CHAPTER 3 FROM THE ASHES The transition from career cop to civilian was not going smoothly for Alex Mendez. Slowly, reluctantly, he’d accepted the fate to which his life had been resigned, but acceptance was not so much a choice as it was merely a decision not to complain that he’d been robbed of his right to choose his own destiny. Some say when God closes one door, He opens another. While Alex still felt as though he was looking for that open door he’d accepted, with a smile, the window of ...

CHAPTER 2 THE TRIGGER Too late, Lisa saw the trigger in the madman’s hand. His thumb nervously pressed against… what? A button? Some kind of switch? A rainbow of wires trailed from the bottom of his hand, up his black sleeve, disappearing into God only knew where. “A bomb!” she screamed, milliseconds before her mind grabbed conscious hold of the thought. “He’s got a bomb!” Bullets were riddling his chest and torso from all sides but the man refused to stay down. No fewer than twenty cops wer...

CHAPTER 1 BROKEN HELL The July heat had settled into East Texas with a vengeance and Longview was no doubt receiving the lion’s share of Mother Nature’s molten fury. Wal-mart Supercenter was, as always, a summer hot spot for bored teenagers paroled from the pursuit of academic excellence. Most were buying chips, ice and sodas for a trip to any of a number of area lakes in Gladewater, Gilmer or the famous Lake O’ The Pines in Ore City. Those who wished for more “grown up” pursuits – sex, drugs...

The town of Sandy Side was your typical small town. It had its well-manicured lawns and white picket fences. It was a community where everyone knew everyone. The same kids in the same classes each year, growing up to be the best of friends and eventually working at the same places. Yes, some came and went but mostly things stayed the same, year after year. It was one of those lazy July days when all the residents of Sandy Side were either inside, in the cool air conditioning, or at the local ...

She was barely a week old the first time something broke inside her. It was unbelievably devastating. So new. So innocent. So unassuming and fragile, despite all appearances to the contrary. The world had thrown this test at her – at both of us – and I would faithfully stand by her side, hoping for the best. From that moment on, a bond was formed. We were virtually inseparable. Almost everywhere I went, there she was. Whenever my friends and I went to a movie, she went with us. Whenever my be...

The day begins like any other I suppose. I wake up at 6:10. I go through my morning routine which, for the time being, includes taking an antibiotic prescribed by my doctor. The day he prescribed it, he gave me two admonitions. First, do not lay down for two hours after taking this medication. The reason? It can cause an ulcer! (Already I'm starting to wonder how badly I want to get well here!) Second, do not ingest any dairy products within an hour of taking this medication. These were my on...

In my wallet, there are several things. Of course, there’s my driver’s license, with a picture I don't like. There’s a college ID card – several years expired – my debit card and social security card. Then there’s my genius card. Yes that’s right. In my wallet there is a card that reads “Eddie Hancock II, Genius.” No it’s not a boast. But it is a great conversation piece. Genius, it’s been said, is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. If that’s true, that means that the best wri...

Chapter 1 Alex Mendez stood perfectly still, almost breathless, poised to receive the attack of any adversary that might leap out of the darkness draped over the inner den of the rusted out warehouse. The place gave little light, forcing Alex to venture forth on the strengths of his other senses. Alex’s nostrils filled with a horridly mixed soup of kitty litter, rust, saw dust and various forms of dirt, pesticides and decaying concrete. Broken windows allowed a gentle breeze to stir the soup ...

The day starts like any other. I step out of my wheelchair into my detective’s uniform. I remove the bulky, plastic leg braces, athletic socks and tennis shoes, replacing them with black dress socks and a pair of dress shoes. I check my tie in the mirror, just to make sure. I give my hair the once over and find myself stricken by the sudden Puerto Rican influence that has covered it. My complexion darkens even as I’m staring into eyes that, though already brown, have manifested deep ebony pig...

I felt like I was listening to the teacher's voice in a Charlie Brown special. At first, all I heard was "Wah wah wah.... wah wah wah wah." Then it sunk in. The words my doctor had actually spoken. Brain tumor. As most people tend to do when faced with such a morbid health crisis, I immediately began to take stock of my life. Some tend to think about the bills they'll have, the loved ones they could be leaving behind or the places they'll never get to travel if they fade out before the Omnipo...