The Code

By K. Rutledge

The Code Sequel to More than a Lifetime The Code This political suspense thriller begins a few months after More than a Lifetime's main character, ex-CIA deep cover operative Jim Hunington and a handful of patriots thwart the greatest threat to the free world's existence since Adolph Hitler. This new abhorrence against freedom, peace, and the rights of mankind is rebirthed, and spawned man's inhumanity to man. This lust for power, money, and world domination reaches all the way to 1600 Pen

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781684560684

Book preview

Chapter One

1:47 am, January 17, 1994

Hidden Waterfront Dock

Ssangp’o-dong, North Korea

Bitter raw wind, teamed with fierce icy rain slashed at the massive wooden planking of the desolate seawalls loading platform. Ssangp’o-dongs foreboding coastline was hedged with huge gnarled boulders, therein reinforcing the accepted insanity of it being used as any type of entry port. This seemingly inactive coastal refuge had been discounted by the military geniuses of the West as an insignificant military potential probability. How foolish these arrogant pretenders of super intelligence were. How fortunate for the North Koreans that their presumptions had become such a significant military blunder; for just three miles south of Ssango’o-dong, nestled within the obscure village of Puam-ni, was one of North Korea’s major nuclear submarine bases.

Undaunted by the dismal surroundings, the tall American openly defied its furry. Standing fully erect, he remained partially hidden from sight in the heightening elements. Taking a last pull on his near soggy Cuban cigar, he said, Damn, as a severe chill ripped through his large frame; the storms rage finally penetrating his newly acquired North Korean parka.

Damn, he said again, where is he? His contact was now seventeen minutes late.

Blowing into his gloves the American cursed a third time. He was entangled in the most dangerous game of his life. A game that had no rules and could get him killed if he wasn’t extremely careful. Secluded in the darkness, a sinister smirk momentarily warmed the rugged cheekbones of his near-frostbitten skin. Hell, he said, barely audible to his own ears, tonight will bring me all the warmth and pleasure I could ever want. That is, if I’m the one still alive in the morning.

Suddenly, his acute sense of hearing defined an additional presence in the ravaged night. With practice precision, his gloved right hand cradled the .9 mm as his index finger gently fondled the waiting trigger. He crouched between the two freight containers and waited.

In the distance, he saw a form appear out of the stilled darkness. Is it the Englishman?

A few seconds lapsed and then the tall willowy figure of his counterpart became visible. Still the American held his position. His signature (a large predominate smirk) returned as he drew pleasure from watching the Englishman cautiously making his way toward the larger of the two containers. Tentatively, the Englishman stopped just five feet past the invisible American.

You’re late! the American’s voice snapped, causing the Englishman to reel on his heels, his face ashen with fear. Did anyone follow you? Do you have the documents?

Sorry! No! Yes! the Englishman stammered nervously.

He was visibly shaken as he struggled to concentrate on the American while remaining aware of the peril that could be lurking in every shadow. Within seconds, he regained his professional instincts and, with them, his composure. Satisfied for the moment that they were alone, he reached into his coat and started to remove a fat dark envelope.

I had to kill Kim Jong-Jung, the Englishman said without apologizing. He wanted more money than we had agreed to pay. He had been drinking and became boisterous. I was afraid he would draw attention to me so I capped him. It was a clean execution, one shot behind his right ear. I had to dispose of his body. That’s why I’m late.

Did you authenticate the documents before you killed him?

Of course! the Englishman snarled back, annoyed at the question. They’re genuine, and to tell you the truth, we should each be getting twice what we’ve demanded!

We will, replied the American.

As part of his plan, upon acknowledging the Englishman, the American craftily reholstered his weapon inside his coat.

Do you have an extra gun? he asked the Englishman. I lost mine yesterday while diving into a dumpster to avoid a tail. I realized it was missing while climbing out, but didn’t take the time to hang around and go back inside to look for it.

Smiling inwardly at the thought of his intimidating accomplice lying in a heap of garbage, the Englishman wasted no time retrieving a second gun and eagerly handed it over.

Here, this should do you. It has a few kills to its record and has never failed me yet.

Placing the Englishman’s weapon in his coat pocket, the American opened the envelope and zealously scanned each document. When finished, he handed the envelope back to the Englishman, saying, Good job. Now let’s get the hell out of here.

Jogging ten feet behind the Englishman for almost a hundred yards, the American suddenly stopped. Calmly, he drew the Englishman’s weapon, aimed, and pulled the trigger.

The cold steel projectile exploded into the Englishman’s head, eradicating his brain and obliterating his frontal lobe in its exit path. The combination of the force of the explosion and the Englishman’s jogging momentum completely flipped him in mid stride and he landed with a thud.

Convinced that he was still alone and unobserved, the executioner ambled over to the right side of his contorted prey. Looking down he smiled.

Damn good shot, he said to himself and began to laugh at the Englishman’s blind trust of his fellowman.

Hell! In this business, you have no friends, old sock, he said. Then he stooped down, grabbed the Englishman’s coat, and flipped him over. Reaching inside, he retrieved the envelope.

Standing erect he started to leave. Abruptly, he stopped, looked down, spat on the ground next to the contorted body, and said, You ass, you did it for Queen and Crown. I did it for the money. Which one of us gets the prize now, old bean?

Long before the Englishman’s blood began to cool, the American had vanished into the darkness. One down, one to go was the only epitaph heard that night.

Chapter Two

February 17, 1994

Jim Hunington drove his new Company-purchased Vette north on Highway One toward his beloved Vanguard, Maine. At that moment, his thoughts were still of Arlington, JR, Gloria, their small son Matthew, and of course, Vicky.

Their repetitive pleading and the soft, tender fullness of Vicky’s moist lips had made him stay two days longer than he had originally planned. Now, as he tests piloted the sleek forest green Corvette through the tight twisting curves of Highway One, his mind raced back to Vicky, their farewell, and the promise of a quick reunion.

Earlier that day, Jim had made three calls. The first was to his friend Harvey York, mayor of Vangard, to confirm that he was on his way. His next call was to Sophia and Roberto, his adopted parents. They were most anxious to see him.

Roberto had told Jim, Mamma says make sure you come right over when you get in, Jimmy. Jim had assured him that he wanted to see them just as soon as he could, but that it would be late and that he would be quite tired. Jim had suggested that he take them to breakfast in the morning. Sophia’s voice, with its broken English, now spoke into the phone.

Jimmy, you cannot get as good a breakfast in the restaurant as I will have for you. Roberto and I will await you at 8:00 am. Jim knew better than to argue with Sophia. After exchanging their love toward one another, Jim said goodbye. As he replaced the phone, he felt the same inner warmth that he felt whenever he had gone home to see his real parents.

"Damn, he cursed within. Why did they have to murder my mother and father?"

Jim’s third call was to Max Vandercamp, chairman of Maine’s Republican Party. Jim had set a dinner appointment with Max for that next evening.

Jim and JR had pledged to each other that, if they made it back from Naples, they would run for the United States Senate seats in their respective states. Now they each had eighteen months to promote themselves and their ideals. Jim would not relent until everyone in Maine knew of his commitment, his quest, his Code. Then, by the will of God, he would be elected to the Senate and return to DC armed with the position to truly make a difference.

Above all else, Jim knew he had one primary place to visit when he arrived in Vangard. He would go there many times while he was home, but this first time was the most important. It was essential that he visit Janie and the babies, his brother Bob, and their parents, all entombed in the Vangard Cemetery. He needed to tell them that it was over! He needed to tell them that those responsible for their butchery were now on death row, that all but one would fry in the electric chair, and that that one, Ray Thornship, would die by lethal injection.

If Jim had his way, Thornship would have fried, but not be killed, hung but not expire, then drawn and quartered by slow horses while Jim personally bludgeoned him to death.

However, when he told Janie, he would keep his druthers part to himself. Janie would be satisfied knowing that Jim was alive and whole. Jim also wanted to tell Janie how well JR, Eddie, Brodie, Erick, and Carl had done during the entire operation and the great news that followed.

Both Janie and Bob would approve of Carl being appointed Director of the CIA and laugh when they heard who the new Deputy Director, the new OL Man, was Erick.

Jim wanted to share how instrumental Gloria, Ellen, and Kathy had been helping to eliminate this global threat. The evidence they had amassed was the key to unmasking those responsible and the success of the mission.

Jim also wanted to tell them about Kathy’s promotion and Erick and Kathy’s marriage, and that John had finally married Beverly, and they were now sailing somewhere in the Caribbean. Bigger news would be that Carl and Mildred, after twenty-five years, had finally set the date for their wedding and that Ellen and Eddie were pregnant. He also wanted to tell his family of JR and his decision to run for the US Senate.

Jim would tell them how the leadership, in all three branches of the government, were selling out to big business and making bad laws for political favors. How the courts, the Congress, and this president were no longer servants of the people, nor of the God to whose name they once swore their oaths and allegiance.

Jim needed to share his passion for what was right and tell Janie that he remembered his promise, and his commitment to her and their God. That he would always stand for the Code—God, Duty, Honor, and Country. Yes, Jim had a lot to tell his family.

Together, JR and he would work to expose and topple the corruption within the legislature. Then they would take on the White House and its current brood of vipers. Then, with the aid and mandate of the people, they would help force those prehistoric, addle-brained, pompous pretenders of our American judicial system (the Supreme Court) to resign and be replaced with jurists, not legislators.

Jim and JR were going to Washington as senators, and they would not quit until morality, human rights, and the Code were once again the fulcrum of democracy.

Jim also needed to tell both Bob and Janie something else. He needed to tell them about something that was beginning in his life. Something that he hoped and prayed would please them. He needed this clarity, but also knew that this conversation would have to wait for some future special day.

For Jim’s first visit, he would concentrate on closing the past. His somewhat-yet-unclear future would have to wait until Jim’s jury was back with a final verdict.

Chapter Three

Jim Reflects on the Events of the Past Two Months

As Jim accelerated through the next two S curves, the gentle sway of the power machine beneath him caused him to remember a moonlit night and a swing. He smiled as his mind recalled swinging on a darkened deck beneath an umbrella of billions of bright sparkling stars. In his arms, he had held the warmth and budding passion of a beautiful woman.

Her moist lips had pressed against his. Her embrace bore the deep and pleasurable promise that had turned his, then stone cold heart into a flaming inferno of hope and desire. He could love her! Everything was right for that to happen. She was ready to accept him, ready to help him. But Jim had not made the choice to allow the past and the greatest love of all times to cease, just because the one he truly loved now resides in heaven.

Vicky Kilpatrick wanted Jim to love her. She wanted to marry him and give herself to him for the rest of their lives. She had only one slight moment of hesitation, the same hesitation that Jim felt every time he was alone with her. Vicky was once Bob’s fiancée. Now Bob’s earthly remains were in a small cemetery in Vangard, Maine. Janie and their twin babies were buried to Bob’s right, and Jim and Bob’s parents, Brett and Marge, were buried to Bob’s left. All had brutally died as part of a conspiracy, by our government, to sell chemical weapons on a global scale to the enemies of the United States.

Vicky was way out in front of Jim in her quest to make him hers, but she could not, nor would she rush his healing and commitment process… Just a few hours ago, Vicky had told Jim that she had now completely closed the past and, with it, the most painful chapters of her life.

Vicky said that she wanted to concentrate on helping Jim find her and the unconditional love she had for him. She would wait and while she waited her prayer would be that God would give her the patience and love to endure.

Jim could still feel the sweet assurance of Vicky’s voice as she had whispered her pledges in his ear. He could feel the ardor of her arms, the fervor of her body, and the full passion of her lips—all telling him that she would wait for him no matter how long.

Just three hours ago, her captivating body had unfolded itself from him and he missed her terribly. Maybe once he talked with Janie, maybe then he could begin the real healing he needed. Maybe.

Jim watched the road in front disappear as his powerful Vette effortlessly chewed up mile after mile. A sudden right then a mild left and Jim saw the vast Atlantic open before him. The awe-inspiring sight caused Jim to remember his brother Bob and he, as teens, working each summer aboard Mr. Burk’s lobster boats.

Jim was one year, to the day, younger than his brother Bob, and all their lives they were inseparable. They attended the University of Michigan together, where, while playing football under Coach Brodie, Bob, Eddie, JR, and Jim had helped win three big ten championships and two Rose Bowls. It was during Bob’s first year at Michigan that he had met Vicky, Eddie, and Ellen. The following year, Jim, JR, and Gloria joined the ranks of this inseparable heptagon.

After graduation, Bob went into the FBI, then into the CIA. A year later, following his graduation, Jim went into the Navy, specializing in intelligence intercept. After four years in the Navy, Jim too went into the CIA.

JR married Gloria right after college and, in time, had become a very wealthy industrialist. They have a son, little Matthew, to whom Jim is godfather. Eddie and Ellen were married during college then continued their education, gaining PhDs in unrelated fields. Ellen earned her PhD in computer science while Eddie received his doctorate in environmental science and was now one of the most renowned and sought-after environmental consultants in the Americas.

Jim and Bob’s parents had been mysteriously murdered. Several years later, Bob was butchered while on assignment in Naples, Italy. Shortly after Bob’s gruesome death, Jim’s wife and twin baby girls were slaughtered in their home, beaten, and stabbed beyond human understanding. Jim had been left for dead.

What followed over the next several years, and culminated in the past few months as the most bizarre scheme and government conspiracy since the assassination of President Kennedy, which Jim believed was conceived by his vice president and several high-ranking government and industrial figures.

Jim reflected on the world’s recent history and the seemingly endless cycle of iconic events: The reopening of China; the end of the cold war with Russia; tearing down the Berlin Wall; the assignations of John, Martin, and Bobby; Vietnam; Korea, World Wars I and II. In this century, Khrushchev, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Kaiser Wilhelm, and numerous others had wanted to rule the world. The realization that every generation had sired its own tyrannical lunatics caused Jim to ease up on the accelerator and come to an unscheduled stop.

As he sat in silence, Jim reflected on the detestable reality of the past eighty years. Based on its own history, the world would again repeat itself with threats of global madness before the year 2003. Jim would then be fifty-six years old. Yes, he would still be young enough to help thwart the next attempted invasion of madmen, but what about the one after that?

Jim leaned over the steering wheel and prayed. He prayed that the God of all mankind would help him and others stop the next calamity that would fall upon this nation and the world. When he had finished praying, he opened his door and stepped out.

To his right was a path leading to Vista Point, a well-known road-side park overlooking a small quite cove that opened into the limitless Atlantic.

Jim stretched, then started to walk along the small brick path. It was nearing dusk and he wanted to reach his special observation perch. There he would ingest the day’s fading beauty as it surrendered to the serenity and clarity of this winter’s night.

Perched atop one of the chair rocks (a natural formation of boulders carved by nature that resembled individual chairs), Jim marveled aloud as he looked out over the tremendous ocean appearing before him, What an awesome Creator we have and what priceless beauty he has given us as evidence of his majesty and love.

From his earliest recollection, Jim had loved the Lord and had placed his life in God’s hands. Things had not always gone right for him, but he had never turned his back on God, nor had God ever turned his back on Jim. Knowing this, Jim bowed his head and, like Solomon of old, asked God for wisdom: Dear Lord, if it is your will that I am one of those you choose to lead your nation, then please give me the wisdom to see your will and the courage to follow your path accordingly. Amen.

Jim knew in his heart that he and JR would win their respective US Senate races. It was what they would do once elected that would require constant divine intervention. It wouldn’t happen overnight, and the battle would be more uphill than even keel, but Jim believed in this country and in its citizens; moreover, he believed in the power and direction of God. As he watched the darkness encompass the light, Jim felt anew; warmth and strength once again filled his tired body.

As Jim continued to gaze into the nearing darkness, his thoughts included Vicky and his final prayer that night was that she was also thinking of and praying for him.

Making his way back to his car, Jim smiled broadly, knowing that in a couple of hours he would be back in Vangard and asleep in his own bed. It had been a long four months, and he would be happy to again sit out on his deck, atop his picturesque hill, and watch the fishing boats come in from their long day at sea.

Jim was most anxious to see Sophia and Roberto. From their exuberance during the telephone conversations, Jim knew Vangard held the same mystique for them as it had for his entire family. Jim started the Vette and eased it back onto the highway.

As the centerline dashes became one, the smile broadened on his refreshed face and his previously sore body now felt completely rejuvenated. He was going home to see his loved ones, and God willing, he would become the next Republican US Senator from the great state of Maine.

Chapter Four

February 18, l994

6:30 am Vangard, Maine

The harsh buzzing of Jim’s alarm caused him to stir from the most comfortable sleep he had had in several years. The sun felt invigorating as the warmth of its rays penetrated the large twin, triple-glazed, glass sliding doors that led to his private second floor balcony. Sometime during the night, it had snowed, and now the sun’s beam on the new powered snow lent real meaning to words like fresh and pure .

Jim rose, grabbed his robe, stepped into his slippers, and walked over to the wall of glass. Sliding open one of the four-foot panels, he inhaled the freshness of a new dawn. Looking out across the slightly choppy bay, he saw two of Captain Burk’s boats putting out to sea for their daily collection from the lobster pots. These two were getting underway somewhat later than the rest of the fleet, and Jim surmised they were tending the zonal pots.

Just then, Jim heard another alarm, at the same time scenting the bouquet of freshly brewed coffee that awaited him downstairs. Jim left the door slightly ajar and took the back stairs that led directly to the kitchen. He had put the coffee on last night after he unloaded the car, setting the timer for 6:40 am. Now it was ready, and he was starving. He would love to scramble up some eggs, sausage, and make toast, but Jim knew he would be having a large Italian breakfast in an hour that would pale anything he could make in both quantity and quality. Taking a large mug of coffee, Jim strolled through his beautiful home. He had briefly looked around last night, and finding everything secure, he had unpacked, showered, and gone to bed. Hilda had kept the place in excellent order as usual.

Jim Reflects on Hilda, Janie, and the Funeral

Hilda Johnson and her husband Bill were great friends of both Janie and Jim. Hilda ran her own cleaning service, and when Jim was sheriff, Bill had been one of his deputies. Hilda and Janie were always chatting and doing something together. It was Hilda that talked Janie into helping with the annual Thanksgiving Day parade. The night Janie and the babies were slaughtered, she and Hilda were supposed to get together and review the program and parade order: However, the twins were coming down with a cold, and Janie had told Hilda they would make it another night.

It was Hilda that first found Janie’s dead and Jim’s dying bodies, entangled within each other on the foyer floor. They were covered in blood, their own and each other’s. Because of the distance between their houses, nearly a quarter mile, neither Hilda nor Bill had heard the shots. Jim’s first recollection of the aftermath of that night was Hilda’s tears washing down upon his face as she held both Janie and he in her outstretched, blood-soaked arms. After the police and ambulance arrived, they found the babies massacred in their beds.

After the funeral, Jim’s closest friends went back to his hillside home. They immediately felt the massive emptiness of this once-happy and loving haven. Jim was still in critical condition, and his friends took turns keeping the nightly vigil. After two weeks, Jim was taken off the critical list and started to mend physically. At the end of the third week, with tearful eyes and sorrowful hearts, everyone except JR and Gloria had to return home.

Four weeks later, Jim came home from the hospital. JR and Gloria stayed with him for another two weeks; then they had returned to their home outside Arlington, Virginia.

Now, sitting alone on the massive spiral-style staircase, Jim looked down at the spot where Janie’s face had impacted with the cobblestone foyer floor. There, she and Jim had laid, their twisted, battered, beaten, slashed, and shot bodies entangled with one another, wrenching in pure agony.

It was then that the cowardly maggot had plunged and twisted the fireplace poker into her belly, and Janie gargled her last desperate, near inaudible utterance and died.

For three full days following the blood bath, professionals from the morgue and state police crime taskforce had cleaned the nursery and foyer. Then Hilda had gone in behind them and made sure the perfect attentive touches were complete, especially the nursery. She arranged everything just as Janie had intended, then closed the room to everyone but Jim.

Over the years that followed, he would go in there from time to time, each time spending several hours. After he left, she would go in and reposition everything, so it was perfect for him and his next reverent and nostalgic visit.

During the funeral week, everyone had stayed at the Vanguard lodge, complements of JR’s father-in-law, Norm Vaughn. Norm Vaughn was the owner of Vaughn International, a multi-billion-dollar import/export company dealing in everything from coffee to oil; from cotton to precious metals.

Jim’s Thoughts Suddenly Return to the Present

Hearing the clock in the foyer chime seven times, Jim knew he had better shower, dress, and get over to Sophia and Roberto’s home.

Jim, with help from Carl, had made sure Sophia and Roberto left Naples before the shit storm started. Under heavy guard, they had flown them to Miami, then transported them to DC in a new RV, where they were met by Mildred, who assisted Sophia and Robert when they reached Vangard. Once they arrived in Vangard, Harvey York, the mayor of Vangard and his wife Harriett, helped Mildred get them settled into Jim’s home.

Jim had called Harriett York (owner of York Reality) and said that his house was the Lafradas home until Harriett found them the perfect home overlooking the Atlantic. A week later, Harriett found a beautiful cliff house for rent, just north of town. It had just come on the market and had a great view of the ocean. The best part, however, was not the house, but the vacant piece of property next to the house that had also just come on the market. The view from this property was breathtaking, and Sophia and Roberto were ecstatic learning that Jim was making it theirs.

Jim was thrilled when Harvey called him. It was the old Harrison homestead, a property Jim was well acquainted with. Moreover, a duplication of their Italian villa would fit perfect on this massive bluff.

Harvey had Jim’s power of attorney, so he withdrew money out of Jim’s account. Harvey and Harriett then arranged for a local builder to recreate the Lafradas home. Jim had left instructions that they were to start building as soon as possible. Yesterday, he had learned that the site work was finished and the foundation forming work was now underway.

Another great thing about them living in the Harrison’s home was that Sophia and Roberto would be able to watch the daily construction progress. He had also heard from Harvey that both Sophia and Roberto were great as armchair superintendents

With that thought still in his mind, he headed for the shower.

Jim pulled up to Sophia and Roberto’s at 7:55 am. The fifteen-minute drive was just enough time to warm the Vette’s mighty engine. Had Jim had more time, he would have raced up Witch Mountain. Nah, he said aloud, that would be another day. Glancing at the clock, he smiled; he was five minutes early, and to Sophia, that would be right on time.

Jim had only known these two dear people for a couple of months, but they held his heart in their hands, and Jim knew he would do anything for them.

Sophia raced ahead of Roberto as Jim stepped out from behind the wheel. Down the stairs she scurried. With her arms outstretched, she ran toward Jim, her voice a mixture of anxious shrieks and jubilant laughter.

Jimmy. My Jimmy, she said, her arms flailing in his direction. It is so good to have you with us again.

Then she was in Jim’s arms, and he lifted her from the ground and twirled her in the air. Setting her down gently, he kissed her lightly on her lips. Immediately, he found himself being wrestled from behind by a very gregarious Roberto.

Jimmy, come inside, she said, taking him by one hand as Jim hugged Roberto with his other. Come in and sit down. You have had such a long drive and you must be tired. Jim smiled, almost laughing at the beautiful innocence he saw in these two wonderful people. Sophia wasn’t talking about his short fifteen-minute drive; she was still referring to his drive up from Arlington yesterday.

Over here, Jimmy, Roberto said. Sit here and look at the wonderful view of the town and the ocean. We will have such a view from our home, and Sophia and I will have you over for breakfast every day. Then Roberto thought of what he had just said and added, Well, almost every day. They all laughed, and Jim sat where he had been directed to sit.

You’re right, Roberto. This is a most beautiful view. I believe yours will be even better because your property extends to the edge of the point, Jim said.

Sophia hovered close to Jimmy for several minutes, making sure he was comfortable and at home. Jimmy, she said, Roberto and I cannot begin to thank you for all that you have done for us. Being keenly aware that Jim was about to say something, Sophia gently touched his lips with her finger then continued. Jimmy, we were poor people in Italy. Roberto had to work hard with two jobs while we raised our two boys. I took in laundry and sewing so I could stay close to them in the home. Sophia sighed.

"But when they grew. They wanted to go their own way, so they signed up to go into the Navy. With them, they took our hearts and our love.

"During the second year they were in the Navy, an accident happened aboard their ship, an explosion, and they were both killed. Roberto’s and my grief were such that we prayed to die. Except for God’s intervention, and the persistence of my Roberto, I would have. Later, when I was well, we sold our home with its bittersweet memories and moved to our new house on Napoleon Boulevard. That was in l970. Our beloved boys had died in l968.

"For twenty-six long years, Roberto and I have lived as parents without children. For several of those years, we were empty inside. Our love for each other and for God was strong, but the loneliness of empty rooms and the quietness of older people was all we thought we had. Roberto continued to work the two jobs for several years, and I too went to work.

One day I started to do volunteer work with the church. The more menial the task, the more love I felt within and the closer I came to God. He delivered me from my depression and gave me a new focus and purpose. For fifteen years Roberto and I lived lives of service, helping others whenever we could.

Sophia paused then knelt next to Jim and took his hands in hers.

Jimmy, we wholeheartedly accept your love, and because of that love, we except your kindness and generosity. You are to Roberto and I like our sons. You are our new son that God sent to us.

Sophia paused, and for those few seconds, the world, for the three of them, seem to hold its breath. Jimmy, if you do these things you do because of what we did for your dear brother; then please stop. What we did for Bobby was the very least we could have done, and we did it because it was right for us to do. Sophia glanced up at her Roberto, and he placed his large hands lovingly upon her shoulders.

Jim, wiping tears from his eyes, squeezed Sophia’s hands and said, "Sophia, Robert, at first my care for you was based on my thanks to you for what you did for Bob, but