All Chapters of Mermaid Thighs: Chapter 91 - Chapter 100

Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise. – Anonymous“Hey, boss.” Johnson said getting Douggie’s attention. Douggie looked up from the list of interviews that were scheduled for the day. The investigator in charge cleared Parker yesterday. He should be returning to work next week after the background check is complete. The cursory report came back just as Parker had told him the other night.His father, Charles Parker, was convicted of attempted murder after beating his wife. Parker had been thirteen and fought back for his mother. Once Charles was in jail, Anna and her two sons moved back to her hometown. When Charles was released, Anna returned to her husband but both sons remained in Morgan City.Only days after she returned, Charles shot her before turning the gun on himself. Both sons grew up in their grandparents’ house. Both were in law enforcement, Donald Parker served on the MCPD and Stephen Parker served as an arson investigator for the MCFD

She will always return to the man who gets her, the man who lets her be wild, the man who doesn’t act like she’s too much. – S. McNuttReese drove Jolene to Neo’s new house. The one that he told his friend nearly two years ago not to buy. The one that required all new plumbing and electric. Got held up with asbestos removal. And lead removal. Termites. Just when he thought that he was good, the foundation cracked. It was still under construction in part of the old house. But the bottom floor was ready, or at least livable. The house was a turn of the century manor house with ten acres, two ponds and space for an airstrip and helipad. Not that he had either, but Neo had plans.The only reason Reese had agreed to back the venture was a rent-free hangar. His six-seater Cessna was not that big. It got him where he wanted to go. And any further than its range, he rented a charter plane. “Wow.” Jolene said as they went through the large masonry and wrought iron archway. He slowed the Te

Grief is the price we pay for love. - Queen Elizabeth II“Mr. Thompson, Mr. Reese is on line two.” The temporary assistant said over the intercom. Once again he wondered why he agreed to let Emily go on a two week cruise. He missed her efficency and thoroughness.And her coffee. The stuff he was making could not pass as coffee on the best of days. And today was not the best of days.“Tell him that I’ll call him back.” Frank said absently.The intercom went silent and then it buzzed again. “I’m sorry, sir. He says that it’s an emergency.”“Fine.” Frank growled and sat the proposal aside. He grabbed up his handset and pushed the button to connect the call. “Hey, Reese, I don’t have much time today.”“I need Helen.” Came the reply and Frank could hear that his friend was upset.“Did they transfer the call wrong?”“No. I need her to come home. I know that she just started this position, but I need her for a few days.”“Reese, I can’t let your sub off every time you want to play.”There wa

There is something about losing a mother that is permanent and inexpressible – a wound that will never quite heal. – Susan WiggsDean sat on the couch in absolute shock. The whole room around her was completely silent. Or maybe she just couldn’t hear anything over the soft roar in her ears of her own pulse.Looking up, she saw Helen in front of her. Her lips were moving, she couldn’t hear anything that the other woman was saying. Then a small tumbler was pressed into her hands. Dean looked at the amber liquid and then raised the glass to her lips.The whiskey burned on the way down. Shaking her head, as the alcohol seemed to spread instantly through her, she handed the glass back to Helen. Dean began to cough, and that single action broke the dam that was holding back her tears.JD sat down next to her, and he placed an arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into him. Grabbing his shirt, she gave into the sobs that began to rack her body. Reese sat on the other side of her and rubb

The lesson of history is that no one learns. – Steven Erikson, Deadhouse GatesThe courtroom had wood paneling all around the room except for the six-foot space behind the judge. The stone façade had the state seal in the center flanked by the American and state flags. The judge had a monitor on either side of his desk. His assistant sat on his right and the witness stand was on the left.A short wall with swinging gates separated the gallery from the working area of the court. The prosecutors’ table sat in front of the witness stand and the defendants table in front of the clerk. A bank of windows lined the far wall with the jury box in front of it. In place of the jury, prisoners sat in the box.Hank knew the room well. He had sat on the witness stand many times and spoke for the prosecution. He had helped put bad guys away. He had been Jolene’s hero in blue.Now he wore an orange jumpsuit and sat waiting for his name to be called like some common criminal. His mother and father wo