Sole to Soul

By Gregory S. Hudson

Young Jaxon's mother, a high-end call girl, is murdered in Kansas City. The case has gone cold for several years until Janet, a woman across the state in Saint Louis, receives the shoes that the call girl died in.

Jaxon later receives a pair of World War II German military boots on his 11th birthday. He and Janet experience years of flashbacks and memories from the people that originally wore the shoes and boots. They experience the lives of the deceased owners of the shoes.

Who killed Jaxon's mom? Why was she murdered? Who benefited from her death? How is everyone and everything connected through four generations? How does the soldier's life teach Jaxon about living, loving and courage while preparing him for a dramatic change in his own life?

Sole to Soul connects the dots between the perils of war and an uncertain future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Aug 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781645759225

Gregory S. Hudson

Gregory S. Hudson is a photographer and novelist. He is also the world’s leading creator of Gag Gift Books for Walmart, Amazon, and other book retailers. With over 200 titles, all outrageous and embarrassing, he shows his serious side of writing in such novels as Sole to Soul and Running on Empty. The world is filled with both good and bad people. Having traveled the world, Gregory has seen both sides of life. At times, his writing will take you into very dark places. Hudson always manages to somehow provide a light at the end of the tunnel.

Book preview

About the Author

Gregory S. Hudson, author and professional photographer, has spent years traveling the world, photographing people, places, and cultures. It is wonderful to explore and listen to people talk about their lives and the history that brings them to where they are today. His first book, Through My Eyes, chronicles his travels through photos and famous quotes. Gregory Hudson is the world leading author and creator of Amazon’s book series called Gag Gift Book Series by G Hud. The Gag Gift Book series is a comedy series of dozens of books with bizarre titles. The Gag Gift Books are literally bought and given as gifts because of their titles.

The people Gregory has met along his journey have been inspirational in bringing this story to light. He now spends half of his time at his Puerto Rico home as well as his home in a pleasant little river town called Ironton, along the Ohio River in Ohio.

I wanted this story to be a mixture of true events and fictional events. I believe this blend enhances the story and characters in a way that most people can relate to.

Dedication

Dedicated to my dad – you are not forgotten.

Copyright Information ©

Gregory S. Hudson (2021)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Ordering Information

Quantity sales: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Hudson, Gregory S.

Sole to Soul

ISBN 9781645759218 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781645759201 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781645759225 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021909707

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published (2021)

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 33rd Floor, Suite 3302

New York, NY 10005

USA

[e-mail]

[phone]

Acknowledgment

Writing this book was harder than I thought and more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. I had to step away from it several times because of the nature of the true events involved within its writing. This book includes explicit true events from 1942 Warsaw, Poland. None of this would have been possible without my husband, Dean Slone, and his support and belief in this project, allowing me to disappear in my office for hours on end. Thank you to Allan Adair and Erin Kazee for your wonderful help and supportive editing advice. You guys have been my ‘offsite’ editors.

This book has been written in the course of one year. Many months at my Puerto Rico home as well as my home in Ohio. I want to thank all my friends in both places for their love and inspiration.

For all of my friends and family.

Find my author page, ‘Gregory Hudson Books’ on Facebook.

Prepare for the unknown by studying how others in the past have coped with the unforeseeable and the

unpredictable.

―George S. Patton

It is not often that nations learn from the past, even rarer that they draw the correct conclusions from it.

―Henry Kissinger

history is in constant rotation. do we learn from it, or is it evolving into a beast that knows how to hide within

the shadows?

―Gregory S. Hudson

A beast of knowledge filled with – what if – and – never again. a beast that manipulates the facts and disguises

them in newer, prettier packages of acceptance.

wash, rinse, repeat.

―Gregory S. Hudson

Sound Tracks

Sole to Soul occasionally mentions the name of a song. The song titles will be in bold print throughout the chapters. It is suggested for the reader to take a moment and listen to these songs on YouTube to help enhance the experience of the moment.

Page 71 – Love Shack – The B-52s

Page 71 – Time – Culture Club

Page 72 – Welcome to the Jungle – Guns N Roses

Page 72 – Beatin’ the Odds – Molly Hatchet

Page 73 – Funky Town – Lips INC

Page 77 – Dream – Imagine Dragons

Page 132 – Marching on – One Republic

Page 133 – Adrenaline – Gavin Rossdale

page 162 – Red Barchetta – Rush

page 190 – Born To Be Alive – Patrick Hernandez

page 191 – Holiday – Nazareth

page 206 – It’s Raining Men – Weather Girls

page 206 – Home – Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros

page 221 – Machine Head – Bush

page 268 – You’ve Got a Friend – Carole King

page 328 – Walking in My Shoes (Extended Naweed Mix) – Depeche Mode

Chapter 1

Turning a Blind Eye

Fifty miles northeast of the city, a tall wooden fence made of vertical boards runs along the perimeter. The processing area consists of three interconnected quarters. Each being 26 feet long and 13 feet wide. The walls are double insulated by dirt packed down in between. The interior walls and ceilings are lined with roofing paper, as the floors are covered with tin-plated sheet metal, the same material used for the roof. Solid wooden doors were insulated with rubber and bolted from the outside by heavy crossbars. This facility is capable of processing up to 3,000 units within three hours. On an average work day, it could master 12,000 to 15,000 units. The demand for a more efficient process has prompted the construction of a new facility next door. Once complete, the new facility will process up to 25,000 units a day.

The large new building will have a concrete foundation built from bricks and mortar with a corridor in the center. The heavy metal doors as well as other supplies have arrived on the train. They are transported to a holding area to await the ground breaking for the new construction site. The metal doors arrived from a military bunker. They have portholes through which it is possible to observe the stages of each processing segment. It will take only five weeks to construct this new and highly efficient facility. 50 miles southwest, the citizens of the city had no clue what was going on. Soon, all the secrets would be revealed, but, for many, once they learned of their fate, it would be too late to turn back.

***

She is a small woman, standing four feet, ten inches tall with a lively yet intelligent look in her black eyes and round smiling face. Iris Sanders is a beautiful 29-year-old woman that more resembles a child’s favorite doll than a cunning, stark, social worker. As she donned her nurse outfit entering the ghetto area, everyone knew her as Nurse Sanders. Iris is one of only a handful of medical nurses and doctors that dares to enter the ghetto nearly on a daily basis. Nurse Iris Sanders is a familiar face to everyone, including Josef Kempf, the officer patrolling the streets, having seen her hundreds of times. Although Nurse Sander’s job is to detect and prevent disease in the ghetto, Officer Kempf has suspicions about her.

Many times, Nurse Sanders would enter the ghetto by going through the church at the far end of the street, exiting the back of the church, then entering the ghetto area. She would then walk down the street and onto the adjoining side streets, going from one building to the next, following up on patients and potential future patients. This day, however, Nurse Sanders arrived driving an ambulance. Just as many times before when her makeshift ambulance arrived, the people on the streets, including the police officers, thought that she had another bad case or even perhaps a dead patient who needed to be removed. She always has her companion, a large, short-haired mutt dog, in the ambulance with her everywhere she goes. The dog’s name is Dame whose purpose is to guard the ambulance while she is inside with a patient. Dame is also trained to do a few other tricks that would be valuable in keeping Nurse Sanders safe. Dame is a six-year-old medium-size dog with wiry short hair and floppy ears. Her bark is very loud and deep. Her sound would carry for blocks away. Dame is very protective of those she loves, including all of the children. Her presence would always liven up a child’s spirit with a playtime session or by simply cuddling next to them. Nurse Sanders would occasionally allow Dame to go with her to the local orphanage because of the positive atmosphere she always creates. The children scream in delight as they run and play with Dame. She would play her own game of tag with the children. Dame loved to run up to them and swiftly brush by their legs and then expect them to chase after her. Dame could never get enough of playing tag with the children.

Officer Josef Kempf always remains neat in appearance. His special-issue boots are shiny and black. The letters ‘J.K.’ are stamped on the leather inside each boot. As he performs his duties, he is carrying an MP-40 machinegun over his right shoulder as well as a Walther P-38 nine-millimeter semiautomatic pistol strapped to his side. Today, he is standing at his post in the middle of the ghetto. There is hardly no automobile traffic on the streets at all during this time of hardship and austerity. He can hear the ominous sound of a violin playing in the distance over the chatter of people in the streets. Some are adults seeking a cool breeze, and others are children that belong to the local orphanage. The older orphans are playing along the sidewalk in front of the orphanage with a few adult supervisors watching closely. Josef Kempf has heard the music off and on for several days but, still, has not seen the person playing the tunes. The violin music reminded him of his grandfather; a jovial soul filled with wisdom who would play a violin for what seemed like hours at a time.

***

About 14 years ago, when he was 12 years old, young Josef was using his grandfather’s wall gun for target practice. Wall guns were large caliber, smooth-bore muskets that were used in the 16th through 18th centuries by defending forces to break the advance of enemy troops. They were too heavy to be fired from the shoulder, so they were usually rested on window ledges or low walls, hence the name. They can cause self-injury if they are not cleaned and maintained properly. Young Josef was balancing the end of the gun on a low-hanging tree limb when he pulled the trigger. His young, curious mind drew himself to today’s incident. He wanted to shoot the gun to see what kind of power and sound it will create. The black gunpowder flashed out backward into his eyes and severely burned his left eye. As he dropped the gun to the ground, his grandfather came running across the grass to him. Young Josef was taken, by his grandfather, to the closest doctor for immediate examination. Dr. Janz Korbak, an experienced war doctor, had seen this type of injury many times. Dr. Korbak never gave up on Josef and knew it would be difficult saving his eyes. His bandages were on both of his eyes for three weeks to allow proper healing. During those three weeks, Josef’s grandfather would play his violin to help entertain young Josef. The music helped keep his own mind off from the guilt of allowing his grandson to have access to his wall gun.

Grandpapa, how long have you been playing your music?

Grandpapa stopped playing for a moment and looked at young Josef.

I was about your age when I was first taught how to play. A dear friend once gave me some wonderful advice and direction for my life at a time when I needed it most. I listened to his words and chose to follow his advice. It was actually because of him that I now have the wonderful family I have today.

Who was that man, Grandpapa?

His name was Sergius. He would always do a lot of traveling, and I would see him about every six or seven years. Strange character he was, but he was also very wise in the ways of the world. His stories never cease to amaze me.

When was the last time you saw him, Grandpapa?

Let me think. Grandpapa paused and closed his eyes, thinking for a few seconds, then he opened his eyes and smiled. If he is staying on his regular schedule, he should be due for another visit anytime now.

Grandpapa, did Sergius teach you how to play music?

No, my dear boy; however, his words and the direction I followed led me to learn how to use my talent. I actually taught him a few things on the violin myself, many years ago. He is a quick study, learning everything I could show him. The last time I saw him, we played music together all afternoon.

Play some more music, Grandpapa, play some more. I’ve heard you play your music for many years now, and now is the first time I am actually paying attention to it.

Young Josef drifted off to sleep while his grandpa’s soothing music filled the room.

After three weeks, it was time to remove the bandages. Dr. Korbak placed young Josef in a dimly lit room and commenced to unwrap the bandages from his head. He slowly removed the last layer, leaving only the gauze over each eye.

Dr. Korbak was a gentleman who spoke softly with his words. He told young Josef, Okay, Josef, please keep both eyes closed while I remove one eye patch at a time. I will begin with your left eye. If you feel any pain or discomfort, let me know immediately.

Dr. Korbak then proceeded to remove the gauze from young Josef’s left eye. Now remember, Josef, Dr. Korbak said, Keep your eye closed until I ask you to open it.

The gauze was slowly removed, then Dr. Korbak began cleaning around young Josef’s left eye. Dr. Korbak gently turned young Josef’s head, facing the darkest corner in the room.

Okay, Josef, slowly open your left eye.

Josef slowly opened his eye. He could not see anything at all in front of him. Young Josef stretched his arm out forward as if to try to feel or touch anything that might be in front of him. Dr. Korbak grasped young Josef’s hand and said, Josef, Josef, do you see anything at all? Can you see any light?

Josef said in a low, whimpering, and afraid voice, No, no, Doctor, I can’t see anything. Nothing at all.

Dr. Korbak held Josef’s hand and used his other hand to remove the gauze from his right eye. Keep your eye closed, he said in a soft voice. The gauze was carefully removed from young Josef’s right eye. Dr. Korbak once again asked Josef to slowly open his eye. Josef held Dr. Korbak’s hand with a tight grip as he slowly opened his eye. Suddenly, the grip on Dr. Korbak’s hand became much tighter as a smile came over young Josef’s face.

I CAN SEE LIGHT! Josef said in a much louder voice, I can see light. He slowly turned his head toward the doctor. I can see you. I see you, Doctor. I see you!

Young Josef is delighted with his gift of sight. Or at least half of it. He has been living in darkness for nearly a month and thought for sure this is going to be his life now. Dr. Korbak examined young Josef’s left eye many times over the next few weeks. However, he never did regain sight in his left eye. To this day, Officer Josef Kempf has a great deal of gratitude and respect for the doctor that saved his eyesight.

A few days later, young Josef is running errands for his grandpapa. Josef finishes his errands and starts to walk home. It isn’t a long walk, maybe about 20 minutes using a casual speed. As he walks along the dirt road, be begins humming one of his favorite tunes, a song that his grandpapa played quite often. As he arrives near the small house, he can hear that very same tune coming from within. It sounds different, fuller and much richer. Like as if two violins are playing in unison together. As he picks up his pace, the music stops. Josef hears an unfamiliar voice coming from within the small house. An older man, appearing to be his grandpapa’s age, emerges from the house, carrying a violin case.

Josef arrives near the front stoop area. Hello, sir.

Hello, Josef, said the man.

Josef looked inquisitive toward the man.

Your grandpapa has told me all about you, young man.

Josef reaches out his hand to shake the old man’s hand. You must be Sergius?

Yes, I am. It is wonderful to meet you. I am sorry to say but I must be going to remain on schedule.

Where are you traveling to, Sergius?

I always follow my heart. That is the key to life, and it always works for me.

Josef thought for a few seconds while wiping the sweat from his brow. Doesn’t one’s brain make all the decisions about everything?

Yes, it does, Josef. You will learn that many times, your brain will trick you and make you do things that are not right or could possibly harm others. If you follow your heart, your brain will sometimes try to talk you out of it. Let your heart make the important decisions. Your heart will always offer the best answer when you are faced with tough choices.

Sergius began to walk away as Josef said, Right now, my heart is telling me I am hungry, ha-ha-ha-ha.

Sergius continued walking away and yelled loudly back to Josef, No, my lad, that is your stomach speaking to you. They both laughed as young Josef went inside his home.

***

Officer Josef Kempf is on patrol as he stands across the street from the newly designated orphanage. The occupants and workers of the orphanage were recently and nearly forcibly transferred to this location from the other side of the city. It is now under the direction of Dr. Janz Korbak, the same Dr. Korbak that treated Josef Kempf’s eyes 14 years earlier. To this day, Officer Kempf still feels a strong sense of gratitude for Dr. Korbak. That is why he requested to be stationed in the ghetto. There, he can indirectly make sure that Dr. Korbak remains safe. The orphanage has 192 children from the ages of just a few months to nearly 14 years old. Dr. Korbak also has a team of 12 staff members, all of who reside in the large, four-story brick structure that, at one time, was the main school for all teaching grades in this part of the city. Officer Kempf can still hear the sound of a violin playing in the distance. The smooth sound of the music reminds him of his late grandfather. As he walked along the street during his patrol, he would often hear music, singing, and even praying coming from the windows of the brick buildings in the ghetto. Many children are constantly on the streets playing or just trying to catch a cool breeze. Some appear to be filled with energy, playing and screaming, while others look very poorly and sick as they just sit along the sidewalk.

Nurse Sanders rounded the corner in her old, rickety, makeshift ambulance. She drives past Officer Kempf to the next corner where she turned around and parked near the side entrance of the orphanage. She stepped out from behind the driver seat and walked to the rear of the ambulance, giving a slight glance across the street to Officer Kempf. Nurse Sanders could plainly see the eye patch on the officer’s left eye. She opens the squeaky backdoor of the ambulance and reaches inside for a large, oversized, medical bag. Her dog, Dame, sat inside, watching her every move. Nurse Sanders places her palm up toward Dame, saying, Dame, stay. You be a good girl. I won’t be long. Dame moves to the front passenger seat of the ambulance and sticks her head out the window so she can still hope to see Iris when she goes inside the orphanage building.

Iris then shuts the backdoor on the ambulance. It once again makes a loud squeak from the hinges as the door closes. She glances across the street at Officer Kempf and quickly makes her way to the door of the orphanage; Dame watching every move. The director of the orphanage, Dr. Korbak, meets Nurse Sanders at the door. As he opens the door for her, he looks across the street, making eye contact with Officer Kempf.

Officer Kempf stands at attention watching as Nurse Sanders steps inside the orphanage. Josef Kempf’s attention then turns to the sound of the violin music in the distance. He stands at his post, gazing from one side of the street to the other, trying to figure out which window the music is coming from. The sound of the music bounces from one brick wall to another as if it is looking for a perfect location to escape from the ghetto, but the music seemed to be trapped there forever. Officer Kempf saw another officer two blocks away, walking in his direction. It is Officer Rudolf Oster. Officer Oster is a scowl-faced man with hardly any emotion at all. It is said that he always receives an inside smile when he sees the hardship of others. His happiness comes from the despair of other people he deems to be below him. Officer Oster holds tight to a dog leash as he and his German shepherd come closer to the orphanage. Josef Kempf watches as an old woman steps outside her doorway and stumbles right in front of the German shepherd. The big dog snarled and snaps at the old woman as she falls to the concrete surface. Officer Oster keeps walking while pulling the dog back toward him. He kicks the old woman’s legs while saying, Stupid bitch, do you want to be dog food? The woman looked up at him directly into his dark, empty eyes as he continues to walk past her as she lays motionless on the concrete.

Officer Kempf adjusted his eye patch and acted as if nothing ever happened as Officer Oster continued walking and stops beside Officer Kempf. Oster, pulling back firm on the German shepherd, commands it to stop. The dog sits down while sniffing at the air.

I have been sent here to coordinate a patrol with you.

Officer Kempf took a slight step backward and said, Really, there is nothing happening here. Why do they think we need more officers here?

Officer Oster shrugged his shoulders while reaching into his pants pocket to retrieve a pair of wooden dice. He began moving the dice around in his hand back and forth, creating a lite clanking sound. He then said, People are getting moved around all over the place. I wouldn’t be surprised if eventually most of us are moved on down the tracks.

Officer Kempf raises his eyebrow while saying, Well, I go wherever they need me. But he was really thinking, Wow, that is not good, not good at all.

Oster said, If you think this place stinks of piss and rot, I can’t imagine the shit everyone will smell on down the tracks.

I’ve heard some stories, said Kempf. And the sources are extremely accurate.

***

Dr. Korbak leads Nurse Sanders inside the orphanage toward the rear of the building. The sound of children screaming is coming from upstairs. The papers for the new arrivals are over there on the clipboard. He points to the light gray wall that leads down a hall. I need to go upstairs and take care of some disciplinary problems between two boys. Dr. Korbak disappears down the dimly lit hall as Iris adjusts her large medical bag from one hand to the other. Nurse Sanders carries her large medical bag down the hall and stops outside the dining-hall door. She was told there are between seven to ten new arrivals and they are there waiting to be looked at. Seven to ten new arrivals, she thought. No one seemed to have any answers as to the reason why these children recently became orphans. There were no answers to what happened to their parents, but there is some speculation that no one would discuss out loud. As she looks over the receiving paperwork on the children, she notices there was only five files for the oldest children, but there are no files on the two infants. Nurse Sanders sat her oversized medical bag down beside the infants as she turns and swiftly walked back to the ambulance to retrieve one more item. She steps outside to the sidewalk and walks toward the ambulance. She can see Dame still on the passenger seat with her head and front paws hanging out the window. Iris pulls on the rear door. There is a loud ‘Squeeeeeak’ as the ambulance door opens, drawing the attention of the two officers from across the street. Dame began wagging her tail as she watches Nurse Sanders retrieve a wooden box, about 18 inches long and ten inches wide, from behind the driver seat of the ambulance. Iris again looks at Dame with the palm of her hand held toward her and says, Stay. Stay here, Dame, stay. Dame quietly sat down and watches as Iris swiftly walks away, carrying the box, leaving the backdoor of the ambulance open.

Nurse Sanders arrives back into the hallway and sets the wooden box down on the floor beside the babies. She carefully removes the lid off the box and sets it aside. Iris reaches and opens her large, oversized, medical bag. She looks inside the bag, seeing that it was completely empty except for two, small, flat pillows lining the bottom. She takes one of the pillows out of the medical bag and places it inside the wooden box. Iris then proceeded to look around. She quietly walks to the corner and looks inside the dining hall. No one is there. The sound of children and other crying can be heard in the distance. Iris picks up one of the sleeping babies and places it inside her medical bag. She then picks up the other sleeping baby and lays it inside the wooden box on top of the pillow. The baby moves its head to one side as Iris grabs the lid to the box and places it on top, clicking it into position. With one quick motion, Iris places the wooden box under her arm, keeping it level while grabbing the medical bag by its handles. She looks around again in all directions as she carefully and quietly walks to the door.

As she nears to the door, she suddenly hears a voice behind her.

Nurse Sanders, Nurse Sanders.

Iris stops, exhales sharply, and turns around with a smile to face Dr. Korbak as he approaches her.

Are you already done here for the day? he said.

Yes, yes I am, she said with the smile shining from her face.

Well, let me get the door for you. Dr. Korbak reaches past her and turned the knob on the door so that she could push her way out to the street.

With a smile, Nurse Sanders said, Thank You, Dr. Korbak. I will see you again in a few days.

The door closed behind her as she slowly walks to the ambulance, being careful not to tilt the large medical bag or the wooden box. The last thing she wants to do is wake up her precious cargo. Iris can see Dame still sitting in the same spot she left her. The German shepherd across the street suddenly began pulling as if it wanted to take its handler, Officer Oster, toward the ambulance. Officer Oster looked at Officer Kempf and said, I think he wants us to check something out over there.

Officer Kempf halfheartedly let out a slight chuckle. Oster then looked back at Kempf and said, Come on. Let’s make our presence known on this block.

Iris quickly places her medical bag and wooden box inside the back of the ambulance as the two officers and German shepherd approach from across the street. She can hear their boots clapping loudly against the street pavement as they walk in unison; the sound of the soles of the boots against the street surface is getting louder as they draw near.

Officer Oster, still clacking his dice together in his hand, shouts, Halt. Halt right there. The sound of the violin music ceases, leaving a haunting chill of silence in the streets.

Iris pushes the box on inside the ambulance and then sets her medical bag in front of it near the rear door. She then turns and looks at the two officers.

Officer Kempf looks at Officer Oster and said, She is here every week, checking on the children here at the orphanage. She is a great asset on the streets here.

Officer Oster, not listening to Kempf, said, What do you have there? That bag. That box; what do you have?

The German shepherd was still pulling while Oster was holding it in position. Iris’s dog, Dame, started to make some concerning whimper noises.

Oster then blurted, We need to see inside your bag.

Officer Kempf looked at Oster and said, I’ll look inside while you hold your dog back.

Dame, still whimpering, moves forward and stands on the wooden box. Iris then thought she heard a slight baby cry and she knew she had to do something. Iris put her arm out and palm up toward Dame and said, NO! NO, Dame! NO! No!

Dame started barking very loudly, snarling in between barks. The command word, NO, is actually a training command for Dame to start barking and go crazy. Dame would not stop barking.

The German shepherd began pulling on its leash while barking and snarling.

Officer Oster looks at Kempf and screams, Look in the bag. Look in the fucking box too.

Officer Kempf reaches to open the oversize medical bag. Dame continued barking loudly, setting off the other dogs in the street to bark. Soon, there are over 15 neighborhood dogs barking, snarling, and going crazy. The barking sounds of various dogs from all over the area is filling the streets as droplets of sweat begin for form on Iris’s brow. The German shepherd followed Dame’s lead and starts barking, snarling, pulling, and looking around everywhere. The Shepherd didn’t quite know what to bark at as it was looking around, pulling on the leash, and barking in all directions. The sound of all the dog’s barking is now echoing from all the building’s brick walls. Officer Kempf stands with his back to Oster and slowly opens the large medical bag. He looks inside and sees a baby with its eyes looking back at him. He then quickly closes it, slightly glancing at Iris. Officer Josef Kempf reaches for the wooden box and knocks Dame over to the side. Dame continued with her barking. Nurse Sanders is standing near the back corner of the ambulance, watching with a calm look on her face. She is still prompting Dame to bark with her ‘NO’ command. Officer Kempf lifts up the wooden lid and looks inside. He sees a baby moving and starting to wake up. Its tiny hand makes a fist as it stretches one arm away from its face. Officer Kempf closes the lid and looks straight at Nurse Sanders. He looks into her big dark eyes as she looks into his eye. She knows her secret is over and now is the end. The street dogs bark become louder and more aggressive as Josef stares at Iris. The stare he gave seems to go on for minutes while it is only a couple of seconds.

Just as Josef begins to speak, Officer Oster screams, Let’s get these fucking dogs quiet!

Josef turns around and shouts, There is nothing here. We should go back across the street. Nothing here but these damn loud dogs.

Officer Josef Kempf steps past the German shepherd, motioning with his hand for Officer Oster to follow. Oster looks back toward the box, stepping toward it as the German shepherd pulls on him to follow Josef. Both of the German officers cross the street as the sounds of the dogs barking along the streets begins to subside.

Iris quickly closes the squeaky door on the back of the ambulance and rushes around to get into the driver seat. As she is stepping up into the seat, she looks back and sees Officer Kempf looking back at her with his one eye as he walks back to the street corner. Dame jumps from the rear and into the passenger seat and looks at Iris as if to say, Let’s get out of here. Iris starts the engine and drives down the side street, looking for a place to turn around. Dr. Korbak, after hearing the commotion outside, is watching everything from a window on the second floor. As Iris swings to the left, turning around so she can exit the same way she came, all she can think is, he saw the babies. He saw the babies. Why didn’t he stop me or say anything? He saw the babies. Josef watches intently as Iris disappears around the corner.

Chapter 2

The Family Box

It’s late 2004. The holiday season is ready to kick off just as Thanksgiving approaches. Amber Knipp arrives home to her condo near the Prairie View area of Kansas City, Missouri. Amber and her four-year-old son just moved in a week after Halloween. The upcoming holiday season is always the busiest time of the year for Amber. She is in sales, high-end sales. A different kind of sales with a one-of-a-kind unique inventory. The inventory is herself. She must maintain her style, her appearance, health, and her attitude. She must be able to be open-minded and allow her customers to experience everything they are paying for. Amber works all hours of the day, but she works only for select clients and companies that secretly call for her services. She is always in demand, and she often has to decline a client’s wishes because of her busy schedule. Her job isn’t always about scratching her client’s itch of sexual desires. Quite often, she is hired to simply accompany someone to a party or event. One time, she was hired to simply greet people at the door for a party as guests arrived. This greet-and-meet job also allowed her to be acquainted with a lot of new clients in the future.

She has a special work-date set up for the Saturday evening after Thanksgiving. This work-date is a repeat customer; however, the last time she saw him was two years ago. His name is Raymond Nichols. Ray lives across the state in St. Louis and works for a company that requires him to do a lot of traveling. Most of his trips, related to his work, are within the Midwest area of the United States. Amber and her four-year-old son, Jaxon, have just finished a shopping trip together at a newly opened mall, The Zona Rosa Center. Some of the surrounding areas of the Zona Rosa Center are still being developed, but the fashion stores and a home-interior shop has everything Amber needed to finish decorating her new condo and to make her look even more extravagant for her upcoming work-date. As they walked past a clearance area, four-year-old Jaxon pointed at some leftover Halloween costumes.

Look, Momma, look, Jaxon says with delight.

No, Jaxon, Halloween is over. You don’t need a costume now.

Momma, it’s Papaw, Jaxon said as he is pointing at a costume.

Amber looked and saw a pirate costume. The pirate pictured on the package is wearing an eye patch over his left eye.

Amber replied, No, sweetie. That is a pirate.

No, Momma. Papaw.

Amber says, Honey, you’re talking about your great papaw; yes, that does look a little bit like your great grandpa.

Jaxon had never seen his great grandpa in person. Amber was surprised that he could remember the two pictures that she received from her mother just before she died a few months ago. During her last visit to see her mother, Amber’s mother had given her two photographs of her grandfather. She could remember that day very well.

***

Amber and Jaxon were visiting her mother in her apartment. A woman from Hospice was there, watching over her mother. She was very weak and could not talk very much without the need of more oxygen. Amber sits in the chair beside her mother’s bed, with Jaxon sitting on her lap.

Her mother pointed at a medium-size wooden box in the corner and said, Amber, please take that with you.

Amber said, Mom, you need to rest.

Her mother pointed again at the box. It’s your family.

The box had the words ‘FAMILY’ written in permanent marker on the top and sides. Amber set Jaxon down for a moment and walked over to look inside the box. Inside are a few photographs, two red marbles, and some homemade knitted doilies that were passed down in the family. Jaxon picked up an old black-and-white photo. A small photo mounted in an antique metal frame. It was a war picture of his great grandpa, Josef Kempf. A young soldier in his mid-20s with a rifle hanging over his shoulder and a pistol strapped to his side. His right hand is holding a book up next to his chest.

Momma, look. Guns, young Jaxon said.

Yes, Jaxon. That is my grandpa; your great grandpa, exclaimed Amber.

Guns, Momma, guns. Young Jaxon was enthralled with the photo. He stared at it all while touching the eye patch in the photograph.

The second photograph in the box was a photo of Officer Josef Kempf and Amber’s grandmother, Jaxon’s great grandmother. The photo portrayed the same tall soldier, holding a book, with a young woman’s arm looped through his left arm. Amber’s mother shifted in her bed and pointed at the box once more and said, That is all the family we ever had.

Amber placed the doilies and photographs back inside the box beside a few other trinkets that were laying on the bottom. The two red marbles clank together as she slightly tilts the box.

Mom, I remember those red marbles. Gosh, it’s been years since I saw them.

Young Jaxon picks up the red marbles out of the box and looks at them. Amber said, I had those when I was your age. Your grandmother would give them to me every time I did a good deed or just to say I love you. It was a long family tradition. Jaxon stretches his hand forward and gives the marbles to his grandmother. Here, Grandma; I love you.

She takes the marbles in her frail hand and holds them for a moment. After a few seconds, she slowly reaches her hand toward Jaxon and places the two red marbles back in his little hand. I love you too, Baby. Thank you for being with me today. The hospice nurse is busy checking her blood pressure and looks at Amber with a concerning look.

It won’t be long, dear, she mouthed silently for Amber to see.

Amber looked at the nurse with tears in her eyes. Could you take my son to the living room so he can watch some cartoons? I brought his favorite D.V.D.

Jaxon placed the two red marbles inside the

Reviews for Sole to Soul

[Chuck Slone · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS STORY. A thriller that takes you on a ride that is non stop . Full of excitement, mystery, action, bad guys you LOVE to Hate and sex. The ending blew me away.. I wasn't expecting that.. The mind of this author is truly unique. Can't wait to see what Gregory Hudson comes out with next. Call me FAN!!!