Keeper of the Ward

Casey's brother JR just found out something that he had to tell her. She had to know. They needed to involve the police. He planned on meeting her at a place, a tavern where they use to work together. It was good that Colorado tended the bar today.... Excerpts from Chapter 1 Colorado waved to JR to hurry so she would not have to hear the same old stories and the same old gripes from the regular. She reached for the last pull chain to turn on the neon sign and did an about face to get a drink ready for him and the other bar patron. Thunder clapped, lightening lit up the dark rainy sky. A blast of a horn filled the air, a sound of screeching tires. Scotty and Colorado ran to the window. In disbelief she watched as cars stopped to aid JR An alarmed Scotty shouted, “CALL 911!” Colorado froze staring at her friends lifeless body. Scotty pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped out the three digits on his cell phone. Colorado went behind the bar to get her cell phone from her purse.... A tall well develop young man with sandy blonde hair stood at the nurse’s station flirting with the nurses when his cell phone rang. Recognizing the number, he answered in a flirty way unknowing the seriousness of the phone call as he answered, “This is Doctor Jon Paul Gallagher is this that gorgeous red head asking for my undivided attention?” Colorado cried, “Jon Paul,” Jon Paul stood quiet as she sobbed in his ear “Colorado, what’s wrong?” “Your brother! He just got hit by a car in front of Berringers.” His training as a doctor alerted him and set him into immediate action “I’m on my way.” Moving quickly away from the desk, he ran to the double doors, and called back to the nurse’s station, “April, call the paramedics they need to meet me at Berringers on route 190 STAT!”.... She looked at the time as she drove closer to the pub. Scolding herself, she said, “Crap…CASEY, JR is gonna bust your chops for being fifteen minutes late.” The commotion in front of her prevented her from entering Berringer’s parking lot. Dozens of police cars surrounded the bar. An ambulance and police cars were in the middle of the road and yellow tape blocked her way. She parked across the street so she could walk to the pub. Colorado stood at the door in tears and watched her walk across. Scotty stood by the ambulance. Colorado called to him to stop Casey. He ran up to her. “Casey you can’t go over there. It’s a crime scene!” “Why what’s going on Scotty?” When Casey’s eyes spotted the body lying on the ground, she tried to move closer to see who it could be. As they put his, lifeless covered body on the stretcher. An arm dropped revealing a familiar tattoo. JR wore it proudly. The Marine Corp emblem and the words Semper Fi. Casey recognized it. In shock she whispered, “Semper Fi, Semper Fi always faithful, always faithful” She spoke low in disbelief, nodding and disclaiming him, "No…That is not my brother.” The wind blew the blanket off his wavy brown hair. Her mind reeled back to when they were kids in the orphanage as he teased his little brother Jon Paul, “One day you can have a head of hair like this kid, but right now you have baby hair.” Her body trembled. From a whisper, to a sudden wail of remorse she repeated “no... no... NO!" refusing to allow reality in. Excerpt from Chapter 2 “Finally, Captain Steve Mason and Lieutenant Nicholas Mason two of our finest Troopers available will be heading up Troop B.” Captain Steve Mason the very same sober faced, man that would not even crack a smile at the Senators joke stepped forward. He stood tall, well cut. His uniform matched the color of his eyes, steal blue gray. His eyes, stern, cold, they held a warning. ‘NO TRESPASSING’ The audience applauded one last time. Captain Mason gave them a single nod and left the room. Leaving behind the rest of the Troopers, the audience and the Senator. Lieutenant Mason nodded as well and followed the Captain out. The senator continued, “Uh… he wasn’t supposed to do that…but he can… ” He turned to Captain Mason’s superior… The superior nodded and left the room as well. The senator explained, “If you are asking yourself why Captain Mason and Lieutenant Mason do have the largest jurisdiction? Trust me, with good reason. As I said, the Masons are the finest Troopers in the State of New Jersey. I am not using a cliché it is a fact. I need these two men because they are both professionally skilled in drug enforcement. They also have handled gang members. You would think that way up there in the sticks you would not find any gangs but I have several mayors in the audience that would beg to differ. The gangs haven’t been in plain sight yet, but there are rumors that two groups may be developing as we speak...” In the lobby, Nick (the lieutenant) joked, with his cousin Steve (the captain). They are both, tall, handsome, muscular men. Although of the same blood, their facial features are completely different. Steve’s coloring is lighter. His blonde hair and blue eyes are contrary to Nick’s dark brown hair and brown eyes. Nick’s soft brown eyes are cheery, always kidding with his cousin, he joked to ease the stress. He joked, “Steve, you didn’t even say goodbye.” Steve always looked stern and he usually created the stress. Unless Steve became annoyed, the cousins most of the time thought alike but they are far from alike. Steve grumbled, “What a stupid bullshit job I don’t have time for this crap. We have to get back up North. We need to check out the files on these drivers we're suppose to baby-sit.” Nick reasoned, “You know it’s more than baby-sitting Steve. You know what these counties are facing and our town is right smack in it as well. Oh hell Steve, at least we will be close to home.” Steve took in a deep breath and breathed out heavily, “I suppose.” “You will get home to Stephie and Brayden quicker and you will have more time with them.” Again, he agreed knowing Nick made sense, “They are the only reason I’m doing this. I have to worry about their safety in that town and I don’t know what's going on with that daughter of mine but if being close to home will make her happy that is what I’m going to do.” In the Hopetown Transportation Office in Corn County, Two men argued. A short, balding man, by the name of Butch Bridges, Manager of the Hopetown Bus Depot, versus the supervisor, Harry Lloyd, a small thin man with a white bristly beard, and a stubborn streak. He always tried to defend the drivers. Someone knocked at the door. “Yes” A sharp, stunning, middle-aged, African American woman opened the door, poked her head in, looked, and grinned at Harry noting that Butches voice sounded agitated. It was the dispatcher Tess Jackson and contempt created the grin on her face.... Butch wanted to avoid any more discussion about Casey so he asked, “What did you want to talk to me about?” “I have some bad news.” As the wide grin reappeared on her contemptuous lips, she handed over a certified letter from Trenton.... Lieutenant Mason pointed out one folder of particular interest. The Captain agreed it is a matter of concern. The officers called in the manager and supervisor around 6:30 that day to answer questions. The two civilians sat nervously waiting and watched as the Captain flipped through the files. Looking up from the first file in question, he noticed someone missing, “Where’s your dispatcher?”... The pile dwindled down to two. Captain Mason placed them side by side in front of him, and began, “Now, we have a question about this one on Casey Gallagher.” A look of vindictiveness crossed Tess’s face. ‘They saved the best for last.’....