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.