SACRIFICES by KENNETH VANCE

me.”
                  Tammy stands up and smiles. “Your welcome and I’ll be sure to tell her what you said.” As Tammy walks out Darrin softly taps on the door.
                  Darrin looks back as Tammy walks away. “Good morning boss. What do you have here?” Darrin reaches over for a cookie as he approaches the desk.
                  Brad softly slaps his hand and asks with a smile. “What do you think your doing?”             
                  Darrin pulls back his hand and sits down. “I’m sorry.” He grins. “I was just going to take a cookie.”
                  Brad shakes his head and explains. “These just so happen too be Tammy’s mom’s special oatmeal cookies, so they’re mine.” Brad smiles while he takes another bite.
                  Darrin looks away and then back. “I think that girl has a crush on you.” He continues to eyeball the cookies on his desk.
                  Brad notices that the rookie can’t stop looking at the cookies. So he grins and slides the plate toward him. “Go ahead. You can have one...” Brad raises his index finger. “...only one.” He grins as the rookie’s face lights up.
                  Darrin says again. “I’m serious; I think that little cutie has a thing for you.” Darrin moans as he can’t help but fall in love with these scrumptious cookies.
                  Brad finishes his cookie and rubs his hands together.
    “That little doll lost her father when she was young. So she looks up to me as a father figure. That’s all it is .”
                  Darrin shrugs his shoulders not believing that’s what she feels. “If you say so…“ He perks up. “…oh yeah, I checked out everything you wanted me to. I researched and checked with the school for transcripts and it all came back clean on all accounts. On paper these guys were just like it seemed; the boys’ next door never in trouble with the law, pretty good students. I mean pretty good considering that they were jocks…” Brad chuckles at the stereotypical humor. “…never any complaints from teachers. It looks like a bunch of wholesome good kids.” Darrin finishes his cookie and shrugs.
                  Brad leans back and kicks his feet up on the desk. “That’s it?” He wipes the crumbs from his mouth as he leans back and looks at the ceiling.
                  “That’s it. I can look some more, but on paper at least these guys are just plain good guys as far as the records indicate show and the people I talked to from the college.” Darrin nods his head hoping that his research will somehow help the case in some way trying hard to impress the senior officer.
                  Brad stands up and walks behind Darrin and pats him on the back. “Good work kid. Now what I want you to do is spend some time with Todd and Chamfers. It will be good training for you to see those guys in action; you can pick up a lot from those two, especially Todd.”
                  Darrin nods his head and asks. “What do you think this means?”
                  Brad starts out of the office walking with Darrin. “I’m not sure what it all means now but I’ll tell you this. We will find this guy. That much I know for sure.”
    Brad pats Darrin's back and walks into the coffee room.
    Todd walks in. “Hey Brad I need to talk to you for a minute. It‘s very important.”
                  Brad looks at his watch. “I’m going to go meet with Lyle in the basement. I’ll tell you what. Why don’t I meet you in your office in lets’ say fifteen minutes? Is that all right?” Brad pours himself some coffee.
                  Todd smiles and looks at his watch. “Yeah that’ll work. I’ll see you then.” Todd walks to his office while Brad walks to the elevator carrying his favorite coffee