Carter Blake looked up from the sports section and his morning coffee just in time to see a familiar figure enter the hotel dining room.

“Preach!” he called, smiling and waving him over. He stood and offered a handshake.

The other man looked sternly at him for a moment, “Do I know you?” he asked.

Blake begain to open his mouth and was interrupted by Sherman “Preacher” Dudley cracking a huge grin, grabbing his handshake and pulling him into a hug. Both men laughed, slapped one another on the back and sat.

“Waiter! More coffee and …” Blake looked at Preach who said “a pair of eggs, sunny side up on white toast with fried mushrooms on the side. Oh, and black coffee.”

“So, what’s new?” they both began and laughed.

“Go on, age before beauty…” Preach said.

Blake grinned, “Now, I’m not so old that I cant kick your ass. Do you still have the limp?”

Preach slapped his thigh for emphasis, “Sure do. Souvenier of Aquatica, the way I see it. Anyhow, the bible’s got a thing for men of God walking with a limp.”

Blake raised an eyebrow, “So you returned to the pulpit?”

“You could say that. TBN.” Dudley answered

“TBN?” Carter asked.

“Trinity Broadcasting Network … or ‘the blasphemy network’ depending on which preacher you ask. I heard they were looking to develop a cooking show. You know how it is, you cant have a church meeting without there being food involved. Someone pulled strings after the Aquatica affair is my guess - there were other players more qualified than me in line - but I got the deal.”

Dudley’s explanation was cut short by the arrival of the waiter carrying a plate and more coffee.

“What is this?” Dudley asked.

“Two eggs sunny side up, as you ordered.” the waiter answered.

“I said, ‘two eggs sunny side up ON white toast’ not off to one side hoping for a chaste goodnight kiss.”

The waiter paused, “I could…”

“No, you couldnt. My friend’s just being an ass now that he thinks he’s some big-shot. Thanks.” Carter injected.

Dudley raised an eyebrow and proceeded to maneuver friend eggs until they sat comfortably on top of the toast. The addition of black pepper and some ketchup completed the presentation.

“What brings you to Baton Rouge?” Dudley asked, cramming a piece of toast and egg into his mouth.

Carter frowned, “Lawyers. Really slimy, underhanded ones. Seems they want me as a witness in some case or other.”

Dudley nodded, “Me too. Word is, they are going to crucify some corporate executive for what happened 5-years ago. They are going to throw the book at him for what we went through. Well, no, technically for wanton destruction of corporate property.”

“Do sharks count?” Carter asked.

“If they do, we blew her ass sky high. We’re as bad as the executive.”

“Yeah. True … I’ve not been able to touch Sushi even once since then” Blake answered and laughed.