The Homecoming: Countdown to Armageddon: Book 5 by Darrell Maloney Page B

safe with a family that loves you enough to protect you. Even when it’s a hard thing to do.”
         She squeezed his hand.
         “I know that. Thank you for giving me my life back.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    -20-
     
         Scott left the police radio on, at a low volume, because Sara was fascinated by some of the conversation between dispatch and the SAPD officers.
         He had been doing a pretty good job of tuning out the transmissions, until he heard his own call sign come across the airwaves. In the same manner one can recognize their own name called out in a crowded room filled with a hundred conversations, the sign registered instantly in his ears.
         “Charlie two five, this is Charlie three one. Are you monitoring the radio today?”
         It was Rhett Butler, a good friend and one of the newer members of the San Antonio police team.
         Scott picked up the microphone. Sara watched as he instantly transformed from her friend and father-in-law to a no-nonsense law enforcement officer.
         Expecting the worst, Scott was all business.
         “Charlie two five. Go ahead three one.”
         “Charlie two five, please switch to Tac Two.”
         Scott reached over to the radio console and flipped a switch to change over to a private channel.
         He said, “Go ahead, Rhett. Is everything okay?”
         “Oh, yeah, all’s okay here, Scott. It’s just that Scarlett found out about your mission today and wanted to meet your daughter in law. She twisted my arm and told me to make sure you came by Baker Street for lunch before you headed back today.”
         “Lunch? Since when does Scarlett know how to cook?”
         Scott winked at Sara. She smiled for the first time since she’d started the conversation about her abusive past.
         “Scott, I’m going to save you a severe beating by not telling Scarlett you said that. But she’s got help from the other women on the block. They had me slaughter one of the pigs last night and they’re preparing a pork roast with mashed potatoes and gravy and all the trimmings. She threatened me with bodily harm if I didn’t promise to get you there. Now, then. I saved you from a beating. You have to return the favor.”
         Scott wouldn’t make such a commitment without Sara’s okay.
         He turned to her and asked, “Would you like to meet some of my friends?”
         “Sure.”
         “Okay, Rhett. Get word to Scarlett we’ll be there around noon, give or take an hour.”
         “Okay, my friend. See you then.”
         Off the radio, Scott told Sara, “Yes, their names really are Rhett and Scarlett Butler. Pretty cool coincidence, huh?”
         She took on a puzzled look.
         “Rhett and Scarlett Butler? I don’t get it. A coincidence how, exactly?”
         “From the movie Gone with the Wind .”
         “Gone with the what?”
         “Sara, are you serious? It’s a classic. You’ve never heard of Gone with the Wind? ”
         “No. Is that one of those old timey black and white movies?”
         “No, actually, it’s in color. And nobody should be able to call themselves refined and grown up until they’ve seen Gone with the Wind. When we visit with Scarlett and Rhett, we’ll borrow one of their DVDs to take back with us. They told me they’ve saved several copies for their future children. And when we get back to the compound, we’re going to watch it over popcorn. You’ll like it. It chronicles life in the south during the civil war.”
         “I’m sorry, Scott. I don’t like war movies.”
         “Well, it’s not just a war movie. It’s also a love story. And it gives a pretty accurate picture of what life was like back then. Not just for the soldiers, but for the civilians as well.”
         “I’m still not sure I’d like