Murder in the Shadows, Book Nine

By Robert D. Coleman

Murder in the Shadows. The final part of the Man in the Shadows Trilogy. When Texas Governor Jeff Johnson, who is running for President, makes a campaign stop in Groesbeck. Texas Ranger John Carter is asked to help with security. A conspiracy to kill the Governor forces Carter to seek help from an unlikely source.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert D. Coleman
• Release date: Jan 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215024232

Robert D. Coleman

Hi, my name is Robert Coleman. I was born in Waxahachie, Texas and spent the first 10 years of my life there. My family then moved to Irving, Texas where I graduated from MacArthur High School. I have been blessed with two amazing sons that I am very proud of. I have also been blessed with two grandsons that I love dearly. For the last 25 years, I have lived in Groesbeck, Texas. That area has become the center of my fictional books. I was always blessed with a great imagination. My teachers said I was a daydreamer in class. I could always come up with great stories in my head. My problem was always getting it on paper. I sometimes struggle with the English language. (I suspect I am dyslexic.) I was always too embarrassed to show anybody my work until I met a wonderful woman, who also happens to be a writing teacher. I reluctantly showed her one of my books. She read it and told me that the story was the hard part. Spelling and Grammer could be fixed. With her encouragement, I started reworking some of my stories and making new ones. Now 20 years after I put my first story on paper and almost 4 years after I started the rewrites, I have Murder and the Cold Case. I am very proud of it! I have another one almost ready (you can preorder it now), first drafts on 7 more, and several ideas for even more. So I hope this is the first of many. So thank you, Laura. Without your help and encouragement, this could have never happened.

Book preview

cover.jpg

MURDER in the SHADOWS

By Robert D. Coleman

Copyright 2023 by Robert D. Coleman

Smashwords Edition

CHAPTER 1

John Carter heard the alarm go off but rolled over and ignored it. He then felt his wife Carolyn shake him. Your alarm is going off! She said irritably. He turned his head and looked over at her. That's not my alarm. He said. She raises her head. Your alarm always goes off first. He shakes his head. Not this morning. I didn't set my alarm. He says.

She reaches over, picks up her phone, and turns the alarm off. Why didn't you set your alarm? She asks. Because I didn't have to get up this early. I'm working in town today. She sits up in bed. So I'm supposed to get up and go to work while you lay your ass in bed. She says. He rolls over on his shoulder. Yes, that's the idea. I get up and go to work while you lay here every day. She puts her legs over the side of the bed and looks over her shoulder at him. Well, that's different. She says, getting up and walking toward the bathroom. She stops at the door, turns back, and sees him lying in their bed. That is so wrong. She says as she enters the bathroom. He smiled slightly as he laid his head back down and closed his eyes.

Sometime later, he jerked awake as Carolyn kissed him on the forehead. He looks up at her, confused. I'm leaving. I cooked some bacon. It’s on the stove. Have a good day. She says. He sits up. I didn't intend to go back to sleep. He says. Ya right. She says, rolling her eyes as she leaves the bedroom.

He quickly gets up, takes a shower, shaves, and gets dressed. He really had not intended to go back to sleep, so now he was behind. Walking through the house, he knocks on his son Tom’s door. Tom and his twin sister Becky were home for the summer after their freshman year at Texas Tech. He got no answer, so he just entered. He found Tom lying face down on his bed, sound asleep. Tom, You need to get up. You were going to go help The city workers set up for the governor's visit today. Tom raises his head. Was that today? He asks. Yes, that's today, Carter says. Ok, I'm up, Dad," Tom says, laying his head back down.

Carter shakes his head and leaves, and walks to the kitchen. Carolyn fixed some coffee before she left, so he poured himself a cup. He stepped over to the stove, picked up a piece of bread, wrapped it around three slices of bacon, and then walked out to the back porch and sat down.

He had forgotten how nice it was not to have to drive to Waco to work. It was among a few things he missed about being Sheriff here. Today Governor Jeff Johnson was coming to town. He had recently become the Republican nominee for President. He was giving a speech and having lunch with some supporters, hoping to get some of the Groesbeck fat cats to donate money to his campaign. Also, the Secret Service was taking over his protection detail. His boss, Texas Ranger Captain Bill Morris, had asked him to help with the change from the Rangers to the Secret Service.

It also meant working with Limestone County Sheriff Greg Roberts. Roberts had been his Chief Deputy when he was Sheriff. They had been friends for years. However, the friendship had become strained a little over a year ago when Roberts's brother was a suspect in a murder case. He was eventually cleared. But not before; there were some hard feelings. He hoped Greg was to the point of getting past it.

He ate the last bite of his bacon, took a drink from his coffee, and looked up to see Rocky, the squirrel living in the backyard, come running across the grass and jump up on the bird feeder that mainly was now a squirrel feeder. He poked his head into the feeder to find no sunflower seeds. He turned and looked at Carter sitting there on the porch. Don't look at me like that, Rocky. I forgot to get seeds. I'm sorry. Rocky jumps down from the feeder, runs over and up onto the porch rail, looks at Carter, and barks. Carter frowns. Don't get an attitude with me. There is an oak tree right over there, just full of nuts. Rocky barks again.

Carter takes out his cell phone and places a call to his coworker Texas Ranger Jessica James. Good morning Jess. Morning, Pops. She says. Are you on your way yet? He asks. Yes, I'm speeding to your location as we speak. Can you stop and get some sunflower seeds, the big ones? He asks. Let me guess. For your pet squirrel Rocky? She asks. Yes, it's for Rocky, but he is not a pet. He says. She pauses for a moment. Ok, Pops. Let me get this straight. I'm stopping to pick up sunflower seeds, the big ones. For a squirrel with the name Rocky that lives in your backyard. But he is not a pet? She asks. Yes, that is correct, Jess. He says. "Ok, Pops, I'm on it. Thank you, Carter says, putting his phone away.

Carter sits there enjoying the morning air when he hears the back door open, and his 19-year-old son Tom walks out with the coffee pot in one hand and a soda in the other. He pours his Dad another cup, sits the pot on the table, and takes a seat. Rocky barks again. Carter looks over at Tom. How do you like being home from school? Tom takes a drink of his soda, turns, and looks at his Dad. Well, Dad. It would be good if I didn't have to get up this early and listen to an angry squirrel. What's his problem anyway? Tom asks. He is out of sunflower seeds. He says. Tom rolls his eyes. Well, this is what you get when you make a pet out of a squirrel. He gives Tom a look. He is not a pet. Tom laughs. Maybe you should tell Rocky that. He says as Rocky barks again. Jess is picking him up some sunflower seeds on her way here, Carter said. Tom sits up in his chair. Is Jess coming here today? He asks. Yes, she should be here soon. Tom stands up. Why didn't you tell me? I got to go put some cologne on." Carter smiles and shakes his head as Tom goes back inside the house.

Carter sits there for a few more minutes, enjoying the peace and quiet. Then, he hears a car pull up in the driveway and a car door open. I'm on the back porch, Jess. He yells. A few moments later, the side gate opens, and Texas Ranger Jessica James enters carrying a big bag of sunflower seeds. Carter comes down off the porch and takes the bag from her. Thank you. He says. Your welcome, Pops. We can't have angry, hungry squirrels. They might get together and go form a union or something. She says as she follows him over to the feeder and watches as he fills it.

They walk back up onto the porch and sit down. Rocky runs over to the feeder and jumps up on it. He eats a few seeds and turns and looks at them. Carter smiles. He is giving you the thank you look. He says. James turns and looks at him. "No, I think he is giving you the what took you so long look.

The back door opens, and Tom walks back out. Well, morning, handsome, James says. Tom smiles big. Morning, Jess. He says as he hands her a soda. Well, Thank you, You're a sweetheart. She says as Tom sits down next to her. She smells something and leans over to Tom. Is that you that smells so good? She asks. He smiles. Yes, that's my cologne. It's called Unstoppable. He says. She takes another deep breath. I can see why. She says.

She then looks over at Carter. So what we got going today Pops?

 Well, Governor Johnson is here in Groesbeck today to make a campaign speech. Now that he has enough delegates to get the Republican Nomination for President. The Secret Service is taking over his protection from the Rangers. Captain Morris asks me to work as a liaison between the Secret Service, Limestone County Sheriff, and Groesbeck Police because I know everybody. She nods. So, how are things between you and Sheriff Roberts? She asks. Things were strained for a while, but I'm hoping this is the start of getting things back to normal," he said.

Tom leans over to James. Ya know, we are going to be working together. He says. She looks back at him. Is that right? Ya, I'm going to be putting up barricades in the street, keeping the people back. She smiles. Well, we can't work too close together, or that unstoppable might make me crazy. He smiles back. We may just have to take that chance. He says. They all laugh, and Carter stands up. Well, we better get this started. He says as they all walk inside.

*

(Limestone Inn, Groesbeck, TX)

Jessie Bateman got up early and got his stuff together. If all went according to plan, he would not be coming back here. Today was the day he became famous, or rather he made somebody else famous. He could care less about fame. The people he worked for knew he would do the job and be paid well for it.

He left the motel key on the dresser, grabbed his bag, threw it over his shoulder, and stepped outside. He looked around. Not much was going on in this hick town. He walked down to his truck, placed his bag in the back, and got in. As he drove through town, he looked around. Just a small town that nobody had ever heard of. Well, after today, it would be on the map.

He drove to the edge of town and turned into Groesbeck Park. He drove completely around the small park to make sure nobody was around. Then, he parked the truck, got out, walked over to some picnic tables, and sat down. There was a swimming pool, tennis courts, some swings, and playground stuff surrounded by huge oak trees. For the next 10 minutes, he waited for his handler to meet him.

He saw a car enter the park and drive around, parked a little ways past him. The man in the car waited to make sure they were alone and then got out with a bag and walked over to Bateman. The man handed Bateman the bag. He looked in it and