A story continues .....

Tweet

when we left Jock he was waiting at LAX for a flight to NYC ....... LAX was terrible about keeping flights on time and today was no exception Here I was stuck at LAX while my friend, my soulmate lay dying in a hospital in New York I kept pacing back and forward waiting for my boarding call ....... "Jock, Jock Hopeland, is that you"? came a voice from out of nowhere. I looked up out of my daydream and standing before me was Hailey Jones a girl Id dated in high school. I hadn't seen her since she left LAX almost 10 years ago to go traveling with her sister Anna after her sister graduated high school just a couple of years after us. "what brings you here Hailey,? why are you here in LA, shouldn't you be living it up somewhere in the south of France these days at least that's what Dave told me. said you left him in Hawaii and hadn't seen you since." Hailey smiled sweetly, that kind of smile someone smiles when they are about to brag about something. " I came back to LA because I'm getting married Jock, you remember Antony Simons?" we got engaged last spring. We are getting married in 2 weeks and we decided to get married where I grew up and Id have sent you an invitation but I had nowhere to send it." she smiled so sweetly so as not to draw any attention. The last thing I needed was a delay or distraction keeping me from getting to Jessie and reminiscing over old times wasn't going to get me to New York any sooner. "BOARDING NOW FLIGHT 273 Delta LA TO NEW YORK NOW BOARDING GATE 34 PASSENGERS PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY NOW TO GATE 34 " the loudspeaker rocketed into the room. "well Hailey its been nice seeing you but I have a flight to catch, we must catch up sometime, bring Antony along too " As I ran for my fight, looking back I could see Hailey blow me a kiss, she use to do that every time we would walk away to our separate classes at school like a reminder that her love would always follow me everywhere I went. Hailey was a social butterfly, way out of my league and too much of a flirt, I pity poor Antony when they say I do because she flirts with intent and gives every guy the impression that she is looking for Mr right even though she has a Mr right now in her life. As I sat in my seat and put my seat belt on and got comfortable, I closed my eyes for a moment and saw Jessie, with tears in her eye looking at me and she mouthed the words Help me, come quickly. All of a sudden I felt a tap on my shoulder bringing me back to the present. "Would you like a drink sir, coffee, tea , water, or soda?" I looked down at my watch, I hadn't slept a wink since I got the call from Jessie's mom and I knew if I didn't do something then I would be in no condition to help her when I got to New York. "Coffee please miss, 4 sugars , more milk than coffee thanks," I said while trying to clear my throat "ill also take one of those Doughnuts you got there the one with the strawberry frosting on it" I settled in for the flight to New York and played over in my head what could have happened to Jessie, she is a very cautious driver and keeps her distance when driving in New York City . I closed my eyes once more, and Jessie appeared in my vision once again "It wasn't an accident Jock, I need you to get here" As a cop, I knew I had no jurisdiction in New York but I had several friends who did and worked for the NYPD . The next thing I recall is the flight attendants voice coming over the speaker " well folks we are now over the Hudson River and will be arriving at JFK airport in approximately 10 minutes please put your seats in the upright position and put your trays away thanks for flying Delta Airlines and have a very good day." I grabbed my bag from the luggage claim and headed out to the taxi stand and there were people bustling and trying to get into every taxi cab along with the rank. Then there was one cab just sitting right at the end of the line, the driver standing by the car smoking a cigarette looking around for someone to get in. I made a beeline for his cab and grabbed the handle of the car door and then climbed in dragging my luggage along with me. " Jackson Memorial please and step on it, I'm in a hurry " "You got it, pal, Jackson it is hold on to your Los Angeles hat there's only one speed here in the big apple, stopped, fast or crazy and I love doing the crazy, especially during murder traffic times" I'd traveled to New York many times today was no different, same yellow cabs same drivers in a hurry, and same taxi system where half of them don't have a cab license or borrowed it from a friend, sharing the expenses so to speak, we have the same system in LA although in LA they aren't so upfront about it. Every 30 feet we would stop because of a traffic pile-up and every minute I was sitting in this cab was torture because it was one less minute I had to get to Jessie....... To be continued .........