Trouble And Money #35
Relationships are complex. Connie admits to himself that he is damaged goods when encountering kindness.
Peace O' The Sea Trailer Park - Rye, New Hampshire
She changed many things in the house, and I didn't know whether I liked it initially.
Anything my ex did that looked generous came with a hidden price tag.
This is real and sweet, and from the heart. I'm not used to kindness and generosity.
I was a touch upset she had my photos framed. Why?
There was my boot camp graduation on Parris Island, my Boston College graduation photo, one from the day my V.S.P. (Virginia State Police) training ended, and my private investigator's license.
Looking at those memories framed, mounted, and hung, I thought, "How dare she?"
I thought more about it, my ex-wife, and how long these same photos sat on my desk in a stack when I was married for three years.
Tammy applied a womanly touch. She revered my memories; they looked sharp, hung up.
This is warm-hearted generosity, and I must adapt to kindness, sincerity, and a sweet nature.
Isn't that something we all hope for in a relationship?
She installed a new sofa in our living room, end tables and the supreme taco, a 75 " flat-screen TV.
My ex never took any initiative. Should Tammy have asked me first?
I need to accept her gestures.
In case you are wondering, my ex-wife has a man-grinding black belt—and not the best kind. Her other superpowers included doing her nails 23 hours daily and scrolling on her phone.
From this day forward, I'll work harder on my trust issues.
Tammy deserves a better me.
A Metal Warehouse In Southern New Hampshire - The Ponderosa
Back at the Ponderosa, the warehouse tech and search team turned everything over.
The office computer held the most significant find—the files of photographed bank records from an account in the Cayman Islands.
Wallace Hughes, SAI, FBI, determined what these photos contained; he realized his team hit a biggie over the Green Monstah!
Payments made to informants, some of whom were murdered, did not have names, but they had the numbers of the bank accounts to which the payments were made. Went with the receiver's initials.
An established money trail is a start, but what about the shootings?
Peace O' The Sea Trailer Park - Rye, New Hampshire
Tammy saw that Connie was a little standoffish and dismayed when he looked at the framed photos above the nice office table.
The evening sunlight was coming in between the slats of the blinds, and the photos above Connie's desk were in a beautiful light.
She could see he was thinking and deciding about everything.
Tammy started thinking she screwed up. She said, "I can take the photos out of the frames if you don't like it, and I can sell the furniture if I made a bad choice. I mean, I'm sorry, Connie."
He turned toward her and held her close, kissing her forehead and mouth. He said, "It's all beautiful, and I thank you." "I have to get used to kindness."
(Conrad carries some extra weight that he comes into a new relationship with. It is good that he knows he must deal with it.)
Trouble And Money is published Monday through Friday. It is a free serial fiction detective story with characters you will love. Read the adventures of Conrad Grange as he solves cases and contends with a harsh world.
