Chapter 20
On August 22nd, Jeremy turned eleven years old. It was their last full day in Arizona. Sundown woke him up at seven-thirty that morning, and the first thing he said to the boy was, "Happy birthday, pardner." Jeremy quickly got out to hug him and whispered a soft, "Thank you."
Sundown decided to take Jeremy on a tandem horseback ride through the plateaus and hills of the Grand Canyon. The scenic beauty mystified the both of them. And as Sundown held on to the reins, he also held Jeremy to keep him from falling off. But the boy took this as a gesture of love, and placed his head back on the man's body, just below his chest. Jeremy looked up with a natural smile and said, "I… love you,… Sundown."
"I love you, too… my son," Sundown whispered back.
"It's… so… beautiful," Jeremy said. "Oh,… Sundown,… thank you… for… bringing… me here. I'll… always… treasure… this… forever."
"An' I'll always treasure this time we shared," Sundown replied. "You are the most special kid I've ever known. Any dream you may have deserves to come true fer you."
For dinner, he took Jeremy to a quaint family restaurant in nearby Sedona, where the boy only had two chicken strips with small orders of fries and vegetables. After Jeremy's food digested, each of them had a big slice of chocolate cake. Jeremy's slice had a single candle in it.
"This is… great," he said. "Boy,… I wish… Mom… were… here."
"I wish she were here, too, Jeremy," Sundown replied, then sipped some coffee. "She would've loved bein' here wit you today."
At eight-thirty that night, Sundown called Valerie. First, she spoke to Jeremy, and wished him a happy birthday. Jeremy told all about his horseback ride, and his mother said, "That's wonderful, sweetie. Did you have a good time with Sundown?"
"The best," he replied. "I… can't wait… until… I get home… so I… can… tell… Brian… and… Tyler. And… I hope… I get… to… do a… two… thousand… word… essay… on what I… did… on… my… summer… vacation… on my… first… day… back… at… school."
"It's not over yet," Valerie reminded him. "I think Barricade also said he's taking you to Washington, D.C. later this week."
"Yeah,… but… this was… my… dream… come… true."
After a few more minutes, she asked, "Could you put Sundown on the phone for me, please, dear?" Jeremy nodded and loudly called for him. When he took it, she asked him, "What time tomorrow does your plane take off?"
He searched his suitcase for the return tickets from Phoenix, and checked the time. "Three o'clock in the afternoon," he answered. "I reckon I'll take him out to watch the sunset over the Canyon one last time, then after we pack, I'll take him out to a nice breakfast tomorrow. Then, I gotta return the pick-up to the car rental place in Phoenix, then board a bus. We gotta check in by one-thirty."
Valerie tried to estimate the time they'd land in Empire City. "Will you be making a stop anywhere?"
"When we first received our tickets, I reckon she said somethin' 'bout stoppin' somewhere in Kansas."
There was a pause as she tried to think. "I think maybe you'll get in at around ten to nine tomorrow evening here, maybe a little after nine. I'll be at the airport at around eight-thirty. Maybe I can call Elise and Cindy tomorrow to see if they're willing to bring their boys. I'm sure they'd love to see Jeremy again."
"Aw, I reckon Jeremy will be too tuckered out to do any socializin'," Sundown said. "He'll be sleepin' in yer car on the way home."
"Right, right," Valerie replied. "Although, when we went to Los Angeles and back, he was still a bit energetic when we got off the plane. Then again, they were both non-stop flights."
"Well, it's a bit different when we make a stop, and although we won't be gettin' off, it may be a bit much fer him. I may even be carryin' him off."
"I think he'll be light enough for you to handle." Valerie paused a bit, then said, "Oh, and before I forget, Karen and Rhonda are going to be at the house for Jeremy's birthday on Monday. I don't know who else will be there, but Barricade promised he'd be there. Some of us went shopping as a family the day after the reunion, as a recovery. I'll tell you more about it when you get home. Don't tell him what's happening, though, I want it to be a surprise."
He didn't say anything, but smiled at Jeremy. This vacation was present enough from him.
"Well, I think I'd better let you go, if you want to get to the Canyon again before the sun starts to set. So, I'll look for you tomorrow. I love you."
I love you, too, my darlin'," Sundown said. "Wit all my heart an' soul. An' I can't wait to see you again. See ya." He hung up and picked Jeremy off his bed.
"C'mon, son," he said. "One last sunset at the Canyon 'fore we hafta go." Jeremy nodded, and trotted out ahead of Sundown.
The next afternoon, Sundown and Jeremy were landing in Kansas City on their flight out of Phoenix. When the plane was on the runway, Sundown said, "Remember, Jeremy, you an' me are to stay on the plane."
Jeremy steepled his fingers, placed his hands on the back of his head, to keep from removing his seatbelt. He raised his arms over his head, as if he was stretching. It wasn't until passengers started boarding that he began to move his head around. Those who sat ahead of them looked as if they didn't notice. Those who passed them gave him strange looks. One boy even pointed and said, "Hey, check out the retarded kid moving his head around!" His mother gave him a swat and shoved him ahead. Sundown just gave him a harsh glare.
Jeremy stopped by the time the plane began to move. When the seatbelt sign turned off, Sundown went into the overhead compartment to get a book for Jeremy. He'd read about five pages when the flight attendants came up to them for in-flight dinner orders. Sundown had to tell him the choices: "Fish or Salisbury steak?"
"Fish!" Jeremy answered loudly. Sundown turned to the attendant. "An' I'll have the steak."
Sundown had to cut up Jeremy's fish dinner, yet Jeremy still ate it so slowly, the seatbelt sign had already turned back on by the time he was finished. Afterwards, he yawned and moved his head to the side so he could rest. Sundown smiled and took his book.
When the passengers started getting up, Sundown collected the carry-on bag and picked up the sleeping Jeremy. Between both, he found he was carrying a little over a hundred pounds, and he felt like he could handle it when he left. He just wondered if he could keep it up until he got to the baggage claim.
Yet, when they arrived, Sundown's arms started to get tired. His eyes found Valerie standing alone, looking surprised. He went over and kissed her, and she looked at Jeremy and said, "Wow, Jeremy wasn't this tired when we got home from L.A. Sure, he wasn't all that energetic, either, but still…"
"It was the stop in Kansas City that did it," Sundown replied. "Of course, he'd also be all tuckered out after two weeks of an excitin' vacation."
"Well, he also slept some of the way home last time," Valerie said. "He must've not slept at all until the end." She grunted a bit. "Well, I carried him for nine months. Another few minutes while you get your bags, and seventy feet won't kill me."
In her car, Valerie said to Sundown, "Now, I want you to tell me exactly what your God-forsaken brother said at dinner on your first day out."
"Well, besides harpin' Jeremy to eat faster an' swallow quicker," Sundown griped, "Chuck an Gloria were basically shootin' down ev'rythin' we relayed to them 'bout Jeremy. Gloria basically said that Jeremy's problems ain't no excuse fer him to be actin' the way he does. Then, Chuck suggested that Jeremy's unmannered an' disrespectful. My parents, sister an' I couldn't disagree more. And Gloria – she's a teacher who works wit disabled kids – said that her kids can learn better behavior through harshness and whackin'."
"I can safely assume she's never worked with S.B.S. children," Valerie said. "And she actually whacks disabled children? Alongside the head or rear?" She rolled her eyes. "I hope that woman loses her teaching license."
Then, Sundown got to the part when Jeremy announced he was finished. "He only had a bit of 'taters left, fer God's sake." He told about how Lynette and the nephews tried to keep Chuck from hitting Jeremy with their parents' paddle. Valerie looked at Sundown, feeling both relieved and sickened.
"An' in the livin' room," he continued, "well, I'll spare ya all the grisly details an' just explain the important stuff – Gloria said that she'd like to give you a few tips on how to discipline Jeremy properly."
"Yeah, right, like I really need it!" Valerie retorted.
"An' in the heat of the moment, Chuck said you were an f-in' spineless idiot," Sundown added.
She looked at him surprised and even more sickened. "Pardon my French, but did you mean 'fucking spineless idiot?'" She lowered her head and put her fingers to her temples.
"An' before they left in such a hurry," he concluded, "he told me flat out that he doesn't like me datin' ya, an' that I'd be out of his will an' his life fer good if I ever married ya. 'I ain't gonna have a lazy, spoilin'-happy mama fer a sister-in-law!' That's what he told me."
"Great, that's just what I need, a Southern version of Tom!" she said. "Of course, it's really not all that different from what I went through with Laura and Barbara at my family reunion. Don't ask me how it went." She sighed harshly. "Can you believe that bitch still thinks I'm lazy with Jeremy? How dare she accuse me of spoiling him with kindness and affection! I can't believe she thinks that kind of love is so wrong for a child like him! She had the audacity to say that Tom's the better man for me! And you won't believe what she said to the C.O.P.S. She suggested that they're not being authorial because they're in love with her incompetent cousin." She spoke in a high-pitched imitation voice. She didn't bother repeating what Laura said to Barricade, but continued, "I can't believe she suggested that I sign up for parenting classes."
"An' Barbara?" Sundown asked.
"All she said was that I shouldn't have divorced Tom," Valerie answered. "Although she wanted to be happy for my new life. She apologized in an e-mail she sent me a few days ago. She said Aunt Margaret persuaded her that my divorce was a good thing for Jeremy, and that was all it took. We may make up if she can come back to Empire City, but I'm never speaking to Laura again." She sighed again. "Other than that, I had a good two weeks, despite all the looks I've been getting at work lately. I don't know why."
"Uh, Valerie, if yer invitin' me over to yer place, can we stop by mine first?" Sundown asked. "I gotta put my suitcase away." When she arrived at his apartment building, he got out, opened the back, retrieved his suitcase to take inside. She waited several minutes before he returned. He got back in the car and kissed her some more. "I'd love to be over at yer place. It's been two weeks. I missed you a lot, dumplin'."
When they arrived at Valerie's house, Sundown immediately took Jeremy out of the car. He said, "Ya don't mind if I put him to bed, do ya?"
"Could you, please?" she replied. "I have to do his laundry. He has another pair of pajamas in his bottom drawer."
Sundown took Jeremy into his room, and retrieved a pair of green pajamas. But just as he was about to remove his shirt, Jeremy woke up. "What's… going… on?" he asked. "Where's… Mom?"
"Downstairs doin' yer laundry," Sundown told him. "Meantime, I'm just gettin' ya ready fer bed. Arms up." Jeremy obeyed, and he removed his shirt and pants for him
"I can… put on my… pajamas." Jeremy took them and put the bottoms on first. This took him over a minute. Then, Sundown put the boy in bed and tucked him in.
He waited in the living room, and Valerie came upstairs a few minutes later. "Sorry," she said. "I just wanted to get the laundry done in time for Jeremy's trip with Barricade."
"Of course," he said. "Barricade told me 'bout it 'fore I left as I met him at the headquarters."
He retrieved the same CD of country songs they made love along to a month-and-a-half ago from her collection, and put it in the player. As the music started up this time, he took her hand and said softly, "May I have this dance, lil' lady?"
"I'd love to," she replied.
They slow-danced all over the room, yet Valerie was mentally counting the songs that were playing. Seven songs, she decided, then she'd check on the washing machine. When that moment came, she said, "Excuse me, I think the washer may be done."
"I'll handle it, sweetheart," Sundown said. "I'll get it done quickly. Where's the laundry room?"
"Basement," she answered. "In the small hallway next to that TV. Back room. And put about two sheets of fabric softener in there and set it for an hour." He nodded and put the music on pause.
Downstairs, Sundown was putting several items into the dryer at a time, set it as instructed, then hurried back up. They kept dancing to the rest of the CD, close to forty more minutes. When he took the CD out, he saw the time reading 10:48 P.M. "I reckon at least twenty more minutes on that dryer," he said.
"I want to get to bed soon," Valerie said. "I have to be up early tomorrow morning. I'm helping Matt set up to film a commercial. Outdoor football game to promote a damn sports drink. Ugh, what was Mr. Lancer thinking hiring me to lead this one? We DO have some project managers who are men. I hear August Bata is a big football fanatic; this would be something he'd go for. I plan to have a talk with Lancer when this is over. Thank God this'll only take until lunch. And Karen made a doctor's appointment for Jeremy for tomorrow."
"I have a shift to serve at seven in the mornin', too," he agreed. "We'll reset the dryer first thing, then you can fold them when you get home."
Meanwhile, Kim Masterson was looking out her kitchen window into Valerie's backyard. She lived across the back lane from Valerie's house, although they never, ever conversed. She was able to look into Valerie's bedroom window. She had just seen the light go on, and Valerie and Sundown entering. She saw them kissing intimately and undressing each other. She pretended to clean the kitchen, but just keep glancing at their private moment, their intimacy, their nudity. Suddenly, she saw Sundown close Valerie's curtains, and the light go out.
She went to the telephone and dialed Teresa's number.
At nine o'clock the next morning, a black Ford truck was driving through downtown Empire City. The driver was glaring through the windshield, determined to look for a certain building. He parked at a telephone booth and got out, grabbed the phone book, flipped to the Empire City Yellow Pages under "Advertising." Suddenly, he spotted an advertisement for the Lancer and Sussex Agency. He retrieved a small pad from his jeans pocket and wrote down the address. He stepped back into his truck, studied the address for a bit, then smoothed out his wavy brown hair in the rear view mirror.
"Oh, Valerie," he snickered evilly. "You incompetent, stupid mother, you. I'll find you, my pretty, and get my son away from you."
He hadn't visited Empire City in years, yet he was able to find the street that had the Lancer and Sussex headquarters. He searched the staff parking lot for that familiar station wagon. But he couldn't find it. He found a vacant spot in the lot for visitors and clients.
He met Teresa when he entered. Immediately, he said, "I'd like to see Valerie Boston, please."
"She's out on assignment," Teresa replied. "Can you come back this afternoon?"
"No, I'd like to see her now," the man replied. "Do you know where she is?"
"She's at the King Richard Park, in a suburb called Garrison Heights," Teresa answered. "She's filming a commercial for a company specializing in energy food and drinks. I must advise you, though, Ms. Boston doesn't like to be interrupted when she is working. She should be free around three this afternoon. Are you sure you can't come back later? Is this important?"
"It is," the man replied, almost spitefully. "My name is Tom Boston, and I used to be married to Ms. Boston. I have some important family matters I need to discuss with her. Thank you for your time, ma'am." He smiled and left the building.
It took almost half an hour, and asking for directions to Garrison Heights, but Tom managed to find a camera crew in a football field. In the distance, he saw a certain blonde woman with her back to him, supervising the action. He grinned, laughed evilly, and said to himself, "Bitch, you're mine now. And so will that kid when I'm through with you."
Meanwhile, Valerie was watching the filming with Matt, a close-up of a thirtysomething athlete gulping down an entire bottle of Escapade. "Here, we'll show all their bodies turning the same color as the liquid, to show energy building up," Matt said. "I've got awesome computer graphics." Both of them were completely unaware of the black truck driving past them, which contained Valerie's haunting past.
"Cut!" Matt called. "That's excellent. Now, we can get a couple more athletes drinking, then shoot some more gaming scenes. Maybe get some dramatic angles."
Valerie looked up, and was about to give more directions when she noticed another man standing off the set. She couldn't tell who he was, but she was soon curious about it, as if she knew him from somewhere before. Then she became scared, as if he were the school bully.
"Oh my God," she whispered loudly. "If that's who I think it is…"
He quietly walked towards her, and his brown hair looked very familiar. As he got closer, more facial features started looking familiar, his nose and mouth. She went from scared to pure horrified as she could identify the stranger now, as he came directly towards her.
"Hello, Valerie," he said.
"Tom!" she cried. "Tom, how the hell did you find me! And what the fuck brings you here to Empire City? I thought the judge told you to stay a certain distance away from me!"
"Your cousin Laura still has our old e-mail address from when we were married," Tom answered. "I see that you're still being passionately permissive towards Jeremy. Not a good thing."
"Yeah?" Valerie remarked. "Well, I see that you're still in Never-Never Land about Jeremy's condition. He still has sensitivities and delicacies that will be with him all his life. I am so sick and tired of people bringing up the spanking issue with me. Going there will only worsen his condition. You know that, and yet you fail to understand it."
"Sensitivities? Delicacies?" Tom shook his head rapidly. "Will you listen to yourself, woman? You're babying him just like you always have been. I'll bet you get your family to do the same thing." He folded his arms and gave her a stare so cold, he suddenly made Valerie shiver. "Tell me, then, how do you discipline him. Time-outs? Straight talking? Those are fucking jokes, Valerie. Spanking, whipping, beating and screaming are the only ways to get kids like Jeremy to behave. You know that, and yet you fail to understand it!"
"Uh, could you please leave?" Matt requested. "We're shooting a commercial here."
"Matt, please!" Valerie objected. "This is between my ex-husband and me." She turned back to Tom. "What else do you want to bring up?"
"How about the fact that you're screwing five members of a special police team at once?" Tom suggested. "All with personal talents beneficial to the force, I hear. You're quite the slut, Valerie. What kind of example is that setting for Jeremy?"
"Maybe it's because they all love me, Tom!" she spat. "Did you ever think of that? You know, a good portion of these guys' downtimes is spent with me. And when they're with me, they show me a special time. They hold me in a strong, sensual manner that makes me feel secure, whether I need it or not. When was the last time you even touched me like that! They always feel that I need a loving kind of security, yet are very considerate for my space. They treat me like I'm royalty. When they're with me, they tell me they love me, and they need me, even in bed! You haven't been like that with me since Jeremy was a baby."
"I don't think the family court judges will care about any of that when I bring this to them," Tom said. "Let's see, Mom is very permissive with her 'special needs' son, uses 'sensitivity' and 'delicacy' as a excuse to keep coddling him, and acts very promiscuous around authority figures. Birth fathers are favored in cases like this. I may have lost my parental rights in our divorce, but I can easily get them back once I expose you."
"Oh, like that'll happen when I tell them that you shook Jeremy as a baby! Or have you forgotten that?"
Tom ignored her remark. "And speaking of exposure, I just want to thank you for ruining my reputation in Parrish! My attack on you, and Jeremy's teacher, the day of the sudden finalization made the local news. Because of you, that community sees me as a child abuser. Me, the brilliant, kind, loyal businessman. A lot of people stopped coming to my store over the next two months, and I lost so much money, I had to declare bankruptcy. But, don't worry. I've done some research, and I found some space in Spokane, Washington for me to open a new store, just like the old one. By the time I re-gain custody of my son – mine, not yours – I'll be able to provide for him again. And I'll damn well discipline him however I see fit. And I'll see to it that he never sees you or your little cop-like toys ever again! But I won't be leaving here without him."
Now Valerie became angry. "You bastard!" she seethed. "In three months, I'll learn that you actually murdered him. If you do so much as come near Jeremy–"
"What, you're going to sic your group of Romeos on me?" Tom assumed. "I'll just tell them that I'm his father, and the very woman they're fucking is a jerk and a terrible mother. I'll tell them that my son needs to be exposed to cops who are better role models than that. You may not realize this, but he needs me more than he needs you. And I'm not going to let my son call another man 'Daddy,' never mind some stranger with a badge."
"These 'strangers' with badges are more of fathers to Jeremy than you ever were! Did you know it was his dream to see the Grand Canyon? Sundown, that sheriff with the cowboy hat, he made that come true for him. Jeremy loves him, and he loves Barricade, too, and is very close to the other C.O.P.S. as well. So I think he's doing just fine in my care." She hesitated to reveal his cereal spokeschild job. She didn't want that old accusation of pushing fame on him.
And before Tom said anything else, Valerie took out her cell phone and spat, "Leave this area now, before I call the damn police!"
"This isn't over!" With that, he turned and walked away, not bothering to look back at his ex-wife. Minutes later, she watched his truck drive past the field.
Her expression turned to fear again. "Now what am I going to do?" she asked. "I can't let Tom take Jeremy away from me. Who knows what he'll do to him?"
"So, call the damn cops!" Matt replied. "Get C.O.P.S. headquarters. I'm sure Bulletproof Vess will know what to do." She nodded and dialed, and heard Mace's voice.
"Mace!" she said. "Mace, it's Valerie."
"Valerie?" he asked worriedly. "Valerie, what is it?"
"Oh, Mace," she cried. "Mace, I'm in trouble. Tom's come back, and he threatening me! Can I come see you as soon as I'm finished?"
"Go now, Valerie," Matt advised. "It's okay, I can handle this myself. You need to think of your kid." He took out his cell phone. "I'll tell Mr. Lancer you have an emergency."
Valerie said to Mace, "Never mind, I'm coming to the headquarters right now." She ended the conversation and rushed off the set to her car.
On her way to C.O.P.S. headquarters, she re-activated her cell phone to call Karen at home. She never talked on her cell phone with her car in motion, but this was indeed an emergency. When she heard her answer, she screamed, "Karen! Karen, it's Valerie! Karen, what are you doing right now?"
"Just reading to him, why?" Karen asked. "You sound distressed."
"That's because Jeremy is in grave danger! Tom is in town, and he showed up during my TV commercial assignment!"
Now Karen was horrified, too. "What! What did he say!"
"I don't know how, but Cousin Laura kept our old e-mail address, and must've leaked about my actions at the reunion. Oh, if I ever see her again, I'm going to put a fucking knife in BOTH her breasts! He told me about that – accusing me of permissive parenting – and my romantic connections to the C.O.P.S., and now he said he's going to take custody of Jeremy! He may be looking for him as we speak! And thinking of the C.O.P.S., I'm taking this to them right now."
"Good," Karen said. "I'm going to hang up with you right now, and lock all the doors and windows, in case Tom swings by here. Jeremy's appointment isn't until one-thirty this afternoon; I'm going to request an emergency house call. No way am I taking Jeremy into the city like this! Please call me later about an effective protection plan."
"Fine. Call Mom, Rhonda and her kids, and let them know what's going on. I'll talk to you later." Valerie hung up and started driving faster. She didn't care about a speeding ticket. She was desperate to get help. When she arrived downtown, she saw the traffic was considerably light, thank God. Still, she'd used her turn signals a lot, to get past cars going at normal speeds. She also checked her rear-view mirror for any black truck she happened to see. She knew Tom's license plate, but this wasn't really the time to check it.
"I don't get this!" Bowzer said at the emergency meeting at the headquarters. "Did she not put a restraining order on Tom? She never told me when we talked about him the night of Blitz's attack."
"I think she told me when we had our first dinner date," Mace said. "Perhaps, but I don't know. I stopped her when she started cryin', and if she didn't tell me, she was about to."
Both Sundown and Highway sighed and said nothing. Sundown wished he'd agree to hear about Tom to begin with, and Highway wished he'd asked about the restraining order when he brought Tom up the first time. Mace frowned on the moping and said, "C'mon, youse guys, don't kick yourselves over this. You could probably guess how uncomfortable she'd be talkin' bout him."
"No, Mace," Sundown disagreed. "I told Valerie that talkin' 'bout her ex made me mighty angry. I just hate what he did to Jeremy. I know we all did, but damn, why was I so prideful 'bout it?"
"We would have been better prepared had we known about this before," Bulletproof agreed. "Now, the safety of Jeremy Boston is once again our top priority. But we must wait until Valerie arrives so we can formulate a plan properly."
Suddenly, they heard someone run into the building, and saw Valerie walking towards them, taking short, quick breaths, her eyes wide and frantic."
"Yes, I had a restraining order placed upon my goddamn ex-husband," she said. "Just before I filed for divorce. I can't remember what distance it was then, but the judge ordered him to stay a least a thousand feet away from Jeremy and me. I know this information could've been useful two-and-a-half months ago, but my men never really gave me a chance to tell you." She looked expressively at Mace, Sundown, Bowzer and Highway.
"Valerie, you do understand that now we're going to guard you and your son to make sure he doesn't get kidnapped," Bulletproof told her. "From what we heard, your ex-husband sounds dangerous. The question is, why would he want custody of Jeremy?"
Mace, Highway and Bowzer all looked at each other, remembering the fight between Laura and Valerie at the reunion two weekends earlier, and told the others about it. "Valerie," Highway said, "did your cousin…"
"Take this to Tom, yes," she finished. "Luckily, Karen still has Jeremy at her house. She's going to have her doctor make a house call for his appointment, just in case Tom's in the neighborhood."
"Well, we need an effective plan to keep Tom away," Bulletproof insisted. "Anyone have any ideas?"
Valerie suddenly thought of Jeremy's small party, and said, "The family's getting together at my house at around four this afternoon. I guess Mace, Sundown, Bowzer, Highway and Barricade will all have to come. The rest of you, don't worry. I'm sure five officers will be enough to keep us secure. I'll call Barricade when I get back to work. He's taking Jeremy to Washington on Wednesday, so it'll only be until then. Hopefully."
"I have a better idea, Valerie," Bulletproof said. "Let's call Barricade now." They went to the nearest phone, and Bulletproof dialed Barricade's home number.
When he answered, Valerie immediately explained what was going on. Barricade was shocked when he learned Tom was in Empire City. "Jesus Christ," he muttered. "Where's Jeremy now?"
"He's with Karen, he should be fine for now," she replied. "I don't know how she's going to sneak him back into the house without risking Tom finding out. But I want you there for his party this evening."
"I'll be there," he promised. "And as part of his birthday present, I was thinking of taking him to the zoo tomorrow. Maybe if we all go undercover as zoo patrons, we'll be able to nab Tom and at least confront him. Valerie, can you tell me what he looks like?"
"Brilliant idea, Barricade!" Bulletproof declared, then relayed it to the rest of the C.O.P.S.
Valerie added, "Tom's around six-foot-two, two hundred ten pounds. He has brown hair and eyes, a broad double chin, and a medium-sized pointy nose. I don't know what he'll be wearing tomorrow, but he came to the set in a blue button-down shirt, tucked, black slacks, and a favorite pair of brown loafers. He likes to keep himself clean shaven. And he drives a 2015 Ford truck, black, license plate VTM-895." She searched her purse for a recent photograph of him, and found a three-by-five in her mini-photo album.
They all took down the description, then Barricade hung up after saying, "I love you" to Valerie. She'd hoped his competition didn't hear that particular part.
Suddenly, Blackbelt called her name and she jumped. "Valerie, if it's all right with you, I'd like to come to Jeremy's party with Tyler."
"And I'd also like to be there with Brian," Longarm added.
"If you think that's best, then I guess it's okay," Valerie agreed.
They folded their arms, smirked, and said harmoniously, "Trust us."
Just like on her birthday, Valerie was allowed to leave work early that day. Mr. Lancer had told her, "I understand your son has your sister to protect him, but if what I heard is true, he will be in terrible danger if that ex-husband of yours comes to your neighborhood." As she was packing up for the day, Elise came into her office and asked, "I don't know about this party for Jeremy. Do you really think you should be seen with that bastard roaming about?"
"Relax," Valerie replied. "Mace, Sundown, Barricade, Bowzer and Highway are all showing up. Plus, Longarm and Blackbelt will attend with their boys. It was confirmed this morning. With all this police at my house, I don't think Tom will dare come near me."
At Valerie's house, she saw Karen's car in her driveway. She got out and looked at the street for any unwanted oncoming traffic. Only a light blue truck and a black Cadillac behind it, but Valerie ran into the house anyway. She saw some tables set up in the living room, reminiscent of her own birthday party, but with more tables and chairs set out. The curtains were closed, obviously for a good reason. Jeremy was watching a cartoon video.
Karen was surprised to see her sister come home early. "Valerie?" she asked. "You weren't supposed to show up for another hour."
"Matt must've told my boss about Tom, as he said he would," Valerie replied. "Only a terrible emergency or special occasion would make Lancer and Sussex agree to send someone home early. How did it go with the doctor?"
"It was only a routine checkup," Karen answered. "Mind you, I had to unlock the door quickly and drag the doctor inside. Luckily, there was no traffic."
"What did Mom and Rhonda say? I never heard from them at all at work today."
"Mom locked her doors as soon as she found out. She also said she'd keep Dad's old rifle beside her. Rhonda says her house has been empty all day, with Sarah working, and Nicole and Caleb clothes shopping with friends. Thank God Bart and the boys don't come home from their camping weekend until later this evening."
About an hour later, the sisters saw two police cars parking outside the house. "That's funny," Valerie said. "I thought those C.O.P.S. would go home and get themselves ready first." She saw Sundown and Barricade coming to the door, and opened it before they rang the bell. They immediately kissed her, then Barricade asked, "So, Valerie, where's the belated birthday boy?"
This prompted Jeremy to come to the front door. "Barricade!" he cried.
Barricade immediately picked him up and squeezed him like a teddy bear. Valerie and Karen laughed and sighed; it looked so sweet and admirable to them. Sundown rolled his eyes, as if someone was asking him the same stupid question over and over.
"And how old are you now, little boy?" Barricade grinned.
"He just turned eleven years old," Sundown answered for Jeremy. "Fer crissake, Barricade, must ya treat him like a lil' kid?"
"Oh, stop it, cowboy man!" Karen said. "He's just having a little fun with him."
Valerie noticed both men came empty-handed. She understood Sundown probably had a good reason, but she wondered why Barricade would come without a birthday present. But she didn't dare say anything in front of her son.
While Barricade and Jeremy continued to play in the living room, Valerie, Karen and Sundown sat down in the dining room. Sundown said to Valerie, "So, how'd yer day go since ya left the headquarters?"
"Terrible," she answered. "I've been on edge all day. Of course, going back to work, I was wondering how the hell Tom knew where I was working on my assignment. Lo and behold, when I walk in, Teresa was there, telling me that Tom had stopped by, and he wanted to know where I was. So what did that bitch do? She gave away my filming location for my commercial assignment! She said that she insisted he come back to see me at a later time. I asked her why she didn't call the damn police. She said – and I swear to God, this is what she actually told me – that Tom looked very non-threatening, she didn't notice any weapons, and that he actually looked cute. I said to her, 'Teresa, he spent ten years abusing Jeremy, shaking and beating the shit out of him. Do you honestly think I moved to Empire City just to advance in my career? I took Jeremy with me for a damn good reason!' Boy, did she get in trouble. Cindy and Elise both overheard this, and they screamed at her. Then, Lancer and Sussex were just about to go to lunch, when we revealed it to them. The next thing we knew, they were all 'treating' Teresa to a private lunch. I've been unable to do any work all afternoon, worried about Mom and Rhonda's kids."
"I hope to hell they fire her!" Sundown said, disgusted. "I would if I were the boss."
Suddenly, they heard another doorbell, and Valerie went to answer it. She was happy to see Highway, Mace and Bowzer, all casually dressed, all carrying wrapped birthday gifts for Jeremy.
"Happy birthday, Jeremy!" they all chorused. Jeremy immediately broke away from Barricade to greet them all, while Valerie collected the gifts. And just as she was about to go back to the dining room, she peeked through the curtains and spotted two more police cars, and two pairs of fathers and sons approaching the houses, the sons carrying gifts.
Great, Longarm and Blackbelt have arrived, she thought. Then she said, "Look out the window, Jeremy. There's Brian and Tyler." Jeremy immediately went out to the porch step to greet his friends.
Valerie took the C.O.P.S. into the living room and asked them, "Uh, none of you happened to see Tom's truck on the way here, did you?" Everyone shook their heads.
"I didn't see nothin' black on the way here," Mace said.
"My motorbike goes a bit fast for me to notice anything, sweetheart," Highway said.
"I saw a few black trucks on my way home," Longarm said, "but none of the license plates matched your ex-husband's."
"Still, those curtains are staying closed," Valerie insisted. "I'm not going to risk anything. I'm calling Rhonda and Sarah." She went to the kitchen and dialed her sister's workplace.
When she heard Rhonda's voice, she said, "Rhonda, it's Valerie. Listen, most of the C.O.P.S. are here for Jeremy's party, but I'm keeping the living room curtains closed just in case Tom will be lurking in the area. Just look for an array of parked police vehicles. And be quick when you come into the house. Just come in okay? Don't bother with the doorbell."
"Excellent," Rhonda said. "Richard and I have to pick up Mom and Aunt Margaret after work, then we're picking up dinner. Don't tell Jeremy, but we're thinking of bringing back pizza for everyone. Sarah's picking up Nicole and Caleb on her way from work."
"I'm calling her next," Valerie said. Rhonda gave Sarah's cell phone number. Valerie hung up, dialed her eldest niece, and relayed the same information to her.
"That's great, Aunt Valerie," Sarah replied. "Thank you for telling me. I'm just getting off work now, so I'll go collect Nicole and Caleb, and we'll see you in twenty minutes. Bye." Valerie hung up again.
She spent that time worried about Rhonda's children. What if they saw Tom's truck on the road? She forgot to mention that to Sarah. Longarm noticed how distant Valerie looked, so he shook her a bit.
"Valerie," he said, "you look a little out of it. Is something the matter?"
"No, it's just that I forgot to tell Rhonda and Sarah what to do if they happen to see Tom," she answered. "Oh, what am I saying, he's probably plotting in a motel room somewhere. And he probably wouldn't come near Nicole and Caleb today; he hates shopping, even for himself."
"Don't worry, Valerie," Bowzer said. "Bulletproof said he and Mainframe were working on tracking him down, to see where he's staying. Then, they'll send the regular police there to tell him to stay away from you, and that he'll be arrested if he doesn't leave town."
"He won't," Valerie said. "You should've seen the look on his face, and heard the language he used with me. He really thinks I'm a horrible mother. He is determined to leave Empire City with Jeremy. He's probably finding some cheap lawyer to help him with it right now." Suddenly, she heard her cell phone ring, and retrieved it to check the ID. It read, H. Boston, 867-0593. She didn't know who it was, but answered anyway, and got a horrible surprise.
"Valerie!" the caller said. "Valerie, guess who this is, and guess where I am now."
"Tom!" she cried. "What the fuck do you want?"
"I'm at my Uncle Henry's house, in the Masterawn borough." Tom told her. "I meant what I said, Valerie. I'm not leaving Empire City without Jeremy. I didn't bring enough money with me to hire a lawyer here, so I have a solution. Tomorrow, either bring Jeremy to the house before you go to work, or have Karen bring him here. I'll have Uncle here write out a check for two thousand dollars for you to spend on your many boyfriends."
"Oh sure," Valerie scoffed. "More proof that you don't love Jeremy, trying to buy him back. And two thousand is all he's worth to you, isn't he? Well, screw you, fuckface!"
Longarm and Blackbelt left immediately to supervise the boys.
"Valerie, I'm only taking him back because I love him," Tom insisted. "I obviously love him more than you do. You know, I only put my hand and belt on him because I don't want him growing up to be a career criminal."
"Well, if that was your purpose, you did a damn good job, because he doesn't even have the mentality to rob a pet store." Just then, Mace snatched her phone.
"Listen, asshole!" he barked. "If you don't quit harassin' Valerie, I'm gonna use this phone to call Bulletproof, and I'll make damn sure he gets a slew of cops to come bust your ass, understand!" She started to weep, and everyone in the dining room grouped up to hold her.
Valerie felt a little better when Sarah, Nicole and Caleb arrived at the house, and a lot better when the rest of family arrived with dinner and birthday cake. Even so, she stayed silent through dinner and gifts, even when Jeremy hugged his thanks to her for a brand new dictionary. He also smiled over the piggy bank shaped like a police dog from Bowzer, a police-themed coloring and activity book from Mace, and a heart-shaped carving with Jeremy's name engraved from Highway, similar to what Valerie got from Bowzer.
But he was most excited by Barricade's present. He said to Jeremy, "Son, now I know you're going to love this, but in addition to our trip this week, I've decided that you and me will be spending all day at the Empire City Zoo tomorrow. Just the two of us, all day. You'll love it!" Jeremy said nothing, just smiled and gave Barricade the biggest hug he could muster with his arms.
"Have you ever been to the zoo before?" Barricade asked.
"Every… year… as a… school… field trip… from… kindergarten… to… third grade," Jeremy answered. "Mom… would… always… be the one… signing… permission… slips."
All the C.O.P.S. looked at Valerie, who immediately lowered her head a bit. "Yes, it's true," she said. "When we lived in Parrish, Tom and I would fight about letting Jeremy go on field trips every time. He'd wanted to keep him home, or have him be alone and supervised by a strict school staff member, as 'punishment' for some stupid little thing he couldn't help doing."
When Jeremy was opening Polly's gift, the kitchen phone rang. Valerie excused herself to answer it. "Just continue with the presents." She saw Bulletproof on the video screen. "Valerie," he said. "Has Barricade told Jeremy about the zoo trip yet?"
"He just did, and Jeremy's already looking forward to it," Valerie said. She saw her son smile over a pair of new pajamas, and she knew he always shrugged off clothes as gifts.
"Good," Bulletproof replied. "Just before Barricade and the rest of them left, I've assigned my whole team to go undercover as regular zoo patrons. Since Barricade will be the one with Jeremy, I've assigned him and Mirage to play roles of husband and wife."
"That's not a good idea," Valerie protested.
"Valerie, I need to have all my people in their roles on this assignment in case your ex-husband happens to show up there tomorrow," Bulletproof said.
"Well, while I want to approve of this, I distinctly heard Barricade tell Jeremy it will just be the two of them," she told him. "I will see to it that he holds to that promise. No offense to Mirage, but this is another opportunity for Jeremy to have some one-on-one father-son time that all boys dream of. I will not be pleased if that promise is broken."
Bulletproof put her on hold, then Mirage appeared on the screen. "Mirage," she said. "I know you're looking forward to this assignment most of all, but would it be all right if it was just Barricade with Jeremy? I think it's much more important that he spend this time alone with him. Can't you go undercover as a staff member, perhaps a zookeeper or a tour guide?"
"Now that you mention it, that would be a better idea," Mirage said. "I'll ask Bulletproof." She was put on hold then, then moments later, Mirage reported, "Bulletproof approves of the idea, and will call the zoo to ask about a uniform for me."
"Great, I knew you guys would do the right thing," Valerie said. "I'll tell my family this right away. Jeremy needs to know what's going on. Bye." She hung up and returned to the living room.
"What was that about?" Polly asked.
Valerie went up to Jeremy and said, "Honey, I just spoke with Bulletproof. Now I know Barricade forgot to mention this, but he'll be working with the other C.O.P.S. at the zoo tomorrow just in case your Daddy happens to show up. They're going to give you extra protection in case he tries to kidnap you. If he tries anything, your Daddy might go to jail."
Jeremy nodded slowly in acceptance, then said, "I want… my real… Dad… to… go… to jail. I want… him… to… pay… for how… he made me… suffer." He started to cry, then went to Barricade for comfort.
"I do, too, honey," she said, "I do, too."
"Son," Barricade told him, "I know you're scared of your real father. But I promise that after tomorrow, you won't ever have to worry about him again. Never, ever again."
Jeremy kept sobbing until Rhonda presented the Shewfelts' gift to him. He opened it, and became happy again when he saw a brand new backpack for school.
Valerie noticed the next morning was rather warm and sunny, so she picked a light polo and a pair of jean shorts for Jeremy. He had just finished a bowl of his Neapolitan Ice Cream Puffs when she heard the faint honking of a car horn. Valerie looked at the time, twenty minutes after eight. "My, but Barricade is early," she said to herself. "I thought the zoo didn't open until nine."
She looked out her window to see a police car in her driveway, and Barricade rushing up her walkway. She immediately unlocked her door and opened it as he rang the doorbell. He was dressed in a red button-down short-sleeved shirt that looked like a baseball jersey to her, and gray slacks. She kissed him lightly, suddenly remembering the hopeful objective of the trip.
"I was wondering why you came so early," she said, "but then I remembered this is also a police assignment. You're not going to take him to the headquarters for the briefing, are you? That'll bore him."
"I'm sure Bulletproof will give him some special instructions if his father tries to take him," Barricade assured her. He saw Jeremy smiling and running towards him. "Ready to go, buddy?"
"You bet," Jeremy said.
At C.O.P.S. headquarters, Bulletproof was briefing everyone on their roles for the day. He said, "I want everyone to act casual in their roles, and stay on the lookout for Thomas James Boston." He passed out copies of Tom's photo ID to his team. It looked like a Wanted poster to Jeremy.
Jeremy started looking around at everyone's outfits. Except for Mirage's zookeeper outfit, Bulletproof's "entrance guard" outfit, and Hardtop's zoo guide outfit, they were all dressed casually like he and Barricade were – polos, T-shirts, jeans and slacks. He especially noticed a spaghetti-strapped muscle top Mace was wearing. He pointed at Mace, leaned in toward Barricade, and whispered, "Do you… think… Mace… will get… hit on… by… various… women… in that… outfit?"
Barricade shushed him softly just as Bulletproof called, "Jeremy, are you listening?" The boy put his head on the back of his neck, as Bulletproof approached him. "Jeremy, I want you to stay with Barricade at all times." He pointed at Brian, standing with Longarm. "If you want to go with Brian, ask Barricade first. And any time your father tries to kidnap you, you are to scream as loud as you can. Understand?"
"Yes," Jeremy answered. "Scream… loud… if my Dad… takes… me."
"Good." Bulletproof addressed his team. "Are there any questions?" Silence. "All right, then let's head to the zoo."
When they got to the Empire City Zoo, several officers parked together, believing it would lure Tom inside for a confrontation. Barricade parked away from his colleagues. He went over to the passenger side to get Jeremy out. He thought about letting him walk, but decided to carry him inside instead. Jeremy wrapped his arms around Barricade's neck, feeling some security.
"Don't worry, Jeremy," he said to him. "Just remember to call for help if your father tries to take you."
Tom had no luck searching for Jeremy at the Rippin' Wild Water Park. He showed the head staff a recent picture he had of Jeremy, but after they checked, the owner reported, "We've searched all the lines, pools and decks. Never mind anyone who looks like your son, there haven't been any disabled children here this morning." Tom spent the next hour searching video arcades all over Empire City. Only a few short boys with glasses, but none that resembled Jeremy. He started to get frustrated, but then said to himself, "Think, Tom, think, think, think. Where else would a kid like Jeremy go to amuse himself?"
He suddenly thought back to his divorce trial, and what Jeremy's former principal, Mrs. Florence, said on the witness stand. He remembered she said that Jeremy loved to study animals in fourth grade Science. "Of course!" he said to himself. "He's interested in animals. He must be at the zoo!"
He jumped into his truck, and revved it up, on his way to the Empire City Zoo. "Don't worry, Jeremy, my boy," he said. "Daddy's coming to save you." He snickered, which turned into an evil laugh. "And when I do, you'll be all mine forever!"
Jeremy had been with Barricade, Brian and Longarm all morning. They were studying the Bengal tigers now, a mother feeding and licking her cubs. Jeremy was fascinatingly touched by this, and he said, "Look… how… cute… that is." Two cubs were now running around, playing in the pit. "Aw, but… they… look… so… sweet. Do you… think… the… zoo will… let… me… take one… home?"
Barricade and Brian laughed, and Barricade answered, "I don't think so, Jeremy. These animals are property of the zoo. I think that would be like stealing."
"Besides, what will the mother Bengal think about being separated from one of her baby cubs?" Brian told him.
They went to the hippopotamus pit next, where they saw Blackbelt talking on his cell phone. When he got off, he said, "Listen, that was Tyler and Mitchell. They've just finished their karate lesson. I'm going to pick them up, then I'm bringing them here, okay?"
"Sure," Longarm replied. "Contact Bulletproof and let him know."
Blackbelt had already met Bulletproof, and gotten permission to pass. On the way to his car, he spotted a black truck parking in the parking lot. He stood still, waiting, and took out Tom's photo sheet to quickly study it. He walked a few paces closer to interact with the truck driver. He studied his face, the hair, the eyes, the chin, and saw it was an exact match of Tom's picture.
"Hey, Tom Boston!" Blackbelt called. Tom looked back at him, and immediately started running into the zoo. Blackbelt ran after him, and took out his walkie-talkie. He pressed to contact all the C.O.P.S. and reported, "Attention all units. Suspect Thomas Boston has been spotted, and he's coming into the zoo. Barricade, Longarm, do whatever you can to protect Jeremy. The rest of you, prepare to make an arrest! Blackbelt out!"
Inside the zoo, Highway, Mace and Sundown gathered around Jeremy with Barricade and Longarm. Highway said, "I have an idea. We need to find Tom so we can confront him face to face. He has to see what he's doing is wrong. This is for Valerie." His colleagues nodded, and Barricade picked Jeremy up. They searched for Tom, and found him when they just turned the corner.
Tom's determination became even greater when he saw them, and he approached them and said, "Ah, so it's Valerie's group of Romeos." He noticed Longarm and Brian standing with them. "Hey, blond man! I never heard anything about you. You fucking my ex-wife, too?"
"No, but my son here just happens to be friends with Jeremy!" Longarm replied. "I'm married, thank you. And I happen to treat my wife and son a whole lot better than you ever treated Valerie and Jeremy."
"He's right!" Bowzer called from behind Tom. "I'm the one who's also in love with Valerie Boston."
Tom turned around to face Bowzer. Blitz was growling at Tom's knees. Both of them approached him, ready to confront.
"Well, this is real nice, having to meet the Casanova Authority Group," Tom grinned. "Now, I know one of you has my son. And I don't think this is healthy for him, boys. What, you think I want him to grow up thinking that all police officers do in their spare time is group up to fuck the same woman or man? No, I want him to have more respect for authority than that. So why don't you just hand him over to me, and I'll leave you alone to enjoy your happy sex lives with Valerie."
"Nothin' doin', pal," Mace growled. "Jeremy's stayin' with us, an' with Valerie. You just want him back so you can smack the hell outta him again, just like you did for the past ten years."
"What the fuck has Valerie been telling you?" Tom asked. "That's it's wrong for parents and guardians to lay their hands on kids like Jeremy? I don't believe this, authority figures who can't tell discipline from abuse. Well, let me tell you, what I did to Jeremy while he lived under MY roof is called discipline! Any cop who'd look at this kid's behavior, and not understand that doesn't deserve to carry a badge."
Sundown held Jeremy's hand tightly and brought him forward, Jeremy cowering and clutching the sheriff's body. "There ain't nothin' wrong wit this kid's behavior," he insisted. "If he's got behavior problems, it wouldn't be none of his fault, 'cuz he was shaken so much as a tyke."
"And that should stop me from beating him when he needs it?" Tom scoffed. "Well, you'd be a perfect match for Valerie; you're even talking like her – assuming she'd have the same twang in her voice you have." Then he had a thought. "Say, are any of you parents, besides Mr. Blond Stuff over there?"
"No!" Bowzer replied. "But even if we were, we wouldn't discipline our kids as extremely as you did with Jeremy. Especially when you were shaking him, now that is abuse if we ever heard of it."
Tom gave a loud "ho" sound. "Well, this is just perfect, isn't it? A bunch of non-parents dating a lazy, incompetent know-it-all of a mother, and together, they fuck up this poor kid by giving him the wrong kind of love!"
"You asshole!" Sundown spat. "Is that how ya talked to Valerie when she an' Jeremy were livin' wit ya? Well, it ain't no wonder she took off. Back where I come from, we don't treat ladies the way ya treated yer wife. We comfort 'em whenever they need it, and give 'em all the things they want an' like. We tell 'em how much we love 'em and need 'em, and we express ways of showin' it. We put 'em on damn pedestals, for crissake! And we put family before anythin' else, an' sacrifice so much fer 'em! Especially our children! Wit kids like Jeremy here, we balance the concepts of parent an' friend. We do what we can to keep 'em out of danger, yet give 'em that special love an' attention that'd make normal kids spoiled rotten!"
Suddenly, they noticed Blitz barking at Tom's jeans pocket. Bowzer approached him and retrieved a gun. Tom turned and snatched it out of his hand, then pointed it at Sundown and the rest of the group with Jeremy.
"Really?" Tom said. "Well, let me tell you how it works in the real world, cowboy!"
All the C.O.P.S. had Tom surrounded. Right away, they all took out their weapons, and pointed them at him. "You're not going to tell us anything!" Highway shouted. "From what we learned, you never even wanted him! So you're not the one to talk about parenting! To be a parent means you actually wanted the kid from the get-go. Now you take that truck of yours, and get the hell out of Empire City."
"Not without Jeremy!" Tom shouted back. "He's MY son, goddammit! You got that! MY son! You think I'm gonna let him call some cocky know-it-all pig who doesn't even have kids of his own 'Dad!'"
"Oh, so now you want him!" Mace boomed. "After ten years of the shit he got from you, now you wanna be his dad fer real? Well, get this, asshole, it ain't gonna happen! Now we're gonna give ya one last chance!"
Immediately, Tom fired at Sundown's gun, shooting it out of his hand. Then, before the other C.O.P.S. could react, he grabbed Jeremy and ran out of the zoo to his truck. The whole way, Jeremy was screaming, screaming for help, screaming out the names of various C.O.P.S.
"Shut up, you fucking brat!" his father screamed. "You ain't going with them!"
But Jeremy kept screaming anyway. When they got to the truck, Tom pulled the boy's shorts down and pressed him toward his stomach with one hand. With the other, he repeatedly spanked Jeremy's backside hard, making him cry and scream louder. When he was done, Tom threw Jeremy in the truck and screamed. "Any more noise outta you, and you'll really have something to cry about!"
He was about the go to the other side when Longarm appeared before him, and fired his Powercuff, cuffing his right wrist. It didn't stop him, as he ran to the driver's side, smacking Longarm against the back of the car next to the truck. Just as Tom opened the door, however, Sundown and Highway activated their guns, and shot him once in his back each. He turned around, and they shot him twice more in his chest. Tom went down, but Sundown decided to give him one last bullet.
"This is fer Valerie, you mangy, stinkin' varmint!" he declared, then shot him one last time in his chest, going for his heart.
Moments later, an ambulance arrived in the parking lot. Hardtop and Mirage brought the EMT's to Tom, and they cleared the blood away to do CPR, checking for any breath or heartbeat. While they did, Barricade took the crying and screaming Jeremy out of the truck.
He was crying too hard to say anything, but Barricade tried to shush him. "It's all right, son," he said. "It's all over. You're not going to see your bastard father again, I promise. There's no need to cry anymore."
After about five minutes, the EMT's couldn't find anything, so they placed Tom in a body bag. Bulletproof remembered the number for the Lancer and Sussex Advertising Agency, so he dialed the number on his cell phone. When he heard Teresa Laird's voice, he said, "Yeah, this is Bulletproof Vess calling. I need to speak with Valerie Boston, please? It's about her ex-husband."
A/N: To all who see this, I have some exciting C.O.P.S. news. According to a story posted last month on a Website called Space Junk, DIC entertainment, the masterminds behind this brilliant cartoon, has formed a new partnership with something called Shout Factory, and Amazon has listed a 4-disc C.O.P.S. DVD box set. Unfortunately, I checked that site, and they don't have all 65 episodes onto all four discs. Regardless, the release date is set for February 28, 2006, so I encourage all fans of the show to go to the Amazon website and pre-order their box sets… ASAP! I wish all of you a Merry Christmas, and if I don't post again before then, (doubtful) have a happy, safe and healthy New Year. Hope to find more great fanfics (and maybe an increase in this sub-category) in 2006!