Sweet Essence of Truth

By Shirley Ann Williams

Sarge steered the cruiser in the direction of a place he had visited regularly. It was a calming environment away from the chaotic surroundings he faced daily. There was a peace in this setting, so diverse from offerings of the world. Yet in this place of tranquility, danger lurked unknown to those who were there. The ability to help the helpless was about to take on a whole new meaning. Sarge prayed for moments of clarity for Fester, if this was indeed the place he fled to.

Nathan knew the next hour would give him enormous insight into this man who was in such agony over past experiences. He recognized that the time was of divine intervention from the start. The glimpse at the songster on the sill. The observation of the truck, the driver known by picture alone. Festers entry through the one and only door that was never secured. The events leading to the precautionary safety procedures. Attention given to a man Sarge and Deke needed to understand. An understanding that would lead to obtaining help for a lost soul.

As the conversation continued lost soul to pastor two men began to piece together bits of this tortured mans life that were never revealed in any reports. The broken pieces were being united, one by one. The One who created was not finished yet. The creation was beginning anew a hardened heart softening its path to hope. God was in the midst, holding the hands and hearts of His children.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inspiring Voices
• Release date: Jun 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781462409976

Shirley Ann Williams

Shirley Williams writes what God has laid upon her heart. Writing is a part of her faith journey; giving witness to God’s love, mercy, and grace. Now a retired teacher, Shirley pens stories of inspiration and hope amid the struggles and confusion life offers; creating characters searching for God’s peace.

Book preview

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Copyright © 2014 Shirley Ann Williams.

Cover concept and abstract image by Shirley Ann Williams

Back cover author photo by Lifetouch

Interior photos from the Goss personal family album

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-4624-0996-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4624-0997-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014910843

Inspiring Voices rev. date: 06/23/2014

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Broken Pieces Series

A Five-Book Series

Broken Pieces: Handle With Care

Shackled Cries

Up From The Valley

Sweet Essence Of Truth

Author:

Shirley Ann Williams

This Book Dedicated To:

Those who dance

to the rhythm of

truth,

love,

and

justice.

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Foreword

Life is never mapped out to reveal circumstances to an exact science. Every day is new with challenges different from the previous ones. There is a rhythm of life that is breathed into each day; yet, throughout the harmonies of life come those discordant times of struggle. Many are not of our making; yet, they appear as a part of life’s journey. As humans, we travel some of the same roads, step-by-step.

When novel four was approaching its end and a conclusion had been rendered, my ‘writer’s lament’ had begun. It was bittersweet to say my last farewell to the characters who had endeared themselves to my heart. We had walked together for those many months; they, the fictional characters and myself as author, the one empowering life into their very beings. I had become part of their family, vicariously seeing them as reality throughout the writing. It was extremely hard to let them go; to bid them my final farewell.

Having penned the final chapter and assuming the work was done, it was a walk with my canine ‘son’ Baxter that prompted the ‘whispers’. Walking and listening, I knew without a doubt Whose they were. Knowing the command of His voice, I was empowered to another dimension for the series; one that had previously escaped me. Thinking retrospectively, it became clear that prior to that walk I had not heard any further directives from God. Rather, it was His timing that prevailed; preparing my heart for new revelations while in the stillness of the walk. Though novel four would have been closure in and of itself, it was a conflicting closure: one that readers would accept, yet, it fell short of one crucial component in the message God wanted conveyed.

Novel four ends the way one might expect. But on the walk with Baxter, God gave this writer an insight. God was working on Fester Moore’s heart; making him aware of a Heavenly Father’s love for one of His children. Fester was not the only one drawn back into the fold as God’s ‘lost soul’. Becoming cognizant of the character who needed more depth and discovery, the whispers pleaded for my heart to understand God’s request. What I so clearly heard was pivotal to the whole essence of the story’s message: the witnessing of love, mercy, and grace that is given only by the Heavenly Father.

God asked me to consider His whispers to my heart. If the characters found God through their confessions of faith in Him, how were the readers to know except it be told? If God had entered their lives, what better way to give testimony of that presence than to write novel five; sharing what God was doing in their lives since they found that vital relationship.

It became my mission to do God’s bidding. So, with words in my heart and ears attuned to His message, the story could safely be penned to its conclusion. What a joy to be enlightened with God’s revelations for the last novel in the series: novel five.

Closure for this series came on His timing. I give God all the praise, honor, and glory for the story. It is my hope and prayer that you have been uplifted in the reading; encouraged by the characters’ testimonies to their faith; and strengthened by the knowledge that God will never leave us nor forsake us. It has been very humbling to be asked to write the Broken Pieces Series. I trust that your heart has been touched; your soul warmed; and that the love and peace of God has been felt a hundredfold. May you feel peace and resolve as a reader; anticipating the finality of the Broken Pieces Series. Thank you for finding a place in your heart for the message God gave me.

Shirley

From The Author

Sometimes, it’s hard to know how to begin, for the beginnings are places one has never journeyed before. There is no clarity as to the direction except in the imagination that sparks the beginning in the first place. There may be wandering thoughts from time to time; nothing defining the exact manner in which the idea is to be interpreted or received. That’s the beauty in writing. Words come together, binding idea to idea, begging the story to blend into a rhythm of its own; converging the struggles with the triumphs; uniting the confusion with the harmony of peace. It seems a monumental task, yet one that is so essential to the message the story is destined to convey.

Oftentimes than not, the ideas come into being by themselves; influenced by the nature of the characters or the circumstances. It is not so important how the ideas evolved, but that they did; appearing before the author’s eyes, and the author knowing that something miraculous occurred. As ideas evolved for the first four books in the series, such was the case with this novel. Each day of writing pleasantly surprised me with the fluidity of the thoughts. One character birthed the emergence of another until an integrated ‘family of members’ was created. The delight I had in developing the characters and the manner in which they would touch one another granted me moments that ‘took my breath away’, keenly cognizant of the inspiration. This series would have never been written had this author not listened to God, the creator of the ideas.

In the silence of the moments, it humbled me to ‘hear the story’ in the midst of the quiet. Closing my eyes and listening with my heart became a daily routine before scripting a single word. What a blessing to have been in communion with my Heavenly Father! The message is His; for I am merely His ‘commissioned writer’; His listener.

The story is more profound than what thought alone can convey; for the message of God’s love is purer and more beautiful than we as humans can understand. What is penned is intended for the heart; to be touched by finding balance in truth while living in confusion; finding peace amidst the chaos; searching for solitude within the constant din of distractions and interruptions.

Just as it’s hard to conceive beginnings, it is perhaps more painful to come to the end; knowing from the beginning that this is inevitable. As with life, there is a time for everything. Novel four brings closure to a lot of questions, but as you read the last chapter and contemplate the last words, may your heart be receptive to more; motivating you to walk one more step into the series’ completion. You will be comforted for having taken the path around the corner; finding such beauty in the ‘walk’.

Thank you, readers, for allowing me this ‘postlude’ to the other novels. Without the penning of novel five, the series would have remained incomplete. …Maybe not in your eyes, but certainly in mine. As the author and ‘listener to the whispers’, it is my responsibility…and privilege…to finally come to the end; the end that is needed for the series’ completion.

May God bless you in the reading. The characters await you for the last time. If by chance you want more than what novel five offers, let your imagination and thoughts travel their own path to discovery as peace follows the rest of your walk. The end is not the end until it’s totally claimed by you, the reader.

Shirley

Chapter 1

One Step Behind

"Sarge, my mother wouldn’t say anything about it, but something is troubling her. I could tell by her voice and see it in her eyes. I hope I didn’t make the matter worse."

"Son, it was nothing you did. She was crying even before I entered the room."

Why, Sarge?

It was a phone call, and…

It was Fester, wasn’t it?

Yes. Suzanne called earlier to inform me that calls were made to the information desk at the hospital, always the same voice asking about Nellie. I had Suzanne put a tracer on them as well as record the voice. It came back conclusive that the voice pattern was the same.

Are you sure it was Fester’s?

Without a doubt. We had secured other tapes of his voice, and there was no denying…they all matched.

Sarge, I’m worried that Fester will do harm to my mom. She has always been weakened by his threats.

Deke, we’ll get Fester. That’s my promise to you. I don’t know when, but I do know that his time is running out. We’re getting closer, and it may take some time still, but we’re closing in. I have all available officers on this case, even as we speak. Deke, in the time you were with him, can you remember any small detail that could ensure his capture? Anything at all?

One thing I learned from him was that he did the unexpected…

Such as?

His mind worked like a criminal’s, always analyzing the officer’s thoughts. He would sometimes do the least logical for a criminal, going places the law enforcers would never think to go. That’s how he has persevered all these years. I was with him once when the police were right on his trail. He went to this place, losing the hunters just as he had hoped. It’s a hunch, but…

It’s worth checking into. Suzanne had traced the call just before I made connection with her. It so happened, Fester had made the call minutes before we arrived, and was then within a block of the hospital.

Sarge and Deke continued visiting; concerning their opinions on Fester’s mindset, hoping to mark a trail to his whereabouts. Before acting on their instincts, Sarge would make a call, trusting something would ensue.

The phone rang.

No answer.

Sarge hung up, after the sixth ring, but dialed the number again. However, this time, it was sixteen rings instead of the six. It was mid-afternoon and no answer; highly unusual for this time of day. Never before had the silence at the other end of the line been so alarming. Someone had to be there. Places such as this would not elect to shut down for no reasons.

"Sarge, anything wrong?"

I don’t know. I hope not. It’s strange that no one is picking up, especially at this time of day. Let me try again, then we’ll go check it out.

Sarge redialed the number, getting a response on the third ring. Curious, but not wanting to arouse anxiety, Sarge inquired in a manner resembling that of one friend to another looking for his whereabouts; casual talk that would not alarm in any way.

Laying the phone down, the officer turned to Deke, wondering whether to involve him in a matter that might turn dangerous.

"Deke, I need to check something out. I could take you…"

Absolutely. If it involves Fester, most definitely, count me in. Sarge, I want him caught as much as you do… for reasons I can’t even explain, much less understand.

Deke, promise me: the first hint of danger, you’ll stay put. I want you safe. I won’t take you unless you promise to stay clear of danger should it come…

I promise.

Sarge steered the cruiser in the direction of this place; a place he had visited regularly. It was a calming environment away from the chaotic surroundings he faced daily. There was peace in this setting, so diverse from offerings of the world. Yet in this place of tranquility, danger lurked…unknown to those who were there. The ability to help the helpless was about to take on a whole new meaning. Sarge prayed for moments of clarity for Fester, if this was indeed the place he fled to.

Trying to understand the logic of an illogical thinker; it made sense to Sarge that this could be the place. It happened to be, maybe against all odds, God would be working on his heart.

"Sarge, what if we do find Fester here? Then what?"

Let’s pray for a miracle…God willing, let’s pray that He will use this time for something no human will be able to offer.

Miracles can happen, Sarge.

Yes. I’ve seen more miracles in the last six months than I ever expected to see in my lifetime.

You’re thinking about my mom’s miracle, aren’t you?

"Miracles…"

Yes, definitely more than just the one.

There are too many to count, Deke. But the most treasured of all miracles is in God’s timing that night.

God’s timing?

Deke, that was the first time I had been down that stretch of road since Sherrie’s death more than two years ago. I don’t know why I went that route that night other than saying my heart was stirred to do it, and I attribute it to God speaking to me. If I had not obeyed…

But, Sarge…you did. That’s the difference.

And that’s why I’m led to go to this place now. We’re almost there, about a half block further.

Pulling into the back, parking near the vehicle he was familiar with, Sarge shut off the engine. Taking note of his surroundings, while walking the area, he noticed the truck, hidden behind the shed housing the lawn equipment. He felt relieved, yet anxious. Thinking of the time of day and the many functions this building offered, would there be danger with Fester being here?

"Deke, keep your eyes open and your ears alert. First sign of danger, call this number. Suzanne will answer. Tell her what you need to, and let her know I’m here. Can you do that for me?"

Yes, sir.

"Stay close. I don’t want to lose you…"

The two walked to the back door, noticing it cracked but just an inch. Normally, it would be locked, a safety measure for the people who worked there. Sarge felt the apprehension creep upon him. Something was not right, for this one small infraction was so out of character. His mind raced with emerging scenarios blaring in his head. He had to act fast, for lives were at stake. No one was prepared for what might happen…not here. Not in this place of tranquility. A plain-clothes policeman was stationed by Nellie’s room, but no one was here to protect the unsuspecting. Moving through the halls and just short of where he needed to check first, Sarge prayed for the strength to handle what was to be. If anyone could protect him and Deke at this moment, it would be his Heavenly Father who cared for them so very much. He would give them what they needed, when they needed it. Their faith held on to this.

Chapter 2

The Lost One

"Deke, stay close. I