The Alberta Connection Read Online Free PDF Page B

some blood, and the blood was sent to a
lab in Spokane.”
    Ramona laughed. “That’s a drop for Pen’s lab
at Pendergast Memorial Hospital.”
    Ramona laughed once more and then continued.
“O2 got another text from Ryce last Saturday afternoon, telling him
you were coming to the Ranch. Everyone knew what to do. I started
the cake at midnight Sunday morning. I think O2 would do almost
anything for Ryce.”
    Tanya now had so many tears running down her
cheeks, she was actually standing in a puddle of water. She was
handed a clean dishtowel from the kitchen, and with some help,
cleaned up almost all of the streaks.
    John, Marge, O2, Ramona, Ryce and Tanya spent
almost three hours in the receiving line. John or Marge introduced
each guest as he or she arrived. Ryce was amazed that they knew the
names of almost everyone.
    At 8:00 PM, Ramona rang the dinner bell to
announce that dinner was served. Every available table in the chow
hall and on the adjoining porches was filled.
    During the salad, O2 asked if Ryce had heard
about or from Bok Choy. Ramona didn’t understand the question and
piped up that she had lots of Bok Choy in the kitchen. O2 started
choking on a tomato slice.
    All eyes were on Ryce.
    “Bok Choy was my XO when I was a company
commander in Afghanistan. He was a second-generation American of
Japanese descent. His grandfather had been posted to England as an
attaché after World War I. When the grandfather was recalled to
Japan before World War II, he refused to return with his English
wife and two sons.
    “One of the sons, Bok Choy’s father,
immigrated to the US, and went to work at Stanford University. It
was at Stanford where he met Bok Choy’s mother, also of Japanese
descent. Bok Choy’s mother loved the history of the Samurai. When
Bok Choy was born, they named him after seven different Samurai. He
runs out of room when he has to fill in his full name, and no one
could pronounce any of his names. We took a vote and called him Bok
Choy.”
    Everyone at the table began to laugh.
    O2 looked over at Ryce. “I ran into him in
Hawaii. He was on his way to Japan, and I was on my way from
Okinawa to the mainland. He pulled out his Florida driver’s
license. It said his name was Choy, Bok, no middle initial.”
    The table erupted in laughter again; this
time twice as loud.
    After dinner, Ryce and Tanya cut the cake and
thanked everyone for coming. Marge announced that the gifts would
be transported to Research 1 and would be opened the following
day.
    Before the party broke up, John called O2,
Phil, and Vince over to talk with Ryce and Tanya.
    “You two are TAD to the Idaho State
Police.”
    Tanya got a puzzled look on her face.
    John smiled. “TAD is a military term for
“temporary attached duty.” The Joint Border Task Force has
officially given you to me for a while. I must tell you that my
people have checked you out. I think Doug, my computer genius, even
knows what you got for your first birthday.”
    O2 laughed. “You’ll meet Doug tomorrow.”
    Phil laughed. “Do you think we should really
throw Ryce into the Doug Zone?”
    John looked at Ryce for a moment. “I think
Ryce can take care of himself. We just have to keep a weapon out of
his hands.”
    John paused. “Tomorrow, we are going to
induct you into the Idaho State Police. You need to be members of
the ISP in order for you to qualify to play with all the systems we
have. I set up the rules, and I won’t break them.”
    Phil let out a giant laugh. “Even for family.
Ask Fabian.”
    Both Ryce and Tanya had confused looks.
    Vince stepped into the conversation. “We’ll
cover everything in the morning.”
    John looked around at the group. “OK, I will
see everyone in the conference room at 8:00 AM, tomorrow.”
    Ramona put her arms around Tanya and hugged
her. “I’ll pick you two up at 7:30 AM. My house is just across the
street from your apartment.”

Chapter 6
    Rice didn’t hear his
alarm going off, but he knew that he was