Rick Carter's First Big Adventure (Pete's Barbecue Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Landing in 1984.”  Rick asserted.
           “How do you know that?”   The man asked.
           “Because I was there.  I’m Rick Carter.”  He told him harshly.   “I know.”
           The man stood there shocked, a large thin- lipped grin growing on his face.  “Rick!?  Rick Carter?  No way!  The fat kid I hung around with and Rog Parcell back in the day?  You’ve got to be kidding me?”  He became very animated almost like he might jump with excitement.
          “Stop it.”  Rick glared at him.
           “Stop what?”  The man turned his head slightly, the way a dog does at a strange noise.
           “Stop pretending to be Mel.  Mel’s gone.”  Rick put his hand on the steering wheel.
          “But, I am Mel.  Ask me something that only Mel would know?”  The man beamed his broad smile.
            Rick thought for a moment.  Should I even entertain this?  “Okay, what was our motto?”
           “That’s easy:  “There’s no problem too big that an adequate amount of explosives can’t solve”.  What else?”  The man seemed self-assured.
         Rick was momentarily set back by his answer. That was right. It was their favorite thing to bark at each other, more often than not when the motto was being practically applied.  “Okay, what’s my parent’s names?”
         “Ahh, that’s a trick question.  You were adopted but you’re dad’s name was Henry.  Your mother’s name was Audrey.”  The man answered with pride.
         Rick looked at him suspiciously.  He looked at the features, the hyper-animated features, and the eyes.  He saw traits he recognized, changed with age.  “This can’t be happening.”  He slowly shook his head.
          “Rick Carter!  I had no idea you even worked for the Company!  When did you start driving as a wheel man?”  Mel asked.
         “What are you talking about?”  Rick’s patience was thin.
         “A wheel man?  You know, a transporter?  For the Company?”  His voice trailed off as he noticed no reaction from Rick’s face.
          “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”  Rick coldly responded.
         “You don’t work for the Company?”  Mel narrowed his eyes in confusion again.
          “I work for Tampa Taxi, dude.”  He slowly said
         “You’re not a transporter?’  He seemed uncertain.
         “I drive a cab.  What are you talking about?”  Rick answered annoyed.
          “Never mind.  I thought you were one of the Company guys.”  Mel shook his head.  “But, if you don’t work with us how’d you know where to pick me up just now?”
           Rick ignored him and looked at the hood of his car, wondering how bad the damage was.  “We need to get out of the street,” He said.  “How bad is it?”  Rick was all too familiar with the unpredictable natural of the Clearwater Police Department.  They were notorious for not showing up when you needed them and were in the wrong place when you didn’t need them.  He wasn’t anxious to meet one of Clearwater’s finest at this moment.
          Mel leaned over and looked at the front of Rick’s cab.  He examined it thoroughly.  “Not that bad.  Just a little scratch.”  He stood up with a smile, his body framed in the wind shield and lit eerily by the car’s head lights.  Suddenly a green glow appeared on his right wrist.  He looked sharply down at the black box he had strapped to his wrist and read something from the green backlit screen.  When he looked back up, he had a look of disappointment on his face.  “Now, it comes back on.”
          “What’s the matter?”  Rick asked.
          “I have to go,” Mel said with hesitation.
          “Well get back in then.  I’ll take you to the beach.”  Rick implored.
          “No, I have to go.”  He said, and he started to move away down the