Decker's Dilemma by Jack Ambraw Page B

transfer from a ship in San Diego next month. Navy life goes on.
    Hack squinted at the clock on Lee’s dresser. 0720. He gazed at Lee’s nude body sleeping next to him, the sheets covering only her lower legs. On her left side facing away from him, her well-proportioned hips and butt were tempting. Hack put his hand on her thigh and thought about waking her but knew he didn’t have time. Decker would be off the ship by 0800 and they had promised to meet for coffee, a decision Hack now sorely regretted. He pulled the sheets up to Lee’s shoulders, quietly rolled out of bed, grabbed his clothes, and peeked out the bedroom door. Angie was nowhere to be seen so he scampered naked the few feet to the bathroom, holding his clothes in front of him just in case. A quick shower and he was out the door, in a trike, and on his way to Magsaysay.
    Hack arrived at Cal Jam and looked at the clock behind the bar. 0750. Pleased with himself that he was a few minutes early, he walked around to the back entrance. He found the place dark and a little creepy this time of day. Pong Dango greeted him as soon as he opened the door.
    â€œGood morning, Mr. Hack,” Pong said. “Your friend is already here.”
    â€œHe is?” Hack said, surprised at the news.
    â€œNot he,” Pong said, pointing to a table near the window facing the street. “She.”
    Hack spotted a woman at a table near a window. She sat facing the street with her hand wrapped around a large coffee mug. The smoke and beer and music from the previous night had faded. A few people milled around, bar girls mostly, and an old man was in the far corner sweeping the floor, removing any sign that hundreds of people were packed into the place just a few hours ago. A big man for a Filipino, Hack watched Pong shoo the girls away from the bar and then walk over and talk with the old man cleaning the floor. Hack stepped past them and sat down across from Vega.
    â€œI didn’t expect to see you here. Mind if I join you?”
    â€œOf course not.” Vega patted the chair next to her. “Sit here. Elliott said he was going to be here so I thought I’d stop by and see him. Sorry if I’m barging in.”
    â€œNo, not at all,” said Hack, noticing for the first time how young she looked to be a police officer. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just surprised to see you.”
    Vega surveyed the empty bar. “Where is he, anyway?”
    Hack shrugged. “It’s still early. He won’t be here for another half hour at least. It’ll give us a chance to talk.”
    Vega scooted her chair closer to the table. “Okay, want do you want to talk about?”
    â€œLet me ask you something about Decker.”
    â€œI’m afraid of what you’re going to ask.”
    â€œNo, it’s nothing like that,” said Hack. “What’s the deal with Rusty?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œRemember when Decker introduced me to Rusty a few days ago? He told Decker that ‘Emil can see everything.’ I asked Decker about it at work, but he changed the subject. It made me curious.”
    Vega leaned back. “Ah, that. You’re right. He doesn’t like to discuss it for some reason.”
    â€œAre we talking about the same Decker? I didn’t think there was anything he didn’t like to talk about?”
    â€œI’ll tell you,” Vega said, turning serious, “But you’ve got to keep it to yourself.”
    â€œI won’t tell a soul,” said Hack.
    â€œOkay, here’s a brief version. They met when we were going out. Rusty would give Elliott a ride to and from work when he’d stay overnight with me.”
    â€œHe’s told me that much.”
    â€œI hope not in too much detail!”
    Hack laughed. “Not about spending the night, but about Rusty giving him trike rides all the time.”
    Vega grinned. “Good. Anyway, Rusty had