Clearwater Assault

By Al Rennie

Luke has been assaulted; Joe wants a piece of the guys who did it; Mia borrows big money from Frank; CHIPs is looking for a man who stepped off the grid five years earlier; Jimmy arrives - oops!; Sam gets assertive; Billy thinks about going back to school; Fred comes back to help solve the last case he was working when he was a cop; there may be a link to the FBI; another romp in Clearwater Beach.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Al Rennie
• Release date: Aug 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311855497

Al Rennie

I was born and raised in Toronto. I attended Upper Canada College before taking a degree at Queen's University. I have worked as a lifeguard for the Toronto Harbour Police, a youth worker for the Toronto YMCA, and an English teacher in Lakefield. I am married with two great daughters and an extended foster family. My interests include Maple Leaf hockey - this is our year - New England Patriot football and writing.

Book preview

Clearwater Assault

By

Al Rennie

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014 by Al Rennie

All Rights Reserved.

Cover Credit: Rita Toews – probably the most caring, patient and inventive cover creator ever!

Photo credit: Nick Kenrick. via photopin cc

Formatting Credit: Lucinda K. Campbell – as always, just great.

Dedication

For my wife – Marsha

Always there for me and

always keeping my moral

compass headed in the

right direction.

Acknowledgements:

I’d like to thank the growing number of readers who are enjoying the Clearwater Series and who have sent me their kind and encouraging comments. I have enjoyed meeting a number of those people on Face Book. As well, I have been tickled to read the many very interesting, kind and informative e-mails sent my way. California Michael is a special regular correspondent who I have enjoyed; he supplied the joke I used in Danger and another one can be found in Killer. He also introduced me to Trampled By Turtles. A few of the other regulars include: Debby, Sandra, Ana, Dwight, Diane, Warren, Valerie, Angie, Kathy, Pat, Bonnie, Edd, Carol, Cheerie, Dee, Brandy, Donna, RJ, Steve and Merle. Thank you. Elaine, your water colour painting looks Florida fantastic, and Paul the Pelican enjoys a special place on my office wall watching my every move. Thank you all again!

You do not know how encouraging it is for a writer like me to read that his or her work has been read and then re-read and enjoyed. Beyond that, to be told that I had better be writing quickly because of the interest in what is going to happen next to the Clearwater crew is very gratifying. Thank you Joe and Mia fans, whoever and wherever you are. You are making this ride so much fun. Let me assure the readers who have written asking for more Mia and Joe – I am writing as fast as I can bubbas.

NEW NOTE: But not as fast as I was. I slipped into the habit of writing eleven to thirteen hours a day and finally realized the effect it was having and the toll it was taking. I love writing. I enjoy the act of creating an interesting story even if I am the only one to find it interesting. If it ended there, all would be fine. Instead, I got hung up on all the sidebars – ratings, revenue flow, readership growth and marketing my work product. Worrying about whether Kobo was finally going to put the latest title on their shelves was driving me nuts. Finally, I realized that I needed to let go of all that stuff. In today’s writing climate, making good money is the last thing that is going to happen unless you are either incredibly talented or ‘lightning in a bottle’ lucky, preferably both. It would appear that I am neither of those things although I have been very fortunate in many aspects of my life. The stories will continue to appear from time to time as long as I am happy writing them. Thank you all for your support.

My three excellent editors have returned again to make my life miserable but your reading experience better. I’d like to thank my wife, Marsha and daughter, Jane as well as Annmarie Schwanke for their masterful work in editing yet another novel. Their efforts have made the story much better and the content easier for you, the reader, to decipher. The cheque is in the mail!

I would also like to thank Deputy Chief Ken Jackman (ret.) Peterborough Police Force, for taking time out of his busy life to answer my questions about aspects of being a police officer and working in the legal system. In this episode, the questions were regarding types of charges that might be laid and the early steps of investigative technique. He also told me the true story of Troy Semple. For dramatic purposes and short term memory reasons, there are factual errors in my representation of what we discussed.

Kudos to Chance Faulkner for working so hard with me to make the paperbacks available from Createspace and Amazon.com a reality!

Notice to all young adult readers:

As a former teacher – and therefore someone sworn to be concerned about the minds of our young people - I have to warn the under eighteen group that Clearwater Justice, much like the other books in this series, contains a number of bad words, but maybe not as many as a few of the earlier works. And really, what is a bad word? I must also tell you that you will come across some pretty suggestive scenes and some very bad people – but nothing is likely to overly stimulate or disgust you. Sorry about that. In any case, good reading bubba - enjoy.

Best Regards,

Doc

P.S. – If any of you feel a strong need to communicate with me – try

[e-mail] or [e-mail]

If you would like to see pictures of the Clearwater Beach setting, visit my recently revised website courtesy of Chance Faulkner Photography. I have included photos of Cooters, Wings, the Jolley Trolley and a few shots taken from Doc and Mia’s condo in Sand Key. If you really look closely enough, you might even see Doc hanging out at the marina. alrennie.com

NOTE: If you are new to this series, this is not the title for you to start with. From Clearwater Killer forward, there is an assumption that you have met some of the regular characters in your reading of the earlier novels. There is no point in me repeating the same detailed descriptive information on an ongoing basis. If you want an introduction to Joe and Mia, go to Clearwater Journals. That is where the couple first meet. At that time, I did not enjoy the luxury of the three editors I have now, so there are typos etc. that I have been too lazy to go back and repair. But it is free. The language is rougher and the humour is less evident. If you want lighter fare, try Clearwater Ambush. In one section of that book, Joe visits an A.I. Clinic. My youngest daughter, age – adult - claims that she wet her pants laughing so hard as she was reading those pages. Embarrassing…you bet! Jeez!

Annie’s Amendment – she’s blonde!

The Clearwater Series in the sequence the titles were written.

Clearwater Journals

Clearwater Diaries

Clearwater Ambush

Clearwater Abduction

Clearwater Heat

Clearwater Kiss Off

Clearwater Showdown

Clearwater Magic

Clearwater Intrigue

Clearwater Danger

Clearwater Predator

Clearwater Extortion

Clearwater Killer

Clearwater Oops!

Clearwater Crazy

Clearwater Undercover

Clearwater Hunter

Clearwater Justice

Clearwater Skip Trace

Clearwater Assault

Note: Clearwater Beach and the area surrounding it is truly my idea of paradise. It is a beautiful place to visit and to live – if you can afford it. The violence depicted in the Clearwater series is just that - fiction – i.e. – it never happened. Go there and find out for yourself. You’ll love the place. Say ‘hi’ to Betsy if you grab a bite to eat at Cooters, and Daisy at Backwaters on Sand Key. That’s some tattoo she has on her left thigh eh? But, whatever else you do, don’t start chatting with Captain Frankie Donner at the marina; you’ll lose hours of your holiday time.

A few Reader Responses to Clearwater Series:

On the advice of critics, I have limited the number of reader responses. The suggestion was that no one reads them anyway. Apologies to those cut.

I have truly enjoyed reading this series, and hope you plan on taking Joe, Mia, Coop and Ida May further. I'm anxiously awaiting another installment. Corrina Wilke - a Doc Holiday fan (I'm your huckleberry lol)

Just to let you know I just finished your newest book in the Clearwater series, … it was great…lol…best series I ever read…keep on… Sandra Orndorff

Al: Just keep them coming! Clearwater is a great series. The Characters are becoming part of the family! …Edd Jenkins

Looking forward to reading the next adventures of Joe and Mia…I read Intrigue and Danger in three days! Keep up the great work Al!!! Angie Day

Hi Al, I just finished Clearwater Extortion, and I loved it. I hope you’re working on the next book, because I can’t wait to see how things go for Jeremy and the boys with all of the new and exciting things happening in their lives. Thank you Al for giving us such fun and interesting characters to read about…

Love the books, can’t put them down and I even find myself slipping into some of the phrases!!! Not sure that will always be a good thing though! Carol

I read the book in one sitting. Great characters, great plot could not put it down. Love the part where he fell in the grave, very funny. I know you are writing another book because we have to find out what was in the safe. I wish I had a Joe in my family lol. Let us know when it's available; I might have to get a Kindle to get it quicker. Waiting patiently… Bonnie Walston

Babe, call the hospital. I’ve gone blind. Everything is so dark… Cracked me up!!! Just finished Oops and again you hit it out of the park-grand salami, best of the best!!! Rock on Rennie!!

Debby Charles

Travis McGee was the old Joe Holiday. You have really done a great job! Just when I thought it was over by reading Killer, you surprised me with another. Great job!!! I’m enjoying this series more than any I’ve read in years. I’m turning as many people as possible to it, and they all seem to be hooked. Please keep writing, and fast. Greg Martin

Just finished Crazy and wanted to let you know, you still got it!! Stay healthy and keep writing. Steve Owle

Hi Al, I just finished Clearwater Undercover and it was fantastic. I have read all of the Clearwater journals and have loved them all, but so far Undercover is my favorite. There were so many surprises, funny and sad moments, and lots of action, too, but most if all it was just a great book. Al, I hope you keep writing these wonderful stories about Joe and his Clearwater buds, because they keep us all so entertained and wanting more. I hope you’re almost finished with your next journal because I am anxiously waiting to see what happens with Samantha, and Doug, and the fallout over the Greeks. Thank you Al for sharing your great stories with us because we look forward to reading them and hope you’ll have lots more to share. Merle

Hi Al

Justice was awesome, and thanks so much for the autographed Journals. I recently hooked two more friends on the series. Please stay healthy and keep em coming.

Steve

I just finished Clearwater Danger, Predator and Extortion !!!!!! Sooooooo good !!! Was going to read another book I had waiting on my Kobo, but read the excerpt for Clearwater Killer and had to buy it right away. Going to start reading it right now… The excerpt said Joe was in Toronto for a funeral… It better not be Frank (I like Frank)!! Cathy Galbraith

I just preordered mine, I can't wait. The Clearwater series is by far the best series of books I have ever read! Once you read Clearwater Journals and get to know Joe, Mia, and Max, and Bob's your uncle; your hooked. I can't get enough! Al Rennie, you outdo yourself with every book! I look forward to reading many more of your books! Thank you so much! Sharon Goodman

Clearwater Assault

The four gang bangers appeared in front of them as if by magic. Luke didn’t hesitate for a beat. His training took over and he was back in ‘the Sandbox’. He took a step towards the ugly quartet, assumed a defensive fighting stance and told Merle to beat it to the truck as fast as she could.

Call 911, baby; get the cops and four ambulances.

I like your confidence, ‘cholo’, but dude, it’s four to one. Give it up, the lead banger said with a quick smile.

Not in this world or your short lifetime, Luke shot back as he retreated a few steps to buy Merle the time she needed to lock herself in their old Ford truck and get to work on her cell.

The leader of the pack nodded and one of the junior gangsters, a tall, skinny tattooed outfit with a weird twisted wire piercing through his left nostril started after Merle. The tall kid had a prominent Adam’s apple and a black swastika tattooed on his left forearm. He sneered at Luke’s four ambulances comment and started his move to go after Merle. Bad decision … he had only taken two steps when he felt Luke’s strong forearm clothesline him, knocking him to the ground. That was right before he was on his back and looking up as a size twelve army boot descended towards his face. That was also when the other three guys closed in and went at Luke with their bats and chains. The fight might have been close except one of the attackers got lucky with his bat. He caught the big veteran across the side of his head as Luke was blocking the attack of the guy with the chain. Luke stumbled a little… dazed. He turned his attention to the guy with the bat but faltered in his defence. Then he was down and the wolves were on him. In frustration and anger, one of the baseball bat guys stepped up to the truck and tried to smash its windshield. Merle screamed in fear for what had happened to her new husband and what might happen to her now.

The sirens could be heard in the distance but they had started to close in. The three attackers stopped the assault. They dragged their wounded buddy to his feet and fled into the darkness.

Chapter 1

Monday, May 12, 2014 – A Bad Start to a Long Week

I was sitting with Bob Morse in a St. Pete’s bar. It was very late, sometime in the early, early, morning. I was exhausted. I just wanted to go home to bed. A witness in a case Bob was taking to court had told Bob to meet him here at midnight. Bob doesn’t do bars, any bars, after dark without protection. I was the protection, but the guy hadn’t shown up. I looked up just in time to move my Diet Pepsi out of the way of a falling gold sequined G-string. It was that kind of bar. Somewhere off in the distance, I could hear a telephone ringing piercingly, insistently. I waited lying still, hoping the noise would go away. After a few more shrill repeats, the ringing stopped. Everything faded to dark, and I was back in the bar. I guess the fallen G-string had given me an idea. I rolled on the king sized bed towards where Mia should have been snoring quietly. I prodded the sheets and pillows gently with my hand. She wasn’t there. Then, it wasn’t dark and still anymore. The bar evaporated.

Joey, wake up … there’s been an accident. It’s an emergency. That was Robb Pogue. He was calling from the hospital. Some guys attacked Luke and Merle. Merle is alright, but Luke is in the ICU at the hospital. Robb says that it’s serious.

I sat up too quickly and flopped back to the mattress. Was this a nightmare? No, Mia was really sitting on the side of the bed. The remote phone was still in her hand and she was holding it out for me to take. She was looking at me with those sad eyes that spoke to the pain she was feeling for our big veteran friend. Mia had been the victim of a brutal assault in the past few years. I knew that the memories of that trauma would be flying through her head right now. She would not be able to sleep again tonight. The demons of that terrifying past would be too close at hand.

I talked briefly with Robb to get a sense of what needed to be done. He said he would wait with Merle until I got there. I thanked him and said I would be there as quickly as possible.

Are you going to be alright, babe? I’ll go to the hospital right now if you’re okay. I’ll stay for a while if you’re not.

No, Joey … I’m fine … Merle and … they’ll need you now.

I pulled on some clothing and checked to see that I had my wallet, keys and cell phone. It was three thirty and very dark as I started my truck. I could hear the waves washing up on the beach as I stepped up into the truck’s cab. There was almost no traffic on Gulf Boulevard at all. How could this happen?

When I broke through the doors of the emergency department, almost all of the chairs in the waiting area were filled with people waiting for treatment or with people who were waiting for others being treated. There were a few lonely souls just needing a safe respite from their lives or the people in them. I didn’t spot Robb or Merle immediately so I stepped in front of the first person who looked like she might know what was going on. In this case, the person