Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 82282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“What about if your husband has a suspected rapist to defend. Would you take him a cup of coffee?” I asked.
She looked a little nervous but nonetheless answered. “Umm, I’d be a little uncomfortable with that.”
I nodded in understanding. “Yes, I would be too. How about this. If someone came into your husband’s office, and was wielding a knife, would you put yourself in front of the knife wielder to protect your husband?”
She paused. “I would hope I would.”
My eyes moved from Eleanor to the rest of the panel who were all looking at me in alarm.
Then I scanned the crowd, settling on Trance. I could tell he knew where I was going with this line of questioning, and he gave me a ‘good girl’ look that bolstered me.
“Well, I would hope I would too; but to tell you the truth, I hope I never have to experience that.” I said softly.
My eyes returned to her, but she was busy looking at the man in the front row I was trying my upmost hardest to forget. Paul. And next to Paul were his parents.
“Do you have a dog at home, Mr. Mills?” I asked him sweetly.
Mr. Mills was the one that was most neutral about it all. He was a native Texan, and had moved to Benton only a few years ago, according to Silas’ research. He was also pro-gun and pro Second Amendment.
His eyes flipped to mine, surprised by my addressing him. “Yes, ma’am.”
“And your dog, would you expect him to bark if someone showed up at your house?”
He smiled fondly. “Oh, old Blue barks at anybody that knocks on the door. I love it.”
“Would you hope that he would alert you if danger was imminent?” I asked.
He saw where my line of questioning was going. “Yes ma’am, I surely would.”
“What about protect you from a break in? Would you want him to protect you from the intruder?” I probed.
“Yes ma’am. I have three young children at home. I would want all the help I could get.” He answered.
“Mr. Burns, would you work for free?” I asked panelist number two.
He shook his head. “No. I most definitely would not.”
“What about going into a dangerous situation, and not getting paid to do that. Every single day. Would you do that?” I asked.
“No. I would not.” He affirmed.
“And you Mrs. Sims,” I said addressing panelist number five. “When was the last time you were in a public school?”
She tilted her head and pursed her lips as she thought about it. “Well, it would have to be a couple of years ago. My daughter used to be a cheerleader in high school. I went for her pep rallies.”
“Did you know they have a drug dog that sniffs out drugs every other week? Do you think a person could do what Radar does?” I asked serenely.
“No, I guess they couldn’t.” She confessed.
“On a daily basis, Radar goes to schools in Benton to make sure they’re free of drugs. He checks lockers and vehicles...all before his shift even starts. They may have a couple of hours to kill from there, but then they’re on shift for another twelve plus hours. He conducts traffic stops. He helps detain fleeing subjects. He protects his human officer with his life. Most of those are on a good day, too. He is the hardest working officer on the force...all without pay. Do you want to know what he gets out of it? Love. He gets loved. By Officer Spurlock. By the kids that he meets while visiting schools to teach them about safety. Do you know he even goes to visit kids at the local hospitals?” I asked.
When no one answered or said anything, I continued talking. “A few shifts ago, he saved my husband’s life. When my husband was entering a home for a well check, he was shot through the front door. Radar saved my husband’s life when he went in after the armed suspect. He also didn’t kill him. If that had been any other officer, they would’ve had to use lethal force, and that suspect would’ve been dead. Never having to face his crimes. At the football game last week, Radar protected me, just as any other officer would have. Next time you see a K-9 and his human officer, you think about all of the things that K-9 does for this city, and make sure to thank him. Because he’s doing it because he wants to, not because he has to.”
When I left the podium, I saw genuine smiles on nearly every single one of the citizens that I passed. And when I got close enough to Trance, he locked his hand onto my wrist and pulled, bringing me down hard into his lap and burying his face in my neck.
“I love the fuck out of you.” He growled softly.
I laughed lightly. “I love you, too.”
The ruling was in Radar’s favor six to one. The one opposing figure being Eleanor.
Whom I suspected was conspiring with Paul, as well as his parents.
Paul’s steely gaze followed me as I walked out of the town hall, his eyes promising retribution.
Chapter 19
Looks like today’s got shit storm written all over it.
Trance to dispatch
Viddy
I awoke to lips skimming over my cheek.
“Baby,” Trance said into my ear.
My eyes opened to slits and I stared at the dark room. The only light there was, was coming from the direction of the living room.
Trance got dressed in the spare bedroom that was all the way across the house, since he had to get up about four hours earlier than I did. He always came to kiss me goodbye, though.
We’d been married for two blissful months now, and each time he left me alone to go on shift, he said the same thing.
Today was no different.
“I’ve got to go to work. The .45 is in the nightstand. Love you to pieces.” Trance said softly.
Then I reciprocated with the same thing that I replied with every time he left me to go on shift.