where you want to go and we're there!" "It's not the places Sam." Lila said weakly. "I use Scope! I use Tag! I even floss before every date." Sam replied. Lila shook her head and answered, "It's not you Sam." "You're driving me crazy! What is it dollface?" Sam asked. Lila put the batter down and sadness entered her blue storm eyes. She walked around the counter to Sam. "It's the bullets, Sam. Every date we've been on has been interrupted by someone trying to kill you." Sam's jaw dropped then he said, "Is THAT all?" Lila gasped and is taken back. "Is THAT all?! Sam! I love you. But I can't live with that all the time. I don't like sitting in a Chinese restaurant getting shelled from a limo outside. Oh Sam--I won't ever love anyone but you...but I can't live like that. Give it up, and I'm yours." The 2 stare at each other when Sam nearly shouted out, "Give it up? You're asking me to give up what I am!" Tears entered Lila's eyes. "Get out of the kitchen, I have cooking to do!" Lila snapped as she waved a wooden spoon at Sam. Sam yelped and ran out of the kitchen. "Don't want to mess with a lady with a spoon." Sam mumbled. Colonel Horace tries to sneak around Sam. Sam wheeled around, snarled, and in a second had the Giant Schauzner on the floor. "All right buddy. Paws up and slow." Sam snapped. "I resent this!" Horace barked. "You don't sneak up on Sam Slade pal." Sam said seriously. "Colonel Horace Clamskey to you." "Well I don't care if you're Bozo the Clown!" Verna, Holly, Calvin, and Caroline entered the room. Tex ran from outside and said, "Whoa did something go on?" Holly asked, "Are you alright Colonel?" "Do I look alright?" Sam cocked his head, "This guy is a colonel?" Lila and the Sisters enter from the kitchen. "Founder of Crazy For Clams!" Lila pointed out. Sam gets off of Horace and said, "I guess you can drop your paws and get up. But no sudden movements." The Chesapeake Bay Retriever adults walked in. Mrs. Wilton asked, "Are my babies all right?" "Just a little mix up." Sam said. Horace growled at Sam. The Collie looked at Mrs. Wilton thoughtfully then said, "You're Mrs. Wilton? You look awfully familiar. Are you from around here?" " Familiar? Of course not!" She laughed before Mortimer walked in. "Oh my nerves. How can I survive a week here." He sits on the couch.

Lila leaves to clean up the kitchen. "Let's have an appetizer before dinner." Faith said cheerfully. "Clams Cucaracha a new recipe." Charity said. Mortimer said with disgust, "I don't see how you can eat one of those poor little creatures!" Calvin grabbed one off the plate. "Easy! Pop 'em into your mouth like this!" He gobbled one down. "Do you realize that is some clam's baby?" Mortimer asked. "And baby, has it made us a lot of money!" Calvin answered. "Correction Calvin, it has made me a lot of money." Horace snapped. Calvin snarled at Horace and looked him deep in the eyes. "You swindling old fool! Without us you would be nothing but a short order cook!" Calvin suddenly gasped for air and crumples to the floor. Verna towers over Calvin. "Cousin Calvin are you alright?" Hope kneels next to him. "Mr. Cobb? Mr.Cobb!" Mortimer asked, "What's wrong with him?" The Keeshond, Adelaide said, "I saw a bird go down once just like that!" Tex replied, "Shucks looks like he rounded up his last doggie!" Sam kneeled beside Calvin, checked his pulse. "I'm afraid you're right Tex. This Rhodesian Ridgeback is dead." Rhonda & Rodney run in. "Hey everyone, a big storm is coming!" Rhonda shouted. "Yeah the sky's all black and hey what happened to him?" Rodney said as he kneeled down to look at Calvin. Mr. Wilton answered, "There has been a small accident children." Horace stood stiff and yelled gruffly, "Accident? Ha! This was no accident! None of this has been a accident." Thunder crashed and the lights flickered.

To be continued....M For Murder, Part 2