"You don't have much of a choice, Danny Boy. Suck it up and behave. I've got a bottle of bourbon hidden behind Sheila's side of the bed that we can bu...t into after we finish here. Consider it a reward for being nice to Mom and Eddie."With a feeling that he was trading one incarceration for another, Brendan reached for the door latch."Did they make you work while you were away, Brendan," his mother asked as she spooned mashed potatoes onto Eddie's plate."Yeah, Mom. The Federal Bureau of Prisons. "Then you must go home as soon as you can. Bring her flowers?" I will." And give her a big hug? Kiss her sweetly and take her to bed?" Not sure I'm up to it," he replied, abashed."You will find the energy," Sharmila laughed, "when you see her, everything will fall into place."As Jake left, Sharmila stood by the window for a while. When she saw his car take off down the street she went back into the kitchen. Picking up the pad by the phone, she opened the first page and stared at the address. "There now," she said. "You can let them off the lead as they can't get out. I'll bring my two back with me. In the meanwhile sit yourself down and make yourself comfortable."She disappeared back into the house."I'm sure she knows what I've come about," thought Jenny, "but she's being very friendly. Hmm!" Now," said Margaret with a smile as she returned with the coffee and dogs and sat down, "what's the problem? Actually, I'm prepared to bet it's about the stand we've taken on fireworks at the. Get the fuck out of here.” Before anyone could think, including himself, Jake sprang forward and grabbed the hand with the knife. He used his momentum and all the strength he could muster to slam it into a telephone pole. He repeated the motion and was rewarded by hearing the knife clatter to the ground. The woman pivoted and drove her toe deep into her captors groin. With a surprised grunt he dropped to the ground. A siren sounded in the distance. The two thugs still standing looked at one.