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A Parasol in a Hurricane
by James Greer
Category: Mystery/Crime
Description: What would you risk to keep a promise to someone you hardly knew? Your job, your marriage.... Your life? Parasol in a Hurricane poses that question to a young policewoman and dares her to choose. Karen O'Neil is a California girl with a domineering husband, ripped from a sun-drenched, stimulating life as a San Diego cop and spirited away to the isolation of rural Wisconsin. Talented, attractive and intense, she is cut off from everything she knows except how to be a police officer. She works for a progressive sheriff who offers her a badge, a uniform and refuge from an unfulfilling home life. On a routine call she encounters a young woman with no reason to lie - yet she does. Puzzled, Karen enlists the help of an old friend, who reminds her of all that had once been rewarding in her world. Together they use modern computer databases to uncover a dark, closely guarded secret. When Karen confronts the woman, she begs for the impossible. Unfortunately, technology is a cold, unfeeling mistress. The woman's past surfaces in the worst possible way. Karen refuses to cooperate with her superiors, even with the threat of termination hanging over her. Only the respect of her sheriff stands between her and the end of her career. Principle alone won't save the young woman when the final confrontation occurs. Only an officer with a warrior soul can keep the promise to risk her own life, to be the one who faces the gun. She steps out into the line of fire and raises her rifle.
eBook Publisher: Wild Child Publishing/Wild Child Publishing, 2009 2009
eBookwise Release Date: December 2009
 
6 Reader Ratings:
Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [51 KB]
Words: 8917
Reading time: 25-35 min.
"Slow night?" the skinny woman behind the counter asked. "Mostly," she replied. "It's my Friday. I'm hoping for an easy shift." "Who did you insult to get sent way the hell out here?" "Oh, I like it out here," she fibbed. "Good people and--" From her earpiece, the piercing beep of the alert tone rang through her head. "Man with a gun," the dispatcher intoned. "Nine fifteen Oak Terrace, Rosendale. Car to go?" Oh, dear God. How had he found her? "Officer, is everything okay?" the woman said, offering the cup of coffee. "I hope. Keep this warm, huh? I'll be back." Tossing a five dollar bill on the counter, she turned and walked-ran-out the door. Years of practice made it easy to talk on the radio and open the car door at the same time. "Two fifty-three is on the way." Experience kept her voice calm, while inside, her heart galloped. "Do we have a suspect description?"
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