RESTORATION (a science fiction novel) (RESTORATION (the science fiction trilogy)) by Todd Utley

few years and this is the last address I had for him.  I lost his new skyphone number that he gave me at the golf club a while back.”
          “Oh yes, John and his golf!  No problem I’ll get the number for you.”
          “Oh, would you mind calling him for me my phone isn’t holding a charge.  I need to save what little power is left to call my wife later.  She gets worried if she can’t reach me.” 
    “Wow that was fast thinking , I’m getting good at this stuff.”
    He didn’t want John’s number on his phone.  He thought Linsey might notice him calling an unusual number while he was supposed to be visiting with his Dad.
          “Sure no problem,” she said as she stepped out onto the porch and sat down on the bench.  Dodge felt awkward, but he sat down also to be polite.
          “Hi John, this is Sis, there’s a Mr. Dodge Kerrington here that would like to speak to you.  Okay, here he is . . . ,
    “Here you go,” she said, as she handed Dodge the phone. 
    “Hi John . . . , yeah I didn’t know you moved . . . , sure I know where that is, can I come by?  Okay I’ll be there in a few.” 
    Dodge handed the phone back to John’s sister.
         “Thank you so much,” he said.
         “You’re welcome, have a nice evening.” 
    “You too and thanks again,” he said as he stepped off the porch. 
    It was getting late and all this running around was taking way too much time.  He wasted no time getting over to John’s house.  The bagel Linsey brought him earlier in his study was long worn off and now he was starving.  He passed two burger joints on the way to John’s house. “ Oh man that smells good. ”  There was no extra time, he needed to meet with John and get back home in a believable time frame to avoid any questioning. 
    John Calhoun had definitely moved up in the world.  Dodge could hardly believe the massive spread of a home back on a long private lane.  It was impressive, and more like an estate really.  John’s career moves had obviously served him quite well.  He zipped up the long curvy brick drive through the security gates and to the front of the house.  “Wow!”   He rang the bell and a well dressed elderly man arrived promptly to greet him in traditional butler attire.
      Wow John had a butler!
         “Good evening Sir, you must be one Dodge Kerrington I presume?”
    Dodge nodded to indicate yes in amazement, and then actually said the word yes when he realized he was being impolite.
    “Please come in Mr. Calhoun is expecting you.”  Just as he got inside the door John appeared in the sitting room right off the entry way. 
    “Dodge, man, great to see you, welcome to my humble abode, he said sarcastically.”
         “Yeah right, real humble abode, more like a freaking mansion.”
         “Oh well buddy you can’t take it with you so you might as well spend it on a gigantic castle that says screw you guys, I’m rich, right?” 
    “Come on in, sit down, let’s talk, it’s been a long time. You know what, let’s not sit here, lets go out to my man cave behind the pool house.  It’s well equipped my friend and when I say well-equipped I mean it!” 
    John led Dodge through a maze of corridors and large rooms and then out through the kitchen and around the pool and then back to what appeared to be a ten-car garage behind the pool house. 
    They stepped into the garage and were headed over to the stairs when something caught Dodge’s eye that made him stop.
    “John, is that what I think it is?” 
    John paused, “Well I don’t know Dodge, depends on what you think it is?”  Suddenly the mission at hand took a back seat to what Dodge believed was under the car cover directly to his left on the way to the stairs.
         “Is that a vintage corvette under that cover?” 
    John grinned with the utmost sarcasm.
    “Why yes