Thicker Than Water

By Mark Chartrand

Gun violence in Gateway City is at an all-time high. The victims of the all-out war for control of the drug trade are claiming the lives of the innocent. Young children being gunned down by random gunfire is causing the newly elected tough on crime mayor to make bold decisions to shake up the Metro Police Department into getting results. Enter Mitch Neely. Mitch is the youngest homicide detective in the history of the MPD. Mitch's first night on the job as a homicide detective is to respond to the random killing of a young girl, an apparent victim of yet another act of senseless violence in the city's most troubled district.

Mitch arrives on the scene and is troubled by what he sees. When he is tasked to talk to the victim's mother, he promises her he will get the people responsible for the killing of her nine-year-old daughter, a promise no homicide detective should ever make.

Desperate to keep his promise, Mitch enlists the help of his cousin Lee. A retired Army Ranger as well as an ex-con recently released from prison. As Mitch and Lee work together on this case, they are met with answers that don't add up, leading to more questions. One of those questions being are these shootings truly collateral damage from a drug war? The other leads the rookie homicide detective into a world of corruption that knows no end. More importantly, the killing of innocents may not be accidental but something sinister. A level of evil so sick and twisted it causes Detective Mitch Neely to question his own commitment to his oath of protect and serve. This case will truly test Mitch's commitment to the badge, as well as the belief that when it comes to family is Blood truly Thicker Than Water?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781639856060

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Acknowledgements

Prologue

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

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

About the Author

cover.jpg

Thicker Than Water

Mark Chartrand

Copyright © 2022 Mark Chartrand

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2022

ISBN 978-1-63985-605-3 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88982-813-6 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-63985-606-0 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

To my sister Jennifer. You fought like a girl you will be missed. Love you to the moon and back! Your big brother.

#fuckcancer

Acknowledgements

First and foremost, this series of books is fiction. I admire the men and women who wear the badge. My tribute to them is in the integrity of the main character Mitch Neely.

I want to thank my son Cohl, my mother Debbie, and my family for supporting my efforts as a writer.

I have many people to thank for the writing of this book. The MSPD for the opportunity to be the oldest intern in the history of the Missouri public defender's office. I got an amazing education on how the system truly works.

The investigations division of MSPD. Thank you for the lessons on how to look at both sides of the equation.

To the family and staff of Michaels Bar and Grill. Would not have been able to finish this book without all the late-night meals and the writing space at the bar. You always made me feel at home! Opa!!!

To my brother Travis, my Nephew's Ethan and Lincoln very proud of you guys!

To my good friend and Marketing Guru Richard Applebaum Thank you for all you do to make Chilli and I look good!

A special shout out to my Publicist Barb Wilkov, Simply the best!

To the hardest working P.A. in the biz, Rachel Nicely! Looking forward to where this series takes us! Thanks for all the support!

A huge thank you to my Publisher Fulton Books. Thank you for your belief in these characters Mitch and Lee and the ride we are about to take.

A special thanks to an amazing writer and great friend Jennifer Spurgeon.

To my amazingly talented cover art designer Jesse Sinz. You are truly my hero. Your spirit to overcome and live your life inspire me daily!

A special thanks to my fellow wave chaser, Surfergirl11 Thank you for reminding me of the truly most memorable person in my life. Your spirit reminds me of how amazing my journey with her truly was.

To my two best buddies Chilli and Sydney. You two always bring a smile to my face when I come home after being on the road.

Finally, I am adding an additional charity to be a recipient of proceeds from the sales of all my books. T.A.S.K. (Team Activities for Special Kids) is an organization that helps special needs children to have organized activities that promote confidence in themselves, as well as just have fun. This was my sister's passion project. Jennifer's spirit will live on in my Wabash Mystery Series as Jessica Carrolton. But her true spirit will live on in her legacy with T.A.S.K. Sale proceeds will still go to the amazing organizations of CARESTL and The Nine Line Foundation, whose missions are to provide safe homes for dogs and cats and to seek out and help wounded veterans.

Prologue

Mitchel Neely watched his older cousin Lee Kayln and his platoon of newly trained Special Forces Rangers marching in perfect formation. Mitchel and his younger brother Cory along with his parents, Lori and Joe, were in the audience with other families in attendance at the graduating ceremony being held at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Lee was the oldest grandchild of the Kayln family. He left his hometown of St. Louis to join the Army right after he graduated from high school. Lee's mother, Jeanne, and little sister, Jennifer, were also in attendance today.

When the ceremony was over, Mitch watched his cousin come over to him. Hey, Mitch, how are you? Man, you and Cory are growing like weeds! Mitchel high-fived his cousin and said, You look different.

Lee laughed and said, I feel different!

Mitch watched his cousin, who was like the older brother he never had, make his way around to the rest of the family. He was ten years old at the time, and the memory burns bright in his head on this day. As it is, his cousin Lee was in attendance for Mitch's Graduation Ceremony.

On this day, Mitchel Neely was graduating from the Metropolitan Police Academy. He looked around at his fellow cadets, noticing a couple of differences from most of the other men and women who would become officers today.

The first being, Mitchel would be turning twenty-nine next month. He was easily five to seven years older than the other cadets. The reason for this, Mitch had another life before this one. He was an engineer. He was working for an engineering firm before he was laid off due to the housing market crashing. Newly married and with a baby on the way, he decided after speaking to friends of his who were police officers that it was a job, he could do. It helped that the assistant chief of police was a longtime family friend who made sure Mitch's application got to the right people.

The second thing that made Mitch different in his mind was that he's a big man. He stands over six feet six inches tall and weighs over 285 pounds. He was often confused for a football player on his college campus, but he never played the game. He was a very good baseball player and, like his cousin Lee, a lifelong Cardinals fan.

The ceremony moved along. The officers were sworn in, and the festivities came to an end. After it was over, Mitchel sought out his family. It was Lee who spotted him first. Guess this means I can park anywhere I want! Lee said with a smile.

Trying to corrupt my authority already? Mitch replied.

The two men shook hands and gave each other a celebratory bro hug. Lee's mother, Jeanne, and Mitchel's mother, Lori, wanted the two uniformed men to stand by each other for a picture.

Mitch stared at that photo in his one-bedroom apartment as he got dressed in a suit. He couldn't believe it had been seven years since it was taken. As he struggled to put on a tie, he also couldn't believe how much had changed in both their lives since that day.

Lee was in the state penitentiary in Bonne Terre, Missouri. Shortly after, he was medically discharged from the Army for injuries sustained in a firefight in Northern Afghanistan. Lee got into an altercation in a bar. Mitch was called to the scene of the fight because it was known at this particular bar that they were related.

Mitch shook his head at the memory of that night when he had to watch his cousin whom he loved and admired get hauled away in handcuffs. Lee had problems. He wasn't the same when he was discharged from the Army. It wasn't the first altercation that Mitch had to bail his cousin out of, but this time, the guy on the receiving end was a fellow cop.

When Mitchel heard the details from the bartender as to why the fight happened in the first place, he understood why Lee did the damage he did. The officer in question put his hands on one of the waitresses. Lee said something, and that's when it escalated. The officer involved didn't realize who and what type of guy Lee Kayln was. Nor did the other five cops who were there off duty who came to the aid of their fellow officer.

In the end, six of Metropolitan's finest went to the hospital. After a very quick trial, Lee went to prison.

Lee's exemplary service to his country was taken into consideration at sentencing. He was given fourteen months. He could have got as much as seven years.

Mitch stayed in touch with his cousin. He checked in on Lee as much as he could, but he was going through his own issues. The job took a toll on his personal life. It was why he was living in a one-bedroom apartment that he rented from a retired cop.

After five years on the street as a beat cop, Mitchel's captain moved him into a detective slot in the burglary division. He did such a good job at clearing cases that today he was being brought in to interview for a slot in homicide.

The powers that be were watching the numbers of homicides going unsolved skyrocket. According to the FBI statistics, the Gateway City had become one of the deadliest cities in America. St. Louis was being compared to cities like Detroit, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles when it came to homicide.

This dubious ranking caused the newly elected mayor to force a shake-up in the department. She wanted young hungry cops who wanted to make a dent in the city's rising reputation as being considered the homicide capital of the United States.

Mitchel Neely was exactly what the mayor wanted in the new breed of homicide detective. When he told the news to his cousin about this, Lee replied, Be careful of what you wish for. Dealing in death changes a man to his core.

Mitchel Neely took a hard look in the mirror than at the picture of him and his cousin. It was time for him to make changes in his life. He swore to himself he would make those changes. Be the difference that the job needed.

Chapter 1

The call went out over the police band: All units, shots fired. 3500 block of Cherokee. Be advised. Caller states two men wounded. Shooter still in the area, proceed with caution.

Officer Ashley Kremer and Joe Gelder, her partner, took the call.

Dispatch, Unit Victor 4-7 in route, Joe replied.

Punch it! Ashley said to her partner as she hit the lights and siren.

Two minutes later, they were on the scene. They located the two men lying next to a bus stop bench, both bleeding severely from gunshot wounds. The two officers stepped out of the vehicle weapons drawn as they let dispatch know they were first on the scene. Move with caution. Additional units, and EMTs on the way.

Ashley responded, Copy dispatch. She looked at her partner who said, Cover me. I'm going to check on these two.

Ashley did as her partner said. She trained her eyes to all the possible locations that the person or persons who shot these two men could come from. She started to relax when she heard the sirens of the support units coming to the scene.

She moved closer to her partner who was looking over the two victims. This one's gone. The other is not much better, Joe said as he stood over the bodies of the two fallen men.

Joe, being the senior officer, said, As soon as back up gets here, we'll start a perimeter search. See if we can find who called it in.

Ashley nodded her compliance but kept her eyes trained on her surroundings.

When the second unit arrived, followed by the ambulance, Gelder pointed at the cop in the passenger seat, You come with us. Your partner stays here with the EMTs until additional units arrive. Let's go!

The three officers fanned out. Dispatch said the caller used a cell phone to call in the shooting. Because of that, there was no address to go to or any witness to question about what happened. This neighborhood didn't talk to the police. The fact that it was called in at all was a miracle.

They reached an alley. There, they decided to split up. Additional units were on the scene as well as a homicide team. Ashley and her partner started to search the backyards opposite of where the two victims were found. The other officers started searching on the opposite side of the block.

The first yard they entered; Ashley spotted movement. She shined her Maglite. Police! Don't move. As Ashley approached with her partner in a cover position, she ordered, Let me see your hands! Now! Ashley realized it was a woman she was giving the orders to.

When the woman didn't respond, Ashley repeated, Show me your hands, ma'am!

The woman slowly raised her hands.

Is that blood on her hands? her partner asked.

The woman turned her head slowly, then started to stand. When she did, she revealed the body of a small child, a girl, not more than eight years old.

The woman let out a painful wail, My baby! They shot my baby! Lord Jesus! They killed her!

Ashley was on her radio. We need those EMTs back here now! We have a child who's been shot!

When the EMTs got back to the little girl, the look on their faces told the story. There was nothing they could do. The little girl was dead. The mother was sitting on a back porch step being consoled by her upstairs neighbor. Ashley squatted down so the woman could see her face. I know this is a very difficult time to ask you this, but did you see anything?

The woman just stared at her. She was looking past the officer at the body of her young daughter. She dead, ain't she? was the woman's reply.

Before Ashley could answer, Kremer, step away, Homicide's here. They'll take over.

As Ashley rose slowly to her feet, she softly said, I'm so sorry, ma'am. She stood and turned to see the homicide detectives coming her way. She recognized the first detective. Hey, Martin, it's pretty bad.

The detective made a grimacing face and said, Damn, I hate it when it's a kid.

Ashley took a step to leave when she saw the other detective "Neely? You're in homicide now?

Mitch replied, Yes, this is my first case. Dubowski's my training officer.

Ashley looked over at the older detective, who was squatting over the body of the little girl talking to the EMTs then back at Neely. Wow, first, you get pulled off the street into burglary, now you're in the big leagues, homicide. I guess having the assistant chief of police as a friend is paying off.

Mitch ignored the comment, then said, It's good to see you too, Ashley. He pushed past her to join his partner.

Dubowski looked up from the dead girl's body and said, The mother moved the body. I want you to go over to her and see if she can talk. See if she can tell you anything.

Neely exhaled heavily. His hesitation evident, Dubowski stood and said, This is the job rookie. I'm not going to baby you. I'm going to throw you into the deep end with the sharks just like Richards did me. Nobody did me any favors to get here. Time to earn your paycheck!

Dubowski was referring to Don Richards. Detective Lieutenant Richards, as Neely was introduced to him a week ago when he reported for his first day of work as the unit's newest homicide detective. Richards was a legend on the street. He had a fierce reputation that got the job done. He still maintains the highest closed cases percentage, and he's been off the streets for nearly three years. Richards was Dubowski's training officer, and it was no surprise that, right now, Dubowski was leading the unit in getting cases closed.

Neely nodded at his partner, then headed over to where the young mother sat, weeping. Neely pulled out a handkerchief and offered it to the devastated woman.

Thank you, she said meekly.

Mitch asked, I know this is the last thing in the world you want to be doing, but I want to catch who did this, and I can't do that without your help.

When Neely finished speaking with the child's mother, he made his way over to his partner. The girl's body was being zipped up in a body bag. Dubowski watched as the coroner's office took the body away. Neely watched as the small child's body was barely noticeable inside the oversize bag. The city's finances were so bad that it wasn't in the budget for body bags for kids. It wasn't the first dead body Mitchel Neely had seen since he became a cop, but it was the first child he ever saw killed. It would stick with him.

Dubowski asked, Was the mother able to give you anything?

Neely shook his head. No, she said they just finished dinner. The daughter was taking the trash out when the shooting started. She didn't see anything.

Dubowski exhaled heavily. Shit, fucking bangers and their damn turf wars. Too many innocent little kids getting hit in the crossfire.

As they were leaving the yard to head out front to where the other two victims were, Dubowski asked, Did you get the little girl's name?

Neely replied, I did. Her name was Tamara Washington. She was nine years old.

When they turned the corner from the alleyway that led out to the street where the other two victims were, a bright light from a video camera lit up the night sky. Detectives! Hanna Yates, Channel 7 news. Can you confirm that one of the victims was a small child?

Dubowski stopped and said, Hanna, you know I can't talk about an ongoing investigation.

Suddenly, the camera light was on Neely. Can you comment… The reporter stopped her question in mid-sentence when she recognized who it was. Stop taping, Steve, this is an old friend of mine. Neely, you're a homicide cop now?

Neely kept walking as Dubowski looked at them both.

Rookie don't say shit to the press. How do you know Yates here?

Mitch looked down at the ground then back at Hanna. She's my—was my cousin Lee's fiancée.

Dubowski chuckled. Really? Scoops here actually has a life outside of bustin' our balls letting the community know how shitty a job we're doing? C'mon, Neely. The lieutenant's waiting.

Dubowski turned to head toward the lieutenant. When his back was turned, Hanna asked, How's Lee doing?

Neely replied, Okay, I guess. He gets home any day now. They're letting him out early for good behavior, but I guess if you wouldn't have kicked him to the curb when all that went down, you'd know that yourself.

Neely turned to follow his partner when Hanna ran up and grabbed his arm. Hey! That's not fair. I couldn't stay engaged to a guy who did what he did that night. It nearly ruined my career as it was when it got out that Lee and I were engaged.

Neely stopped in his tracks and said, You know, that's a real shitty reason considering it was your niece he was standing up for!

Neely scoffed. You're some piece of work, Hanna.

Before he could walk over to where the other cops had gathered, Hanna asked, Can you tell me what happened here tonight?

Neely replied, No comment, then left the reporter and her cameraman standing by the alley.

When he caught up to Dubowski, he was standing next to Lieutenant Richards who was questioning Officers Kremer and Gelder since they were first on the scene. When he finished, he looked right at Neely. Hey, rook, you better not have talked to that reporter over there, or your career in homicide will be deader than these two bangers here. Understood?

Neely glanced over at his partner then said, Yes, sir, Lieutenant. I didn't give her anything.

Dubowski spoke up, Seems the rookie here and the reporter have a history. They were just catching up, right, partner? Neely nodded in agreement.

Lieutenant Richards surveyed the scene, then asked, Any witnesses? Anybody see anything? He looked at the officers and detectives. No one spoke. Okay, Marty, this is your case. Work it the way you know how. Make sure you give the rookie here a complete lesson on how I want my detectives to work a case. Officers Kremer and Gelder, take two other officers, canvas the area, knock on doors if the lights are on, make a list of all the addresses that you didn't get to for the detectives to follow up on.

Before Lieutenant Richards could continue, the press arrived in full force.

Shit, the media turds are here. I'll deal with it. Let's get to work. You know how this goes. Forty-eight hours to find something. Clock's ticking.

Neely watched as the lieutenant stood in front of the reporters. The lieutenant, back in the day, was a three-sport star at his high school. He kept himself in great shape. He was undefeated in the annual Guns and Hoses charity boxing matches that would have police officers' step into the ring against firefighters.

Richards attended the University of Missouri in Columbia where he majored in criminal justice. He was the first African American to be promoted to the rank of detective lieutenant in the department's history.

When Hanna Yates shouted out the first question, it caught Neely's attention. Lieutenant, tonight's shooting is the seventh victim under the age of twelve to be killed in the past three months. Can you comment on what the department plans to do about making the streets safer?

As the lieutenant started to answer the question, Dubowski slapped Neely on the back and said, C'mon, meat, we got work to do.

Neely followed his partner back to their car. When they got in, Neely asked, Is what Hanna Yates asked the lieutenant true? Seven kids under the age of twelve have been killed in the last three months?

Dubowski started the car then answered, No. She's wrong. It's more like fifteen.

He put the car in gear. Neely asked, Why doesn't the media know about the others?

Dubowski looked at him and replied, Because the mayor's office and the chief don't want the media to crucify us more than they already are. Take a look around, Neely, welcome to homicide.

Chapter 2

Lee Kayln walked through the prison yard. He was heading for the visitors' center. Nobody was here to visit him. In the eleven months he was in the penitentiary in Bonne Terre, Missouri, nobody came to see him. It was the way he wanted it.

All right, Kayln, strip. Corrections Officer Czarnecki ordered.

Really? I'm going home today. You getting sweet on me Mr. Czarnecki?

The CO replied, Watch it, wiseass, you ain't made it out that door just yet.

Lee did what he was told. It would be the last time he would ever feel this humiliated.

When he was done, he was handed a bag of his clothes that were dropped off for him a week ago by his cousin Mitchel. After he dressed, the CO walked him out to the main visiting area that led to the door to freedom although Lee wasn't sure what kind of freedom was waiting for him. He would be on parole for six years. No longer be able to vote or carry a gun. He would be vulnerable to those who would want to do him harm. Given what he did for the Army for twenty-four years, that list was extensive. Not to mention a few of Metro PD's finest city police officers would be hoping he would do something that would give them just cause to send him back to this place.

Don't forget what we talked about, the voice called out to him. Lee looked at Czarnecki who nodded his approval. Lee walked over to the man they called Toothpick. His name out in the world was Fred Hamilton.

He was a stranger to Lee when he met the man eleven months ago, but the two bonded instantly. Toothpick was an Army vet from the Vietnam War. Lee was a US Army retired command sergeant major. The two spent every day the past eleven months talking. The topics ranged from war stories to family, to old friends, and to what brought them both to the shithole they found themselves in.

Lee replied, I won't. Count on it. Keep your head up. Thanks for everything. You need anything, you know how to reach me.

Toothpick smiled and said, Oh, you'll be hearing from me!

The two men slapped hands as Toothpick looked at Lee with a serious expression. Keep your head down. Stay in control of yourself. Don't let anyone get you to go dark. Stay away from the booze. Don't come back here.

Lee nodded and replied, I won't. I'll see you on the other side, my friend.

Their goodbye was ended by the sound of Czarnecki's voice. Let's go, Kalyn. The bus is waiting…unless you want to walk back to St. Louis.

Keep your head up, Toothpick, Lee said as he looked back at his friend one last time.

When Czarnecki escorted Lee out to the release door, he said, It be a shame to see you come back here, Kalyn.

Lee looked back at the man and said, Yeah, I don't think I could take another day of seeing your ugly mug.

Czarnecki laughed, A hard ass to the end.

The sound of the door closing caused Lee to jump. For the last eleven months, he was a caged animal surrounded by other caged animals. As he walked to the van that would take him to the bus stop, he recalled the first day he arrived in prison when three wannabe tough guys came at him. They found out the hard way that an ex-Army ranger was not somebody you should pick a fight with. The altercation, through no provocation of his own, caused Lee to spend his first sixty-seven days of incarceration in the hole.

Once Lee was dropped off at the bus station, he had an hour to kill. The prison gave him a debit card with $50 on it. He went to the diner next to where the bus would come to pick him up, deciding to eat a real breakfast for the first time in nearly a year. Lee didn't need the money, but he figured the state was paying, so he would use it.

When he walked in the door, all eyes were on him. It was a small town, so everyone here knew where Lee had just come from. When the hostess asked him where he would like to sit, Lee pointed to a table in the back that faced the entrance to the restaurant. It was the only way in or out. It also gave him a view of the restrooms.

Lee Kayln had seen all kinds of death in his time in the service. He was taught to never sit anywhere if he couldn't see who was coming or going. This was just one of the many things that stuck with him from his military training.

When he was seated, a waitress came to take his order. She was a young girl, but time and hard living made her look older than she was.

What can I get ya, honey? she asked.

Lee answered, Black coffee, orange juice, the biggest omelet you got, side of hash browns, toast, and bacon…lots of bacon.

She smiled at him as she took the menu back and asked, How long was ya in there for?

Lee nodded and replied softly, Long enough.

When the waitress returned with the plates of food, Lee looked around to find several faces stealing glances at him. He wanted to tell them to mind their fucking business but ate his breakfast instead. He finished his meal with a large glass of chocolate milk. When the server brought him his bill, he saw it was only $11.87.

He had been watching a young mother with three kids struggling to figure out what they could order. It was apparent to Lee that money was tight for them.

He asked his waitress, Can you put their check on my bill then use this card to pay for it? If that isn't enough, use this to cover it.

Lee dug into a side zippered pocket in his boot. He pulled out five $100 bills, handed one to the waitress, then said, You keep the change.

Lee had another cup of coffee as he waited for the bus to come. He started thinking about what he would be coming back home to. His fiancée, Hanna Yates, left him after his arrest. It killed Lee to see her on the news doing reports, knowing his problems destroyed their relationship.

The waitress came back over to him. The bus is here. It'll be leaving in ten minutes…unless you wanna hang around until I get off. I can take you anywhere you want to go? she said with a smile.

Lee finished the last of his coffee. He smiled at the waitress and said, Thanks for the offer, but I'm spoken for.

As he left the diner, he knew he had lied to the waitress, but he didn't want to believe that. Lee stepped onto the bus. There were several empty seats. Again, he took the seat all the way in the back. As the bus drove away from the diner, Lee looked out the window as the town of Bonne Terre faded away. He decided that it was time to close this chapter of his life.

The bus ride wasn't very long. On the way, Lee thought of all the things he would have to do differently with his life. The first was to not drink. While he was in prison, Lee took courses and became a certified paralegal.

Part of his requirements that the parole board wanted him to do was to have a job. He had retired from the military, the only career he ever knew when he had gotten into that fight with the off-duty cops that landed him in prison. His pension was intact, but he was only forty-three years old. His wounds that ended his military career were not severe enough that he couldn't work.

His attorney, Melinda Gordon, was going to provide him with a job at her law firm. It was a good deal for them both. He needed a job, and she needed a paralegal whom she could afford. Lee agreed to do the job for minimum wage. It was only going to be temporary until he finished parole.

He arrived at the bus terminal downtown. His loft apartment that he shared with Hanna was just a few blocks away.

When the bus came to a stop, Lee waited until everyone got off. He exited and looked into the blue skies of the city. It was a warm June afternoon in downtown St. Louis. The Cardinals would be playing later, and Lee planned on rewarding himself by getting a ticket and going to the game.

He had seventy-two hours to report to the parole office on Chouteau Avenue. Lee decided he would wait until tomorrow afternoon to do that. He wanted to relax, catch his breath, and see what was left of the life he once shared with a woman he loved.

Lee came around the corner from Ninth Street onto Washington Avenue. He was a block away from the entrance to his loft building when he heard, Hey, jailbird.

He turned to his left to see his cousin Mitchel Neely standing next to his car.

Lee replied, You're here to bust my balls already? Don't you have anything better to do?

Neely smiled. Not at the moment. Besides, you didn't call to let me know you were coming home today.

Lee looked up at the building that housed his two-bedroom loft apartment, then back at his cousin What's left?

Neely came from around his car. Not much. She left you the guest bed, a couch, one TV, and a coffee table.

Lee exhaled and said, That's fine. Most of that shit was hers anyway. Are you coming up?

Neely shook his head. No, I just got off the clock. Going to go see my son for a few, then catch some sleep. You gonna be alright?

Lee smiled. I don't have much choice.

Lee started to head for the door then turned, How'd you know I was out today?

Neely smiled. Warden called me. I asked him to let me know. Figured you pull your lone wolf shit. Here, Neely said as he tossed a ring of keys at Lee. Your Jeep's in the garage, and your dog's at my parents. Be sure you go by and get him. He misses you, and so does Mom and Dad.

Lee looked at the keys in his hand, bobbed his head up and down slowly.

Neely said, Lee, it's okay, man. We all know you were just doing what you thought was right. If it wouldn't have been a bunch of cops, you probably wouldn't have had to do any time. I hope you're able to keep your temper in check. I'm not in a position to keep your ass out of any trouble.

There was an awkward pause as Lee turned to let himself into his building. Just as he turned the key, he looked back over his shoulder and said, Don't worry, Mitch, you won't have any more messes of mine to clean up. Worry about yourself. From what I hear, shit's pretty bad out there. Watch your back.