Chapter 7

Blair hadn't known what to expect, seeing her grandparents again. A part of her hoped for answers, maybe even to orchorstraite reconselation between them and her mother. She didn't expect, however, for Joe and Anne to treat everything as though she had never left. It was weird, almost like coming home for the summer had been something she had continued to do all growing up. Sure, they had asked her the questions she had expected, was she in college, what was she majoring in, had she been seeing anyone special. But beyond that, they never once brought up her mother and father.  She soposed that the simple fact that her mother had not replied to her grandmothers letter, was reason enough for Anne to not want to discuss her seemingly non existent daughter. Even so, Blair wondered how it would be excepted if she casually said something like "mother and father are going to the keys for the summer" or " Dad's new sports car is something to see". Both were useless facts, but they could provide an opening. But try as she might, she could never quite get the words past her lips. Oh well, the summer was just beginning and she was sure the right time would present it's self, or so she hoped.

___________________________________________

Food, He needed something to eat. He could go to the bar and grab a burger or something, but he wasn't really wanting to hang out with the guys shooting the crap tonight. His options were limited at this point.  Everything closed down pretty early in this town, but even so it was almost midnight. Taco bell, Mickey D's or Wendey's  seemed to be his options. Oh well, chicken nuggets it was. He wasn't much of a taco kinda guy.  He had no reason to hurry home. Tomorrow was the first day of his short week, meaning the next two days were his.  He check his clock again. He only had one friend who would still be up and raring to get into something.  He dialed the number, listening to someone singing about popin champaign on the ring back. "Whats goin on brotha" the scratchy voice on the other end answered. "Sup Garrett, how bout we catch the hell out of some crappy?". 

Garrett laughed "Aight man, but you gotta drive, I've been throwing em back sense 5 this afternoon".

Mason shook his head, somethings never change "I'll be there in 10. Got anymore beer left?"

___________________________________________

The sun was just coming up when Garrett and Mason drug the john boat out of the watershed. They were moving a little slow. It had been a long night. Two six packs and a cooler full of crappy later, all was right with the world. Garrett yawned and streched before climbing up into his lifted GMC. "I'm feeling a chicken strip biscuit from Jake's. How about you?" Mason opened the passenger side door, contemplating how to climb in without looking like a monkey, " I couldn't have said it better myself". He replied, grunting a little as he gripped the dash with one hand over his head, and the other he pulled on the door. It took him a miniuent, but he got in. "Dude, you really need to think about some running bars on this thing" 

Garrett laughed "Then the girls wouldn't need any help getting in! Now where's the fun in that?" 

"Your wrong for that man" but Mason wasn't surprised enough to even laugh. They drove along in silence for tail they hit mile marker 13, just inside the city limits. Jake's was hoppin as usual this early in the morning. Cars coming and going. If you wanted biscutes that could clog your arteries in a heart beat and coffee with thin film of grease floating on the top, this was the place. To Mason and Garrett, who had been coming here weekly seense they were to little to see over the counter top, it felt as welcoming as a mothers kitchen. The boys ordered their usuals, a chicken strip biscuit for Garrett and a Tenderloin for Mason. Kyle stood behind the counter running the grill, same way he had been doing every day that Mason and Garrett could remember.

Two cups of coffee later, they were full, but could hardly keep their eyes open. Neither one of them had to work today, so the logical and most inviting idea was to park on the couch, dozing and watching the hunting channel. Garrett would mumble from where he was streached out on the recliner every once in a while that he really should go skin a duck, or mount a turkey. But truth be told, neither one of them moved until well after 3 in the afternoon when Garrett got up saying something about more beer.

Chapter 6 (Part 2)

The slide show came to a stop. Someone flipped a switch and turned the lights back on. Twenty-seven people stood crowed in the station. Officers, Investigators and the Chief. No one said anything. Chief Wilks cleared his throat before continuing.

"What you just saw was the footage that was put together in 1980 of the Stratton murder. The case was deemed unsolvable, not enough evidence, and was put to rest in 1985. For five years, investigators from our department and the GBI followed leads, interviewed suspects, and collected evidence. It's been a cold case now for 30 years. We never expected to reopen it, that is until this morning." With that, Chief nodded to the chief investigator. " Tom, will you explain please?"

Tom stepped to the front of the room. He tugged at the all ready loose collar of his blue polo before beginning. "This morning, around 9am, Kristen Carter let herself into her sisters house on Rankin street. She said her sister hadn't been answering her phone in a couple of days, so she got worried. The smell is what she noticed immediately. Flies too. She didn't go any further, afraid of what she might find. She called us. I arrived at the house around 9:15am. Inside, myself and officer Bagson, who was assisting me, found the body of 37 year old african american female, Kerri Carter. The body, at our estimation, had been there at least three days. The air was not on in the house."

Across the room, Bagson looked down at his boots and kicked the floor, looking like he would be sick at any moment. To tell the truth he had felt that way sense this morning, and when they found the body he had to run out to use the bushes in the front of the house, rather than embarrass himself. 

Besides the obviously disgusting details, everyone seemed to be wondering the same thing, how did this all fit together?

"Kerri Carter's body was found in the exact same state as the body in the pictures you have just seen. In the bath tub, killed by multiple knife wounds. "

There seemed to be an audible gasp seeping through the room. Like each person was trying to wrap there head around the possibility that something so horrible could be duplicated. 

"There's more" The Chief said, bringing everyone back to attention "Kerri Carter, was the daughter of Colleen Carter, the woman that was murdered in the same way in 1980". 

The Chief and Tom could easily imagine how everyone was feeling. They had both felt the same way when they came to the realization that they were either dealing with a serial killer, or a copy cat. Neither of which either one of them had ever delta with. GBI had been informed, they had done their own work up of the scene, coming to the same conclusions as Tom had. To exact a replica to be a coincidence. 

Mason was the first to speak. "What do we do now?". 

That was what the chief liked about the kid. He was a no Bull guy. Straight to the point, and not afraid to speak up. Like his father in so many ways that he didn't even relies.

"We called you all here, so that everyone gets the same information. None of that he said she said crap. You all know what we're dealing with. We appreciate an ideas or input you may have. We're taking this one step at a time this go around. One thing I'll promise you, this time it will not go unsolved. We'll get this sombitch."

"Surveillance? Anything like that need to be amped up chief? At the schools or somethin?" Jerry ran a nervous hand through his unruly red hair as he spoke.  Everyone knew he was thinking about his kids. Just like half the other officers in the room. 

"We have no reason to believe that the killer will lash out any other ways. Both of these murders were very specific. Not random by any means. Just one family has been targeted. For that reason we will assign an officer to keep 24 hr surveillance to the other emendate family members. From what we have gathered, that only consist of her sister and kids, a grandmother and an uncle. Apparently though, Kerri was a bit of an outcast. She lived in the same neighborhood, but didn't see eye to eye with the other family members from what we've been told. Thats the reason no one found her earlier than we did. Anyways, no one is out there Po-lecing, so lets get back to it. But, hear you this,all of you, not a word to anyone. We want to keep it as quiet as we can right now. Don't need the town in an panic about something like this."

Everyone knew they had just been dismissed, but while the on duty officers went back out to their cars, the others seemed to hover around, talking or just sitting.  Mason walked up to his Sergeant and Tom, who were talking in a quiet corner.  He walked up as Tom was saying "It was like walking into bad De Javu'. I worked it with Mason's father back in 80, and it was like I was seeing the whole thing over again. For a min I thought I might be going crazy or something." 

"So this was the case. The one that started him off on those night mares." 

 Tom looked startled, like he didn't realize Mason had walked in on the conversation. 

"You remember that?"

"No, I just remember bits and pieces I've heard about it. It happened about 5 years before I was born. He would never tell me much about it, except to say it was the worst thing he had ever dealt with in his career."

Tom shook his head in remembrance. "We only talked about it once after it was over. Your mamma was pregnant with you. We went out for drinks after a shift, and you father got a little looser than he normally would. He told me then about the dreams. Never talked about it any other time. The GBI had just ruled the case cold. I guess thats what brought the memories back. He didn't get the night mares until then, when your mamma was caring you. I think the fear and responsibility of parenthood made it all the more real to him." Tom's words trailed off. Lost in thought. Whatever was coming, whatever they were about to have to deal with, he knew was going to be John Carter's nightmares realized. For his son to relive the very same horror that he had.

Chapter 6

Russell Drake was sweating. The tie he was rearing was beginning to feel like a hangman's noose around his neck. It had been a long hot day. He was standing at what was his third grave side service for the day. Why did everyone seem to choose to "depart" all at once? He was fine with the occasional two funerals in one day, but three on what seemed to be the hottest day the've had so far? That was ridiculous. Just as the pastor was saying "amen", Russ felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. Great, he thought to him self, What does a black man have to do for some peace and quiet around here? The number was the police department. Of course it was. Why wouldn't it he? 

"Sergeant Drake" He answered in a whisper as he tip toed away from the grave site. 

"Russ?" The female voice on the other end seemed to yell into the phone.

"Yes Tammy, it's Russ, you don't have to yell at me" he was still speaking barley above a whisper.

"Why in tarnation are you whispering for?" She was still yelling.

"Im at a funeral Tammy, What do you want?" Still whispering.

" Oh, I'm sorry, I wouldn't be bothering you at all if I had a choice, so you can just drop that attitude" now she was whispering which made it hard for Russ to hear over the crowed chatting behind him.

"What in God's name do u want Tammy!" Sergeant Drake picked the wrong moment to speak above a whisper and the pastor gave him a disapproving glance.

"Well Chief told me to call you to come in quick as you can. He's beside his self about something. Told me not to say anything to no body but to call you lickity split".

Russell checked his watch. He should be able to sneak out any minuet now. "Ok, i'll be by there as soon as I can" He hung up before Tammy could say anything else. He could just imagine her slamming the phone down at the office, ready to spit fire at him.  

                                                                            _________

Tammy mumbled under her breath as she began to dial the other numbers the chief had given her. They seemed to be calling everyone in and it must be important because when one of the officers response to coming in on his day off was "I've been drinking sense lunch time" Chief said "then sober up quick 'cause we need you". 

She sat there twirling her long blonde hair around her index finger. The phone rang, rang and rang and finally went to voice mail.  She hung up and tried again, this time leaving a message when he didn't answer. "Hmm" she thought allowed. That wasn't like him at all.

_____________________________________

The water was warm. Not a warm as bath water. Still cool enough to feel refreshing on your bare skin, but warm enough to make you want to stay in it for hours. Reluctanty both Mason and Blair trudged out of the water just as the sun was setting behind the hill. Instantly making it a little bit cooler. They lay on the side of the bank, clothes dripping.

"Well, i'm not going to lie, I'm disappointed you wouldn't jump in with your uniform on. I mean, that would have been much more reckless of you." Blair had dimples on either cheek when she smiled. She leaned her head to the side now, ringing her hair out. The water made her hair look almost black.

"You kidding me? These things are like gold around the department. If your lucky to get a new one, you treat it like its you last!"

They both laughed together.

"What are you studying in school, Blair? You haven't told me."

"Early child hood education. Last semester was the last on for me in a class room. This fall I'll be student teaching."

The light was growing less by the minuet. With the sunset came a cool evening breeze. Mason noticed Blair was shivering a little bit. He stood to his feet and offered her his hand.

"Guess it's time we head to find some dry clothes."

"Mason?" Blair asked him as the walked to the fork in the path, where he would go one way, and her the other.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for helping me pick up where we left off, I needed it"

He just chuckled and nodded a reply.

"I'll see ay Blair".

She smiled and lifted her hand in a slight wave, and turned her back on him to go back to her grandparents house.

Mason fairly flew to his truck, this time jumping over the gate. He was almost giddy, and he new it.

he climbed into his truck and heard the annoying beeping of his phone. He looked down to check it, and got a little worried when he saw there were 7 missed calls. All from the department.

Chapter 5

Mason drove a little slower than usual home that evening. The weather was beautiful so he road with the windows down and his stereo up. Instead of diving straight home through town, he decided to take the long way and come up through the back side of Doc Walkers land. He had traveled this dirt road countless times as a kids, on foot or someones four wheeler. There was a pond that sat partly on Doc's land and partly on Mason't fathers. When Blair had come home in the summers, she and Mason spent hours down by the pond. Fishing, catching craw daddies, skipping rocks. Back then there had been an old rope swing that hung from a low branch of a big old oak tree that sat right up the bank. Mason hadn't been back there in years. As he pulled off the road in

front of the gate that led to the pond, Mason wondered what made him think about it now. The gate wasn't locked, but rather than go to the trouble to open it, he just climbed over the top. Summer grass was just up past his ankles. It would soon be time for him to get his second cutting of hay off of this field. Doc let him cut his fields too. In return, Mason gave him a 3rd of what he bailed. 

The pond was just over the swell in the land that Mason was strolling up now.  As he walked, memories came flooding back. His dad and he spent many an evening just like this one, fishing out of the pond. Mason drank his first beer when he was 14, sitting in a little john boat, with his best friend Garrett. Mason had stole them out of his dad's shop. They wouldn't have gotten caught, but Garrett's little sister had seen them sneaking around and got suspicions.  She was only 10 at the time, but Becky was a smart one.  A week later when she was told she wasn't old enough to ride the four wheelers with them, she got her revenge by telling Mason's dad about the beer. Like he did with everything in Mason't life, John Carter Lawerence turned the incident into a learning experience. He and Garrett's father took them back down to the bank by the pond and over the corse of 2 hours, made both boys drink a six pack a piece. At first they was excited with something to prove, but after 2 of the dark liquid, both boys weren't so sure this was such a fun experience. Needless to say, the little lesson had worked well. Neither of the boys touched alcohol for the next two years. Now sophomore year, that was a different story……

The water was calm and inviting. Doc had kept the dock in excellent condition and all around the edges of the water were closely cut and edged. Mason grinned as he surveyed the sight in fro of him. Apparently he wasn't the only one strolling down memory lane. There, at the end of the dock with her toes in the water, was Blair.

She didn't hear him coming. He didn't make a lot of noise. He was enjoying the picture she made, her long hair in a loose braid down her back, catching the sun light. Renegade strands escaped around her face, drifting in the breeze. A few pieces seemed to tickle the back of her neck and ears.  She looked small and angelic, sitting there in the heart of their old haunts.  

Mason began to feel a little creepy, standing there watching her without her knowing. So he decided now was as good a time as ever to let her know he was there. He strode the few feet down the bank and on to the dock. She heard his foot steps and peered over her shoulder. She didn't looked startled. It was almost as if she was expecting him. Like his being there was the most natural thing in the world. 

"Do you remember all the time we spent here in the summer time?". No "hello" "nice to see you". She acted as though they were in the middle of a conversation and had been talking for hours.

"I was just thinking about it" Mason replied as he knelt to sit down beside her " Thats why I decided to walk down here. Kinda walking down memory lane."

Blair picked up a twig that was sitting on the weathered boards between them and idly rolled it between her finger tips. "Things were so easy, simple then, you know? Some of the happiest memories of my life are down here, in the water or on that swing." With that she tossed the twig off the side of the dock and into the water. They watched it land, causing little ripples in the water. The slight breeze floating off the water picked that moment to lightly tickle the edges of her skirt causing it to flip up above her knee. She smoothed it back down nonchalantly, but not before Mason caught himself admiring the smooth tanned skin. Her body was made for the warm air of summer. Her legs were meant to be displayed and caressed.

 Mason stopped his train of thought before he embarrassed himself. He silently cursed his father. It was his fault. If nothing else, John Carter had instilled in his son an appreciation for the female figure. He had repeatedly told Mason "Son, a beautiful women is to be admired, appreciated and cherished". From a young age Mason had been told "Look at her son, she's a beautiful women." He always finished with "Not as beautiful as your mother mind you, but attractive non the less" Mason figure that was how he got away with what he said.

"Have you been here long?" he asked her, dragging his eyes back to her face. Once could easily get lost there too.

"Oh, about an hour or so. I brought a book down to the old swing, but i don't think that rope will hold me anymore. It's a lot smaller and older than I remembered" she said with a soft laugh. God. Everything about her was soft.

"Yeah, no one has used it in years I guess. I know I couldn't tell you the last time I was down here." A sudden thought came to mind and he began to laugh.

"Whats so funny?" She asked. His laugh was contagious and she couldn't help but chuckle as she watched him. Time had done nothing be improve him. Who had once been a string bean of a farm boy was now a tall, handsome, lithe young man. He had a smile she was sure kept the single girls guessing and a strong brow that made you wish you were a damsel in distress. 

"Do you remember the last time we were down here together? The fight we had?"

She thought for a moment, her forehead furrowing in thought. Her face brightened in remembrance and she began to laugh with him.

"You mean when you and Garrett dared me to go skinny dipping and then I got mad because yall wouldn't stop teasing me and calling me names? Yes I remember! You two were trouble when you got together. I can't believe you even remember that!"

Mason shook his head "Yeah, bad thing is, Garrett is still probably using the same tactics to get girls out of there clothes."

They laughed together. Funny how easy this was. It was almost like they had spent every afternoon together for the past 10 years. 

"Ok then, It's my turn. Mr. Officer. How about it? I dare you to jump in." She smirked at him, issuing her challenge. Mason stared at her in disbelief. Could this girl, who until this very second, he had believed to be the very essence if feminine frailty and shy purity, could this same girl be a little bit of a vixen?

"You're kidding"

"Never been more serious in my life"

"You want me to jump in, uniform and all"

"The uniform is optional. If you don't I'm just going to call you names and pick on you the rest of the evening" She was grinning ear to ear now. He watched her, not knowing what to think, as she jump to her feet and started to unbutton her shirt. He felt his palms getting sweaty. This was not what he had anticipated and he didn't know how to react. He found his self breathing a sigh of relief as he realized she had a cotton slip under the clothing she was quickly discarding. One moment she was standing in front of him in a cute little white cotton dress and the next Mason was being splashed as she jumped in.

Her head popped out a few feet from the dock. As she tread water and glanced back at Mason who had yet to move, she asked "Well, are you a chicken?"

Chapter 4 (part 2)

Mason tried his best to focus only on work that day. He did everything expected of him, stopped cars, answered calls, did reports. No matter how much he tried to occupy his mind with the tasks at hand, he kept drifting back to the way her hair shined in the light, or how she had dimples that showed up when she was laughing. It was when he resized he was doing an aria check in the same neighborhood for the 4th time in an hour that he decided enough was enough. He needed a change of scenery for a while. By this time it was around 4:30pm. The activity at the station was beginning to wind down as the office staff were bringing their day to an end. Mason avoided the front and just headed straight back to the armory.  This was his sanctuary, even though it was little more than a closest.  Be that as it may, Mason considered it his closet. On one wall was nothing but rifles and shotguns, all hanging in a padlocked bracket. The back wall was floor to ceiling cabinets with a counter in the middle. The draws were filled with ammunition and spare parts. This was were all the spare weapons and all the tasiers stayed when they were not being used. Mason had been the departments armorer for the past 2 years. If his collection at home was any indication, you might could say he was a little obsessive with buying, trading, owning and collection fire arms. Everyone has to have a hobby, Mason's was just a little more intimidating than most. 

He spent the next hour cleaning and inspecting the firearms that had been left there for his attention. There wasn't much radio traffic during that time so he was never disturbed. Now this was what he needed. Something to take his mind of her rosy lips and sparkling eyes and..…..

"DANG IT" Mason growled out loud

"Now don't take it out on the gun sonny boy, whatever it did I'm sure it didn't mean it" 

Mason's head snapped up to see the chief investigator Tom More standing in the door way, laughing at him. Mason shook his head and laughed "Guess I'm just a little on edge today" 

Tom and Mason's father had been friends all while Mason was growing up. People had always thought they were brothers when they were on the job here at the department together. The resemblance had been somewhat remarkable. 

"Whatever it is, it's got you sure nuff occupied"

Mason sighed, and began to put the gun back into it's case. It was obvious that he wasn't making any head way with it in his present state of mind. "Yeah I guess your right. I need to put a few more miles on my car before 7 anyways."

"Well before you head out, Chief want's to see you in his office" Tom kinda grinned sideways with a "better you than me" look on his face.

"Why is the chief still here?" Mason felt his shoulders sag a little. Normally he had no problem with the Chief. But on days like today, he found it wiser to just stay out of his way. He had done so well! And now, here right before the end of the shift, he was being called into the office. He wasn't afraid of anything, but he didn't much like not knowing what he was walking into.

"He's got neighborhood watch tonight, so he's waiting on his chicken to heat in the oven so he won't show up empty handed"

Mason nodded his head. No use putting it off. The locked the armory door behind him and edged his way between Tom and the edge of the hall way. "I'll see ya later Tom"

To get to Chief's office from the armory you had to go through the common aria, or squad room that also served as dining room, kitchen and anything else that they needed it to be at that point in time. Chief's door was standing open so Mason tapped lightly on the door frame to announce his presence, and then walked on in. 

'You wanted to see me?"

The chief was sitting at his desk, glasses sitting perched toward the end of his nose, looking over what Mason   recognized to be the new rifle policy he had submitted last week. Great, he thought to himself, He would choose today to read it.

"This morning I looked down at my desk and saw this stack of papers with my name on it. My first thought was, why wasn't i notified that it had been completed? But then I decided that was splitting hairs and instead of fussin' about it, I decided that maybe I oughta read it."

Mason stood there waiting on the punch line. After 15 seconds of silence he decided that maybe it wasn't coming, and took a hint. " Well sir? Your thoughts?" 

"Mason, how long have you been at this department?" 

Masons new that the chief knew very well how long he had been there, but he played along knowing there was some reason for this foreplay.

"Three years sir"

"In 3 years time, how many times have you found yourself needing a patrol rifle in the car with you?"

"Not often sir"

"So why then, if in 3 years you have found the need for a weapon larger than what has been provided for you, less times than you can count on one hand, why then Mason should I approve to spend the money, that could be used else where, to arm my officers with a seeming useless weapon. Besides your need for a new toy to play with?"

So this was how he was going to play it? Battle of the wits eh? Luckily for Mason, knowing the Chief, he was prepared for just such an argument. 

"Well sir, it is true that the need so strong hasn't yet presented itself. My key word in that sentence being "yet". Look at it this way, would you rather us wait until one of us has been shot to allow us to carry our duty pistols? Or wait until one of us gets run over before allowing us to wear traffic vest? I don't know about you, but I'd rather one up the necessity than apologize to someone's mamma at the end of the day. I know it may seem like a frivolous waist of money sir, but I guarantee we'd rather justify our spending the money on these "toys" to city council now, than to have to explain why we were ill equipped to handle the situate, if and when it does arise."

The Chief's expression never changed. The only movement had been to take his glasses off and lay them on the pile of paper work.  When Mason finished, he push back from his desk. "Damn you Mason, you sound like a damn policy hand book. Get out of here and do some "po-lecing" 

Mason grinned as he left the office. He knew the chief had read his every argument in the paper work he had submitted. That little song and dance had been all about finding out if Mason really believed all he had wrote or was just good at putting pretty words on paper.

"Oh Chief" Mason called back over his shoulder as he headed to the common aria. "I think your chicken's burning".

 "God Dang Son B….." 

Mason laugh out loud as he walked out the front door, knowing just how that sentence ends.

Chapter 4

Chief Wilks was storming around in his office when Mason arrived the next morning. The officers that were already there seemed to be tiptoeing around the station. "Whats going on?" Mason asked on his way to the locker room. Jerry was headed in the same direction. " Chief got a complaint at home this mornin'. Somethin 'bout us no count lowlifes spendin to much time down at tha Circle K when we need to be "Poe-licin".  Got his feathers all rustled first thing. Haven't seen him this riled sense last halloween when someone attached that there monster mask to the license plate on his car."

 It seemed to take Jerry longer to answer a simple question than the average person. Mason thought he was going to die of old age before he was done talking.  Jerry's night shift captan came into the room, catching the last of the explanation "I told Chief whatn' nothing to it! By God he's done gone and got his "Dandruff" up!" 

Charlie had been working at the police department for almost 30 years. He had worked with Mason't father. He had half raised some of the younger officers. He was a smart man with a lot of policing experience and a good supervisor. But sometimes, in the heat of the moment, what he meant to say, and what he really said, are two different things. These became known as Charlie-isims, and "dandruff" was one of them.  

Mason just laughed, making a mental note to stay out of Chief way for the rest of the morning. Jerry  punched out just a Johnny came walking through the front door. He almost had to duck to make it through the doorways. "Well?" he said to Mason as he opening his locker and started pulling his duty belt out of it. Mason didn't look up from polishing his boots "Well what?" 

"What do you mean well what? You know very well what! What happened with the cute chick from Ricky's?" 

Leave it to Johnny to not beat around the bush. The man was about as subtle as a 5 car pile up on the 4 lane at 5 o'clock on a Friday.

"Why do you assume something happened? I gave her directions. Something I do daily on the job. Why should this be any different?"  

"The difference is most of the people who ask for directions aren't a knockout brunet chick with beautiful doe eyes! And being off duty, the possibilities are endless..…." Johnny trailed off with a chuckle. 

Mason shook his head " Wow, I didn't know my reputation as a ladies man was so well known. Guess I'll have to be more discreet in the future." 

"Ok fine, if thats the way you want to play it. But I'm on to you Mason.  You wouldn't be so dodgy about it if you weren't the tinniest bit interested!"

Mason walked out to his car, duty bag in hand.  Was he interested? He couldn't help but ask himself. He hadn't been in a relationship in,well, quite a while. He wasn't exactly picky, he just didn't go out of his way looking for someone. He was contented with work, and his life in general. He had never been one to mind being alone. So why then, after seeing Blair, touching her, feeling her warmth, had his house seemed so cold and empty last night?

Chapter 3 ( Part 2)

The screen door squeaked open shining soft light onto the front porch. Mrs. Anne was dressed for the night in a robe and slippers. She smiled at Mason "Well hey there sweetie! Come on in, Joe and I were just about to have our last cup of coffee for the evening."

Mason took a step forward so she could see him better. "Aww well thank you Mrs. Anne, but i really can't stay. I just ran into someone looking for your place this evening, and I was just bringing her here to see you" 

It was only then that Ms. Anne noticed the girl in the shadows. Blair slowly walked up the steps toward them both. She shyly smiled as she approached. "Hello' She said softly. 

Ms. Anne started to smile and welcome her in but the words caught in her throat as the light fell across the young girls face. So familiar yet such a stranger. The girl, so much like her own dear Lydia at her age. There was no mistaking this girl for who she was. 

"Blair" Anna whispered. Not as a question, but almost like a prayer. 

Blair timidly took a step forward "Yes M'am, It's me" 

Mason saw tears in the lady's face as the two embraced. What he had feared would be awkward, seemed to be effortless. 

"Well, I'll leave you two to catch up. Blair, it was good to see you again" With that Mason turned and headed back to his truck. Blair and her grandmother were going into the house when Blair turned "Mason?"

 "Yes?" he replied. "Thanks for everything, I hope to see you again while I'm here" 

Mason only smiled, touched the brim of his cap, and walked on to his truck.  

Chapter 3

Anne and Joe had never expected to have a daughter that had and abusive husband. There was no plan in place for if and when it ever happened. Looking back now, they would be the first to admit that they probably didn't handle the whole thing very well. It caught them so off guard, but the worst part was the way their daughter had chose to handle it. Nothing but excuses. Justification. Not for why he had been cheating, and now beating her, but for why she should stay with him. Not the reasons you would expect. Not for the child, the commitment. No, she was addicted to the comforts of being a millionaires wife. Plane and simple. She liked her name being at the top of the social roster. She like traveling to Paris once or twice a year. She cared more about her high brow life, than about self respect or self pride. This is what Joe and Anne couldn't get their mind quite wrapped around. They assumed when their daughter came through their front door that summer day, that she was home for shelter, refuge. Anything other than the request that they keep Blair on into the fall school session. They couldn't for the life of them understand how anyone could be that weak, spineless. Lydia seemed to expect her parents to just turn a blind eye to the bruises and consent to what she asked. When they did not give her the response that she was looking for, Lydia stormed out, vowing never to return and to not allow her daughter to ether. Joe and Anne just stood rooted to the floor in silence. Time seemed to move in slow motion as they watched their only child walk out of their life. Pride ran deep in this family. The daughter to proud to ask for the help she needed, the parents to proud to apologize for their harsh reaction.  

So, years came and went. No cards. No letters. No communication what so ever until Anne had written her daughter in desperation just 3 weeks before. She new his life was coming to an end and she new this was their last chance. All of their last chance. 

Chapter 2 (part 2)

"Blair?" Mason asked the dark haired beauty standing in the shadows. She looked a little shocked and then she started to smile as she stepped closer in "Mason?, Mason Lawrence?" She asked, still stepping closer. Mason took the step to close the gap between them "Yea, it's me."A somewhat self conscious smile began to spread across his lips. 

"You're so..tall!" Blair said with a laugh as she reached out to give him a hug. Mason laughed out loud as he said 

"Yeah that seems to happen." 

As she pulled away she added "So I guess you should have no trouble telling me where to go then huh?"

Mason turned to Johnny and Jen. "Yeah, um, I'm gonna head out. See yawl later." Johnny was grinning from ear to ear. "Ok Mason, yawl have a good night now." Jenny on the other hand looked somewhat sullen and turned her back on them to finish putting away the glasses. 

Mason and Blair walked out into the somewhat cooler evening air.  "So, what do you do here? I didn't expect to find you still in this little town. You were the one with big dreams.  A huge police department somewhere like Atlanta?  Mason took her hand to help her up the bank to the public parking. "Well, I am a cop, just not in Atlanta. My parents died while I was in college so I came back here. Been here ever since, at the same department Dad was. So I guess it's kind of fitting. What about you? Not a word since that summer. Your grandparents never even mention yawl any more." By now they were standing beside a shiny black Beemer that Mason assumed was hers.  Blair looked down at her strapy sandals "Mom and Dad don't even know I'm here Mason. I'm supposed to be going on a cruise for the summer with my friends from school. Two weeks ago Mamma got a letter from Grandma Anne telling her that Gramps is really sick. Mamma threw it away without even opening it. I saw it in the trash while I was home visiting and read it. It was the first word I had had from here since I was 8. So, I packed up, charged Daddy's credit card with a cruise and sent one of my friends in my stead. And here I am, not really sure what I'm doing here. They are not expecting me so I don't know how I'll be welcomed." 

Mason leaned his lithe body against the hood of the car as he listened. Mesmerized by the silky tones in her voice, the glint of the moonlight on her hair. The fluid motion she used to run her fingers through her hair as she brushed it off her forehead. He was overwhelmed with the surprising desire to reach out and touch her face. To be sure she was real. That she could really be this beautiful.  "Do you want me to go with you? It's next door to my place. May be better if I knocked and spoke to Mrs.Ann first. Soften the shock." 

"That would be great Mason, I'll admit that I'm more than a little nervous about all this. I don't know what made me decide to come. I guess It just scared me to think that my grandfather could die, without me ever seeing him again. Smelling the pipe tobacco on his cloths. I have so many little memories….." she trailed off, lost in her own thoughts.

"Lets get moving then" Macon pushed off  the car and headed to his own pickup truck. "If we wait to long they will be asleep, and that doesn't sound like a good idea". 

Mason led the way to the edge of town. The Streets were dimly lit with street lamps scattered here and there getting farther apart as they left main street. The lights disappeared completely when they turned onto Walkers Drive. Without the street lights in the way, the stars were radiant against the dark sky. A full moon shed a brilliance across the pastures on either side of the road. Mason turned into the drive way and dimmed his head lights. 

The Walkers house sat bout 200ft off the road nestled underneath two big oak trees. The wrap around porch had green ferns hanging between the white railing post, making a stark and cooling contrast to the white house. In the moonlight, Mason couldn't help but think how beautiful the old place was. 

Blair pulled the now slightly dusty car in beside him and turned of the ignition. They slowly approached the  house together, the moon lighting the path ahead. They were walking close enough to touch shoulders. "Are you scared?" Mason asked in hushed tones.  "Pretty nervous." She replied, looking up at him. Her nose turned up ever so slightly on the end. Little features reminded Mason of the little girl he had known so long ago. "There are still lights on in the den, so they're still up. I'll go up first and knock on the door." With that Macon took the steps, two at a time and taped lightly on the screen door. The faint sound of shuffling feet came closer behind the door. Macon tried to organize his thoughts on what to say to the old couple. How would they react? He knew there was a lot of bad blood between the family, but surely that didn't extend to their only granddaughter.

Chapter 2 (part 1)

One summer, when Mason was 8 years old, Doc Walker, as everyone called him, and his wife Anne had their 7 year old granddaughter staying the summer with them as she did every summer before.  She was a pretty little girl. Everyone said so. With her long red hair that curled just at the ends. This summer was different and everyone knew it. Her father, a wealthy business man based out of Chicago, and her mother, the doctors daughter, were having "problems" or so everyone said.  "Everyone" was the authority in this town. Rumors started at the drop of a hat. The one consistent though was the rumor of a mistress in the suburbs of Atlanta, where the little girls Father spent most of his time. 

The Doctor and his wife had never cared for their son-in-law. He had whisked their daughter away at the age of 17 with promises of fortune and fame. They had eloped without everyone knowing and called once they were married and moved to Chicago. Mrs. Anne and Doc Walker could have forgiven this, chalking it up to young love, except James, the son-in-law had never treated their daughter as they felt she should be treated. He started cheating on her a year into their marriage. Each time, a diamond necklace or emerald ring and a dozen roses were used to patch things up. James never came home with Lydia to visit, but every summer, like clock work, Lydia with baby in tow came to stay for at least a month. Mr. and Mrs. Walker made there opinion known and left it at that, but Lydia lived in her own world and in her world, without the life she was now accustomed to, she would rather not live at all.  

As their granddaughter got older, Lydia came with her less and less. That summer, she had came alone earlier and was staying longer than any of the years prior.  Mason's parents farm and Doc Walker's bordered each other, so every day she and Mason spent hours hunting craw dads in the creek or climbing in the apple trees. 

July was hot as ever that year. Mason remembered it like it was yesterday. He was sitting with her on the front porch of Doc Walker's house eating ice cream when a Yellow taxi pulled up in the front yard. The door opened  as the dust settled and there stepped out Lydia. Mason remembered thinking even at his age then, that she looked like a women much older than she was. She seemed sad. She smiled gently to them sitting on the porch, but her eyes didn't reflect any sort of joy. Almost as though she was a shell of the beautiful woman she had once been.  

This was the day that everything changed. In the blink of an eye. In the passing of a moment. Lydia went into the house, and when she left, slamming doors and dragging her daughter with her, she never came back again. Her nor her daughter.  From where Mason had been sitting on the front steps, he was close enough to see the bruising behind Lydia's glasses and the lump of a bandage on her forearm. He was quiet enough to hear the tense words. The anger in Doc's voice, the horror and heart break in Mrs. Anne's. The pride and denial in Lydia's.  Mason knew enough to know, something was terribly wrong and the little girl being dragged to the cab didn't understand anything that was happening to her. 

Chapter 1 (Part 2)

Mason walked in to the bar just as George Jones was winding down " He stopped loving her today" on the juke box.  "Hey Mason," The cute blonde bartender drawled as he walked by. "Hey Jenny," he  replied with a playful grin. Jenny and he went way back. They graduated high school together and there were a few stolen kisses and high school dances in their past. She had started tending bar when she was 17 and had been serving beer to the locals and patrons from there ever since. The only thing that had changed over the years was a string of dead beat boyfriends and a now 2 year old son named Max.  

The boys were all crowded around the pool table, beers in hand, already starting the evening off.  "Want a beer Mason?" Jenny asked as he headed towards the back. "Sure thanks Jenny, your the best." he replied with a wink. She smiled coyly and handed him his beverage. 

"Mason! Get over here! Johnny's trying to cheat again!"

 "Johnny, you ought to know better by now, you're to big a guy to hide what your doin with those iron skillets you call hands." Mason chuckled joining the ring around the pool table.

Johnny started to laugh and completely scratched on the shot he was trying to make.  "Why do yawl always assume I'm cheating? Just because I mop the floor with yawls sorry tails, doesn't mean I'm cheating!" 

Johnny was 6'' 7in tall. When in uniform he was pretty intimidating, that is until he opened his mouth. He had a hard time hiding his "teddy bear" nature once he started talking.  He and Mason had worked together for a few years, on and off in the same rotation. "Well I'm here now, so I guess we'll just see about that." 

This was the start of a long evening filled with male ego at its height. At the end of the night it was hard to tell who had came off ahead in the game. Slowly, one by one the guys headed home to there families until it was just Johnny and Mason left, sitting at the bar talking about the job and a few interesting cases that had come their way recently. Jenny was washing the last of the glasses about to close down for the night when the bell over the door gave a slight stir. They all three turned to see who was coming in at this late hour, and were surprised at what they saw. She was about 5'7 with long copper hair that seemed to shimmer in the soft lighting from the bar.  "Excuse me." Her voice was  syrupy smooth and she smiled as she talked. "Im sorry, I'm sure yawl are closing up for the evening but I'm not from around here and I was wondering if I could get some directions."  Mason and Johnny stared at her for a minuet, no words coming to mind. Jenny glanced at them snidly and just rolled her eyes. "Sure, where is it you're trying to go?"

She walked a little farther into the dimly lit room. " Well, that's just the problem. I haven't been here since I was a little girl. My Grandparents live here and I used to spend my summers with them. Its been a long time, and I really have no idea where to find them." 

Mason finally seemed to get his wits about him. " Well, we know just about everyone in this town, what are your grandparents names? Maybe we can point you in the right direction." 

"Well, their names are Anne and Joe Walker. My grandfather's really sick. Cancer. That's why Im here."

At this, the three at the bar all seemed to have the same startled thought at once. This was her. 

Chapter 1

Untitled Story Chapter 1- (Part1)

He sat straight up in his bed. He reached across the bedside table to turn of his alarm for the third time. He had procrastinated long enough, it was time to face the fact that a new day had started, and if he didn't get moving he was sure to be late for work.  He crossed the room in the dark, headed for the bathroom, tripping over his boots he had discarded the night before. He cursed under his breath, wonderful, just a great way to start the day.  Five o'clock seemed to come earlier and earlier. 

This was the way that Mason started every day he was on duty. He jokingly said to friends that he didn't really join the human race until around 8am, after his morning coffee. Before then, he wasn't fit to be around.  He showered and shaved moving slowly at first, but gradually waking up. He had left his vest at the station the night before, so he threw on his pants, boots and a white t-shirt and headed out the door, just as the summer sun was beginning to rise. 

Mason had been a police officer for 3 years. Most days he loved his job, but like any profession, there were definantly days he would rather crawl underneath a rock and stay there. Today wasn't much different from the day before, same drive to work, same faces greeting him in the station. A tall, lanky red head with a goofy grin on his face met him at the door, 

"You here early." he said. 

" I know, I left my vest and shirt here last night so I have to finish getting ready. How was night shift?"

"Aww shucks," Jerry replied with that same goofy grin, "Nothin much more than a dog fight over on Church Street, and Mrs. Nancy's front window got a rock thrown through it by some no 'count kids, but othern that, not much."

Mason laughed as he tried to follow  Jerry's drawling account of the evening. Jerry always seemed to give him something to laugh at, though half the time it was unintentional.  " Well Jerry, you'll have that." Mason replied with a chuckle. Mason continued on into the locker room to finish dressing for the day. Bright blue lockers lined the walls of the little room, each with a different name on the door.  Mason's father had been an officer in this same town when he was not much older than Mason was now. As long ago as that had been, Mason was convinced not that much had been updated, and they certainly had not gotten new lockers. 

"814 to Central." Mason called over the radio. "Go ahead 814."  Emma, the dispatcher that was probably older than dirt replied with her raspy, chain smokers voice. "Central I'll be 10-41" Mason said, logging down his beginning time. "10-4" Emma drawled in her unenthusiastic way.

Mason put his gear in the trunk of one of the patrol cars dreading the heat of the day to come. So far this had been one of the hottest summers on record in Blair County. Some of the officers referred to it as being cooked from the inside out. Once the heat seeped past the polyester suit and the bullet proof vest, the heat seemed to be contained and there was no cooling back down till the end of the shift when it all came off. Well, he thought to himself, at least it looks like its going to be overcast.

Mason wasn't the easiest of people to get to know,  partly because he was pretty quiet in nature, and partly because he didn't like to make his personal business known. He kept to himself for the most part, living alone in a small white farm house on the outskirts of town. He was an only child and both of his parents had died not long after he graduated high school. They were killed one night by a drunk driver coming home from church. Mason was out of state in college at the time, but when he came home to handle his parents estate, he never went back.

"Central to 814" Emma came out over the radio. It was just about 8:15 as Mason was finishing up the elementary school crossing  on Elm Street.  " Go a head" Mason replied. The sun was just beginning to seep through the clouds. It was getting warmer by the minute. "814 respond to a signal 4 on Norwood drive, with possible injuries." 

"10-4 central, I'm in route."  Mason pulled into the road and turned on his lights. A wreck this early, wasn't a sign of a good day to come. 

The day continued on in pretty much the same manner. The only thing that seemed to change was the temperature, which steadily increased throughout the day landing at a scorching 102 by 2pm and staying there until the sun began the set.  By the time Jerry came in to relieve him at 7, Mason would have sworn he had sweated off about 10 lb. 

Normally he would have waited to shower when he got back to the house, but tonight was Tuesday, which meant that some of the guys would be spending the evening dissecting the worlds problems over beers at Ricky's bar and grille on the one way street just off the square. They were mostly guys he had gone to high school with, the ones who had never left this one horse town, or if they did, they, like Mason, had somehow found their way back.  A few of them were married, a couple even had kids, but somethings never changed, so Tuesday nights were their time to be the guys they had always been to each other. Before kids, wives and general responsibility of life happened. 

  

  

Breath

Because I can't breathe, I can't move or sing

I can't find the breath that sustains me

Each step takes me closer to the farthest point

Each word sends me deeper into where I hate to be

Two steps behind walking slower still

Longest of journeys, seemingly all up hill

No time to stop and cry

No tears left to shed

A soul slowly to die

Though never quite dead

I've danced among the stars

I've slept over the moon

Seen the joy in the rain

As it seems to numb the pain

Filter through the streaked glass

Shine through the window broken

Find me among the thorns and ash

Offer me loves token

As though your my first and last

My beginning and end

Be you enemy or be you friend

Bring me to breath, make me feel again.