It's In The Blood (Book 5): It's In The Blood, #5

By Christopher Lee Roeters

    In writing " It's In The Blood" I've brought together a total of my past fears, hopes, and dreams. Growing up in Craig, Colorado, Kotzebue, Alaska, and northern Michigan, I've learned a lot about the vast differences in people. Rather if it is a matter of difference within the race, sexual orientation, or any other item that may make a person, or group of people, different from those around us, I've always believed that all men should be treated equal. 

     I credit my adoptive family for my open minded nature. I also credit young authors such as Macaulay Culkin and Christopher Paolini who gave me the backbone, to put into writing, my best example of Science Fiction. With this, i've used a mythical race to bring to light that equalness to all minority groups. With it, the sadness that is way too often left within the wake of those that choose to hate. 

     I've shown that, at times, that those that are the closest to us turn out to be the ones that we should not have trusted, while at other times our best friends are formed out of those that you would have least expected…. How often have you heard of a friendship or relationship starting off from an argument or fight?

     Then, along with the above, and then beyond, I've shown a deep contrast of love within a family. A family that many readers would love to be part of or close to. I've shown a depth of brotherhood that most could only dream of while the rest of us know that It's In The Blood. 

     I would like to personally thank you for choosing to read It's In The Blood… Thank you and God bless…

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christopher Lee Roeters
• Release date: Nov 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201244330

Book preview

It's In The Blood (Prologue)

It had been primarily a mild winter as Angel stepped into the 'The Memorial Hospital.‘ Nothingless, the gusts of arctic winds coming through the Rocky Mountains and then through Craig caused Angel to decide to land on the ground and walk into the warm building. Rather than just  sitting in the waiting room, he chose to walk the halls.

After walking through a set of double doors, Angel soon found himself peering through a large panel of glass. Staring back at him was four infant children. With his discovery, Angel's appetite began to grow as he realized that nobody was looking over the would-be quick meals. 'Hell...‘ Angel thought to himself. '...this is better than McDonalds.‘ Peering just beyond the large sheet of glass, Angel found a door with the word 'Nursery' placard on it. 

__________

It was about six o'clock in the afternoon of December twenty eighth when Doctor Viguil was about to head home after his shift. Walking through the last hallway of the pediatrics wing, he rounded the corner just in time to see a young boy walk into the nursery room. Hey! The doctor called out just a moment too late. Just as he had barely gotten the word out of his mouth, the heavy wooden door latched.

Oh hi there. A woman's voice called out just as Doctor Viguil reached the door. Placing his hand on the door handle, he looked back to see a nurse walking towards him.

Well hello there Mrs. Peterson... The doctor responded. ...how are you doing this evening?

I'm doing okay... I just... 

__________

Just before the door latched behind him, Angel suddenly heard the loud voice of an older man out in the hall. Quietly, Angel walked up to one of the four clear cribs that stood in front of a large window. Off to one side of the window was a pull string for curtains that hung on the opposite end of the large piece of glass. Quickly, yet quietly, Angel pulled on the strings until the view, from the hallway, was completely obstructed. Then, as he turned around he found himself to be the center of attention to four sets of eyes.

Walking back to one particular infant, the one closest to the door, Angel carefully stepped up onto his tip toes as he reached in to pick up the restless baby as it only stared back at him sucking on it‘s fists. Lifting the infant up and over the edge of the plastic crib, Angel quickly placed one hand behind the baby's back as he simultaneously rested the weight of the child on his left arm. With the baby's head over his own shoulder, Angel then sniffed the infant's skin, within the crook of its neck, as he then immediately opened his jaws wide.

Just before Angel closed his canines around the soft tissues, he quickly licked the warm skin causing the infant to suddenly giggle and jump within his arms. Tilting the baby back, away from his shoulder, he looked at the child's face as he just smiled back. What are you smiling about? Angel spoke softly. In response, the bundle of joy kicked its legs and then put it's fist back into its mouth. Like this, the baby seemed to just stare back at Angel. You know... Angel spoke again. ...I think that I like you... What's your name? Stepping back, towards the crib, Angel looked at the name that was printed on the head of the plastic contraption... Coincidently, the same name that he also found on the child's wrist bracelet... 'Michael Dale Hall.‘ Well Michael... Today is your lucky day. Just as the words came out of Angel's mouth, the wooden door suddenly flew open as a man, with blue scrubs walked in.

Who are you young man? The guy asked as he looked down to Angel.

Ah... Michael‘s big brother. Angel lied.

Well, I'm sorry, but nobody belongs in here... The man said as he then lifted Michael out of Angel's arms. ...you can look at your brother through the window. After replacing the infant back inside of his crib, the man then opened the curtains that hid the large window.

Choosing to not attract any attention, Angel complied with what the man said and followed him out of the room. Stopping in front of the window, Angel stopped as he observed the guy disappear around a corner. Moments later, Angel then walked back into the room.

Immediately closing the curtain again, Angel then went directly back to Michael’s side and looked into the crib. Just like moments before, Michael smiled back at Angel just as they made eye contact with one another. Reaching into his front pocket, Angel then pulled out a pocket knife and opened it. Michael... I won't let this hurt too much. Angel whispered as he then pulled Michael's hand up to the upper edge of the crib. Taking the small hand up in his own, Angel then slashed the soft tissues of the back of Michael's left hand, causing a stream of blood to rise out of the incision. Instantly the smile disappeared off of Michael's face. However, Michael didn't cry as Angel licked the warm fluids off of the child‘s hand. Then, after taking only one good swipe, with his tongue, of the thick fluids, Angel then held Michael‘s hand tightly for a moment as he looked around the room.

On the opposite side of the door, to the nursery, Angel found what he was looking for. A button with instructions, beside it: to ‘Press button for help.' Looking back to Michael, Angel then released the child's hand as he then turned to leave. Standing within the doorway, then looking both ways of the hall before stepping out, Angel then quickly pressed that little button and then darted down the hallway.

Just seconds later, as Angel reached the end of the hall, he quickly turned to the sound of the nursery door opening again just as two women entered the room. I wonder which one of you four pressed that button. A woman's voice said loudly. Without further due, Angel then proceeded out of the hospital, into the cold air, and then headed home.

IN MEMORY OF 

Kim (Iriuruq) Nay Jr.

8/22/75 - 1/22/2004

It's In The Blood (Chapter 1)

It was fairly warm for the time of year, almost forty degrees, and just two days short of New Years. Considering that Corina had managed another Christmas, without her beloved and very much missed husband, she had even found it to be striking odd to herself that she had happily accepted an invitation to the New Years celebration at the police department. I can't believe that you guys talked me into this... Corina said as she snuggled herself between her oldest son and Tommy. ...there isn't anyone working there anymore that worked prior to my retirement.

We know that mom... Malachi said as he laid is arm over his mom's shoulders. ...but it should go good considering that Tommy and Nicole are both going with us. Then, pulling his mom close to himself, as her, Tommy and himself all sat in the back seat of Macaulay's and Lovisa's car, he looked towards his wife in the front passengers seat. Everyone at the P.D. knows them... Or at least Tommy anyhow.

Well... Macaulay spoke up as he looked up at the rear view mirror, instantaneously, as his eyes could be seen in the reflective glass, the bright light, from the other half of the family tailgating them, illuminated the nineteen year old's face. ...you'll know all of them soon grandma... Here we are.

To insure that everyone would be able to enjoy the New Years celebration, the police department had regularly planned their celebration a day or two ahead of schedule. This routine was intended to insure that perhaps the celebration wouldn‘t be interrupted by the police department having to respond to callers saying that their own celebrations had gotten out of hand. Also, just by coincidence, this particular day was also the retirement of one of the other officers. This oughta be quite a celebration. Corina commented as the car came to a stop. Then, with the end of her sentence, Malachi simultaneously opened his door causing instant relief to the feeling of being a sardine in a can. Then, as she stepped out, right after Malachi, she found that she had just missed stepping into a ankle deep puddle and then almost into the path of BobbyJon's and Dawndee's truck as she cleared herself from the small lake that covered half of the parking lot.

Are you alright grandma? Dawndee asked as she jumped out of the truck. From her point of view, it had looked as though her grandmother had almost fallen.

Yeah, I'm alright honey... Corina responded. ...just wish that I had known ahead of time that I would need a bathing suit to attend this party. Once on the sidewalk, that turned into steps that led into the basement level of the building, Corina waited for Tommy to catch up so that he could lead the way into the police department. Then, as they proceeded, it was obvious, to Corina, that not a whole lot had changed within the layout of the police department, as they all came to a stop, at the bottom of the stairs, as Tommy pushed a button that quickly gained the attention of the dispatcher through a few different panels of glass. Moments later a mechanical popping sound could be heard as Tom pushed the door open. As the rest of the family filed in behind Tommy and Corina, everyone turned to the right, down a hallway that led into a large room, of which had two tables, end to end, producing a large table. Off to the left, just as they entered the large room, was an office that was crowded with off duty and on duty officers, staff, and family members to those present. Instantly, Tommy, Corina, Malachi, Nicole, Macaulay, Dawndee, Ronnie, Belinda, Lucifer, Lovisa, and Eddie all stopped and stared into the office as the loud chores of everyone singing their congratulations to the retiring officer roared through the building.

Angel lingered behind everyone else as they came into the downstairs level of the building. As everyone had walked down the hallway, towards the large open room, Angel‘s eyes had turned towards two jail holding cells off of the right side of the hall. In one of the two cells, a man had stood up, facing the window, that separated himself from Angel, and seemed to have been staring directly at him. That's alright... Jumping directly off of the ground, as a man's voice suddenly bellowed out from behind him and simultaneously grasping his shoulder, Angel had completed a full roundhouse kick, mid air, as he came just within inches from Chief Chuck Kibby's nose.  ...wha... slow down their little one... Chuck said loudly as he instantly jumped backwards. With the sudden noise, that was much louder than the celebration from the office up ahead, the rest of the DeClue and Southern family was now staring at Angel and Chuck. Looking down at Angel, the kid had landed on the floor, facing him, in a karate style stance looking like that he was guarding his very life. ...as I was saying... Chuck said, now in a soft voice, ...that window is a one-way glass... That man in there can't see you. 

Oh... Angel said quietly as he had instantly looked to have relaxed. ...in that case I'm sorry for scaring you. With the end of Angel's sentence, he then reached out, with his left hand, to shake the older man's hand. My name is Angel... I'm here with my family. Moments later the two of them joined everyone else.

Hey guys... Tom spoke up as everyone peered into the very small and well crowded office. ...we're here. Instantly everyone's  attention was now on them as the newly retiring officer stood up from the desk. Hey Officer Russle... The man said over the volume of everyone within the room. ...come on...

As Tommy's co-worker continued to speak, Corina suddenly froze as she stared at the man in shock. Instantaneously Ronnie and Malachi both seemed to have slightly lost balance as they reached out for physical support... Simultaneously Malachi had also grasped onto the side of his own head as both of the two suddenly received snapshot images of the man staring back at them. Just seconds later, Macaulay and Lucifer had also began to experience the identical chemical imbalance as well. Then, as Tommy turned to look back at his family, in response to a wave of physical tension around him, snapshot images began to clutter his mind as well of his well known co-worker, Tony Plowman. What's happening guys? Nicole gasped.

That's the... As Corina spoke, just over that of a whisper, she began to point towards Officer Plowman. ...guy that had gotten angry at me at the Kum-N-Go gas station on Ronnie's nineteenth birthday. Just as the words left her mouth, Nicole lowered her mother in law's hand before any problems had a chance to spark from the sudden revelation.

You guys alright? Officer Plowman asked loudly as he stepped forward out of the small crowd. Nobody had heard what Corina had said, except for her family that is, then the rest of the department had also taken notice to the very dazed audience.

They'll be just fine. Nicole spoke up for everyone. We just...

Well Officer DeClue... Tony piped up again. As he spoke he then approached Nicole with his hand held out towards her. ...it's been a while since I've seen you. With his words, and movement towards Nicole, Malachi suddenly threw up his arm to guard his wife from the clearly obvious danger. Simultaneously Lucifer stood forward, towards Tony as Mr. Plowman had then paused to Malachi's gesture.

Guys... Nicole said quietly. ...it's okay... Just relax. Then, as Nicole reached forward, between her husband and son, she shook Officer Plowman's hand.

I'm sorry if I've startled you guys... Tony said as he made eye contact with both Lucifer and Malachi. ...it's just that Nicole was a good officer and I enjoyed working with her. With his words, Tony seemed to have seen the sudden fear melt alway right before his eyes.

It was nice working with you too? Nicole acknowledged. Even with the gentle words, tension was still obviously strong within the small crowd as Lucifer and his father stared at one another.

Well guys... Chuck Kibby interrupted. ...lets have some excitement here... This is Tony's last day and it's almost 2043. As he spoke his words, he seemed to have also seen a light come on within Corina's face. Now that's more like it. The older man said. With the end of his sentence, Chuck then reached out and patted Corina on the shoulder. Nice to see you here.

Thank you... Corina responded as she then watched her children and grandchildren greet some of the other guests. ...I just realized that it's been almost twenty-six years since I retired from this department. This revelation was true, however, it was also her intention to dissolve some of the tension, within the room. As she watched, out of the corner of her eye, Angel was climbing  up onto Tommy's back, off of a chair, as Tom had also partially knelt down to make it easier for him. 'Careful Angel...‘ She thought clearly as she watched the thirty-four year old's right foot snag onto Tommy's off duty service weapon. '...we don't want any accidents.'

In response to Corina's E.S.P. message, Angel then sloped his upper body down to the right, towards Tom's waist, to ensure that he hadn't unsnapped the leather holster. Simultaneously Tommy, himself, had quickly checked the snap, by hand, without even breaking his attention to Ronnie, of whom had began to speak quietly into Tom's ear.

I'm just gonna watch this guy very carefully... Ron whispered as he watched Officer Plowman out of the corner of his eye.

Whats going on? Tom asked quietly.

This guy had gotten loud and threatened my mom years ago, at the gas station... The incident had began a large number of images being stuffed into Malachi's and I's mind that had scared us... Later it turned out to be the fear that our mom was experiencing. Now, twenty years later, we just experienced it all over again as my mom's eyes set themselves on him... Instinctively, Lucifer and Macaulay then felt and saw those same images as Malachi and I just did.

That's never happened to me before. Tom responded as he then whispered back to Ron.

Well... the first time that something comes along that scares Lucifer, you too will experience it... And vise versa... If something happens to you that frightens ya, Lucifer will see, for that moment, through your eyes... It's in our blood Tommy. Throughout the remainder of that evening, everyone enjoyed chips, cookies, and refreshments as everyone intermingled and got to know each other. 

__________

It was an unusually hot summer as Mr. and Mrs. William Hall headed west on Interstate Eighty. Leaving their home of Michigan was something that Tina had thought would never happen. Yet, as an employee for API Insulation, of St. Paul, Minnesota, of which involved long stays away from home, Bill had decided that a permanent move to Colorado, of which would place him at a more-than-less mid way point to other work sites, would give him more time at home with his wife. Through a lot of deliberation with Tina, who didn't wanna move away from her family, they both came up with an agreement that involved summer vacations to Mancelona, Michigan. So... Are we gonna turn off onto Interstate Seventy? Tina asked as they had tossed the idea of going through Denver back and forth.

I don't know... William responded as he looked over to his beautiful wife from behind the wheel. Then, after setting his right hand over her shoulder, he looked at her again after checking the traffic in front of him. ...if the traffic, that we see now, is any forewarning of what is to come, I think that we‘re better off staying on Eighty up through Wyoming, and then head south through Baggs... That road leads directly into Craig, Colorado.

As they had left Mancelona early that morning, they had agreed, ahead of time, that they would only drive up to eight hours at a time before pulling over for the night. Choosing the straighter route, of which meant staying on Interstate Eighty, this would cause them to have to continue on past Interstate Seventy shortly after passing Chicago. This choice would mean less traffic but take perhaps about the same amount of time. Not only would Interstate Seventy force them to go through Denver, it would also cause them to have to drive over the mountains, through the Eisenhower Tunnel, then have to cut onto Interstate Forty of which led into Craig.

As a registered nurse, Tina had made phone calls to Craig's 'The Memorial Hospital.' Throughout the last month or so, Tina had filed a resume by internet with the hospital and then, by mirror coincidence, had received a telephone response to the resume, just two days prior, requesting an interview with Tina on the sixth of July. Their plans to arrive in Craig on the fourth of July appeared to be great timing. If we get our self settled in fast enough Bill, we might be able to watch the fireworks on our first night.

At the Moffat County Fairgrounds... Bill cut in. ...I'm one step ahead of you hun. With his response, William turned his head, to face his wife, and then stuck his tongue out at her. Bill had personally wished for the day that he would be in more of a central location with his job. He loves his wife and hates the long stays away from home. The only downfall to the move to Colorado, is that when he is gone, Tina wouldn't have her family nearby for support... And then, of course, the phone bills.

For both, Tina and Bill, most of the things between them were incommon. Of course this was the reason that they had finally come to the idea of getting married. Prior to their marriage they had even come to an agreement of how many children that they wanted. Four or five. In the end, Bill had decided that he wanted at least one daughter and at least one son... If this meant a dozen boys prior to the birth of a daughter, or vice versa, that's exactly what would happen... His wife agreed.

It was on Bill's and Tina's second day on the road, about mid way through the day, that they had come across a national memorial that they had decided that they just had to see. Mount Rushmore on the western side of South Dakota. At the memorial there was a movie about the area, and then, of course, you got to see the faces of President Washington, President Jefferson, President Lincoln, and then President Theodore Roosevelt, that are carved into the side of the Black Hills. After the extended stay there at Mount Rushmore, Tina and Bill had decided to drive only a little further, over the Wyoming state border, then find a hotel for the night. Though they hadn't really driven that much, they decided that they would reward themselves for the distance that they had made the previous day. You know... Tina  shouted from their motel restroom that evening. ...if we leave about ten in the morning, we'll arrive in Craig at about time to eat dinner. 

And then watch the fireworks after we settle in. William added as he laid down on the bed with the motel room's television remote control. 

__________

Hey Lucifer... Throw it to me! Angel said as he quickly darted down the length of the driveway. It was only once in a great while that the gas would play basketball... Especially on the Fourth of July. with luck, this Independence Day was starting out with an overcast. As the holiday brewed, everyone decided to turn their backs on their nocturnal life for one day with the hopes of doing their family day either at the City park pool, or the high school's pool. 

Here Angel... Lucifer said as he jumped high enough to pass the ball over Macaulay's head. Then, at the peak of his jump, he held the rubber bahl within both hands and shot it about fifteen feet over Angel's head. ...opps... sorry Angel." Then, as the words were still coming out of Lucifer's mouth, Angel flew up, twenty feet into the air, as he caught the ball