Epilogue

Four months later…

It was quiet. No jazz. No water. Nothing. And yet the silence wasn't oppressive. It was a rare moment in which the silence was what was needed. Tim sat at his desk, ostensibly typing. Rock Hollow was done. McGregor and Tibbs had saved the day. Tommy, Lisa and Abby had survived and romance seemed in the air…although between whom was left for the next volume. All that was left was the title page…and one more. He'd been staring blankly at the piece of paper in his typewriter for the last hour. It shouldn't be hard to do this. He'd had no trouble with Deep Six…and yet, it meant more this time. He decided to type the easy page first. Maybe then, the harder page would be less difficult.

Rock Hollow
The Continuing Adventures of L. J. Tibbs
Volume II

By
Thom E. Gemcity

That was the easy part. Tim pulled out the title page and placed it face down on the desk. Then, he took another piece of paper and rolled it in. He stared at the blank page. The words were all there. He just couldn't figure out what the right ones were. He ran his fingers lightly over the keys, not pressing them down enough to actually type anything…just thinking. Then, he smiled and began to type once more.

Dedicated to
All those who wouldn't let me fall
and
everyone who helped me up again

Tim stared at the page, satsified. Carefully, very carefully, he pulled out the page and lay it reverently on the top of the sheaf of paper lying beside his typewriter. Then, equally carefully, he put the title page on top. He looked at his watch and jumped out of his seat. As he ran into his bedroom to change, his phone started to ring. He grabbed it and started speaking before the caller could do so.

"I know! I'll be there!"

"You'd better be, Tim! This was your idea!" Abby lectured.

"I'll be there! I'm on my way out!"

Tim hung up and ran around his apartment searching for his keys. This dinner had been his idea. He wanted to have fun. He stopped and savored the sentence in his head. I want to have fun. He smiled to himself. Then, he noticed that all his running back and forth had blown the title page onto the floor. He bent down and picked it up, but before he replaced it, he reread the dedication. That was the real reason he was having this dinner. It was a way of saying thank you. He put the title page back on top and ran out the door.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x

When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won.
There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall... think of it, always.

Mahatma Gandhi

FINIS!