The Latest Bloodshed

Jim Stallings

C H A P T E R 2

Chief Eldridge stopped Jelly outside the briefing room.

“How long you been a detective?” he asked, his gray eyebrows flying in a wild disarray as if he’d seen too much in his forty years on the force.

“Finishing my first year next month.”

“You look like hell. Circles under your eyes. What’s up with you?”

“I’m trying to make up my mind about the law. You know, go back to school and take a law degree.”

“You studied criminology and social work, right?”

“Yes sir, you know my background.”

“Yes I do, Detective Lovejoy. I know you’re a bleedin’ heart for the underdog. You’d make a great public defender. So what’s so hard about that making the commitment…You must be torn up about something.”

“I like my police work but I keep wondering if there’s something else I should do while there’s still time.”

“While there’s still time?” The Chief regarded him, tapping his briefing

papers. “I’d hate to lose you, that’s for sure. But I’ve seen burnout before, Lovejoy, and I’d say there’s more to this than a professional career decision. Maybe there’s a woman. Or something you can’t talk about.”

Jelly gave him a hard look. What the hell was he driving at? Sure there was a woman. Connie Sorensen. He’d been dating her off and on steadily for years. But as yet neither of them was ready to make the commitment.

“That cute little nurse you go with,” the Chief smiled, his jowls shaking like a hound dog sniffing out a cold case. “Just tell me when I’m too nosy.”

- 3 -

The
Latest
Bloodshed

Copyright © 2004 Jim Stallings. All rights reserved.
Maintained by R M Stelting.
Updated: 24 August, 2004