger hero to my niece, and perhaps even to my sister, since Hunter is going to send her autographed copies of all his cookbooks, and he's promised a complimentary copy of a cooking video he's setting up. I've had dinner in a fancy restaurant, and a nice picnic in a park." He smiled. "I even got to see some ducks, and getting next to ducks is a good thing for a Texas boy. And I even got my armadillo on television. I can guaranty you that there aren't many people in my neighborhood who can say that. I'm having a fine time, Tina, and if I get to see you and Logan stand up together before I go on home, that's more than I was expecting, and all I could ask of this trip to the coast. Speaking of which, do you two have a day set?"

"This Saturday," said Logan. "We filed for the license, and we'll pick it up at city hall, then get married in one of the traffic court rooms." Hank raised an eyebrow at him. "By our pastor. It's a small church, and we were worried that if we had it there, with this crap that's been going on..." He shrugged.

"You're worried that it might spill over. I understand. Mama will be happy to hear that you're going in front of a preacher."

Chase tugged at his arm. "I'm gonna get to be a ring bearer, an' I'm going to be really, really, really careful. Lo is gonna put the ring on a chain around my neck so I don't lose it," he said proudly.

Hank patted him. "Good for you. I'm afraid that if Heloise ever got her hands on a necklace like that, we would be hard pressed to get it away from her." Hank fished another slice of hamburger, onion, and jalapeno pizza out of the box. Chase poked him in the arm and opened his mouth pointedly. Hank started to hold out the slice.

"Don't you dare!" said Tina.

"Aw, Mom!" said Chase. "Hank doesn't have cooties."

"I'm not worried about cooties. I'm worried about you getting blisters on the roof of your mouth, or me having to sit up with you and your bad tummy all night."

Hank gave Chase an apologetic look. "Sorry, kiddo. But Tina, if you're going to be married to a Texas boy, you're going to have to learn to deal with jalapenos at some point, if you don't want him to be miserable."

"I'm perfectly willing to lay in the hot stuff for Logan, but Chase stays away from them until his system is a little more developed. You don't start your babies on them, do you?"

"No, ma'am, but there are most definitely toddlers who get into the Rotel and Velveeta dip, and without noticeable distress. So," he munched on his pizza. "Saturday. That gives me two full days to get another dress Stetson."

"Do you think you'll be able to find one?" asked Tina.

"Tina, if I can't find a decent Stetson on Rodeo Drive, I don't know what this world is coming to."

Logan's phone rang, and he sighed. "Wouldn't you know it? How do they always manage to call at dinner time?" He got up and headed toward the phone in the kitchen.

Hank lifted his voice. "It's probably a telemarketer. Tell him you'll listen to his spiel if he'll sign up for your Baptist newsletter."

Tina was grinning. "What if he says he will, then gives a false address or email address."

"When Logan gets the information, he tells the telemarketer that he'll call them back just as soon as he gets confirmation on the address, then he hangs up."

"Hello, Logan Berryman," said Logan. He gave Hank a significant look. "Hello, Mister Montrose. Yes, I called earlier. Glad you could take time out of your busy schedule." He listened for a moment. "Mister Montrose, I'm sure that you realize that I can't give out that sort of information over the phone. For instance, what would you say if I asked you the name of your client who was interested in buying from Wilson Bates?" He waited a moment. "That's what I thought. I'll have to meet with you personally. When would be convenient? Yes, that would be all right. Why, thank you. Tomorrow, then." He hung up. "We're having lunch tomorrow at Choyez--his treat. I have a sneaking suspicion it's going to show up either on his income tax as a deductible, or on his client's billing hours, or maybe both. Tina, do you have any idea who might own those last few shares of BLAB? It might be a chip for when we meet with Montrose tomorrow."

She frowned in concentration. "I believe Tobias would have given them either to old friends, or talent that he really wanted to sign. Let me think."

She got a pencil and a pad of paper. Tucking her hand under her chin, she started to ponder, alternating between staring off into space and staring down at the paper. Every now and then she'd write something down, and every now and then she'd scratch something out. Chase finished his dinner and climbed into Hank's lap. He whispered, "You got to be quiet. Mama's thinkin'."

"Well," Hank whispered back, "why don't we go in the living room and see if there's anything interesting on television?"

"We could watch my Barney tape again."

Hank managed to keep from grimacing, and Logan had to fight down a snicker. "Why don't we check and see if there's a dinosaur program on PBS or the Discovery Channel."

Chase hopped down. "I think maybe there's The World's Funniest Animals on Animal Planet." He trotted into the living room.

Hank followed him, muttering, "Thank God for easily distracted children. I'd darn sure rather watch bears scratching their rumps and cats turning on lights than a purple dinosaur."

After a half-hour of watching dogs being chased by cats and birds swinging upside down from perches or riding on cat's heads, Hank was wondering out loud about why you never saw any footage of armadillos on these sort of shows. Chase pointed out that he just might see some soon, if anyone sent in Chill Pill's Las Vegas ramble. Logan said that Hank probably didn't care to be reminded of that particular incident.

Tina came in and sat beside Logan, who grunted a little as Chase crawled over him to get to his mother's lap. She passed Logan the sheet of paper. "I think these are the best bets."

Logan scanned the paper. "Pogey Penneman? Tina, are you sure about that one?"

"No, but he was considered a good bet when Toby was setting up the schedule. He wanted some political correctness to balance out Devin Tarnower, and you can't get much more politically correct than a disabled activist," she replied.

"Beau Trinity?"

"He's low level, but his father was a foreman at Toby's factory for years. The father passed away when Beau was a teenager, and Toby wanted to give the boy something that would provide some sort of an income, so he could continue his schooling."

"Did it help?"

"Beau has to work to suppliment it, but he's going to be getting a business degree sometime next year, so yeah, it helped."

"Here's one that doesn't surprise me so much. Hunter Overend."

Tina smiled. "Hunter catered Toby and Marva's reception, at a hefty discount, I believe. Besides, Toby liked Hunter--almost everyone does."

"Hank, do you think that Hunter might agree to us giving Montrose the idea that we're representing him?"

"He seems pretty agreeable. I'll ask him," said Hank.

Hunter wasn't just agreeable--he was downright enthusiastic. "You're right, Hank. Toby gave me two shares of the company when I signed up. It's made a nice little padding in my income, so I've been able to take a few risks here and there. I mean, I won't really be hurt if the station goes down the tubes, but Toby was... is... whatever. Anyway, a pretty good guy, his libido aside. I'd like to help, because I think maybe this might throw a little light on whatever happened to him. I've been thinking for some time that what's been going on at the station has to have some connection to him disappearing."

"I think you're right. The question is, what's the connection. It's like looking at a ball of yarn. You can see one end, but God alone can see to the other end."

"So I'm officially giving Logan power of attorney as concerns my two shares of BLAB! No more." Hank could hear the smile in his voice. "I don't want my agent having a coronary."

"You have an agent?"

"Literary, for the cookbooks, and my accountant has been pushing me to look into getting one for future cooking shows. I seem to be in demand."

"I can testify to that."

Hunter laughed. "Say, I have an idea. I usually don't go into the restaurant till later in the afternoon, but it wouldn't be any hassle for me to get there at lunch time. I could come and act as window dressing. I wouldn't try to mix in, just give him the 'talk to my attorney' line, but having me there might make it look more authentic, don't you think?"

"Could be. And if someone is showing undue interest in your shares, it might be better if you're there, so you can keep informed."

"You just want to be close to me."

Hank glanced at Logan, Tina, and Chase. "You won't hear me denying it. See you tomorrow." Hank hung up. "Hopefully this won't blow up into The Sting. Hunter volunteered to come along to give us some more credibility."

"Sounds good," said Logan. "Hunter's a sharp operator. I don't see him as being anything but an asset."

"Uh-oh," said Tina. "Look."

The two men looked in the direction she indicated. Chase was slumping on the couch. He had a thumb plugged into his mouth. He was winding the fingers of his other hand in his hair, and his eyes were slowly shutting. The moment that his eyelashes hit his cheeks, they jerked up again, but quickly began to lower again. This happened again and again.

"Yep," said Hank. "Two of the major signs of 'time for bed'."

Tina gathered their things, while Logan scooped Chase up into his arms. The boy murmured sleepily, then threw his arms around Logan's neck and settled his head on the man's broad shoulder. The child was limp, totally relaxed. He was a picture of contented trust. Hank watched the tender expression on Logan's face as he carefully put one big hand on the back of the small head, holding him safely. Tina came over, watched them for a second, then somehow managed to give both of the men in her life a hug at once.

Hank felt a wave of happiness for his old friend. This was Logan's natural state--in love, and caring for someone who needed him. The sabotage at the station rankled him with its mean spiritedness, and he was never one to stand by when the law was being broken, so he'd have wanted to get to the bottom of it anyway, but this... The incidents were upsetting Tina, and threatening her livelihood. If the station had to close, or got into financial litigation because of the vicious pranks they couldn't stop, she could lose her job. Hank couldn't stand by while his friend and the people he loved were threatened in any manner. He was determined to figure this out, even if it meant extending his vacation. After all, Heloise wouldn't mind taking care of the plants for a little longer.

Logan carried Chase out to the car and buckled him in. Then he spent a good few minutes saying good-bye to Tina. Oh, nothing indiscreet, but Hank had a feeling that the neighbors would have no trouble telling that Logan was not marrying Tina for her cooking skills.

Hank was clearing away the remains of dinner when Logan came back in. "Chase talks in his sleep," said Logan fondly. "Unfortunately he was reciting the happy family song from Barney."

Hank shook his head. "Some things can't be escaped even in sleep." He was wiping the plates under the faucet in the kitchen.

Logan leaned in the doorway, watching. "I knew I should have used paper plates. Hank, all you have to do is shake off the crumbs and put them in the dishwasher. That's why I got it."

"After all the training my Mama did? Logan, you know I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight if I didn't."

"Yes, and she'd probably wake up in Texas, sit bolt upright in bed, and say, 'Hank left a dish unwashed!'"

"You do know Mama. She always said she was training me so that some woman down the line wouldn't be able to gripe about what she let her son get away with." Hank was quiet as he loaded the plates into the appliance. "Things didn't work out quite like Mama anticipated."

Logan went over and patted him on the shoulder. "She seems to be all right about it."

Hank nodded. "I'm blessed with an understanding family." He smiled. "You know I haven't just out and out--uh, outed myself to them? It just sort of seeped in gradually." Logan nodded. "One day I noticed that Daddy was watching me real close, studying me. I got nervous, thinking that he might be figuring things out. Finally he said to me, 'Hank--you know you can invite your roommate over for Thanksgiving and Christmas if you want to. One more to feed in this family won't make a difference.' That's all he ever said about it, but I knew he didn't care. It was his way of letting me know." Hank rubbed his face. "There I was, twenty-one, and a ranked defensive lineman, and I had to go in my room because I was about to cry." He shook his head, and smiled sheepishly at his friend. "Must be looking forward to the wedding that's got me so sentimental."

Logan elbowed him. "Maybe I can be best man for you someday."

Hank gave him a pained look. "Logan..."

"I'm not teasing you Hank. You know me better than to think I'd say anything hurtful to you. But Hank--Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusets... and probably others on the way. Just don't give up hope." He gave Hank's shoulder an affectionate shove. "Your Mama's training shouldn't go to waste. You'll be a great husband."

"You know," said Hank wryly, "this is one conversation I never imagined having."