Honor Thy Father

By Nancy Chastain

Follow the breadcrumbs to the dark secrets of the city. 
The dead body behind the rec center brings a struggling community to its knees. No one believes the staged scene, especially not the people closest to the victim—the police chief's children. 
Corruption has embedded itself in the city, and something has to be done.  Gina and Henry enlist the help of a long-time family friend and undercover cop to investigate. TJ, who can't resist helping his teenage love and his best friend, positions himself inside the safe haven, where he stumbles upon a little boy. The little boy who holds the key. When the clues lead them deeper into the bowls of the criminal underworld, no one is safe. The more they figure out, the less protected they become. 
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nancy Chastain
• Release date: Dec 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223247579

Book preview

Prologue

A pimp was suspected of snatching young girls and selling them into sex trafficking. I had only been in the Special Victims Division a few months when I was chosen to go undercover as his next victim. Things went bad, my wire quit working, and I lost my backup. Before my team was able to track us, I had been beaten and raped by four men.

TJ, one of my best friends, was the first to find me bloody, bruised, and naked. He came in, guns drawn, killing all four of the perpetrators. Then rushed over to me, curled in a fetal position on the floor, barely surviving. When he wrapped those strong arms around me, I wanted to be happy, but I hurt so bad, I barely felt the movement. Maybe I smiled as he lifted me off the cement and cradled me to his chest, or maybe I just breathed, knowing I was safe.

But I wasn’t safe from the memories, from the trauma.

Assault changes a person, breaks them a little every day, but TJ never treated me as a victim. He encouraged me to feel and deal with my emotions—the good and bad. He spent several nights sleeping on my couch or in my room in a chair to make me feel safe in my home again. He’s always been a little bit of a hero to me. My personal superman.

1

Gina

As I drive by my mother’s legacy, my mind floods with memories of her death. Even though she’s gone, Angie’s House stands tall in the center of the community, still a beacon of hope for troubled youth. At first, when Mom decided to open the center in the poorest neighborhood in the city, we were concerned about her being out here alone. The streets aren’t exactly the kind of place someone can feel safe in, but Mom found a way around it. She created a home for the innocent hearts of the city, earned the respect of everyone around here, and became the light this neighborhood and people needed.

Her passing shocked all of us, but Dad, Henry, and I weren’t mourning her alone. We held her memorial at the center. Over three hundred people came to pay their respects to the woman they loved as much as we did. On our time off, Henry and I still come to the community center as often as we can to volunteer. Our father, now the Chief, has never been back.

Car-27, return to the station immediately, my radio squawks, bringing me back to the present.

10-4, I respond, doing a U-turn to head back to the station. We weren’t that far out, so within a few minutes, I pull into the garage and head up to the squad room. Everyone had gathered here for some reason. When I hear my father’s deep booming laugh, I realize I had been called back because he returned from his trip early.

Hey… Is all I get out before Henry grabs my arm and pushes me away from the crowd.

You need to listen quick. Dad got married when he was gone. You can’t react in front of everyone here. Wait until we get home. At the precinct, he’s your Chief. He glances over his shoulder to make sure no one is coming up behind him. Promise me. Do I need to take your weapon?

I’m good, I reply and push past him. I’m not angry he got married. I’m furious he did so without letting Henry and I know he was seeing someone. We have brought up the dating subject several times over the last five years, and he would shoot us down, always responding, "There’s no one as good as Angie."

Then what does he do? He goes to a convention for four days and comes back married… in secret.

Dad sees me walking toward him. Ladies and gentlemen, please make way for Detective O’Neal to come up and meet her new stepmother.

I snarl my lip at that, but quickly flatten it before my brother sees me. She can’t be over 30 years old; I think to myself.

Bonnie, this is Detective Gina O’Neal. O’Neal, this is my wife, Bonnie, he announces proudly. He watches me closely, daring me to cause a scene.

The room goes quiet, waiting for my reaction. I refuse to give them the show they are all anticipating. Very nice to meet you, ma’am. Welcome back, sir. I shake both of their hands, squeezing my father’s hand tighter than I should, causing him to flinch as my nails dig into his skin.

As if planned, my radio crackles to life.

If you will excuse me, Detective O’Neal and I just caught a case that we need to get to.

It was nice meeting you, Bonnie responds, looking somewhat confused at my formality with Dad, but that’s how it is at work.

Henry joins me as we head toward the front desk. The Sargent hands Henry a piece of paper. Body found in the alley behind the strip club on 23 rd and Vine. First on scene asked for the two of you.

Thanks. Henry takes the paper and pushes the door open, holding it for me to pass through.

As soon as we get to Henry’s truck and climb in, I ask while putting on my seatbelt, Why are we both requested for this case? Is it Sargent’s way of getting us both out of there at the same time?

I have no clue, he replies, strapping himself in.

What does the note he gave you say?

Henry reaches in his pocket and hands the folded piece of paper to me. I open it and can’t believe what I’m seeing. I read it aloud, "Henry, this one’s personal. Bring Gina with you. Mark."

Shit, we both utter in unison.

The rest of the ride is quiet. We arrive and park a block away because a crowd has gathered around the entrance into the alley. Thankfully, an officer has it blocked off and stands guard. He recognizes us, raises the yellow caution tape, and allows Henry and I to proceed.

Detective Mark York, age thirty-two, six foot three inches, jet black hair, dark brown eyes, with a well-built muscular body, has been with the Narcotics department for four years. He meets us before we get to the victim.

What’s going on? Henry asks. Who is it?

Mark reaches for my hand, taking it in his, and holds it tightly. He’s not looking at Henry. Gina, it’s Daisy. It looks like she overdosed.

My heart sinks into my chest as I shake my head. There is no fucking way Daisy was using.

Daisy was one of the first kids our mother had helped. She was just sixteen when Mom found out her mother had been selling her for drugs. Mom got Daisy placed with her grandmother, helped her get counseling for everything she had been through, and made sure she finished school. Instead of running from this place when she could, Daisy stayed and worked at Angie’s House to help other kids that had been dealt the same shitty hand.

Mark squeezes my hand tighter. The evidence—

She hasn’t used since she got clean. I jerk away from Mark and rush over to the body covered with the sheet and propped up against the building. I glance at Henry before pulling the fabric back to reveal the body of our once vibrant, resilient friend.

I gasp when I see the needle still in her arm, several bruises on her arms and legs. I can’t control the shiver that racks my body as I think back to what I must have looked like when TJ found me. Her face had been beaten; someone did a poor job applying makeup to cover the bruising. Her skin is a grayish color; her hair normally pulled back in a braid is loosely matted and unbrushed. The hooker-type clothes she has on strikes me as odd, as does the jean jacket. It looks like something a teenage girl would wear, not the woman we have known for years. Daisy wore jeans, T-shirts, and tennis shoes every day. There is no way these clothes are hers.

This is staged, I say as I stand up.

Gina, you need to take some time off. I know this one is close to home. Mark puts his arm around my shoulder. Let Henry take you home. I’ll meet you there later and let you know what I have so far.

"Just because we have been dating doesn’t give you the right to patronize me. Why does Narcotics have this case instead of Homicide.

I was around the corner when the call came in. I heard you being summoned on the radio and the Chief is back, so I took the call. When I saw it was Daisy, I had them get a hold of the two of you and took lead, Mark explains.

I want it.

I don’t think that’s a good idea, Mark states.

I didn’t ask you, now did I. This is my fucking case, and you know it.

Gina, when drugs are involved, Narcotics always trumps Vice.

That may be true but, I finally got my transfer to Homicide. I received my orders this morning.

Fine, then I’ll take the case and work it with her, Henry states, stepping up to Mark.

You both need to back off. Mark moves away from Henry. Neither one of you can think straight about this. You’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment. We’ll let command make the call.

Mark keys his radio. Dispatch, we need to speak to Lieutenant Davis.

Mark’s cell phone rings. When Mark answers, he tells Davis what’s going on and switches his phone to speaker. Lieutenant announces Mark and I will be working together to find out what happened to Daisy.

Henry