Clearwater Homesick

By Al Rennie

There is trouble brewing in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Linc has had it with university and wants to return home to go to work at CHIPs. An old guy with a charming wife and the beginning of 'old timer's disease' takes a hike. His wife wants him back. Joe tries to find a missing kid who may have taken off to join ISIS. Billy, Luke and Joe to shoot it out with some bad guys. Another romp in paradise!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Al Rennie
• Release date: Dec 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311570741

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 Homesick

By

Al Rennie

Dedication

For my wife – Marsha

And to all the kind and supportive readers

of the Clearwater Series.

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: Paul Brennan http://publicdomainpictures.net

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

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 Facebook. 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. A few of the other regulars include: Hayden, Katherine, Debby, Sandra, Ana, Dwight, Diane, Warren, Valerie, Angie, Cathy, Pat, Bonnie, Edd, Carol, Cheerie, Dee, Brandy, Donna, RJ, Steve and Merle. Thank you. Elaine … your painting of 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. Annmarie is in the process of moving back to Australia, but has said that she wants to stay involved. I’d like to thank my wife, Marsha, and daughter, Jane, 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 … what cheque?

The water skiing story that happens around page 47 is a true story that actually happened when I was working as a lifeguard for the Toronto Harbour Police. If I can ever figure out how to include the story of the lifeguard who tried to stop an oil tanker while standing up in a motor boat on Lake Ontario, you are in for a treat. I still laugh about that one.

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 Homesick, 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

Clearwater Folly

Clearwater Homesick

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 fictional 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. I know that I do. 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 pre-ordered 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; you’re 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

I have just finished all the books thru Skip Trace & can't wait for the next installment. Hope it includes more of Max & Sandy. He's ripe for Joe's humor. Will Joe ever marry Mia? Will they get to adopt both boys? Will Bob stay married? Will Frank find true love? Will Joe get arrested? Keep 'em coming Bubba. —Nancy

I found you first on Smashwords; after that, I kept hitting the buy button in iTunes. I laughed, cried, and told my patients how I almost went to You Tube to look for your video. I see patients in long term care facilities. I have shared your stories and with my patients living on the seawall in Galveston, Tx. You have brought life, love and a bit of silliness into the lives of my patients and have made me a better practitioner. I am forever in your debt. —Katherine

Chapter 1

The Tennis Court

The older model ball machine fired the well used yellow Penn Championship tennis ball at the skinny kid. He was standing across court, poised and ready to meet whatever came at him with the ‘old school’ black Prince racquet his father had sent to him from Saudi Arabia three years earlier. The kid was a darkly tanned, wiry eighteen year old wearing cut-offs and a sweat stained, too large white T-shirt and a navy sweatband. His white tennis shoes, Adidas Barricades, like the pros wore, were where he had spent his money. Only last week, he had paid almost one hundred and fifty dollars of his too quickly dwindling supply of cash to buy them. His father had taught him from a very young age that footwear was the most important part of what you could wear. People judged you by your shoes and more practically, if your feet were damaged, so were you. Maybe that was beyond shelf life thinking, but the kid did love those shoes.

The young guy met the ball with a smooth strong stroke that would clearly have spelled problems for his opponent if he had been playing with one. He wasn’t. He was alone, which was the way he had felt for most of his life.

It was late morning, almost the noon hour in the hot Florida sunshine. There was no one else on any of the three courts and only a couple of younger school kids were goofing around in the adjacent skate-park. The kid figured not only that the skaters were there because they were skipping school, but also that they were none of his business. His school days were over… maybe forever. He inhaled deeply, took his return stance, positioned his racquet and stood still. He was ready again. He waited for the next ball to be fired in his direction.

The young man had returned a few more tennis balls when he slowly became aware of a presence; the sensation that someone was watching him. He glanced back behind him to the ten foot high chain link perimeter fence and saw a trim looking middle-aged man wearing the beige pants of a tropic weight suit, a short sleeve white shirt open at the neck and well-worn brown leather sandals. The man was standing there with his slim fingers interlocked into the fence at shoulder height. The man said nothing right away. He stood there and studied the boy carefully like he was working out a problem. The boy was thinking, ‘Take a picture, dude; it might last longer’. He smiled at his own internal monologue. That’s what happens when you spend so much time alone … you have witty conversations with yourself. ‘Do I know this guy?’ The man and the boy continued to study each other while waiting for the other to say something. A tennis ball went flying by the left side of the kid and bounced into the fence.

Are you Omar Taylor? the man finally asked.

Who wants to know? Omar said tersely like he had seen the hero in one or two of the movies he loved. ‘I am so ‘sick’…’ the kid thought. ‘I wonder whatever happened to, old school, so cool like my dad used to say.’

If you are, I will have a message for you from your father. He would not be pleased to learn that you were so rude to an elder.

Sorry sir … what is his message that he could not call me or Skype me?

Your cell number has been changed and those conversations are too easily monitored by NSA. I will tell your father that I have met you. I will deliver his message to you after that. Be here at these courts for the next three days, in the late morning hours, doing what you are right now. Stay here for four hours. I will contact you on one of those days when I have his message. Tell no one of this meeting.

I understand.

Practice your backhand, boy … it needs a lot more work.

The man turned abruptly and walked away the short distance towards where his car was parked on the street running past the courts.

The young guy watched the middle-aged Arab man as he walked away. Another ball skidded by him and bounced into the fence.

I’ll do that, he called out to the man’s back. ‘… What a dick!’ the kid said softly to himself before he turned and prepared for the next tennis ball.

Chapter 2

Clearwater Homesick

Joey, put down the dumb-bell; we have a problem.

"Busy here, babe … I’m getting all stoked up for a hot date I have scheduled with a cute little blonde in about