Timing

Danny decided to go a couple of blocks up the street and get a real breakfast at this little greasy spoon diner he knew about. Char was about to kill him with bagels and healthy cereals. If he had to eat one more bagel, no cream cheese, he thought I might as well get circumcised and convert to Judaism.

As Danny got out of his extended-cab, 1-ton pickup truck, in his haste, and worrying about the meeting, he left the keys and his workout bag in the truck. The workout bag, as always, had the money inside of the tackle box in the bag. This was the only thing that was neat about Danny. Where Char was immaculate all of the time, Danny was one mess, looking for another place to start a second mess.

#

Billy Don Bradford stood on the sidewalk in front of the Murrah Federal Building with his buddy Vernon and looked over the area, hoping to find a car to steal. Billy Don loved to steal cars, but he especially loved stealing trucks. Vernon seemed to get a kick out of the excitement of stealing also. Both had been sent to prison a couple of times on petty felony counts.

They had never been accused of being smart, and usually proved it by doing something stupid...getting caught. Billy Don was the extrovert, and told Vernon exactly what to do.

"Lookee thar Vernon! Ain't that one of them new big cab pickups that dude's gettin' out of? You go up thar at the end of the buildin' and watch for the fuzz, and I'll stroll down yonder and see if we can't get us some wheels."

Just as Billy Don got next to the pickup, he couldn't believe his eyes as he thought, "The stupid jerk left his keys in the car. I think I'll just follow him to see where he's going."

About 2 blocks from where he had parked, Danny suddenly realized he'd left something in the truck. He turned so fast and started back that Billy Don almost turned and ran.

Before he could get out of the way, Danny was next to him, and knocked him against the building as he passed. Billy Don stood frozen, wondering if Danny had read his mind.

"That ole boy looks tough; I sure don't want him on my ass."

When Danny reached the truck, he was so rattled about leaving his workout bag with the money inside that he never noticed the keys in the ignition.

Breathing a sigh of relief, he put the bag under his arm and started back toward the diner. As Danny walked past Billy Don, he was still against the building, and was still ashen from the scare that Danny had given him.

Billy Don hesitated, and then he followed Danny until he went into the diner. Arriving back at the pickup, Billy Don attempted to get Vernon's attention. He waved, hollered "Vernon", and all but jumped up and down, but Vernon had his head stuck so far around the building he didn't hear him.

"Shit, what's that idiot doin? I'll just get the truck and pick him up. I tell him to watch for the cops, and he's hangin his head around the corner like the dumbass he is."

At exactly 9:02 AM, Wednesday, April 19, 1995, Billy Don Bradford turned the ignition key to the right, and then a loud noise rocked the earth. A blast of heat flew at Billy Don, and it was the last thing on this earth that he would hear and feel.

#

Danny had ordered his breakfast and was thinking about what he would do if the VA didn't offer some kind of relief for his problems. Danny wasn't sure he could continue living like he had been doing the past year. He was waking up at least once every night, and sometimes twice. When he was asleep, at least he got some relief from the pressures, but lately the pressures were creeping into his dreams.

Danny had always been able to solve any problem, but this time was different, he couldn't see any solution. If he hadn't had a friend like Bunt, Danny might have considered anything, no matter how drastic.

"Danny," Bunt said,"You need to tell Charlotte exactly where you stand."

"No way, Bunt. I just can't put Char and the girls through this. Somehow, some way, I can solve this."