In The Eye Of The Hawk: The Hawk Series Book 2

By Rex Barton

Ride shotgun with Hawk as he continues to serve and protect the people. In The Eye Of The Hawk - Book 2, more harrowing stories are revealed by Hawk and his intrinsic belief that each life matters. Since the beginning of time, wars have plagued humanity and wiped-out our tribes and nations, often due to the color of skin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hawk Tales Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Feb 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781957220598

Rex Barton

Rex Barton was born June 24, 1944, in Santa Barbara, California, USA. Raised by his loving grandparents on a walnut farm in Ventura, California, he learned to be an avid horseman and care for all animals big and small, from an elephant to a hummingbird.In the summer of 1962, he joined the United States Army and completed his basic and military occupational specialty (MOS) training at Fort Ord Army post on Monterey Bay in California. Subsequently, he was stationed in Berlin, Germany, a cold war zone, and assigned to the 287th Military Police Company as a Military Policeman (MP) for almost five years. The duties were to guard military and civilian train passengers through dangerous zones, conduct routine patrols in the sectors, boat patrol Wannsee Lake and surrounding waterways, and assist with working on cases in the Criminal Investigation Division (CID). His stories are captivating and intense.In March 1967, Rex became a Deputy Sheriff/Deputy Coroner with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department where he served over seven years until he retired in 1974 due to a service-related disability. He worked in numerous divisions, including patrol, detention, courts/civil, juvenile, and investigations. After relocating to the Channel Island area near Ventura, Rex became a licensed, independent Mortgage Broker/Realtor for many years.In 2013, Rex moved with his wife to the Pacific Northwest where he enjoys writing novels in various genres.

Book preview

ISBN 978-1-957220-58-1 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-957220-59-8 (digital)

Copyright Rex Barton

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. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Hawk Tales Publishing, LLC

www.HawkTalesPublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Cover Illustration:

Pictured is a Red-tailed Hawk by the Author Rex Barton

The Hawk Series is a work of fiction by the author. Many of the incidents written about are real. The events, timelines, boundaries, borders, names and dates whether actual or not, and people – living or dead – are entirely coincidental.

Published by Hawk Tales Publishing LLC

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author.

Scripture quotations are taken from the NIV (New International Version) of the King James Bible, New Testament in Modern English. Published by Tyndale House Publishers Inc, Wheaton, Illinois, and Zondervan Publishing House; Grand Rapids, Michigan, The Life Application Bible is a registered trademark of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. and copyright: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991

DEDICATIONS

I dedicate In The Eye Of The Hawk to all the hard-working people in Law Enforcement, Fire Departments, Military, Coast Guard, and the Medical teams around the world who attempt to give life and freedom even when it may be temporarily gone. Thank you. God Bless each and every one of YOU! It comes at a very steep cost. I know.

To Antoinette, my wife, your loving-kindness, continued encouragement, and first-round editing kept me going in times that were tough and fearful. My writing took on a life of its own and you allowed me the experience of finding my words and loving me, no matter what. I know how hard it must have been reading our life over on every page. Mattered not the pain, losses, tears, nights of fear, and crying for the wounded and broken parts. I love you and need you always. Thank You.

To Julianna, a first responder RN herself on the front line of the COVID 19 Virus today and every day. You see the horrors that life can hand out. Thank you for your contributions and love always.

Thank you to Jodi Pappas who helps make it all possible. I am truly grateful for all your time and effort navigating through the writing industry and seeing each novel through to completion. Your dedication and hard work inspire me to become a better writer.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Olympic Peninsula Equine Network-OPEN

251 Roupe Road

Sequim, WA 98382

[phone]

https://www.olypenequinenet.org/

https://www.facebook.com/Openolympicpeninsulaequinenetwork

My appreciation to Olympic Peninsula Equine Network – OPEN. Your dedication and labor of love for the animals in your care are truly inspirational. To all my readers, I encourage you to support your local animal shelters however you can.

Author’s Note

To all of you who have ever suffered with a broken spirit, I encourage you to keep the faith and don’t lose hope. You are not the only one. Reach out to others you trust. Communication is the key to getting better!

Resources:

•Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1

•National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

•Mental Health Hotline: [phone]

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that who so ever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Author Bio

Rex Barton was born June 24, 1944, in Santa Barbara, California, USA. Raised by his loving grandparents on a walnut farm in Ventura, California, he learned to be an avid horseman and care for all animals big and small, from an elephant to a hummingbird.

In the summer of 1962, he joined the United States Army and completed his basic and military occupational specialty (MOS) training at Fort Ord Army post on Monterey Bay in California. Subsequently, he was stationed in Berlin, Germany, a cold war zone, and assigned to the 287th Military Police Company as a Military Policeman (MP) for almost five years. The duties were to guard military and civilian train passengers through dangerous zones, conduct routine patrols in the sectors, boat patrol Wannsee Lake and surrounding waterways, and assist with working on cases in the Criminal Investigation Division (CID). His stories are captivating and intense.

In March 1967, Rex became a Deputy Sheriff/Deputy Coroner with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department where he served over seven years until he retired in 1974 due to a service-related disability. He worked in numerous divisions, including patrol, detention, courts/civil, juvenile, and investigations. After relocating to the Channel Island area near Ventura, Rex became a licensed, independent Mortgage Broker/Realtor for many years.

In 2013, Rex moved with his wife to the Pacific Northwest where he enjoys writing novels in various genres.

Contents

Chapter 1 ABC’s

Chapter 2 The Gun Runners

Chapter 3 The Dragon Slayer

Chapter 4 Panga

Chapter 5 Whiplash

Chapter 6 Blood Pool

Chapter 7 In The Eye Of The Hawk

Chapter 8 Is That All There Is

CHAPTER 1

ABC’s

The Lear landed at the Santa Barbara Airport and taxied over to the SBSO hanger. Everyone disembarked the bird tired and a little forlorn over the loss of two friends and two brothers in arms. Not everyone knew what had happened until they started back through the tunnel from the Mexican side. Prince and Larry were carrying the two tarped bodies, one over each shoulder, all the way around to the team’s staging area. It was then that the team recognized the full potential of the loss of Ketch and Jason.

During the short flight home, Hawk went up front to the pilot’s cockpit and radioed Capt. Gee of their successes and losses. Capt. Gee reminded Hawk that this could occur every day, not just during special operations. He gave himself to assist Hawk in contacting the wives and parents.

Hawk made a last request of Capt. Gee to have the department posthumously award their Service Medal for the families of Jason and Ketch. They needed to ask PERS to arrange for ongoing benefits to the survivor’s wives and children.

Not to worry, Hawk, I will send two deputies over to Jason’s wife now and then over to Ketch’s parent’s home, Capt. Gee volunteered.

No, sir. Please let me take care of the notifications myself. This is my team and my mission. I need to finish the work. I will go as I am. They will understand, I am sure, Hawk said.

OK, Hawk, Capt. Gee said. Go and finish your detail, and I will wait here to hear from you.

One more favor, sir. Would you mind calling Annie and let her know that I have landed, but duty still calls? After notifications, I will give her a call from the office. Need to start my report this afternoon, Hawk said.

Your six is covered, Hawk. See you here later. God be with you, Capt. Gee said.

Thank you, sir, Hawk replied.

On the drive out to Goleta, Hawk stopped on the side of the freeway and prayed for God’s help. There are no more difficult tasks for any deputy to do. There are books on ‘Notifications of Next of Kin.’ The book’s method was too cerebral. Screw the books. There is no easy formula. Each case is different and just as challenging as the first, Hawk thought. He remembered his first death notification. Hawk was only fourteen when the doctors at St. Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara told him abruptly while going to visit his grandfather that Hawks Grandfather had just died. After three heart attacks and four strokes, one of which cost him his left leg to infection, he passed away in front of Hawk—from Pneumonia. Hawk’s mother, grandmother, and aunt Arden were still at the house in Goleta, getting ready for dinner. After signing all the death documents, Hawk took the bus home and walked into the house. He asked everyone to join him in the living room. It was there that Hawk related the information and death of his Grandpa. He could remember his mom sitting down in a chair, and his grandma and aunt Arden rushing to his side.

Hey, it’s OK. I am glad that I was there for Grandpa, Hawk said. Tears flowed from everyone but Sam, who was sure he was going to get a few bucks out of the deal. Hawk’s Grandma would be selling the ranch soon and scaling down. Dudley was rubbing his hand together like a dishonest shrew capitalizing on others’ sadness.

Hawk and his mother had taken care of his grandpa day in and day out cares. He lived in the guest room next to Hawk’s—where he could hear anything his grandpa may have needed during the night. For eight long years, Hawk’s mother suffered for his grandpa’s care. Daily bathing, cleaning, laundry, and three meals a day plus snacks. It was no wonder she just sat there in a chair in disbelief of what those eight years took out of her. Everyone told her she was wrong for doing it, but that was her dad, and no one else volunteered. The only other solution, according to family, was a terrible choice of nursing homes. The suffering of Hawk’s mother’s care of his grandpa eventually turned to cancer. Ultimately, it killed her. She joined the many victims of breast cancer in the mid-nineties after many years of personal sufferings. However, Sam may have been the greatest cause—due to all his child molestation crimes.

Hawk went first to Jason’s little condo in Goleta and knocked on the door. Sheila answered the door and stared at me. She knew but wasn’t a hundred percent convinced until she saw the tear in my eye.

Sheila, I am so sorry, honey. We lost Jason this morning in a firefight. He didn’t suffer, though, not even for a second. I just wanted you to know that. You can see him soon. I will help you in any way I can. You only need to ask. OK?

Sheila, just looked at me with an unbelieving blank stare.

This can’t be, she uttered at last. We just had a baby. What about the baby? Low continuous moans expelled through her open lips. The physical pain had not yet transitioned to pain, only numbness. Her mind was already trying to cope with Jason’s death. Twisting, turning anguish was collapsing the arteries in her head, choking off the blood supply to her brain, fear of the unknown wrenching her from side to side.

May I come in, Sheila? I would like to share some thoughts with you, Hawk asked.

No, Sheila said. No, not now. I have to get the baby ready. Oh, no. No! she screamed, This can’t be.

Sheila threw her hands up in the air and then gently touched each cheek as if remembering Jason’s last goodbye kiss.

Sheila, is there anyone I can call to come and be with you? Sheila? Hawk asked.

She was attempting unconsciously to close the door but didn’t have the strength nor the ability to do so. Instead, she held the door partially open and fell through it and into Hawk’s arms. He then carried her into the living room and laid her on the couch. Across the living room was a rocking chair where either Sheila or Jason would sit with the baby to feed or to rock her to sleep. On the back of the chair was a small knitted quilt. Hawk grabbed it and gently put it across her and then went to the kitchen, looking for a glass to fill with water.

Hawk heard her crying when he returned to the couch. She was trying to understand, but the shock was clouding every avenue of reason.

After a few minutes, Hawk asked her again for a phone number.

A name or phone number, something of any relatives, Hawk said. She motioned to the dining room table and a black book resting next to the phone. Hawk grabbed it and brought it to her. Sheila opened the book to what Hawk presumed was her sister’s name and number in town. He asked to make sure, and she nodded her head yes. He then made the call and explained the situation and asked if she would please come and be with Sheila and the baby, who was getting a little restless in the bedroom crib.

Sheila tried to get up and could not stand yet, so Hawk went into the bedroom and gathered up the baby in a blanket and handed her over to Sheila.

Sheila’s sister was on her way over, and Hawk stayed with Sheila and the baby for almost an hour before Rhonda, Sheila’s sister, arrived.

Thank you, Rhonda. I appreciate you helping out at this time, Hawk said. He gave a brief explanation of the mission and what happened to Jason. He then related what to do to make arrangements to see Jason later at the morgue.

There could not have been anything as sad as the news that Hawk brought Sheila and her sister this day. The pain and loss of a loved one is more than what most people at such a young family age can bear. Hawk felt so sad for them, especially knowing the baby daughter will never have a chance of seeing her daddy again. He knew that feeling himself, having never seen his own father. Just emptiness. A never-healing, empty hole in one’s heart.

Before leaving, Hawk tried to hug Sheila and say one more time how sorry he was that Jason was gone from them. She could not accept Hawk’s touch, which was understandable, and he didn’t force the issue. Hawk just said goodbye and gave Rhonda his card and phone number if she ever needed to contact him. He told Rhonda that, at some point, he would need to talk with her and Sheila about coming arrangements for the funeral and personal things she just needed to know about.

Rhonda thanked Hawk and said she would call, so he turned and left. The hardest of the two commitments was now over. Hawk now had to return to town and notify Ketch’s parents of their loss.

Ketch’s parents took the news as well as anyone could expect.

There is no right way or rule of saying thank you for not protecting our son. What were you doing out there if not protecting him? Ketch’s mother left the dining room and went into Ketch’s bedroom and cried. Probably all night. His dad was understanding and appreciative of his son’s contribution as a Deputy Sheriff, which was his longtime dream. He was proud of Ketch and all that he had accomplished in the short time of his life. Hawk shook his hand and left through the back door and circled the driveway, walking back to his car. The drive to the office was one of intermittent tears of today’s events and losses.

Hawk’s official notification duties were concluded but not over. He still had Annie to tell, and that may be the most difficult yet to do. His stomach was killing him, so he stopped at the five and dime store to get some Tums. Hawk couldn’t remember the last time he ate, so he ordered a hot dog to go. Once that was inhaled, his stomach just got worse. Hawk was confused, but couldn’t stop for anymore disruption from his body, so he pushed on to the Bureau office. Annie would surely know from the tone of Hawk’s voice that he was in physical trouble of some kind. She always did. He never knew how she could tell. Some weird sixth sense or just a wife thing, he couldn’t just say.

Capt. Gee was waiting for Hawk when he got in; he stood up from behind his desk and grabbed Hawk’s hand and held on. It was a little strange for a person who never liked getting very close to anyone, but then Hawk wasn’t just anyone. Capt. Gee and Hawk both had gone through many death notifications over the years. It was always a sad part of the job. Their faith was all that permitted them the strength to handle the darkest and most disturbing side of law enforcement. Watching and enduring grief-stricken families’ loss and horror of the circumstance was never made easier with time or experience. The last notification was as bad as the very first. Pain is pain, and gut-wrenching no matter the way. Pain.

Have a seat, Hawk, Capt. Gee asked. "I know this has been a tough couple of days. You deserve a long rest, and I am going to order it. I am so very sorry for the losses, and I am sure you did everything within your power to bring everyone back safely. Please don’t let the losses prevent you from going forward. We both have a job to do, and from all the early reports, you did one hell of a good job today in Mexico. Not that your career can ever reflect what happened.

As you know, regardless of the political posturing, Mexico is off-limits, even in a pursuit. However, President Madrid called to inform me to keep you out of Mexico. He said for you never to return. He was pissed that so many of his men were killed, and so much dope burned. ‘Why did you have to burn it all up?’ He asked me. ‘It could have been redistributed.’ Realizing what he had said, he then stopped talking.

I re-informed him of our agreement and the ABC’s of the Cartel’s work here. We were not going to have the Cartels running amuck here in Santa Barbara. Not anymore, and that he was damn lucky, you didn’t march all the way to Mexico City and take it over. Needless to say, we probably won’t get any further cooperation from Madrid. Oh, well, you Abolished the Bully Cartels today in Tijuana. ATF and the Border Patrol dynamited five tunnels. It will be a long time before that method is used again, he said.

Hawk laughed at his call information and then