Faceless (33 page)
I looked up. He must have seen the surprise on my face, and he broke out in a smile. I had thought he was going to tell me he was going to AA meetings or rehab for cops with substance abuse problems and he would be gone a few weeks.
But retiring? Gone for good? No, I couldn’t get a handle on that. We had been partners for seven years now, and we fit like a glove. Joe was as important to me as my husband Glenn was. I trusted him, I knew he had my back, and I knew that he trusted me with his. It takes a lot of time and effort to build up a rapport like the one we had with each other. I wasn’t worried anymore about Marty, but losing Joe was like losing a family member.
“Jeannie, I rented a condo down in West Palm Beach, just a few minutes from the hospital. This way, I can spend everyday with Annie, give her some encouragement. I spoke to her doctors and they think that if we can get her out of there, she’ll do better. There’s a gym and swimming pool in the complex, and once she is able to come home, she can do outpatient therapy. They say if she doesn’t start getting stronger emotionally, she just is not going to get any better. They think she’ll get worse. She needs me, Jeannie, and frankly I need her.”
I saw tears welling up in his eyes, and I pretended not to notice when he wiped them with the back of his hand. I knew that my wanting to keep him there was selfish of me, and he needed me to not fight him on this.
I stood up and threw my arms around him, just relishing in the aroma of Old Spice.
“We’re going to miss you, I’m going to miss you. When is this going to happen, Joe?”
“Hey, you’re embarrassing me.” He placed his hands on my forearms and held me at arm’s length.
“I’m leaving tomorrow morning. I got some movers coming this afternoon.” He glanced at his watch. “Damn, I gotta go. Look, when you go to visit Cliff in college, just take some extra time and keep going south. Gainesville is only five hours or so north of me.”
“You’re not going to stop at the house and say goodbye to Glenn and Bethany?” I asked him, a little annoyed. I knew that my daughter would be crushed if he left without saying goodbye.
“I already did. I went to your house first. I explained everything to Bethany. She says she understands. She’s a good kid, Jeannie. You’re a lucky woman, remember that.” He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. There was nothing more for him to say.
I didn’t say anything else… just watched as he shook a few hands and said goodbye to everyone in the room. Then I heard him when he turned to Marty and spoke loud enough for me and everyone else to hear.
“Just remember Marty, when she wears a skirt, it’s ’cause she bloated, she’s on the rag. She gets cranky when she’s on the rag. She’s wearing pants—you’re safe!”
I looked down. It dawned on me that I was wearing a skirt.
Damn it
, he was right.
The End
About Dawn Kopman Whidden
Dawn Kopman Whidden is a native New Yorker and successful author who grew up in the close-knit community of Little Neck Douglaston during the baby boomer era. She graduated from Queensboro Community College.
Twenty years ago, she traded in her days of living in the bustling city for a more serene and tranquil life on a small farm in the town of Bell, located in North Central Florida.
She is retired and shares her life and love with her husband of fourteen years and an adopted stray dog she named Casey. She has also been blessed with two beautiful grandchildren.
Her previous work A Child is Torn “Innocence Lost” was published in 2012 receiving great acclaim in the literary market.
A Child is Torn
When dependable Evan Madison fails to show up for work, police are dispatched to his home. His ten-year-old son, Brad, is discovered inside, unharmed and seemingly alone. He is stoic, sitting in front of the television playing his favorite video game, Super Mario—
and he’s covered in blood
.
Veteran Police Officer Marty Keal is the first on the scene. With his many years of experience, he thinks he’s seen it all. That is, until he discovers Brad’s not really alone after all. Upstairs in their bedroom lies the brutally bludgeoned and deceased bodies of both his mother and his father. When questioned, Brad confesses to the horrific murders.
When Brad is transferred to a local mental health institution for children, Dr. Hope Rubin is brought in to evaluate and treat the child. A preliminary investigation shows no evidence of any kind of mistreatment in his past. She must determine the disturbing truth: Is Brad telling the truth? Or, is he covering for someone else?
Detective Jean Whitley rounds out the investigative team, and she suspects there is much more to the case than what meets the eye. The happily married mother of two is unwavering in her determination to uncover the real truth about Brad. Was he abused? Or, is he the product of an evil seed born to kill?
As the layers of truth about Brad are systematically peeled away, you will be compelled to ask yourself,
which is the more dominate factor in contributing to who we are
—
NATURE or NURTURE?
A few of the many reader reviews
A plot so suspenseful it will make your teeth clinch!
“Dawn Kopman Whidden utilizes her exceptional insight into child abuse and mental illness to deal properly with the common misunderstandings and stereotypes. She is a true craftsman capable of developing sympathetic characters, vivid and descriptive settings, and a plot so suspenseful it will make your teeth clinch.”
A must read!
“A Child Is Torn is a must read book. It is well written and keeps your interest from the beginning. The characters are so realistic that they could be your neighbors or friends. Although it is a murder mystery, it is not easy to figure out who did it, as there are a lot of red herrings. If you like Jodi Picoult and Alafair Burke, you will enjoy this book. There are similarities, but Whidden has her own unique style. Once you start reading it, you will not want to stop.”
Amazing!
“A Child is Torn: Innocence Lost, was amazing! I never read a book so fast. It kept me on the edge of my seat from the first page to the last. The author, Dawn Kopman Whidden really knows how to write! I can't wait to read her next book. Don't ever stop writing Dawn! Great Job!”
Hard to put it down!
“This book is a great read! It will hold your interest from the first through the last chapter and it's hard to put it down once you begin. Great work Dawn! When will the next one come out?”
A Child is Torn" is a wonderful read!
“I couldn't put it down. If you like mysteries and psychological thrillers, you will love this book! Can't wait for the author's next book to be published.”
An amazing read!
“I recommend this book to everyone. Ms. Whidden has taken a controversial subject and woven it into a "not to be put down" book. I can't wait for her to write more, hopefully with the same unforgettable characters.”
Could not put it down!
“A Child is Torn had me hooked from the very first page. So relevant to events that have happened recently that I wonder if this was fiction or based on a real life event. I actually read this book in less than 2 days. Kept me in suspense from the beginning to the end. Can't wait to see more from this author.”
A Child is Torn, well worth reading!
“I really liked the book very much and felt an immediate affinity for the characters. I found myself concerned about them and thinking about them when I wasn't reading the book. That didn't happen too often as I finished the book within three days!”
One of the best I've read in a while!
“Dawn Whidden astounded me with the plot, amazing attention to detail and brilliant concept in A Child is Torn. This book instantly grabs your attention. It's impossible to put down. Whidden is absolutely incredible. With one novel, she's the same caliber as Mary Higgins Clark. Clearly Whidden is a dedicated writer and I expect to see many more great novels from her.”
Awesome read!
“Absolutely loved this book. It was an easy read I could not put down. The characters were interesting and the mystery kept me reading.”
Will keep you up all night reading!
"A Child is Torn" is one of those books you just cannot put down. One twist after another and what a surprise ending. Nature or Nurture is the repeated question of the book. And it truly makes you think about nurturing - what we learn as children, our experiences in life and how they affect us an adult. Or, do we have no control of ourselves as nature takes its course? The burning question that can be debated forever as long as there is mankind and circumstances that suggest either can be the answer. I am so looking forward to Ms. Whidden's next book - her writing reminds me of Lisa Gardner - same can't put down thrillers that keep you up all night reading. Well done for a first published book. I highly recommend this one.”
A gripping story!
“This book is really hard to put down. The author brings you right into the story and keeps you wondering.”
Awesome book!
“This book was awesome! I was hesitant to read it. I am an avid reader and I thought, how good could a first time book be? Boy was I fooled. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. I tried to make it last til my vacation but I just couldn't. BUY IT!!! GREAT JOB!!! Looking forward to your next book! I give this SIX STARS!!!”
"A Child Is Torn" is a must read!
“This is a can't put down read. The writer draws you into her characters so you know them like your next-door neighbors and your family. She makes you want to know what is going to happen to each of them and leaves you guessing until the end.”
Great read!
“This story was a page turner from the start. I couldn't put it down. Great first novel. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next.”
Fantastic read!
“Dawn Kopman Whidden has written a "page turning, can't put down" murder mystery. As her characters develop, you feel as if you are there...watching them... you are part of their lives. Her book is better than a 5 star movie. I found myself thinking about the story during the day, trying to figure out what would happen next. The ending will absolutely surprise you. BRAVO!”
A great book!
“Dawn, I just finished A Child is Torn - Innocence Lost. It was a good read! The characters were thoroughly developed. As I came to know them and began to empathize with them - I found myself looking forward to see how their lives and loves would unfold. I'm excited to find out what happens to them next! A great book!”
A page turner!
“From the very first paragraph, Dawn Kopman Whidden's storytelling and character development skills are evident. She has a natural talent for building suspense from the very first page. I highly recommend this novel!”
Totally entertaining and thoughtful!
"A Child Is Torn" is a deep, emotional book about a little boy's struggles and grief. It goes beyond the subject of the loss of loved ones. It takes the reader inside the lives of so many people that they become a part of your own life. This is one of those books that you just can't put down. The story is so true to life, even though it falls into the "fiction" category. You will fall in love with Brad, and you will weep for him. You will be transformed and find yourself rooting for a lasting love for Hope and Marty, the psychiatrist and police officer who are involved with the case of the brutal murder of Brad's parents. There is so much going on within the pages of this book, you will not be disappointed. The author of this book has brought her characters to life, each with a story of their own and she keeps you wanting to know more. Totally entertaining and thoughtful. I look forward to reading more from the author, Dawn Kopman Whidden. She truly has a gift!”
Gripping tale of innocence and savagery!
“A book you will not be able to put down. Absolutely riveting. A must read for murder mystery aficionados and those who simply enjoy good intrigue. A spellbinding novel from start to finish.”
5 out of 5 Stars—Psychological Stunner—Don't Miss this Novel!
“In her own way, Dawn Whidden has emerged on the scene to open our bewildered eyes to the mystifying world associated with mental illness and childhood abuse. Written with a masterful attention to detail similar to works by authors such as Kurt Vonnegut, Ms. Whidden guides the reader into a hidden world that we haven’t seen—or thought of—since the case of the Menendez brothers. This is truly an eye-opening novel.”
A truly compelling book from every angle!
“Dawn Whidden has taken on the demons of mental illness and childhood abuse with her own powerful weapon—the written word. With the skillful precision of a master craftsman, Ms. Whidden guides her readers into a world fraught with tawdry characters and nightmarish realities—a truly compelling book from every angle.”