The chronological order of my stories is as follows:
Todd & Melina series, Interludes 1-5, Sperm Wars series, Russian Roulette series, Case of the Murdered Lovers series, Case of the Murdered Chessplayer series, The Swap series, Interludes 6-10, The Murdered Football Player Series, Case of the Black Widow series, Teresa's Christmas Story, The Case of the Black Badge series, A Case of Revenge series, Trilogy Series, Dark Side Of The Force series.
Caught In The Act, Ch. 1-2.
Feedback and
constructive
criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.
This story contains graphic scenes, extreme language, and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racial or racist language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.
Part 8 - From Death Unto Life
It was still October 1st. I rushed up to University Hospital, to the Delivery areas. A slim, older woman was waiting, her face attractive but etched by the pain of loss. She was Pamela Feeley, mother of the slain Officer Pete Feeley.
"They just took her in." she said. I sat down by her to wait, calling Laura and then the Chief... Tanya Perlman was delivering her baby!
Two hours later, the lovely Nurse Jones came out to the waiting room, where Laura, Chief Griswold and his wife, and, somewhat to my surprise, Barry Oliver were now waiting. Barry and Tanya had become friends while they'd worked together in the Crime Lab, and I was realizing that perhaps I'd not observed a few things I should have...
"Mrs. Feeley, I am so happy to tell you that you are the grandmother of a very healthy baby boy!" Nurse Jones said. Everyone cheered as Nurse Jones said "Tanya has asked you Mrs. Feeley, and you Commander Troy, to come to her room for a moment before everyone else does."
We went to the room, to which Tanya had been brought just moments before. Her hair was matted with sweat, her face red with exhaustion but also with a radiant smile as she held the little bundle wrapped in a soft blanket and wearing a blue toboggan cap.
Tears were running down Mrs. Feeley's face as she admired her grandson. He was a scrunched up little prune, as all newborns are, but he was healthy and that was the most important thing. Pete Feeley was gone, but he'd left behind a son to follow him.
After some congratulatory talk and a short discussion of the delivery, I asked Tanya, "So, are you going to name him Peter M. Feeley, Junior?"
"No." said Tanya, her smile acquiring a playful edge as she delivered the next words. "His name is Peter
Donald
Feeley."
I was speechless.
"Yep." Tanya said, enjoying the look on my face. "Peter, after his dad; and Donald after the greatest Police Officer I've ever had the privilege to know. I hope he grows up just like his dad, but just like you too, Don."
"I... I don't know what to say." I said. "That's... I'm... well, I'm really honored." I felt the emotions rising. After Mrs. Feeley held little Pete for a few moments, he was handed to me. It was almost as emotional as the time I held my own newborn son just months before.
"Okay, you have tests to run and things to do." I said as Nurse Jones and two other nurses came in. I handed the baby back to Tanya, kissed her on the forehead, told her I'd come back the next day to visit, then went back to the waiting area, still in a total daze. Laura was smiling a very knowing smile as she saw my face.
"She told me not to tell you." said Laura, who then told everyone what Tanya had named the baby. "Are you surprised?"
"That doesn't begin to describe it." I said, fighting hard to hold back my emotions.
Some moments later, the Chief and his wife and Barry Oliver were invited in to see Tanya. Mrs. Feeley came out and sat down beside me.
"I... I'm just so..." she said, the words hard in coming. "Pete's loss was devastating, it just about killed me... but I'm so happy he was able to leave behind a son... I just wish he could have seen him..." Mrs. Feeley could stand no more, and broke down crying as I took her in my arms for a hug, her arms circling me for support, her body racked by sobs. She was not the only one crying. We both had a few minutes releasing our emotions...
Part 9 - Confirmation
I returned to Headquarters, trying to get back to work and overcome my emotions, both happy and sad. I saw Corporal Pete Feeley's badge in its frame on my wall, and I renewed my pledge to continue to fight for Justice on behalf of Pete and his newborn son.
Later that afternoon, I got the news from Dr. Woodrow, who had joined the Chief, Cindy, Claire, Lorena, and myself in Classroom 'E'. For some reason, the Chief took the far end chair, leaving me the one nearest the door. I didn't argue, but sat down to lead the meeting.
"I can say with certainty that the fibers collected at the practice field are exactly the same as those collected at the crime scene." said Dr. Woodrow. "It's not just the same material, but the same batch."
"And you can show this to a jury?" asked the Chief.
"Yes sir." said Dr. Woodrow. He then went into a few moments of discussion on how he could prove the comparison.
"Okay, I'm convinced." said the Chief. "Crowbar, tell an old police chief what this means."
"Sir, I'd like to hear from my Detectives what these facts mean to their opinions." I said. "Rose?"
"It means the killer walked on that practice field not long before going to Derrick Belle's house and killing him." Lorena said.
"Absolutely. Michaels? Fill in the gaps." I said.