Bitter Sweets

wolfed down a plateful of tuna sandwiches which Savannah had thrown together for him.

“But you didn’t know about the court-martial, or the fact that Mallock had served under Neilson.” Savannah never passed over an opportunity to humble Dirk. It was a rotten job, but she felt she was the only one who loved him enough to do it.

    “So, no big deal.” He chomped off a quarter of a sandwich and chewed noisily. “Any moron could have come up with that.”

    “ You didn’t.” Tammy gave him a nasty look over the rim of her glassful of mineral water.

    “You know, Dirk, I think you’re jealous.” Savannah refreshed her grandmother’s root beer float with another generous scoop of Dreyer’s vanilla and then her own.

    “You must admit,” Gran said, stirring the ice cream until it made caramel-colored swirls in the amber liquid, “those two are^xtremely handsome and charming fellows. And smart, too. That John Gibson used to guard the palace of the queen of England, you know. I feel so honored just to have met him.”

    “I suppose they aren’t too bad,” Dirk said sarcastically, “if you don’t mind the fact that they are a couple of quee-”

    “Gays,” Savannah interjected, giving Dirk a sound smack on the side of the head. “And very dear friends of mine, so watch your mouth.”

    She jerked the plate of sandwiches out from under his nose. Leaning down to his ear, she lowered her voice and said, “Try not to make an ass of yourself, Coulter, if you can help it.”

    “Gays?” Granny suddenly became all ears. “Are you telling me that John and Ryan are homosexuals?”

    Savannah sighed and returned to her chair and her ice cream float. “Yes, Gran, they are... among many other things... qualities too numerous to mention. Now could we please-?”

    “Well, I’ll be.” Granny shook her head in amazement. “Who would have guessed it? They didn’t look like homosexuals. I mean, they were so masculine and all.”

    Savannah shot Dirk a look that told him how she felt about him having started all of this.

    “Ah...Gran....” Savannah paused, choosing her words carefully, reminding herself that people could only be held accountable for the amount of enlightenment they had been given. Her grandmother’s upbringing and social discipline hadn’t exactly been progressive. Dirk, on the other hand, had no excuse.

    “Gran... not all gay men act effeminate. In fact, none that I’ve ever known. Just as not all elderly ladies are sticks in the mud, who sit around and knit all day.” She turned to Dirk. “And, thankfully, not all cops are homophobic jerks.”

    Granny didn’t seem to be offended by Savannah’s observations, only fascinated, as she mulled over this new revelation.

    “Could we get back to business now?” Savannah said, looking at Tammy, who nodded in agreement, and then at Dirk, who was still sulking.

    “What’s next?” Tammy asked, helping herself to one of

    Dirk’s sandwiches.

    “I think Ryan and I should go visit the colonel. At the station last night, he seemed far more likely to cooperate than before. And judging from what we know about his long-standing relationship with Earl, he might be able to point us in the right direction.”

    “I’m going along,” Dirk said with an indignant sniff. “After all, I’m the only one around here who’s got a badge.”

    "Oooo, low blow.” Savannah winced.

    “At least I didn’t whack you on the head. That’s the twenty-seventh time you’ve hit me. I know, I’ve been counting.”

    “Only twenty-seven times in how many years?” Tammy asked. “That must be some sort of record for patience and forebearing, Savannah.”

    “Tammy, call the colonel and tell him we want to drop over,” she said. “Ask him to feed Beowulf a big meal and put him on a sturdy leash. Then let Ryan know what’s happening. Let’s get going; time’s a wastin’.”

    Savannah gulped down the last of her float and grimaced as it froze her sinuses. “I’ll see you later, Gran, just as soon as I can. You stay out of trouble now, hear?”

    When Savannah, Ryan, and Dirk arrived at the colonel’s home an hour later, Beowulf wasn’t on a leash, but apparently he had been fed recently. He was lying peacefully on a rag rug beside the fireplace, asleep, his great muzzle tucked beneath his paws. He had opened one eye as they entered the room, dismissed them, and resumed his nap.

    “Do you want some coffee?” the colonel asked, once he