Chapter 38 Chapter Thirty-eight

Cole went back into the house. "Hey, Megan's more interested in burning off her body fat than talking to her aunt." Seeing her sister scowling at Pooler, Cole couldn't help but stop. "Is everything all right?" she asked, looking at Pooler. "Everything is fine," Puller said. The door opened again. "Randy?" Cole exclaimed. Unlike the last Randy Cole that Puller saw, this time he was completely new.He was wearing well-washed jeans, a black T-shirt and sandals, and his hair was neatly combed and shaved. Sam Cole was obviously taken aback, but delighted.

Randy steps up and Cole hugs him. "How are you, stranger?" she asked in a brisk tone.Puller guessed she was trying to ease the raw tension. "I'm fine," Randy said, seeing Pooler. "Saw you at Annie's Motel." "Yeah, we've met." "You're that soldier guy everyone in town is talking about?" "I guess that's me." "I used to want to join the army." "Why not?" Puller asked. "Physically not up to standard. Bad eyesight and something seems to be wrong with my chest. Probably because I've been breathing 'fresh' air all my life."

Jane said, "Let's go eat." The dining room was large, paneled all around in zebrawood, with many moldings, cornices, and medallions, unmistakably showing the grandeur of a mansion.They took their seats at one end of the table.This ancient Sheraton-style dining table is of impressive length, supported on three pedestals. Randy rubbed his palm back and forth across the polished tabletop. "Coal mining is indeed a lucrative business, Miss." "You've never been here?" Puller asked.Puller sat next to Randy, noticing his wide-eyed, awed look at the luxury around him.

Jane replied quickly, "It's not for lack of invitation. That's why I'm surprised you're here tonight. You've never accepted my invitation to come here in the past." Puller glanced at Randy.The Trents have been married for so many years, but Randy never goes to their house?A possible answer suddenly flashed through his mind. "How long have you lived in this house?" he asked Jane. Jane didn't take her eyes off her brother. "Five years. Before that, it took the same amount of time to build this building. For that, I can tell you that quite a few people have been added to the employment list."

"Yeah," Randy said. "Hey sister, why don't you let your husband build two more houses like this? Unemployment in this county will definitely go down a lot." Jane smiled unnaturally. "I think our house is big enough, Randy." "It's a pity," Randy said. "But you know that Trent Mines will offer you a job if you want." "What kind of position would it be?" Randy asked. "Vice president? Chief financial officer? Number one sycophant?" Cole said hurriedly to Puller, "Randy and our dad used to work for Trent Mining."

"What job?" "Prospecting," Randy said, "and we're pretty good at it." "Adept, yes," Jane said. "They can find coal-rich seams in seemingly hopeless places." Randy said, "Dad never went to college. He almost didn't finish goddamn high school, and then went to the Navy for a while. But he knows how to read geological reports, and he knows this place better than anyone .He taught me everything he knows." He stared at Jane and said, "Now it's me, and I know how to mine better than anyone else. Not even with Roger's fantastic equipment."

"Because of that, it makes sense for you to come back and work for him again." "You mean help him make more money?" Cole said, "Randy, what if—" Randy cut her off. "Hey, can't a man have a drink in this place?" Cole asked, "How did you get here, Randy? Walking or driving?" "I'm not going to drink and drive. I might stay here overnight. Hey, Jane, do you have a room here for me? So I can be with my family like I used to be." Jane answered quickly, "No problem at all, Randy. I like you that way." "Well, maybe I can't. I might have something else to do tomorrow morning, maybe tonight."

Pooler looked at Randy, trying to read something in his pupils.Puller took a slow, deep breath that didn't smell of alcohol.He glanced at Cole just in time to see her doing the same thing as him. Puller asked, "Are you going to be at Drake tonight?" Randy grins, shakes his head and says, "Man, I'm not going to be anywhere." Cole said, "Randy, what you're saying doesn't make sense at all." Randy elbows Pooler. "They think anything has to make sense, Pooler. I just don't buy it, do you?" Puller feels that Randy doesn't expect or even expect an answer from him, so he doesn't say a word.He looked at the two older sisters, then at the younger brother.A discerning person can see what is missing here at a glance.

mom and dad. Cole said they were dead. The house has been built for five years.Randy has never been here. Puller wondered if their parents died five years ago. He glanced at Cole again.He started talking, but it seemed Cole had almost read his mind.She had a look begging for mercy.So Puller shut his mouth and looked down at his hands. It's time for dinner.There are four dishes in total, all of which are delicious.It was clear that the Trents were not content with simply employing two cooks, they had full cooks.Puller felt self-conscious as his servant scooped up his soup and served his dishes impeccably.But he understood that if he stood up to take the dish and serve himself, the user would experience unparalleled pain.

After more than an hour, everyone leaned back in their chairs, and they were all full.Randy wiped his mouth with a napkin one last time and drained the red wine in his glass.Puller judged that the red wine must be very expensive.When he was a child, his father took his brother and his brothers to Provence in France and Tuscany in Italy.Even by European standards, the two boys were under the legal drinking age.Still, Dad taught them a lot about wine.The general's father is a connoisseur and collector of red wine, and he can speak fluent French and Italian. "Thanks for the nice dinner," Randy said. "Are you still swimming in the concrete pool, Jen? Staying in girly shape for your old Roger?"

Cole glanced awkwardly at Pooler. "Randy, I don't think it's necessary for you to be cynical in front of Agent Pooler." "Oh, I'm not putting on airs, Agent Pooler. I'm no doubt a poor white man who has climbed up to a rich relative, but I don't give a shit. A word of advice, never forget your own. birth." "Shall I get your room ready, Randy?" Jen asked. "I've changed my mind again. I've got to go somewhere else and deal with other people." Kerr asked, "Including someone like Roger?" Randy stared at her.His smile grew wider but stiffer, Pooler thought.Even so, it was still a contagious smile, and the corners of Poole's own mouth nearly parted. "He's gone away, hasn't he? I hear so." "Someone responsible for tipping you off about Roger's whereabouts?" Puller asked. "No, earlier I saw his jet fly away from Drake." "Will Roger be among those you're dealing with?" Cole asked again. Puller watches Cole.He'd seen her tense up like this before, the way she showed it in stressful situations. "I'm in the right mind, Miss Cop," Randy said. "Roger goes his way, I go my way, and you go yours." He spread his arms to show that he was referring to his own family. "But I suppose you've chosen the same path as Roger's." "Don't talk about things you don't really understand," said Jane. "It's a bad habit and it can get you into trouble." Randy stands up and throws the tablecloth on the table. "It's a great feeling to be a guest at your house. I may come again in ten years' time." "Randy?" Jane said quickly. "Wait, I didn't mean to make you angry." But Randy had already walked out across the dining room, closing the door softly behind him.