The Halo Conspiracy by Michael Murphy

Author:Michael Murphy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Michael Murphy
Published: 2021-03-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

With a soft breeze stirring the pines, Lucas and Rachel dined on sandwiches off paper plates on the porch while Beau explored the property.

Rachel tossed a piece of bread to a screeching blue jay who snatched up the offering and carried the treat to a tree limb and ate. She took a bite of her lettuce and tomato sandwich. “What made you want to become a cop?”

Lucas stared at his tuna salad sandwich. He enjoyed talking about feelings and emotions the way he liked speaking to his doctor about his prostate. He wanted Rachel to trust him, and sharing feelings might cause her to open up about what she seemed determined to keep from him.

“My father was a Green River Police Officer back when tough guys joined the force so they could rough someone up without getting into too much trouble. Now, people join the force when all the social work positions are filled.”

Rachel smiled. “What about your mother?”

“My mother was a police dispatcher. I never thought I’d follow in their footsteps, but the Coronavirus hit during my senior year of high school, Class of ’20, trying to get la…chasing girls, no plans beyond graduation.”

Struggling with issues he preferred not thinking about, he took a deep breath and continued. “Then came quarantine and finishing school online, much like school is now, but at that time, the change jolted students and teachers. Instead of caps and gowns, graduation consisted of a five-minute drive through the parking lot with teachers in masks waving handmade signs to a recording of Pomp and Circumstance. That summer, my dad caught the disease at a political rally. Three days later, he was in the hospital on a ventilator. A month after that, he died alone.

“I’m sorry.”

Lucas took a bite and went on. “After he passed away, my mother didn’t seem interested in too much. Life grew serious, and the challenges almost overwhelmed me. I made decisions I now regret. A pandemic is such a random death, but murder is, by definition, premeditated, meaning someone wanted to end another’s life. I accept senseless death by disease, but murder, no. There’s no justification for taking a human life.”

“I bet you’ve heard all the excuses.”

Lucas chuckled. “Oh, yeah. Anyway, I wanted to become a homicide detective for the victims, families, and friends involved in an unexpected death.”

For a moment, they ate in silence.

Rachel studied his face. “Family is important to you.”

Lucas tossed a piece of his sandwich to Beau, who left the tree and gobbled up the food. “I never thought about the importance of family until my father passed. Maybe that’s why I married too young. Neither of us was ready.”

He finished his sandwich and thought back to his ex-wife. “Being a police officer is rough on a marriage. Cops struggle with issues that come up that only other cops might understand. They share things with each other they won’t or can’t with their spouse. As they grow close, the gap between spouses grows wider. I saw it happen to dozens of members of the force, not just me.

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