With Cruel Intent (70 page)

injured man, still trying to serve and

protect. Seymour wrapped his arm around

the animal and pulled him close, an instant

bond created between the two.

Deputy Guest kept her gun trained

on the assailant, moved to where he lay

and holstered her weapon when she saw

the size of the hole that the large slug had

ripped through his heart. It was over. She

quickly moved to the shed where Blanche

sat tied up, with eyes as big as silver

dollars, a look of gratitude and relief

crossed her face when she saw the young

officer. Guest quickly removed the

bindings and tape, freeing the woman,

who embraced her, kissing her on the

cheek.

“Is Seymour okay?” Blanche

asked.

“I don’t know, you better see for

yourself. I think we have a couple of

casualties out there in the dirt.”

“Seymour!” she called.

“I’m here Blanche.”

She ran to him, knelt by his side,

taking his face in her hands and kissing his

lips. “I knew you’d come! I knew you’d

find a way to me!” She kissed him again

and looked at the wound in his side.

Otis would not move from his spot

next to the fallen man. “Blanche, this dog

saved my life. He took down Lester when

I had no hope of stopping him from

finishing me off.”

“I see that he’s taken a liking to

you,” Blanche said.

“K-9 and civilian down with

serious

injuries

at

the

Cummings’

location. Send backup and ambulance

units a-sap!” They could hear Deputy

Guest speaking into the radio, her voice

cracking under the stress and emotion of

firing her Glock for the first time in the

line of duty, her concern for Otis and

Seymour evident in her tone.

“Already en route Natalie. Hold

on, help is on the way!”

EPILOGUE

Following the events of Thursday

night the citizens of Lowndes County were

able to sleep much easier. Life returned to

normal in the Southern town, people

walked their dogs and cleaned up after

them, young women jogged the paths at

night and Blanche Delaney manned the

desk at the Valdosta Public Library. In the

days, and years that followed the events of

that fateful month, the lives of several of

the local residents were changed forever.

Ms. Beverly Davis, did indeed,

become a millionaire by Christmas, the

courts allowed her to sell her half of the

estate while Jeremy Marshall awaited

trial on charges of conspiracy and

attempted murder. It had been Felix’s

grand idea of an additional alibi that put

Jeremy behind bars and Bev in the

driver’s seat. The days following the

frightful night at Beverly’s and the death

of Felix were filled with speculation and

finger

pointing.

Jeremy

laid

low

anticipating that most would suspect he

was involved but with no proof he would

escape unscathed. How wrong he would

be.

Marge, the curvy receptionist at

the Land and Trust Office, had watched

the news and noted that it was the good

looking man that took her number, only the

day before, that wound up shot on the

bedroom floor of the local realtor. Her

boss, Mr. Ignatius Savard, was to have

been with Felix Unger at the time of his

tragic death, she had checked her planner

to confirm that her estimation was correct.

Iggy missed work the few days following

the shooting and she became increasingly

uneasy with the information she alone

knew. On the Monday morning after the

revelation hit her she phoned an old friend

at the Sheriff’s Department, Angelo Lupo.

He had been more than interested in the

information that Marge was able to

provide, as well as the DA and other law

enforcement agencies. It had taken almost

no pressure to get Iggy to roll over on

Jeremy. A deal was forged and Mr.

Savard was offered a plea deal and

freedom from prosecution if he could

provide enough information to put Jeremy

away for the conspiracy and attempted

murder charges. The balding little man

had been happy to do so. A miniature

pocket recorder, just like Jeremy’s, was

all he needed to set his ‘friend’ up and

keep himself out of prison.

Otis and Seymour survived their

injuries, both staying for a week in the

local hospitals. The fearless dog was

awarded the K-9 Medal of Valor from the

Sheriff’s Department and retired with

honor. The injury was severe enough to

hamper his ability to serve with the

department but not enough to slow the

shepherd down, at least not under the

loving care of Seymour Wood, who

adopted his savior and most trusted friend.

Seymour went on in the following

year to finish his associate degree from

the University and started his own

business,

Seymour

Clues

Detective

Agency, where he and his bride, Blanche

Delaney spent countless hours assisting

the people of Lowndes County, as they

solved their most unique and baffling

cases. In all reality, he took a lot of

pictures of husbands with girlfriends and

chased down petty criminals, but it was a

life they loved. Blanche continued through

those years to work at the library as well.

It was her love and her passion away from

the arms of her husband and the perfect

place to work as the research branch of

Seymour’s business.

Jasper Jackson recovered fully

from the gunshot wound to his butt. He

went on to win the title of Mr. Georgia

and competed in Mr. USA, coming in a

disappointing second place, but Rufus

could not have been more proud. Seymour

had taken a liking to Jasper and brought

him on as his first full time employee at

the agency. Jasper was the muscle and

intimidation side of the business with

Rufus providing the eyes and ears into the

black community.

Deputy

Natalie

Guest

was

awarded The Sheriff’s Commendation

Certificate and was promoted to Corporal,

the youngest to attain such an honor on the

Sheriff Department’s active roster of

officers.

Prior

to

pinning

her

Commendation on her chest and presenting

the officer with the Corporal Chevrons,

Sheriff Angelo Lupo, ‘The Wolf’, read the

following statement, “Deputy Natalie

Guest’s

actions

displayed

courage,

resolve and commitment to her job,

community and partner. Although she was

in grave danger she confronted an armed

suspect, saving the life of her K-9 partner,

Otis, and protecting the life of a Lowndes

County Citizen. For her acts of heroism

we honor her this day.”

Corporal

Guest

missed

her

companion terribly but enjoyed Sunday

dinners at the Wood home. She never

failed to bring her new K-9 buddy,

Hannah, with her to pester and torment the

older

Otis. A

bond,

beyond

the

understanding of most who knew them,

had been formed that horrific night that

would endure the months and years to

come as they lived and served in the same

community.

Yes, for Blanche D. Delaney the

move to Georgia had been a roller coaster

of adventure and newfound love. The man

she’d envisioned in her mind all those

years, had swept into her heart, fulfilled

all of her dreams, and saved her life in the

process. No surprise to her, the charming

young man that took her to the altar also

had a dimple in his left cheek. Their

wedding, on the sandy shores of the

Georgia coast, was the culmination of

years of hoping, wanting and wishing. It

had all come true in a small town,

hundreds of miles from family and friends,

under the watchful eye of a power much

greater than her own, and she knew it.

Blanche’s parents had attended the

ceremony, as well as, Holly. Mr. Marcus

acted as the Best Man, hugging the bride

closely when the "I do’s” were done.

Their friendship, a unique father-daughter

relationship, would stand the test of time.

Blanche could not have been happier.

Mrs. Wood was convinced that for her,

life truly did start at 33.

Holly had stayed a few days

longer than Blanche’s parents and enjoyed

the time with her oldest and dearest

friend. The goodbye at the airport

reminded Blanche of the goodbye from a

few years before in Arizona, the hugs and

kisses sincere and the knowledge that a

phone call would see them through until

the next time. As the new bride’s best

friend departed and made her way to the

gate, she handed Blanche a going away

present, a token of their lifelong friendship

and told her not to open it until she got

home.

That night, with Seymour at her

side and Otis at their feet, the librarian

opened the gift and was not the least bit

surprised to see the phallus shaped ashtray

she’d given her friend not so many years

before. Yup, some things never change!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks to Holly Larsen, my

loving wife, who provided insight,

direction and countless hours of editing to

this project. I could not have completed

this undertaking without her help.

Additional friends and family have been

instrumental in reading, editing and

refining the final product. To them, I

express a heartfelt thank you.

I would also like to acknowledge

Sean Strong, the cover designer, who

helped to fuel interest in our final

manuscript with such an impressive

design.

• COPYRIGHT
  
• QUOTATION
  
• PROLOGUE
  
• INTRODUCTION
  
• CHAPTER ONE
  
• CHAPTER TWO
  
• CHAPTER THREE
  
• CHAPTER FOUR
  
• CHAPTER FIVE
  
• CHAPTER SIX
  
• CHAPTER SEVEN
  
• CHAPTER EIGHT
  
• CHAPTER NINE
  
• CHAPTER TEN
  
• CHAPTER ELEVEN
  
• CHAPTER TWELVE
  
• CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  
• CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  
• CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  
• CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  
• CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  
• CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  
• CHAPTER NINETEEN
  
• CHAPTER TWENTY
  
• CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
  
• CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
  
• CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
  
• CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
  
• CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
  
• CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
  
• CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
  
• CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
  
• CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
  
• CHAPTER THIRTY
  
• EPILOGUE
  
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS