72 chapter 5

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The rest of Cindy's stay went without incident. Three months later, Cindy was allowed to go home. Bob and Pete decided to leave the old apartment behind since it would probably trigger the poor woman. Secondly, They couldn't afford it without Pete's drug money. The trio found a small two bedrooms, one bath apartment in the projects, that the rent there was based on their salary. It wasn't much, but at least now Pete had a clean conscience.

Once Cindy was well enough to stay home alone with going into a panic attack, Pete went to his gang leader and gave him all his money that he had saved up down to the last cent. He gave him all his remaining drugs and all his secret contacts in the crime world while begging on his hands and knees.

The crime leader spoke, "You can get up Pete! Have a little pride man! I will let you go, as long

you never deal for anyone else or yourself for that matter. If you go back on your word as a former brother, then I will put a hit on you and your two little friends. You were my best dealer four or more times over. Get off of my sight and never return to me. Plus, don't ever go to the police for any matter, or they will never find your bodies! Is that clear?"

Pete spoke a smile, "Yes I will do as you say and I will never be a problem for you the rest of my life!"

He went back home, like he just won a million Rindats, and spoke to his girlfriend.

"Cindy, I did it, I got it all right and they let me go!"

The two of them kiss for several minutes holding each other in an erotic embrace. Out of nowhere, Bob comes unto the scene with his lunch pail through the front door. Then he immediately walks back out the front door and does not return for a few hours.

Bob slowing walks into the front door to see no one in the front and no groans to be heard. He walks into the small kitchen and sees Cindy cooking at the stove. Pete at the kitchen table with

silverware in both hands, eagerly awaiting supper. The two stop what they doing and look directly at Bob.

Pete spoke, "What took you so long? It is almost supper time.

Bob spoke nervously, "Just ran into something stimulating."

Cindy spoke, "Get clean up and we will eat."

The trio ate dinner and Pete asked, "Can I come to work with you tomorrow? I will not ask for much money, while I get started."

Bob spoke, "Yeah, I make enough money to have a second set of much-needed hands. It is not easy, nor glamorous. I will be walking out the front door with or without you at six am. I know that you may turn into dust if you see sunlight before noon. But, I will be the leader here, not you as with everything else. I won't take any foolishness either.

Pete spoke, "I will be on my best behavior when we are working. I promise that to you or you

can fire me on the spot with no pay."

Bob spoke, "Fine then, be ready on time or don't bother coming at all."

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Months go flying by and Bob and Pete were doing very good business. Bob made Pete a legal partner in the business. So good, that they had hired a staff of four people. Cindy had made the decision to break her social phobia, while Pete and Bob were still with her. She helped as a full-time secretary.

Cindy was not able to deal with people at first, but she had learned how to do math after her escape from her father. She was better with the books than either Bob or Pete. This fact was repeated

by the two men so that she could believe it deep down in her patched up heart. Over the next few months, Cindy does all the payroll and the other duties that involved dealing with people. Bob and Pete

help her with the non-plumbing part of the business. But, they were usually only able to help after a long day of doing calls. Cindy never complained because she knew the worst day with Pete and Bob was leagues better than the best day at the orphanage.

Cindy's was becoming normal as she could possibly have it when things came into a screeching halt. Pete and Bob were drafted into the military, without any prior notice.

A paddy wagon that was full of soldiers, while Pete and the others were sitting on the stoop.

The military men point the endless quantity of assault rifles at the trio.

One of the soldiers spoke, "Put your hands up, while we verify who all you are.

The trio did as they were told, which the men looked over them.

One of the soldiers spoke, "That is them! Let's take them and go."

Pete and Bob have dragged off the stoop without any fighting and shoved into the back of the

armored vehicle. The men didn't want for Cindy to be in any more danger than she had already

suffered through.

Cindy was screaming out with her hand stretched out towards the fleeing paddy wagon. She cried on all fours for over one hour.

She was finally led into her house by the neighborhood granny, who lived right next door to Cindy.

The granny spoke, "It is me, Agatha and I are here to help you. I will stay with you until you are

well enough to stay by yourself. Honey, I don't know what you been through and it is not my business

to know. But, you three had help this old lady way too much for me to not help you in return. You bring me groceries every week and cook for me when I am sick. Your boys fixed my house back to what was

pretty darn close to what it used to be, without asking anything in return."

The two women drunk some coffee and ate some sugar cookies that Agatha had wanted to bring over for the trio. Pete and Bob loved those cookies and all the treats that the old widow had brought over to them. Agatha was mad at first that the guys would not take any money for all the work they did for her. But instead, the duo was happy to eat all the cookies and sweet tea that the woman would give them. Cindy had helped clean the granny's house weekly from top to bottom because the old house was too hard for Agatha to completely clean, as was needed.