Benji

.............. Exactly!!!

..........Sorry to hear that!! But we still need numbers here, the date is getting close!

......I concur with misdirection, it's what you'd expect from a cliff-dwelling goat! But I disagree that Jim & Dirk are not lovers. Too many hints; His fists clenching, Trevor fought against his temper and lost. Raising his voice, thinking of the divorce papers, he said, "Why the hell should I? You've got your secrets from me. I know, all right? While you were gone I–" "Enough," Dirk roared. "My life is not what we're discussing here," "Stop, Dad. I don't want to hear it, not after what I... Why the hell didn't you tell me... I found the f**king divorce papers," Trevor said, his eyes full of fire. 'Oh shit, he knows about that too,' Dirk thought, feeling the blood drain from his face. I know there are other reasons why there are issues between the two of you, but you can get past that, if you're willing to make the effort." 'He means try to be straight,' Trevor thought, his temper beginning to simmer. "I'm not changing, I can't and I won't, and if he can't accept that, too bad." Trevor replied with a scowl. Jim could see the anger in Trevor's eyes, and then Jim gave the two shirtless teens an appraising glance, deciding that he was unlikely to be able to convince them both, and a partial step would have to be good enough. "At least try to put that aside for now, okay?" "It's not me who has the problem, so I won't be the one bringing it up," Trevor replied crossly. Deciding that was as good as he could hope for, Jim turned his mind to the problem of finding a payphone. "Any news on the gay front?" Dirk asked, in a dejected tone. Jim sighed. "About what you'd expect, but one thing he did say was he wouldn't bring it up if you didn't." "That's a lot better than I expected, but the main issue remains; what the hell do I tell him about Ares? (Then this chapter) I note that you are not a criminal attorney, and thus, given your personal relationship with the client..." Officer Gonzalez said, letting his voice trail off. Jim shook his head. "Nice try. I've been Dirk's attorney of record for years, and that predates any personal relationship. ...........Dirk thought Trevor found out that he was gay way back at the after Trevor's search for the Aries, when Trevor was only referring to the divorce papers. Dirk assumed Trevor knew about that too! Later Jim tries to bring it up and Trevor thinks Jim is referring to his sexuality. The Mexican standoff of the unspoken truce, with Dirk and Jim coming thinking they came off better then they expected. Finally Officer Gonzales slips out the relationship, Jim being an attorney doesn't deny it but goes into lawyer mode and finishes by saying the attorney client relationship predated the personal one.

..................Great chapter, very revealing! Not sure who was happier about Trevor getting laid! I think after Joel reads Trevor's journal he will refuse to go home and insist on finishing the voyage with him. Hmmm, Dirk and Jim lovers? Who would of thought! I think Jim will very well find a tracking device on his car, it would explain how someone knew he was parked at the airport and I'm sure it wouldn't be hard for a certain police officer to obtain information on which flight Jim was on and where he was headed. It looks like Detective Gonzales already has his suspions on Sr. Detective Alford and nicely laid a trap. Can't wait for the next chapter where Joel will make embarrassing phone calls for Trevor to Lisa!!

............Is that a goat in the distanced background of pic #8?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAEME!!! ....................................Have a great one down under!!!

.......... Utterly ridiculous!!! But it would explain a lot!

..........The goat does not give concrete evidence in his stories until close to the end, but enough are given to lead credence that Jim and Dirk are a couple. As far as Bridget being a murder suspect, it was clear that someone from the department had leaked information to her early on. She told the Detective facts that were of a confidential matter. I suspect it being Sr. Detective Alford as being the leak, both he and Bridget seemed languish on to describe Dirk as a possible serial killer, goes back to having 'similar stories'. Finally in the last chapter Detective Gonzales gives up the murder suspect when he gives his thoughts; ...'he was gravely troubled by the leak in his department, all the more so because whoever was disseminating confidential information was doing so to a suspect in a murder case. The only person that was privy to confidential information on the case was Bridget.

............. If I may, the leak Detective Gonzales was referring was indeed to all the information that Bridget fed back to him in their '2nd interview', Detective Gonzales was upset that his murder suspect (Bridget) had privileged information regarding the investigation. I don't think we do not need a proclamation from Jim and Dirk to see that they are gay lovers, the clues were all over, however slowly forthcoming. Leave it to a hockey fan to 'lick' his (others) wounds when his team loses!

..............Damn, your right, but blame the goat I think I caught goatitis!

............Onto the story, little revealing fact here that Detective Gonzales was in fact investigating Bridget as a murder suspect. Will he make the connection while investigating the 'leak', that both Bridget and Sr. Detective Alfred both referred to Dirk as a possible serial killer? After all, he is always looking for similarities in the stories when interviewing people! I do hope Trevor got himself laid with the Swede, "Trevor looked into Torsten's sparkling eyes, and replied with a smile and a nod." Or did he bore the guy all night long with his lamentation of his predicament!! One never knows when dealing with a goat, but a big salute to Joel for 'mission accomplished' I agree the rest of the voyage without Joel will be somewhat anti-climatic, but we still have a few chapters until that happens, and anything can happen! Maybe even a reunion with Lisa and Joel in Australia for the rest of the voyage? I still think Australia is the key, and most of the mysteries will be revealed by then, that just leaves the conclusion with the 'bad' guys.

...... You mean in like, "Please write another chapter and soon"!

............I agree 100% with KJames! JamesS that was a great story! If people want 'fluff stories' please direct them to the Children's section of the library. And if anyone reading that story thought that the suicide was the the message, then they did not get anything out of a story. The Barlow Boy was clearly a social injustice piece, outweighing the hypocrisy in the end.

.............Monkeys and goats and frogs...Oh my!! Poor Steve has become so depressed over his hokey team (hockey?) that he has resorted to licking frogs when the psychoactive is in toads! Oh well, I hear that the frogs need to stay wet, 'slurp' go Steve go!!!

.............Hmmm, another interesting thought, the goat has never used a 'female villain' in his stories before, yet Steve propose's at least 2 in this saga! Gasp! I'm still waiting for Trevor to get back to Joel for the monkey, perhaps a fun loving, butt punching goat fixated on Joel on some future island in coming chapters! Need pics!!

Happy Birthday Patrick!! ............Have a great one!

............Ah, I must have misread your blog, thought you were coming to Vegas this weekend! Still escargots are great!

.........Ah, I see you made into Vegas! Have fun, and do try the escargot, they are great!!!

Happy Birthday Adrian! ............Have a good one!!

..............Interesting theory, I was wondering if Trevor might see Julie again and have planned on paying a visit to Tahiti after Australia. But if Julie is mixed up with Bridget, that brings a real twist to the story, and a whole load of questions!

Hmmm! Seems to me that Bridget is doing her best to implicate Dirk and very much so! Could her earlier encounter with Detective Gonzales hastened her to divert his questions from herself about another unsolved murder? She is quick to provide another suspect in her actions and to lead others to question the motives, she has Lisa and Trevor questioning of Dirk only in the interest of Trevor.

............... I'm very impressed with Lee, I think he will take it all! Casey is probably out tonight! I see Arron sticking around until the final 3. Micheal is unpredictable, and Crystal is iffy!

...... Bridget is pretty cunning in giving Lisa an answer to the mysterious e-mail question! Was she too cunning for her own good? Although she has planted the idea that Robert is responsible for it, Lisa will obviously tell Trevor and Joel her 'new found' suspicions. What will happen if Jim re-contacts them and the clues start to come together! After all Lisa just mentions the e-mail and Bridget has the instant answer for her, Bridget was well aware on how to track the Atlantis at a moments notice. Her earlier insistence that they keep in cell touch for the next few days as being crucial, also makes me think she has a way of tracking the cell calls between Lisa and the guys. The power boat that docks often may be the answer. The puppet master may have slipped up!

............Yep, and I'm rich and famous!

.........Hahaha! You beat me to it, very much a contradiction! I'd love to hear his response to his obvious cliff dwelling gaff comment.