The Fall of Five Thousand

By J. L. Bircher and Jean Bircher

This is book 4 in the series that finds Josh and Mindy Nicholson still unsettled into their new home due to danger lurking behind every corner. Yet another serial killer stalks the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, but finds a victim in Washington, DC, to get closer to the final prize. The course of events leads the readers into emotions that will make them laugh, cry, and wonder at the beliefs each character conveys in a given circumstance. This book brings out the intelligence and strength of one who has been hidden in the shadows in the first three books. Continued twists and turns will keep the reader wanting more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514469408

J. L. Bircher

"A Radical Sacrifice" is being published on the heels of "Strategy Murders" simply because Jean enjoys writing and being creative. Since her husband retired, he has become an avid golfer which gives Jean private time to concentrate on making her characters come alive for her readers. The time she spends with her husband when at home involves watching movies while sharing a "large" bowl of popcorn. They also enjoy camping, but leave their two dogs and two cats at home in the care of a "sitter". Evenings spent in front of a wood fire provides the time for Jean and her husband to share and communicate as they believe this is what keeps their marriage healthy and loving. Currently they are planning an eighteen-day cruise in October that will include spending time enjoying the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands. Much of the time will be spent on the ocean and Jean hopes to begin her next book in the series she has created.

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 by J.L. Bircher.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-5144-6941-5

                eBook           978-1-5144-6940-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 03/02/2016

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

721684

Contents

Preface

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

Epilog

About the Author

Preface

Beep… Beep… Beep… In his subconscious, that is all Hunter heard. He was breathing, but it felt like it was the breathing of someone close to death. His wife is here. He heard this and wondered why Melody would be here and just where here was? Beep… Beep… Beep… There was that annoying sound again. He tried to open his eyes but they wouldn’t open. He tried to scratch his nose and his arm wouldn’t move. He felt a touch on his hand. It was Melody’s hand holding his, but he couldn’t squeeze hers to hold it back. He tried to talk to her but his lips wouldn’t move.

The doctor walked in and said, He’s in a coma, Mrs. McKay. His vitals are good and his heart rate is strong, but one never knows how long a coma will last. We recommend that you just talk to him. It is believed that coma patients can hear but are unable to respond. We did a portable x-ray of his spine. There are several fractures which is why he is in a cast from his neck down to his feet. We can’t risk him waking up and trying to move his legs should he be able to move them. If or when he does awaken, we will test to see if he has feeling in his lower extremities. All we can do now is wait. I wish I had better news. Melody cried softly.

Chapter 1

Bernie put his equipment into the back seat of Josh’s car and got into the passenger seat. Josh glanced at Bernie and stated, From what I have been told, Bernie, there is something that you need tell me.

Yes, there is, Josh, he began. When I was very young, I was diagnosed with Cyclothymic Disorder. It is borderline to being bipolar, but is not as severe. One of the symptoms of this disorder is a risk of suicide. If it hadn’t been for my job, that might have been an option. But, I’m not nor have I ever been suicidal, Josh.

I know that, Bernie. At least I never suspected it. But, now that you have had so much tragedy in your life, how are you handling it? Bernie began to cry. Josh allowed Bernie the time he needed to collect himself.

I have been depressed but have controlled it all these years with medication and have only once had depression as bad as one who is bipolar. Sharing my past is not something that I thought I would have to do, but it seems I must with everything that has happened. Sherri was the only person I told about Becky and it made me feel like I had a sister, again, afterwards. The one time I suffered badly from my disorder was because of my biological sister. I have had no contact with her since and it is why Sherri had become so important to me.

Josh put up his hand for Bernie to wait to continue and made a quick call to Mindy to let her know that he was all right, but that he and Bernie would be a bit later than the rest of the group. After he hung up, he looked at Bernie and asked him to continue and to take as long as he needed. Bernie was touched by Josh’s action and prayed that nothing would ever happen to Josh.

Bernie felt that Josh was all he had left and opened up completely to him. He continued, Right after I graduated from college, my sister, Debbie, was getting married. I didn’t want to go to the wedding and only went because it would give me an opportunity to tell Debbie how much I hated her and then I would leave after the vows were exchanged. Debbie and I had had a huge fight about four years before and I swore I would never have anything to do with her again. Mom wanted me to make amends with Debbie, but even as much as I loved my mom, I had been too hurt to go that far. She had sided with Debbie which hurt even more. When Mom had died, I was the executor of the estate and told Debbie to stay away; that I would see that she got what she was supposed to get.

Josh interrupted to ask about the fight. He could not comprehend what would cause this great and intelligent man to hate so much. "Debbie was fourteen and I was twelve at the time. I had caught Debbie with a boy that was much older than she was so I told her she needed to get home.

She told me if I told Mom, she would make me suffer for it. I told Mom anyway and she found out that they were smoking marijuana and the boy was nineteen. Mom made Debbie tell her all of it, including the boy’s name. Debbie said she was going up to take a shower and Mom told her no, that she and Debbie were going for a ride. She took Debbie to the emergency room and asked them to process a rape kit on her daughter. Of course, the police were called and questioned Debbie about the rape. She tried to tell them she wasn’t raped and, when they wouldn’t listen to her, she clammed up. Mom, on the other hand, had plenty to say. The police arrested the ‘boy’, charging him with Statutory Rape. They took a sample of his saliva and matched his DNA to the results of the rape kit. He was convicted of the charge and sent to prison for twelve years.

Debbie made good her threat to make me suffer. She took my medication for my Cyclothymic Disorder and hid it from me. After three days without it, Debbie saw the results of her anger. Mom thought I was with a friend so she wasn’t concerned when I wasn’t around. I was found in my room sitting as unmoving as a statue in the middle of my bed. I had unknowingly destroyed everything in my room. Everything that could be smashed was smashed. Everything that could be broken was broken. I had apparently found a pair of scissors because every piece of clothing I owned had been cut to shreds, as well as my shoes. The only movements were the tears sliding down my face. They had been flowing silently long enough to saturate my shirt. It took two weeks in the hospital to pull me back into reality. Debbie’s room was next to mine, but she claimed not to have heard anything when I smashed and broke everything. Mom had a hearing problem so she never heard anything.

I went to the wedding and was only going to stay just for the vows but when I sat down, Becky Miller was sitting next to me and I fell in love right then and there for the first time in my life. I looked pretty dorky back then but she smiled at me anyway and we talked a bit, then I asked her for a date. She accepted and things progressed to the point of my asking her to marry me as soon as I had completed college. She said yes and two weeks before the wedding she broke up with me for someone else.

It was then that I applied for employment for a position that required a computer savvy speed typist for the Secret Service. I found it strange that the Secret Service would need someone with these skills, but applied anyway. My GPA at graduation, the results on their tests they had me take for employment, and my answers on the questionnaire must have been exceptional because I was hired immediately. Of course, I had to list my disorder in the medical area and apparently they thought I should be watched in case there would be trauma I couldn’t handle."

Josh listened intently. Bernie saw that Josh was genuinely interested in his story, but he felt like he was taking too much of Josh’s time and asked Josh if he wanted to head to the Hilton. Bernie said he could continue if Josh wanted him to while Josh drove. Josh nodded and started the car. "I was surprised when I was asked to become an FBI Agent instead of working with the Secret Service but was told my skills would be invaluable to an FBI team. That was when I was sent to work with you after my training, Josh. That must have been when Steve began keeping an eye on me.

Then Sherri was murdered and I guess he asked Daphne to assist him during her off duty time. Daphne told me he told her about Becky and Sherri and she agreed to help out because I was the best thing to hit the FBI. He didn’t want to lose me, according to Daphne. When Steve was recommended to you to hire for your honeymoon, Daphne took over completely. Then came the loss of my Mom and I have to admit the depression that I felt at losing everyone I loved was the worst I had ever experienced. When you told us about Brice and Kendi, I was beside myself with all kinds of mixed feelings. Everyone left me to take care of the two agents which I admit was what I needed to do, but not being included to go to the crime scene to say goodbye to Brice just hit me wrong. I left my job and ended up at the lounge where Daphne appeared. I am very sorry about that, Josh! I hope I didn’t jeopardize anything?"

Josh shook his head and said, No, Bernie. Your leaving was not an issue thanks to Lee and his quick thinking. And I am very sorry about not having you go to at least say goodbye to Brice. I will make sure you have some private time with him before the funeral. Bernie thanked him and the rest of the drive was done in silence.

*     *     *

Mindy had awakened to find that Katherine still slept in the sedative induced state. Mindy had no idea how long Katherine might be asleep so she tried to wake her up by shaking her shoulder gently and calling her name. Katherine mumbled something and Mindy thought she heard Keith’s name. Mindy decided to let Katherine continue to sleep so she unlocked the handcuffs and placed them in the bedside table drawer.

Mindy hung up from speaking with Josh and wondered what she should do since Josh was going to be longer than she had anticipated. She wanted to go to the hospital and be with Melody but she had to stay here and wait for the others to arrive. As soon as the group came through the door, Mindy would be on her way to be with Mel if she wasn’t needed here. Also, she needed Lee to give her the key to his house so she could process the crime scene evidence. After that, she needed to get with Josh and find out about special funeral arrangements within the FBI if there are any available. If not, she needed to get with Katherine. That was going to be a very difficult task.

While Kendi was her best friend in college and her maid of honor at her wedding, Mindy had not seen or talked to Kendi since college. That didn’t mean she didn’t feel Kendi’s loss; only that their friendship had just begun to grow again. As it stood, she felt closer to Melody than anyone else. Of course, that was mostly because they were both going to have a baby and due around the same time. In fact, and she hated to bother Melody with this right now, but she needed the name of Melody’s obstetrician so she could make an appointment as soon as possible. Melody had mentioned before the traumatic news about Brice and Kendi that her obstetrician had delivered her first two children and she said she would trust no one else.

Mindy decided she had better line up some time to go through the townhouse and start packing items for their new home. A list is what she needed! She found a tablet and a pen and began with funeral arrangements, call obstetrician and make an appointment, go to Lee’s and run the evidence gathered from the crime scene, go to the townhouse with boxes and pack, get keys to the new house and take the boxes as she gets them filled, hire movers to get her things from the storage unit and the large pieces from the townhouse to deliver to her new home… Her new home! It was impossible not to feel some happiness in the midst of all of the tragedy that has come into their lives. There it was again! That flutter in her stomach! Their baby was growing and she felt it move ever so slightly. Out of silliness, she added this to her list and smiled.

She had lost all track of time but knew it was very late. She went into the bedroom and changed into clothing that wouldn’t wrinkle too badly and went back into the living area where she stretched out on the couch. She was soon sound asleep.

Josh and Bernie arrived at the Hilton and, finding Mindy asleep, went quietly to their respective rooms. Josh returned to the living area and sat down on the floor next to his sleeping wife and watched her lovely face. How was he going to make his plan work without tearing her apart? Would she forgive him? Would the stress endanger their child? She was a strong woman, but even strong women can endure just so much before it breaks them down. Josh realized that tears were running down his face. This could mean an end to the happiness that had only briefly been his to enjoy. She would hate him afterwards. Before the sob that threatened to burst forth came out, Josh moved swiftly and went into the kitchen. He washed his face and grabbed a glass out of the cupboard. He filled it with water and began to drink with a thirst that he didn’t really feel.

The running water woke Mindy up. She got up and went to the kitchen. There he was. She said his name and he turned to take her into his arms. How are you feeling, Honey? Josh asked.

I am feeling wonderful! Our baby has fluttered twice! I will call Melody’s obstetrician first thing when the office is open and make an appointment. At the mention of Melody, both thought of Hunter and their smiles were replaced with worried frowns.

Have you heard anything about Hunter? Josh asked.

"No. I haven’t called the hospital because I thought I would go and be with Melody for a while. Would that be all right with you? I mean, I am not a target