He was tempted for a moment to just not turn up, but he knew that Kate would notice.Even if she had a hundred guests (which she often did), Katestill ...oticed exactly who was there and who was not.Jake knew a few other people who were coming, but he had visions of spending most of the nightsitting on his own.He sighed, his whole body visibly sagging as he watched in the mirror.He put on his bow-tie and headed out to the party.* * *"I like your outfit."Melinda turned to see the man beside her who. And, here is a slice of meat pie to eat on the way.”“Thanks,” Warstomp said accepting the items and heading out the door.Warstomp typically walked to work with Badmorgan, another ork.“Greetings, corporal,” Badmorgan said.“Sergeant,” replied Warstomp. “How’s it going?”“Pretty good. Did you have a nice weekend?”“I did. How about you?”“Not too bad. I got in a little trouble if you know what I mean,” the muddy brown ork intimated.“Oh! Good for you, sarge,” Warstomp grinned.“Yeah, tight little. I just stood there. Someone had walkedinto my house and rummaged through my belongings and then blew it offby telling me I had no privacy. I walked back and forth trying tocontain my fury and identify another emotion.Going into the bedroom I pulled the sheets off the bed and grabbed theclean set. Still in a fury I yanked them left and right until the bedwas made and then I slumped down on the cane chair in the corner makingit creak in protest."Hell and fuck. Oh shit, piss and corruption."I. I would have to wait to see how it played out.I drove back to the courthouse in County Seat. First I went to my office as I usually did. Also as usual Mrs. West had things which needed my attention. I approved payment for attending to some officer's uniforms. It was payment for sewing patches on, but at the same time he got to make alterations for which the county didn't pay. A deputy got uniforms one time that were the closest to his size, from then on it was on him. He could buy replacement.