CHAPTER 16 – GOOD MORNING

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BANG! BANG! BANG!

“Excuse me, sir!”

A man is shouting.

BANG, BANG, BANG!

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“Sir, can you hear me?” the voice shouts again.

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Cromwell opens his eyes and sees a police officer outside his window.

He looks around his car briefly and rolls down the window.

“May I help you, Officer?”

“Are you alright, Sir?.. Wait, aren’t you that detective?” The officer’s look changes from authoritative to bewildered as he switches questions.

“Detective Timothy Cromwell. I’m fine, what’s the problem?”

Cromwell’s irritated disregard for others has risen to the surface again.

“I was just going to tell you that you are not allowed to park here, Detective.
May I see your ID?”

Cromwell pulls out his wallet and hands his identification to the officer.

The officer glances towards the curb under Cromwell’s car.

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The car is parked at a very strange angle, and is straddling most of the curb.

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Exhaust is still pouring out of the tailpipe.

“No problem, Officer. I must have fallen asleep while I was on a stakeout last night.”

Looking back and forth up and down the street, the officers asks, “What were you working on?”

Cromwell looks up and picks a large house across the street. Pointing towards it, he replies, “There was a recent homicide, we think it’s drug related. I’m supposed to keep that residence under surveillance for suspicious activity. There may be a few drug kingpins staying there.”

The officer hands Cromwell back his ID and glances across the street. Within seconds a minivan pulls in the drive and a young mother unloads her four children. They run up to the door and are greeted by an elderly lady. The children scream “Grandma!” as her legs are immobilized by several tiny hugs.

“I don’t even want to know what you’re up to,” the officer says to Cromwell, “Just make sure you get some gas before you go too far.”

As the officer returns to his vehicle, Cromwell looks at his dash.

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The “LOW FUEL” light is flashing orange. He must have left it running all night.

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Thinking about what time it must be, the detective glances at the dash again. 10:38 a.m.! “Looks like it’s a half day”, he scoffs as he backs off the curb and pulls away.

Cromwell considers his options. If he had really met with Gary, it would mean that he has lost an entire day. It’s not a completely irrational possibility, just unlikely. After some contemplation, he decides that he must have been dreaming.

Still, because of his peculiar way of dealing with things, Cromwell has every intention of making the real Gary pay for the anger aroused by the Gary in his dream. It’s time to step it up a notch and finish this bout.

He won’t be losing this case.

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The End of Chapter 16

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TO READ THE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS, CLICK BELOW:

• CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

• CHAPTER 2: THE FUNERAL

• CHAPTER 3: MONDAY, & FREEDOM

• CHAPTER 4: TUESDAY

• CHAPTER 5: INTERROGATION

• CHAPTER 6: PROBATION

• CHAPTER 7: RAY’S TURN

• CHAPTER 8: ICE CREAM

• CHAPTER 9: LATE NIGHT

• CHAPTER 10: WRESTLING

• CHAPTER 11: THURSDAY: MORE QUESTIONS

• CHAPTER 12: WHAT HAPPENED?

• CHAPTER 13: PHONE CALLS

• CHAPTER 14: GAME OVER

• CHAPTER 15: DRINKING & DARKNESS

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MY NAME IN PEPPERS

(I didn't have any lights....)

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Thank you, and stay tuned for LOVE LIKE HIS : Chapter 17 - Coming soon to a steemit near you

Also, if you enjoyed this chapter, let me know by leaving a comment! Thanks

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