The chronological order of my stories is at the end of the story. Let me know if you'd prefer I put it back here at the beginning.
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 1 - Prologue - Christmas Conversations
(
Author's note: little bit of groundwork, folks. Thanks in advance for bearing with it.
)
"How is she doing?" I asked in my office on December 23d.
"Not too bad." Lieutenant Cindy Ross replied. "I've taken her out shopping, my sister Molly has taken her out shopping, and you've restricted her to desk duty for two weeks now and she's catching up on paperwork. She's trying. She may never quite get over it, but she's trying this year."
We were talking about Lt. Teresa Croyle, whose sister had been wiped out by a drunk driver on a Christmas Eve years before, the same Teresa that beat the shit out of a State's Senator's son last Christmas Eve, after he'd killed a mother and two children while driving drunk. The incident caused severe problems for Teresa, which took some effort on my part to overcome, but overcome we did. Still, the Christmas season had different meaning for Teresa than it did for most others.
"Hard to believe it's been just one year since that incident." I said. "Amazing what has gone on in that time."
"You're not kidding." said Cindy. "Captain Malone was here, Angela Harlan was here, Pete Feeley was here, Coach Harlan was here, Senator Allen was here, your nephew Ned was out there somewhere, you had a
blue
crowbar, and you had no sons born..."
"Too bad your year was totally uneventful." I said, needling my friend and partner, knowing how close this past year had been to being her last on this earth.
"Harrumph. Yeah. I'm just glad to be alive and talking about it." Cindy replied. "But at least I have a girlfriend and a nephew to buy gifts for."
"Yes." I said. "And a sister and race partner, too. The good news is that Teresa agreed to come to the family party at our house tomorrow night, and to stay the night and help be 'Santa Claus' for Carole and Jim and Ross. Hopefully, we'll be able to keep her out of trouble, and make her feel like family."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The party on Christmas Eve was not as large as the year before, when we finally got Teresa's story out of her and gave her the pictures of her and her sister. Tonight it was me, Laura, Todd, Jeanine, my mother Phyllis, Molly, and our various children. I had also invited Cindy, Jenna, Teresa and Tanya, and of course Baby Pete. Jenna did not come; Cindy said she was feeling under the weather. I hoped that was true, as opposed to Jenna still being mad at me over the treatment of her punk assistant Gor-don, or perhaps problems with Cindy's sister Molly.
Daniel and Melina Allgood had also declined their invitations; they were spending Christmas Eve with Daniel's family, which I could understand... except that I thought Daniel's parents had died and he had no siblings. Maybe he had cousins...
We were doing a 'Secret Santa' this year, and I had contrived it so that I would be giving Teresa her present. I gave her a large 36"x24" frame full of pictures I'd taken of her over the course of the year, many with Cindy, some from their race over the summer, others from inside Police Headquarters and with her Vice Squad. She seemed to like it, and was making an effort to be part of the party. Still, my wife Laura had a good chat with her, to let her vent about her sister, whom she was still remembering...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"We're so glad you came." said Joanne Cummings as she admitted Daniel and Melina Allgood into the home of her cousin, John Cummings. "You remember my friend Seth Warner, I'm sure?"
"Oh yes." said Daniel, shaking Seth's hand. Seth and then John Cummings and his wife greeted the Sheriff-elect and his wife. John Cummings had become friends with Daniel while they were on the campaign trail, often appearing together at rallies around the County. And it was neither secret nor surprise that Seth and Joanne had begun dating since being introduced at the Policeman's Ball by Mrs. Phyllis Troy.
The surprise was that Melina and Joanne had become fast friends when they had met at the Policeman's Ball. They found that they had in common a love of hunting, as in deer hunting, as well as the shooting sports. They'd even gotten together for lunch twice, and also had used the range at Cummings Outdoors General Store after normal business hours. While Joanne did not out-shoot Melina (hardly anyone in the world could do that, but Joanne didn't know it), she certainly was no slouch with rifle, pistol, or bow-and-arrow.
After an excellent dinner and conversation, John Cummings announced his bombshell. "I am going to be closing Cummings Outdoors General Store." he told his guests. "I'm not sure I can sell it very quickly, so I'm going to have a 'Going Out of Business' sale."
"Why are you closing the store?" Joanne almost wailed. "You love that store; we all do!" There was a murmur of agreement."
"Well, I have another store near Lake Amengi-Nunagen." said Cummings. "Well out of this State, and with the retirement community up there growing and some farming communities springing up, that store is doing well and poised to do better. It will keep me busy."
Cummings continued: "But the main reason I'm leaving this Town is because of the Election and Katherine Woodburn. You all know about the corrupted processes in both the election and the court cases, so I won't re-hash that."
Cummings went on: "But the real issue is that I've been audited twice by the Federal BAFTE and once by the State Firearms Bureau. The IRS has also sent a letter that they're going to audit me. I'm squeaky clean and my lawyer is already on it, but it's clear I'm going to be harassed until I close down and leave. Woodburn has actually said that out loud to other people."
"Is there anything you can do, Sheriff?" asked Seth, looking concerned. Seth had been on the receiving end of corrupt Court practices, as well.
"No." said Daniel. "I can push back against Woodburn, and Commander Troy is aware of this situation and could push back a lot harder, but it's not going to make a difference to John. I'm not sure why, but someone really wants him out of the County. And not just Katherine Woodburn, even though John here was our State House Representative for six years. There's something else going on, and we're just not sure what's going on."
"I hate Katherine Woodburn." Joanne pouted.
"Not as much as I do." said Seth. "She tried to interfere with my legal case, tried to help my sister out against me. Commander Troy
did
have a word with the State Ethics Board about that, and my partner Todd's wife helped with that, too. Woodburn had to back down, but if this is what she's doing before being sworn in, God only knows what she has planned once she reaches the State Senate."
Daniel said "John, I'm not sure you can't find a buyer. The Cosby Brothers opened their Gun and Safe Store a few months ago. I know Bobby Cosby, he was on the Police Force before opening his store. I don't think they were prepared to expand on their own for some time, but if you check with them they might be willing to buy you out."
"And if financing is an issue, call me." said Melina. "I think I can help make some arrangements." Even Daniel looked at his wife in surprise, wondering what secret Melina possessed that would allow her to facilitate a financial transaction of that magnitude, no matter how well her gym was doing.
"Thanks, guys. I'll call up the Cosby Brothers the day after tomorrow." said the very religious John Cummings. "Okay, not another word about any of that. It's Christmas Eve, let's celebrate our Lord's birth..."
"Amen." said Joanne. Even the not-at-all-religious Melina felt the love as she observed Seth taking Joanne's hand in his...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was midnight and Cindy was looking for Teresa, who was nowhere to be found. "We'd better go look for her." Cindy said, clearly worried. "I'll call the Duty Desk and have them tell all patrols to be on the lookout for her, discreetly of course."
"No, wait." I said. "Let's think about where she would likely go. She's not permitted to be on duty, so any police seeing her at a DUI checkpoint will call me immediately... it is possible that I left instructions for them to do so. That leaves the hospital, or.... oh... yes, of course."
"Yes, son," my mother said, steps ahead of me and seeing me figure it out, "I believe you are right."
"I'm not a Troy." Cindy said. "How about cluing me in."
"So you say, my dear." said Phyllis, a twinkle in her eyes. "But observe and deduce as if you were a Troy. Use your mind, child."
Cindy thought about it as I went and got my coat and hers. She still had not figured it out as we got into my new silver Police SUV and headed out.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Teresa was sitting on the deck of what was left of The Cabin, looking over the Town as its lights twinkled peacefully on this Christmas Eve. She saw the light of a train just coming out of the western horizon; it was the nearest thing to the Star of the Nativity in sight.
Most of the remains of The Cabin had been cleared in preparation for rebuilding, but there were still a few charred timbers and some ashes and soot around. To her surprise, Teresa heard what sounded like a step behind her. She looked back, totally stunned to see who it was. She mostly could only see the shock of bright white hair.
"Ah, my dear Ms. Croyle." said the slender, older man as he came up to her. "My name is Harvey Eckhart, and I'm pleased to make your acquaintance again."
"You remember me?" Teresa asked. "My husband, now ex-husband, and I attended one of your seminars... but that was years ago, and we were among 1500 people there."
