"The Golden Eagle". That was the name of the pub the three friends were seated in. Their usual place of meeting. It was a tavern in English pub-style.

- So, Ola, whatever happened with that job you applied for?

Kenneth looked concerned. He knew his friend had been out of a job for a long time. A person is not supposed to be without a job for too long, or it will be a downward trajectory.

- Ah, you know how it is. They never got back to me.

- But you had all the qualifications for it. What was there to not like?

- Yeah but I botched the interview. I came off as too unsure of myself.

Matt, the ever observer, thought to himself - why is it that Ola does not have the confidence after all he has done? It's absurd really.

He decided to chip in for once.

- Ola, they should have been happy to have gotten you really.

- I don't think so Matt, but thanks anyway.

- What will you do now then? What's the next step?

- You will see. I'll work something out.

Kenneth knew this would not be taken well, but decided he had to give it a shot anyway.

- You know, Ola, if you ever want to borrow some money, just to get by until you...

Ola cut him off sharply.

- No man! Forget that. I do have some pretty big plans right now.

Ola seemed flushed. His friends decided to drop it for now.

Matt decided to try a lighter note.

- So, are you guys stoked for next week then?

Ola: - Yeah you'd better believe it. Haven't been down there in a long time.

Kenneth: - I was just thinking about that. I'll bring some food with me, it will probably last the entire time.

Matt: - You're such a great planner. It will be best that I'll do the cooking this time though. The friends burst out in laughter. They recalled the last time when Kenneth almost set the kitchen on fire trying to flambe prawns.

Kenneth tried to find his car keys to no avail. How can they be gone when he always put them in the same place? The clock was ticking.

It was the 1st of May, great weather with the sun out. He had almost missed the alarm as he mistakenly pushed the Off button instead of Snooze. Damn new technology.

He recalled getting that clock radio a Christmas when he was 8 which he learned everything about. Every setting, every feature... he shook himself back to reality.

Ola would not be happy if he's late picking him up. He is probably already out in the driveway waiting. Matt would not care so much. He is probably still sleeping.

Kenneth checked one more time behind the bedside table. Sure enough the key was there, he must have pushed it off the table when fumbling with his phone.

Thankfully he'd done all the packing the night before. He wasn't sure if he'd bring his Glock this time. Ever since he quit the force he was torn on whether he should arm himself or not, in various situations.

They did have that altercation last time at the cabin where he sure wished he'd brought it with him. Some drunk hillbillys that on a whim decided to mess with them. The three of them managed to scare them off though.

He opened the drawer and took a good look at the weapon. It was not the one he'd been packing all that time wearing the outfit. This one was gotten illegally from a crackhead, something he was not proud of but seemed a necessity.

He checked the magazine and decided to pack it all down with him this time. He wasn't sure why, just an eerie feeling this time around.

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- At last! Ola mouthed as he stood in the driveway with his usual torn rucksack beside him. Kenneth drove up and put the old Mercedes into park. It was of an unusual color, a sky blue one which did turn heads for sure. Kenneth had collected cars as a kid and the blue ones were always his favorites.

He opened the tailgate with the push of a button (maybe not all technology is bad!) and got out of the car.

- What do you mean "at last"? Kenneth smiled.

- I'm 15 minutes early.

- Yeah but I've been out here for 30 minutes!

- Not my problem Ola...

The friends hugged. Hard to get to grips sometimes with that they had known each other for 30 years. Wherever did that time go? Sure, they had been out of each others' life for quite a long time, back when Ola decided to try out New York. He only made it five years there, before something happened and he got back.

- Might as well give Matt some more time to sleep in? Ola joked. They both knew their friend would be in a grumpy mood either way, but may as well give the man some time.

As expected, when they drove up to the old brick house in the suburban area all curtains were down and not a person in sight. Kenneth wondered to himself why Matt still could stand living here. It is a rough neighbourhood, somewhere he did not enjoy patrolling in. There had been some serious incidents in this area.

They got out of the car and walked up to the worn-down wooden door. Ola pounded on it, shouting "Matt! Wakey wakey!". They could hear some muffled sounds from inside. After five more minutes they could hear the keychain and the lock turning. Matt did not look well.

- Don't tell me you've been drinking and just woke up? Kenneth looked miffled.

- Ehh ahh... just give me 10 minutes, ok?

- I can't believe this? When will we get up there, by midnight? Ola walked back to the car, then walked back and forth.

Kenneth liked to drive. It was relaxing for him. He had spent so many hours behind the wheel, patrolling the neighbourhoods, making people feel safe - or so he'd like to think. Matt was sound asleep in the back seat, sprawling all across it. No seatbelt there.

Ola looked at his phone. He got a lot of messages.

Kenneth asked: - Who are all these people you are talking to?

- Ah just some acquaintances, just strangers really.

- Yeah but drop the phone now. We can talk instead. Kenneth overtook a 24-wheeler, just making it back to the right lane before a crest. An unusually adventurous maneuver for being him.

- Ok then. What do you want to talk about?

- How about those plans you mentioned? What are they about?

- Ehhmm well, I'd rather not say until they come true you know? If I tell you I may jinx it.

- But what area are they about? Does it have to do with those connections you made in New York?

- You could say that. I may be on the verge of something big here. But I won't say more about it right now. Hey - do you recognize this song?

Kenneth listened to what played on the car stereo. It was "All I wanna do is make love to you" by Heart.

- Yeah it's a great tune, but what...

- You do know the meaning of that song, right?

- Yeah it's about making love, is it not?

- No. I listen to that a lot when out walking. And it's about a woman having a one-night stand to get pregnant. Then one day she is out with her son and meets this stranger. And the stranger can see the son has his eyes.

- Ok then. Yeah I know you do have a lot of free time to think about stuff like that.