Now included in the back of the ebook version of “Ghost Man”

A Sneak Peek of
Have You Been Injured?
Coming Summer 2019!

One

The timing was terrible.
Matthew Talbot’s funeral was held less than twenty-four hours after Kathy Halliday’s memorial service. The funeral was scheduled by Talbot’s father.
Bobby Halliday’s parents had been divorced for sixteen years—when Casper Halliday was five years old. Bobby’s father moved to Florida. His mother moved to Phoenix. Casper had only seen them a few times since they moved. They sent gifts at Christmas. His grandfather sent cash—usually a twenty-dollar bill. His grandmother sent gift cards for video games that Casper had never used.
Bobby’s mother and father each had reasons they could not make it to New York for Kathy’s memorial. Bobby was not surprised.

Kathy’s parents, Amy and Kevin Belmont, moved to Paris, France when Casper was eight. Casper did not see them often when they still lived in Vermont. Kathy’s older brother was in the Air Force and stationed in Germany. The Belmonts went to visit him and took the opportunity to visit other popular tourist destinations as well. They fell in love with Paris and moved there four months later. The Belmonts visited the Halliday family only twice after that, for three days each time. Bobby and his family could not afford to make a trip across the ocean. This was one reason why Kathy’s parents never cared for Bobby.
They showed little attention or affection toward their grandson.
Their attitudes had not changed after Kathy’s death.

Amy Belmont was scowling when Bobby opened the door.
“Please come in,” Bobby said.
Casper stood behind Bobby.
“Hello,” Casper said.
Amy made a curt nod and stepped inside the apartment. Kevin trudged behind her. His sour expression backed up the venomous look on Amy’s face. Amy walked through four rooms; surveying them like she was performing an inspection.
Casper and Bobby shared a look. Casper lifted his right hand and rubbed the back of his neck. Bobby passed by closely and whispered.
“Yeah. This is going to be trouble.”
Casper did not expect affection from his grandparents. They were little more than strangers from long ago. But he was not prepared for the venomous atmosphere that confronted him.

No, Grandma. There are no crushed beer cans in the floor. No overflowing ashtrays. No pool table in the living room and no nude posters on the walls. We haven’t turned the apartment into a bachelor pad. Sorry to disappoint you.

Amy spun around on her heels.
“You had my daughter cremated?”
Kevin shook his head and spoke in little more than a whisper.
“Unbelievable.”
“It’s what she wanted,” Bobby said. “We made the same decision together. We talked about it more than once.”
“Did she write it down?” Amy sneered. “Did you?”
“No,” Bobby said.
“Hmmph,” Amy said. “And you never thought to discuss this with me.”
“Or me,” Kevin said.
“Or Kevin,” Amy said.
“We didn’t have days or weeks to have a debate,” Bobby said.
Casper could see the tension on his father’s face.
“There should not have been a debate!” Amy said.
“Cremation is barbaric,” Kevin said.
Amy threw up her hands.
“Exactly! Why not just strap her to a raft, light it on fire, and shove her out into the Atlantic! Like goddamn Vikings!”

Bobby took a deep breath.
“Mrs. Belmont. You lost your daughter. I lost my wife. Casper lost his mother. Is this really what you want us to do right now?”
Amy shook her finger at Bobby.
“Don’t you talk down to me like I’m a child! You were never—!”
Bobby cut her off.
“I was never good enough for your daughter. How many times do you think I told her that?”
“I don’t care—”
“I did what Kathy wanted,” Bobby said.
“Without one thought for my feelings!” Amy said.
“Kathy is dead,” Bobby said. “Fighting will not change that.”
“I told you not to speak down to me—”
“You’ve been back to the states twice in fourteen years,” Bobby said. “Why should I think you care?”
Amy stepped forward. Kevin grabbed her arm.
“You smart-ass son-of-a-bitch!” Amy hissed. “The goddamn planes cross the ocean in both directions!”
“Not on a cop’s salary,” Kevin said.
“No,” Amy said. “No. Not once.”
“Let’s go,” Kevin said. He pulled Amy toward the door. She resisted. She glanced at Casper and looked back at Bobby.
“Don’t think I don’t know what happened. I can read. That horrible monster chose my baby out of ten million people because of a stupid name.”
She jabbed a shaking finger at Casper without taking her eyes off of Bobby.
“The name you insisted on giving him.”
Amy made a sarcastic face.
“Ghost Man. And by the time I can get here, you’ve left me nothing but a pile of ashes…”
Kevin opened the door and pulled on Amy’s arm. She stumbled and almost fell. She glared up at Casper.
“Casper. Stupid fucking name. And another cop. Isn’t that just wonderful.”

---

No one had prepared for the turnout for Kathy Halliday’s memorial service. The rented Community Hall was designed to accommodate three hundred people. Seats filled quickly and people kept coming. Over a hundred members of the NYPD attended along with many of their spouses. Chief of Detectives Livingston and his wife were there. Casper kept looking at the door to see if Blair Hampton might come. He never saw her.
Casper’s spirits rose when he spotted Mando Gonzalez, Sean Kelly, and Mona Casey walk through the doors. They shared hugs. Mona hugged Bobby after Casper introduced them. Two of Bobby’s friends took him aside.
Mando motioned to his right.
“That lady looks like your mom. Are those your grandparents?”
“Yeah,” Casper said. “They live in France.”
“I know,” Mando said. “They…don’t look sad. They look pissed.”
“Oh, yeah,” Casper said. “They’re pissed, all right. I guess they’re old school or religious or something. They’re pissed about the cremation. They wanted a casket and a church and a parade of cars to the cemetery.”
“Oh,” Mando said. “Yeah, my family is like that. I hate those things. I don’t want to go out like that.”
“I don’t either,” Casper said. “Dad did what Mom wanted, and it pissed them off that he didn’t consult them. My grandmother especially. She said some awful shit to my dad.”
“That’s too bad,” Mando said. “I’m sorry, man.”
Mando looked around the room.
“This place is almost full.”
Uniformed police officers lined the walls.
“Are they going to close the doors?” Casper asked. “We’re going to be violating the fire ordinance.”
“With all these cops here?” Mando said. “I doubt it.”
Casper looked at the riser at the front of the room. A podium stood in the middle. To the right stood a large spray of flowers and an enlarged photo of a smiling Kathy Halliday. To the left were more flowers, and an enlarged photo of Kathy, Bobby, and little Casper.
“Do you hear that, Mom? Standing room only.”
“She deserves it,” Mando said.
“Thanks, Mando,” Casper said.
“There are a lot of warm bodies in here,” Mando said. He tugged at his pants leg.
“It’s getting a little humid down south.”
Casper covered his mouth to hide his smile.
“You should not be allowed to attend sad events.”
“Hey, man,” Mando said. “I’ll go for that.”
“Not too fast, though,” Casper said. “We still have tomorrow.”
Mando sighed.
“Yeah.”

A pianist played two of Kathy’s favorite songs as the last seats were taken. Dozens remained standing. No one made a move to close the doors. People continued to enter. A lady added her excellent voice to the piano for a beautiful uplifting song. When the last note faded, a procession of five people took the podium to speak about the life of Kathy Halliday. Many in the crowd sobbed quietly. A few, not so quietly.
Bobby had asked Casper if he wanted to speak. Casper declined. Being in the spotlight had not been kind to him.
“I’m sure whatever you have to say will take care of both of us, Dad.”
Casper also did not want to have to see his grandparents glare at him anymore.
The crowd hushed when Bobby walked to the podium. Casper thought his father spoke well and said all the right things. He only got choked up twice and had to pause.

Casper could not help but watch Amy Belmont during his father’s speech. She did not look at Bobby. Amy occasionally put a tissue to her eye but Casper saw no show of emotion other than anger.
Oh, it would be so nice to tell her exactly what happened. To tell her how he had made sure that his mother’s murderer would never see the sun again—would never stand to make a plea in a courtroom. Would never have a psychiatric evaluation to see if he was “responsible for his actions”.
Wouldn’t that be a nice story, Grandma? Would you have the stomach for that story, Grandma? Huh? Would you even hear it—or are you too busy blaming and hating my dad and me?
The tickle at the back of his neck made Casper jump. Mando glanced at him and then returned his gaze to Bobby.
Casper turned and looked out of the corner of his eye. She stood in the doorway, alone. She made a tiny wave.
Charlie Talbot.

Two

Sean Kelly, Mando, and Casper stared through the windows of Sean’s car.
“Jesus,” Sean said. “I’ve driven by this church a thousand times but I’ve never been inside. That thing is huge.”
“Check this out,” Casper said.
Dozens of security personnel and off-duty police diverted traffic away from the area. They made way for those attending Matthew Talbot’s first funeral service. Another funeral service and the actual burial would take place in Los Angeles, California. That was where Matthew Talbot was born and raised.
Matthew’s father, Eric “Tank” Talbot was footing the bills. The senior Mr. Talbot earned millions over a seven-year professional football career. Now, he expanded his fortune with car dealerships. While there would be no actual burial in New York, there would still be a service at a Manhattan cemetery. The ceremony would reveal a bronze bust honoring Matthew Talbot. Matthew’s father paid a small fortune to have the bust created in a matter of days.

Celeste (Charlie) Talbot was not involved in any of the arrangements, nor did she want to be. Casper spotted Charlie a few minutes after they entered the enormous sanctuary. She was at the front of the church, where a line of people passed by her offering condolences. Casper, Mando, and Sean walked to the end of the line. Casper lagged behind to be the last of the three.
Fifteen minutes later, Charlie spotted Casper. There was no smile on her lips, but Casper saw one in her eyes. He also saw her tiny wink.
Casper took Charlie’s hand in both of his. He wanted to throw his arms around her but that was impossible.
“How long have you been back?” he whispered.
“Two days,” Charlie said. She glanced toward the Talbots. “I didn’t want to talk to them. I don’t know how much Matt told them—if anything. I’m damn sure not going to ask. Thank you for being here.”
“Thank you for coming yesterday.”
Charlie inhaled and held her breath for a moment.
“Are you all right?” Casper said.
“I can’t believe what you did to that…that monster.”
“We can’t talk about that now,” Casper said.
Charlie’s eyes moved toward where Mando and Sean waited.
“Your friend—the one with the bat that saved our asses—does he know…everything?”
“No,” Casper said. “Not everything. I have to go.”
Charlie nodded. She joined her other hand to Casper’s. Casper felt Charlie press something against his palm. He was sure it was a note. Casper joined Sean and Mando who looked confused. They took seats well back in the congregation. Casper excused himself and went to the rest room. He locked himself inside a stall and unfolded the note.

We have to talk. Your apartment tonight at eleven. Try to be on time.

There was no formal procession to the cemetery. Casper, Mando, and Sean met with other officers from their precinct.
Casper watched other little cliques of people forming. One group of about twenty-five men was definitely not in a deep state of mourning. They wore expensive suits, shoes, and haircuts. Casper heard the occasional laugh or two—followed by shushing sounds from the others. Casper glared at them.
Wall Street types. Matt Talbot’s work buddies—I’d bet money on it.
Casper spotted Eric Talbot. The man was hard to miss. He was a huge man who had slimmed down after his retirement from pro football. Casper guessed his weight at three hundred pounds. It was still twenty minutes before the ceremony began.
Another couple joined Eric and his wife. This couple was a little older, in their early sixties. Casper looked at the woman, who was beautiful for any age.
Sabrina LeClair. Charlie’s mother. Without a doubt.
Mrs. Talbot and Mrs. LeClair exchanged an uncomfortable hug. Mrs. Talbot said something to Sabrina. Sabrina turned and motioned to her right.
Charlie was alone, leaning against a table beneath the roof of a small gazebo. She lit a cigarette.
Casper saw Sabrina roll her eyes. Mrs. Talbot shook her head.

Casper heard raised voices from the Wall Street bunch. A few of the men spoke while they looked in Charlie’s direction.
A man raised his hand, sprayed something into his wide-open mouth, and strutted toward the gazebo.
Casper’s jaw dropped.
Breath spray? In a cemetery? Are you freaking kidding me?

The man got Charlie’s attention. Charlie switched her cigarette from her right hand to her left. She held out her right hand. The man ignored her hand and wrapped his arms around her. Charlie was obviously unprepared for that. She held her arms out to her sides, concerned only with not setting the man on fire.
The man stepped back. He pulled on his tie and straightened his jacket. The man spoke nonstop. Casper couldn’t understand a word, but he knew Charlie wanted the man to go away. The man’s body language was not one of mourning or support. He looked like a man trying to pick up a woman at a bar.
“Piece of shit,” Casper said under his breath.
“What?” Mando said.
“Nothing.”

The crowd assembled for the ceremony. There were seats beneath a portable canopy for the elderly, the disabled, or those with small children. Everyone else stood. Two minutes before the ceremony began, Charlie stepped next to her parents.
Sabrina leaned toward Charlie and whispered.
“You smell like a goddamn ashtray.”
Charlie turned to leave. Her mother grabbed her arm.
“Celeste…” Sabrina hissed through gritted teeth.
Charlie paid her no attention. She stepped outside the perimeter of people with her arms folded across her chest.
Mando whispered to Casper.
“What the hell?”
“I don’t know,” Casper said. “Charlie’s mom is probably a Nicotine-Nazi.”
“Jesus,” Mando said. “Her husband was murdered. Cut her some slack, man.”
“Exactly,” Casper said. He looked over at Charlie.
Shit.
Mr. Wall Street stood at Charlie’s side. He put his arm around her shoulder.
Casper scratched a tickle at the back of his neck. He could tell Charlie had no idea what to do. The man leaned in and spoke into Charlie’s ear. The ceremony began and everyone looked toward the front.
Over the next twenty seconds the man’s hand moved from Charlie’s shoulder, to the back of her arm, to her elbow
And to her waist.
Casper turned and whispered to the police officer standing to his left.
“Excuse me.”
“Where are you going?” Mando whispered.

Casper crept up behind the man. The man jumped when he felt someone’s breath in his ear.
“If you ever want to use that hand again, you better move it. Now.”
The man lowered his arm and took one step back. As he turned, he looked at Casper’s face. Casper saw recognition in the man’s eyes.
Why not? I’ve been on television a few times.
The man straightened his tie again and walked across the grounds. Casper heard the chirp of a car alarm.

---

A plain, ordinary black sedan sat along the curb. The man behind the wheel looked through the lens of a video camera.
“What is this?” Bradley Butler whispered to himself.
A man in an expensive suit comforted the grieving widow—although it looked more like he was trying to seduce her.
Our boy Casper Halliday sure doesn’t like it. I wonder what he said to the guy.
Butler followed the man with his camera. The man paused before getting in his car. He threw two middle-finger salutes in Casper Halliday’s direction. He climbed in his car and screeched the tires as he left. Butler lowered the camera.
Wow. What an unusual funeral. Murphy will get a kick out of this.

Four

Sara Lawson swore when the phone rang. She jabbed at the stop button on the treadmill as she looked at the electronic baby monitor. It took Sara three attempts to strike the button because the treadmill was set to its highest speed. The second ring of the phone woke twenty-one-day old Andrew Lawson.
“Shit!”
“Mom?”
Four-year-old Rebecca Lawson stood in the doorway rubbing her eyes.
“I know honey,” Sara said. “Andy is awake.”
Sara snatched up the phone.
Two rings. Two naps and one workout—over.
“Hello?”
Sara propped the phone against her shoulder as she picked up the baby.
“Yeah, it’s me, Sara,” Carter Lawson said. “I have to work late.”
“No, no, no,” Sara said. “Don’t do this to me, Carter. The f—did you forget about gymnastics?”
Rebecca went from sleepy to wide awake in a split second. She threw her hands in the air.
“Gymnastics! Yay! Where’s Daddy?”
“Did you hear that, Carter?” Sara said.
“I’m sorry,” Carter said. “They just dropped this on us a couple of hours ago. Our biggest client is acquiring a new company. It’s top-secret and won’t be announced until Monday. They want a brand new ad campaign ready to go by sunrise on Tuesday.”
“And I guess you’re the only one that can pull that off,” Sara said.
“I’m on the team—”
“And the team can only work their magic after five o’clock,” Sara snapped.
“This is my job, Sara,” Carter said. “It doesn’t always fit in a neat little box. You’re on maternity leave. I’m not.”
Sara’s nostrils flared. She knew there was logic in what Carter said. But that didn’t mean she had to like it. It was true—she was on paid maternity leave from her job where she did data entry for a huge international brokerage firm. Her pay was reduced—but it did allow her to stay home with her toddler and her infant son.

Sara pushed the key to put the phone on “speaker”. She put the phone on the changing table.
“I was on the treadmill, Carter. I haven’t had a shower—”
“Are we on speaker?” Carter said.
“Yes, God—yes, we’re on speaker. I’m changing a diaper and I only have two hands.”
Rebecca danced across the floor, chanting.
“Gymnastics! Gymnastics! Gymnastics!”
“Rebecca. Please!”
“I’m sorry,” Carter said.
“You’re sorry,” Sara said. “I can’t take a shower now. I’ll be lucky if I get to change clothes.”
“No one will care,” Carter said.
“I care!” Sara said.
“I have to go,” Carter said.
“So do I,” Sara said. She ended the call. She picked up Andy and put him to her shoulder. He stopped crying. Sara blew a wisp of hair out of her face.
“I got Andy’s bottle, Mommy.”
Rebecca held up the bottle of formula she took from the refrigerator. She looked up at Sara with her big, soulful eyes. Sara smiled.
“Oh, thank you, baby.”
“Am I a good helper?” Rebecca asked.
“You’re the best helper in the world, honey,” Sara said. “I need to warm this up just a little.”
“Where’s Daddy?”
“He has to work late,” Sara said.
Rebecca’s lip trembled.
“Can we still go to gymnastics?”
“Of course we can,” Sara said. “Daddy will come with us next time.”
Sara heated the bottle and fed Andy while she walked into the bathroom. She studied her reflection in the mirror.
Oh, well. I’ve looked worse. I shouldn’t have been so shitty to Carter. It’s not his fault.
Have I really gotten this soft in just five years?

Sara Everly enlisted in the army fresh out of high school. She was the best female athlete in her school, by far. She played volleyball, softball, and she was on the track and field team. She had a few athletic scholarship offers, but none that really interested her. And Sara was tired of sitting through long hours of classes.
Sara wanted to see the world. She also loved pushing her limits—mentally and physically. She was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, where she was quickly recognized as the most gifted and talented woman on base.
After six years of training, Sara intensified her physical training on her own. She said nothing to anyone, but she was considering the Army Ranger program. Very few women had made it through the program. The Ranger program chewed up and spit out a lot of men as well.
One morning, Sara pushed herself through a tactical training course. Heavy rains fell overnight. Sara planted her foot on the edge of a cliff. The earth gave way. Sara fell over twenty feet—breaking her right leg in three places.
So much for the Ranger program.
Sara’s leg was in a cast for six months. Her mood grew dark. Being immobile threatened to drive her crazy.

One Saturday night, a group of Sara’s friends from her unit insisted that she go out with them. Sara protested, as she always did. She was embarrassed by the cast and the crutches. Her cast was almost completely covered with ink. Her friends and unit members were determined to support Sara’s recovery with their signatures and words of encouragement.
This particular night, her friends would not take “no” for an answer. Sara finally relented.
She took a long time to get ready. Bathing was difficult. Sara had not left the base in weeks, and had worn nothing but sweat pants and shorts. She shaved her one good leg—an exhausting job with the heavy cast fighting her every move.
Sara cut the leg off of a pair of blue jeans and then discovered she could not put them on by herself. She enlisted the aid of a friend. Both women were breathing hard by the time Sara fastened the button.
“I’m getting fat,” Sara said.
“Bullshit,” her friend said. “You’re still a beast.”
“Thanks,” Sara said. “I guess.”

They shoved two tables together and helped Sara to a pair of chairs—one to sit on and one to rest her leg. Another of Sara’s friends joined them later, accompanied by his visiting brother. The brother was Carter Lawson. Sara and Carter hit it off immediately. They talked so much that Sara suggested Carter sit beside her. He didn’t hesitate. Carter was in graduate school at Boston University majoring in advertising.
“Your cast is impressive,” Carter said. “There’s not one square inch of free space.”
“There’s room on the back side,” Sara said. She giggled. “In the area where people get a little…nervous. Do you want to sign it?”
Carter laughed and beat on his chest like Tarzan.
“I’m not scared. I’ll sign it when it’s time to go.”
“I can stand,” Sara said. “It’s no big deal.”
She pushed against the table and stood.
“Damn,” Carter said. “You’re strong.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls,” Sara said.
Carter shook his head.
“No, I don’t think I’ve ever said that to a girl.”
Carter stopped a waitress and borrowed a pen. He lowered himself to a knee.
“Wow. I feel like I’ve gotten to first base already.”
“You’re not back there to stare, mister,” Sara said. “Get to writing.”

Carter laughed again.
“Yes, Ma’am.” He wrote several words. “There.”
Sara twisted around but she couldn’t see what Carter had written.
“What did you write?”
“Your phone number,” Carter said.
Sara laughed.
“You don’t know my phone number, silly.”
“I know,” Carter said. “And that’s a shame.”
Sara held out her hand.
“Give me the pen.” She wrote her number on a napkin.
“Are you going to use it?” Sara asked.
“The question is,” Carter said. “Will I wear it out?”

The first thing Sara did when she got home was to look in a mirror to see what Carter wrote on her cast. She aimed her phone at the mirror and took a picture.
To the cutest girl in the club.
I like you a lot.
Carter
Carter visited frequently and proposed to Sara seven months later. Carter secured a position with a New York advertising agency before he graduated. Sara had never given a thought to leaving the army, but now she was torn. She couldn’t imagine never seeing Carter again.
When she got pregnant despite her birth control pills, she believed it was the intervention of fate.

Five

Todd Miller was more excited than he had been in a long time. After an ugly breakup with his girlfriend of three years, he had an actual date after over eight months. There had been two one-night stands after hooking-up at a bar. Neither girl wanted to go out with him again. Todd withdrew from the singles scene until he met Jane—at the supermarket, of all places. She had an infectious smile and a great sense of humor—not to mention a killer body. Todd believed there was real chemistry between them.
Todd’s work day drew to a close. He only had a few more deliveries to make. The truck was not built for speed, and Todd had far less patience than usual. He swore under his breath at the vehicle he jokingly referred to as “the giant toaster on wheels”. The toes of his shoes danced between the gas pedal and the brake pedal as he worked his way through the crowded streets.
Todd smacked the steering wheel and swore out loud. He’d lost concentration and missed his turn. His mistake would cost him several extra minutes.
“Come on, come on, come on!” he spoke aloud to the drivers in front of him. He wanted to make it through that green light before it changed.
But he didn’t. One car went through the intersection when the light changed to yellow. Then another. And another. A bus sat still at the intersection to Todd’s right. The light turned red. Todd slammed the accelerator to the floor.
He didn’t see the little car zip into the intersection from behind the bus until it was too late.
Sara Lawson didn’t see the truck at all.

Six

Leo Sanchez and Mando Gonzalez had known each other for years. Not only did they work out of the same precinct, they lived in the same neighborhood. Leo knew Mando’s parents and remembered Mando from when he was a rambunctious toddler.
They got into the car and Leo drove them straight to a coffee shop.
“Break time already?” Mando said. “I think I’m gonna like this job.”
“I’m going to tell you what’s going on,” Leo said. “And I want to look you in the eyes when I do.”
The early break lost its charm.
“First,” Leo said. “I don’t know where the order for this ‘experiment’ came from. I have a hunch, but it’s none of my damn business. We don’t have a history of placing rookies together as partners. I don’t make any partner decisions—I just make reports and recommendations. I want you to know that my reports will be one-hundred-percent honest. I call them like I see them and I don’t pull any punches. Lives are on the line, and Sergeant Kavanaugh trusts me to tell him the truth. Are you with me so far?”
Casper and Mando nodded.
“This partner thing,” Mando continued. “It could happen or not happen—or it could be temporary. I don’t think I have to tell you how unusual it is to even consider pairing up rookies.”
Leo stared at Casper.
“I’m not really supposed to tell you this, but I think you should hear it. You’ve suffered a terrible loss—a loss that will be with you for the rest of your life. My heart burns for you, Caz. Maybe it’s good that you’re back to work. Or maybe…it’s too soon. Who knows? I sure as hell don’t. But it doesn’t seem right to put you out on the streets with a stranger right now.”
Leo looked at Mando.
“This means extra pressure for you. Are you okay with that?”
“Yes, sir,” Mando said. “Casper and I have wanted to be partners since the academy.”
“Yeah,” Leo said. ”Okay. I doubt if you ever discussed these circumstances.”
“Damn the circumstances,” Mando said. “We’re in for hell or high water.”
“You’re in for worse than that,” Leo said.
“You only live once,” Mando said.
Leo narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t make me watch you die, son.”

They answered one call when a fender-bender turned into a fist fight. The threat of arrest made for cooler heads. Leo sent the men on their way with a stern warning.
Casper answered a radio call from a pub where a drunk man was becoming belligerent and possibly violent. The man was too inebriated to either fear or respect the police. Casper and Mando wrestled the man to the floor. Leo cuffed him. Leo called another squad car to haul the man to jail.
“Good job,” Leo said when they were back in the car. “Have you two been in fights together before?”
“We’ve had to make a few tackles,” Mando said.

Traffic was heavy as the six o’clock hour approached. Leo inched the car forward in line. The light turned red, and they stopped again. There were eight cars ahead of them at the intersection. Two minutes later, the light changed to green.
The noise was sickening.
The sound of metal destroying metal and shattering glass seemed to go on forever. The horrible noise reverberated off the surfaces of high-rise buildings. Leo had just started inching the car forward when he slammed on the brakes.
“Jesus!”
Casper threw his door open and leapt into the street.
“Casper!” Mando cried. “Open my door!”
Casper pulled open the back door and sprinted toward the intersection.
“Police!” he shouted. “Police! Stay in your vehicles!”
The domino effect claimed thirteen vehicles in the crash but it was evident which vehicles suffered the worst. The front half of the delivery truck was obliterated. The driver had been ejected through the windshield and lay twisted and broken in the street. Sirens sounded almost at once; their distance and direction impossible to determine.
What remained of a small white sedan rested against the curb. The back half of the car had taken the brunt of the impact. The back half of the car was crushed and distorted. Casper saw someone hunched over in the driver’s seat. He ran and looked through the broken window.
The woman slumped against the seat belt. Multiple air bags had deployed. The woman bled where her sunglasses had cut her face. Her head moved slightly. She moaned.
“Muh…”
“Don’t move, Ma’am. It’s going to be okay,” Casper said. “Paramedics will be here any second.”

Mando approached from the other side of the car. He ordered people on the sidewalk to stay away. He slid to a stop and looked through the twisted opening where the rear window used to be.
“Oh, Sweet Mother of Jesus…”
Mando turned away, bent over, and threw up.
The woman in the driver’s seat raised her head and cried out.
“Please, try not to move, Ma’am,” Casper said.
“My…babies!”
Casper looked over the roof of the car. Mando stared back at him. Any hope Casper had was lost when he saw the pain and horror on Mando’s face. Mando shook his head as tears streamed down his cheeks.
The crowd continued to swell. Mando wiped his eyes and unbuttoned his holster. He raised his gun in the air.
“Stay back! If you’re not a doctor, a nurse, or a paramedic keep the fuck back!”
Leo ran toward the car. Mando stepped in his way.
“No, Leo,” Mando said. “You don’t want to see this.”
“What do we got?” Leo asked.
“A little kid,” Mando said. “And a…a b-baby.”
“Sweet Mother of Mercy…” Leo said. He crossed himself.

Police, fire department, tow-trucks, and paramedics arrived. A dozen professionals worked to free Sara Lawson from the car. When they moved her onto a gurney Sara arched her back and loosed a blood-curdling scream.
Casper, Leo, and Mando watched as they loaded Sara Lawson into an ambulance. As the doors closed, she screamed again.
“Where are my babies?”

Have You Been Injured?
Coming Summer 2019!

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