” Janice told us she would say, “Yes.” Shirley’s statement was that now we wouldn’t be the newlyweds anymore. I just grinned.“What about M...tthew?” I asked Janice.“He’s okay but I like Oliver better.” She replied.That surprised me a bit as Oliver was quiet and studious almost to the point of being over cautious. “Okay,” I replied, “what’s his charm?”“He’s smart. I think he’s smarter than me. You and Shirley are the first people I have met and been around where I have to press to keep up with you. "Jim stuck the message in his pocket so he could read it again later and then they walked on over to Tad's little two room home. They were welcomed at the door by Tad's wife, Hattie, and his two little tow-headed boys. Hattie was a homely sort of woman but she was as good as pure yellow gold to Tad and she'd given him two fine sons so far, and from the looks of her belly another was on the way. She was just as proud to see Jim as Tad had been. "Lordy, Jim, you scared the stuffin's plumb out of. "I have heard something to that effect, yes, Bob," Michael answered."Do you know anything more? Anything about the circumstances of their disappearance?" Bob asked.Michael studied the contents of his coffee cup for a moment, then glanced over to Jon'a-ren who was enjoying a plate of fruit slices."I have been informed by the chief of our embassy intelligence service that yes, the Americans seem to be in quite a state of confusion, even consternation, over something to that effect. He has. You will remove the Absorber patch from my sister's neck, after returning all the powers and colors that it has absorbed into her body. I understand the Neutralizer patches have to remain, but I go nowhere until her Absorber patch is removed and she is fully restored." Why would I do that? I can kill your sister, then proceed to kill everyone in the house until you come with me. Even easier, I simply knock you out and leave the house with you."Amy rolled her eyes in amazement."They sent a.