The Retirement

Evans closed the door as the two men moved past. Sean found a comfortable chair for the old man near the window in the spacious living room that looked out over the patio and pool where the rest of the family was. Sean looked at his wife’s grandfather, telling him he’d be back after checking on the rest of the family. Gateway nodded, saying nothing. He looked uncomfortable being in Evans’s home, so the host decided to try something. It only took a minute, but he appeared in the chair next to Gateway, placing a drink on the table between them. He had one for himself in his hand.

“What’s this?” asked the older man.

“Scotch—neat, as I remember. You’ll find this to be top-shelf liquor. Very smooth.”

Gateway looked at Evans and just grunted. “A little early in the day for this, don’t you think?”

Evans found the statement amusing and gave his guest a smile. “Fifteen minutes ago, I would have agreed with you. Right now, it just seems like the right thing to do, no matter the hour. Besides, what is it you Americans say? ‘It’s five o’clock somewhere.’”

Gateway grunted again. He looked hard at the man sitting next to him. “I’m told you tracked this bastard after he escaped. I’m also told that you were in Bluffton as well.”

Evans nodded.

“Why?” asked Gateway.

Evans looked at the old man, holding his gaze. “For the same reason you were there, General. This was about family. I wasn’t a good father or husband. It was a chance for me to make things right. Besides, I left that old life behind years ago. Retired, if you will.”

For the first time, a smile crossed the old man’s face. “Hell, boy, everyone involved in this seems to be retired from something. A little old-school justice seems to have won the day. No matter how I feel about you, I want to thank you for the part you played in rescuing the family and bringing that bastard to ground.”