Norman froze. Jason’s gun was on the back of his head. Vanessa watched as Norman slowly withdrew his hand from his gun.

Jason grabbed one arm and pulled it behind the man, putting cuffs on it and then the other. Jason then rolled him off of her. Norman groaned as his knee twisted.

“Vanessa? You okay?”

“I am now.”

He took his shirt off and wrapped it around her. Picking up his phone he called the lieutenant. Within minutes, sirens filled the air, seeming to come from everywhere.

She felt Jason wrap his arms around her. He looked down at her.

“It’s over.”

Epilogue

Jason turned his car into the station parking lot. He had just returned from the preliminary hearing for Norman Lasiter. In the four months since Norman was arrested, very little legal work had gone forward due to his health. Actually, his health was fine but his knee wasn’t. It had required surgery and traction in a bed.

Remember to never get Vanessa Layne that mad at you!

He smiled to himself as he thought of her. She was quite round now and the baby would be coming soon. She had been on desk duty since coming back from her ordeal. The lieutenant had seen to that.

He remembered the first time John Patton had seen her after she was rescued. He had given her a huge bear hug, tears in his eyes. Then he stepped back and pointed a finger at her.

“You’re lucky I don’t kill you myself for not telling me.”

She had smiled and done her best to look sheepish. It had worked.

The lieutenant gave her another hug before smiling back at her.

“Desk duty for you, young lady.”

Jason parked and walked up to the station. Dave was manning the front desk as usual.

“Hi, Dave. How’s Vicky?”

“Hey, it’s our hero! Oh, mean as ever,”

Jason gave him a dirty look. The hero crap was not something he was comfortable with and Dave knew it. Every now and then he would tease Jason.

“That’s cause she puts up with you.”

“Too true, too true. You going up to the party?”

“Yeah. Does she know yet?”

“Not from me.”

“Okay. You make time to come up.”

“I will.”

Jason got on the elevator and got back off at the third floor. He dropped the bag he was carrying on his desk and leaned into the lieutenants office.

“Where is she?”

“Sent her to the evidence room after some file or other. Their setting up in the conference room now.”

Jason left Patton’s office and walked around to the conference room. Streamers had been hung in a hurry and a blue cake was on the table. Vanessa had learned she was having a boy and the rumor was going around that his name was going to be Jason. That had not been confirmed by the parents.

Nina Jefferson was laying out paper plates and plastic forks. There were presents on a table at the far end of the room. As he stood there watching, he thought about the next three months. Nina Jefferson had accepted a position with San Antonio Police and moved down from Austin. She’d been given the dubious honor of being Jason’s partner while Vanessa was on maternity leave. He liked her and she came with a solid record.

While he was standing there, Rob came into the room.

“I gather I’m not late.”

Jason turned and shook Rob’s hand.

“Actually, perfect timing. She should be here any second.”

****

Vanessa leaned against the elevator wall as it rode from the basement to the third floor. Her feet hurt and the little boy inside liked to kick incessantly.

When the doors slid open, she stepped into an empty squad room. She took about ten steps before she realized she was alone.

Where is everyone? Did she miss a memo or something?

She took the file she had in her hand and laid it on the lieutenant’s desk before going around towards the conference room.

“SURPRISE!”

She nearly jumped out of her skin. When she caught her breath, she saw Rob, Jason, and John standing in front of the rest of the squad room personnel.

“What is this?”

Jason was grinning ear to ear.

“Just what it looks like, a surprise baby shower.”

Tears started running down her cheeks.

“What it looks like is a bunch of grinning idiots!” She laughed and wiped at her eyes. Then, softly, she said to everyone, “Thank You.”

****

After the cake and presents, with work having to be resumed by most, Jason found a moment alone with Vanessa.

“You gonna come back?”

“Why? Don’t like your new partner?”

“I like her fine. In fact, that’s why I’m asking. I was hoping to keep her. She’s awesome!”

Vanessa took a swing at him but she was slower than usual. Jason got out of the way.

“Don’t mess with the pregnant woman!”

“You know I’m kidding.” He turned serious.”I’m gonna miss you.”

“Thanks.”

“Anything you and Rob need, you call Sandy and I. Anything, you understand me?”

“I will.”

He gave her a hug.

“You can count on us.”

She smiled.

“I know.”

A note from the Author.

In my comments at the end of my first book, I mentioned how writing a novel is like “putting yourself out there.” It was a humbling experience but the response from you the reader was beyond what I hoped for.

It’s not that I sold a million copies, or that the movie will be coming out next week, but it’s the kind words that people took the time to send to me.

Whether you write, draw, or any other pursuit in which you look for the reaction of the audience, nothing can make you feel better than someone saying they ‘stayed up late to finish’ or ‘they couldn’t stop thinking about it.’

Probably the most consistent comment I received was ‘I had to see what happened next.’

Anyway, because of the response, I forged ahead with the second in the series. You know this because you just read it.

Jason Strong has taken center stage as he should but hopefully you enjoyed getting to know Vanessa, John Patton and Doc Davis.

Jason is the kind of detective I would want to be. Committed to what’s right, even if it bends the rules a little, and compassionate for both the victims and the people that are impacted by loss.

I am currently writing #3, and hope to have it out in August. Thank you again for setting time aside to visit the world of Jason Strong. As I said before, your comments make it worthwhile, (or a challenge) and I welcome them at my email: [email protected] or my webpage jcdalglish.webs.com.

Thanks Again and God Bless,

John

May 31, 2012

For My Brother

 

by

 

John C. Dalglish

 

Prologue

 

Donnie Jarvis stepped off the school bus with his friend Tim Brown and waved at the driver. Donnie and Tim were in the same sixth grade class and lived just three houses apart in their south San Antonio neighborhood. The day was warm but not uncomfortably as the two boys turned for home.

They cut across the corner of Mr. Lander’s perfect green lawn. It was a game the twelve year olds played almost every day with the retired man. Could they get across without him seeing? If he was outdoors, he would yell at them to get off the grass and if he was indoors, he’d pound on the large glass window overlooking the manicured lawn. Today was a win for them, he wasn’t watching.