He chose simply to write Jason Strong and Vanessa Layne. He felt no desire to add the title Detective, mostly because he and Vanessa were there on their own time. Theirs was not an official visit, but a personal one. As part of doing their job, they had been forced to question the love and loyalty of Janet’s entire family. It had been difficult, and they wanted to pay their respects to both Janet and her loved ones.
The open casket sat at the front of the great hall, flowers completely surrounding the pedestal her coffin rested on. Candles burned at the ends of the pulpit stage, their flames reflected in the brass organ pipes behind them.
Now, nearly an hour after beginning, the service wound down, the cavernous ceilings reverberating with organ music as a line of mourners began to pass before the casket. Jason looked at Vanessa, her eyes moist.
He touched her arm. “Ready?”
“Yeah. No need to intrude further on their grieving.”
Jason nodded. “Agreed.”
They slipped out a side door into the bright midday sun. After walking silently back to Jason’s car, he unlocked Vanessa’s door and held it open. She eyed him suspiciously. “I don’t need you to open my door. I’m fine.”
“Sorry. Force of habit after going to church with Sandy.”
“That’s very sweet—don’t do it again.”
He laughed. “Okay. You want to get something to eat.”
“Sure. Where?”
“I still have a debt to pay.”
She glanced toward the sky, as if a bolt of lightning might get her. “Maybe you shouldn’t say that until after we’re there.”
“Say what?”
“Stumpy’s”
“Afraid a meteor will fall on you?”
She grinned. “Something like that.”
“Stumpy’s, Stumpy’s, Stumpy’s. Stuuummmpee’s!”
She rolled her eyes. “How old are you?”
“According to Sandy—twelve.”
*******
Half an hour later, they pulled up in front of Stumpy’s. Inside, Vanessa was studying the menu when someone touched her back. “Hey.”
She turned to see Brad smiling at her. She frowned. “What are you doing here?”
“I was invited.”
“Invited? By who?”
“Jason and Sandy.”
“Really?” Vanessa suddenly became aware that Jason had abandoned her at the menu board. “Where is Jason?”
Brad hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “At the table, no doubt giving Sandy a warmer greeting than I’m getting.”
She looked up into his eyes. “I’m sorry. I was caught by surprise.” She stood on her tip-toes to kiss him. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Jason said he owed you dinner, and he asked me to come along.”
They went over to the table and Sandy greeted her with a big smile. “You’re looking good, girl!”
Vanessa sensed she might have blushed. “Thanks. I’m feeling tons better.”
Vanessa looked down at Jason and his Cheshire cat grin. “You’re supposed to be buying me lunch. Asking others to come along is not going to get you out of it.”
Sandy shook her head. “Believe me, he’s not. He thought it would be nice if he—actually we—bought both you and Brad lunch.”
“Well, when you put it that way.” Vanessa hooked her arm around Brad’s waist. “I think it’s a great idea.”
Jason started to pull a piece of paper from his pocket. “Vanessa, I have a document here for you to sign saying I paid my debt.”
“Oh, you’re a funny guy!”
Brad pulled out her chair. “Sit. I’m hungry.”
Jason laughed. “You sound like my partner.”
Vanessa pointed a finger at him. “That’s two. One more, and it’s war.”
Sandy retook her seat. “Don’t worry, Vanessa. He’s not brave enough to cross that line.”
Jason nodded. “Momma didn’t raise no fool.”
Sandy looked at Vanessa and Brad. “Well, that’s debatable.”
Everyone cracked up.
Even Jason.
**********************************
GET BOOK 1 IN THE STONE COUNTY JUSTICE SERIES –
MURDER AROUND THE BEND
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Around-Suspense-COUNTY-JUSTICE-ebook/dp/B07VZVRMS6
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Be eligible for signed copy drawings
Visit this link.
http://johndalglish.com/
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A SPECIAL AUTHOR’S NOTE
Thank you to everyone who has taken us and our books into their lives. Hope this one was an enjoyable ride. More to come soon!
God Bless, John & Bev
I Jn 1:9
P.S. Recommendations are the lifeblood of an indie author. If you enjoyed one of our books, please review it or tell a friend. Thanks, JD
Cover by Beverly Dalglish
Edited by Jill Noelle-Noble
Proofreading by Robert Toohey
OTHER LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/DetectiveJasonStrong
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Other Clean
Suspense Books
By
John C. Dalglish
THE CITY MURDERS
SERIES
BOSTON HOMICIDE - #1
MIAMI HOMICIDE - #2
CHICAGO HOMICIDE - #3
DALLAS HOMICIDE - #4
DENVER HOMICIDE - #5
SEATTLE HOMICIDE - #6
NEW ORLEANS HOMICIDE - #7
MEMPHIS HOMICIDE - #8
ATLANTA HOMICIDE - #9
PHOENIX HOMICIDE - #10
THE
STONE COUNTY JUSTICE
SERIES
MURDER AROUND THE BEND - #1
MISSING ON THE RIVER - #2
THE
DETECTIVE JASON STRONG
SERIES
“WHERE’S MY SON?” - #1
BLOODSTAIN - #2
FOR MY BROTHER - #3
SILENT JUSTICE - #4
TIED TO MURDER - #5
DEATH STILL - #7
LETHAL INJECTION - #8
CRUEL DECEPTION - #9
LET’S PLAY - #10
HOSTAGE - #11
CIRCLE OF FEAR - #12
DEADLY OBSESSION - #13
DEAD OF NIGHT - #14
SHADOW OF DOUBT - #15
FATAL AFFAIR - #16
DRIVEN TO KILL - #17
BOUND BY BLOOD - #18
WEB OF DECEIT - #19
BURNING DOWN - #20
THE
ANNIE LOGAN MYSTERIES
DEADLY SECRETS - #1
THE
CHASER CHRONICLES
CROSSOVER - #1
JOURNEY - #2
DESTINY - #3
INNER DEMONS - #4
DARK DAYS - #5
FAR FROM HOME - #6
KEIKO’S WAR – Clean Historical Suspense