Free SACRIFICES by KENNETH VANCE

length auburn hair and a golden bronze tan asks. This girl looks like a model, high cheekbones and a perfect smile, tall, tan and gorgeous. She’s appears to be in her late thirties and has a body of a swimsuit model.
                  Brad responds with a smile. “I’m still on duty so give me an Ice tea with lemon.” He loosens his tie a little more.
                  “What about you Mr. Avery?” Veronica jots down Brad’s request.
                  Todd smiles at the pretty lady and explains. “I’m on duty as well…” He winks at Brad. “…but give me a screwdriver. Chamfer is driving so what the hell.”
                  Chamfer smiles and looks away. “I’ll just take the same as Brad.” Veronica smiles at the guys playful joking around then writes down their drink orders and stands up and taps the receipt book down next to Brad’s hand. “Coming right up.” She winks at Brad.
                  The guys can’t help but watch the popular waitress walk away admiring how well the skirt shows off her lower half. Chamfer looks at Todd and makes the comment. “Thank god for spandex.”
                  Todd chuckles and winks at Brad. “We need to put a leash on this kid.” Todd leans back enjoying the air-conditioning.
                  Brad leans back and lets out a long breath. “So what’s the word? You said you found a link.”
                  Todd leans forward and so does Chamfers. “Yes we did. It actually started when Murdock in the lab said to me last night when we were talking about the homicides...” The waitress arrives with the drinks and she sits them down smiling at Brad while she does.
                  Veronica reaches over and touches the top of Brad’s hand and comments. “Now Bradley my dear my offer is still good, anytime .”
                  Brad shyly grins and winks at her as she walks away.
                  Todd’s smile disappears as he watches her leave the table. He stares at Brad while he adds a few artificial sweeteners to his ice tea casually. “What the hell was that?” Todd leans his head back wondering.
                  Brad offhandedly explains while he casually shrugs. “About five months ago I was in here with the chief eating dinner with him and Christen,” Brad shrugs his shoulders again and starts to stir his tea with the long spoon that came with it. “Veronica asks me if I’d like to go out sometime to a movie or dinner. I told her thanks for asking. But I wasn’t ready for that right now. That’s what she was referring to.” Brad takes a sip of his tea as he looks away.
                  “Buddy it might just do you some good to go out. I know how much you loved Nicole...” Todd looks away and swallows hard. “...You know how close we all were. Hell there’s not a day goes by that me and my wife don’t miss her. But maybe it’s time to move on a little bit,” Todd smiles. “I’m not talking about getting married but you know. Go out a little more, find some companionship; you know have a good time.” Todd winks.
                  Brad takes a long drink and closes his eyes. “You’re probably right. But the truth is I’m just not ready yet. Maybe I never will be hell I don’t know.” Brad clears his throat and takes another drink. “Hey, I don’t want to talk about this now…all right.” Brad forces a smile.
                  Todd smiles from the corner of his mouth. “Sure.” Todd takes a big swig of his screwdriver and coughs into his hand. “All right back to the story. I was talking to Murdock and he was talking about the two husbands and he said it pretty ironic that the two guys that were killed used to play on the Illinois Tri-State Football team the year they won the National Championship in 1985. I ask him how he knew that and he said he was a senior at ITSU,