Moments for the Heart

Hey Weekend Writing Warriors. Hope all is well and we all had a productive writing week. For once I had an uneventful week. I was able to get some writing done. It has been a crazy past few months and it felt good to sit behind a keyboard and click away. But the one thing that was frustrating was I got a call from the Social Security Department that said I did not submit the forms that I did submit. This means that the waiting must continue for Disability. I submitted these forms over 6 months ago. And they were to be decided by October. I don’t know if that means I need to wait another 6 months or what. UGH. Cheers to our Federal government support system.

Well, to get back to what matters, it’s time for our snippet. We continue in Chapter one of The Transference II. I am loving writing this Crime Thriller genre. You can read all about this book here.

You can catch up on past snippets here.

SYNOPSIS:

Given that I am only four chapters in, I am still working on a full synopsis:
This book will take place roughly four years after the events of the first book.

Masters has retired and Grady now leads the team. All seems well until a series of murders take place that resemble the killings four years ago. Grady receives a call from Masters that he has discovered something at a local warehouse. A gun runner is using a long forgotten facility. Are the two events related? As the team is split between the two events that are tearing apart their city, it is a matter of time before an old enemy resurfaces and extends a challenge none of them expects.

>>>If you are curious about the first novels snippets, I have them archived: Here is a link to them if you want to read up on The Transference <<<

SNIPPET:

Grady is a police detective. He is our main character. In this scene he has entered a cafe and is waiting another detective, Masters. Masters is retired and has called him for a meting.


—First, here is a the tail end of last week’s entry:


Grady looked over his shoulder again, surveying the room. Nothing out of place. Two families, an elderly couple, and two solitary gentlemen, one in a veteran’s ball cap, spaced out on the counter beside him. He raised his coffee cup to the veteran, who nodded and sipped his cup.

Gino’s had once been a solitary pizza and Italian eatery. But with the neighborhood trend switching elderly residents, they converted it to more of a coffee and breakfast diner. Their business doubled. They still sold pizzas, and the sign out front still welcomed patrons, but the combination made Gino happy, if Gino was an Tactual person. He had never thought to ask.

This week we pick up from where we left off. Grady is in the cafe waiting for Masters.

The bell rang, turning Grady’s head, and two patrolmen entered. One was Officer Sean Clarke and the other was a clean-pressed uniform, a newbie. Clarke had a knowing grin on his face. He loved his job, breaking in a new officer. Clarke chose to join his team after the Tanner incident three years ago. Ryan had pushed for the transfer, but Clarke flat-out refused. He loved the beat too much. He had no desire to climb the stairs. The cars, the sound of the radio squelch, and the berating of an angry Sergeant Atwood during roll call were this cup of tea. Grady didn’t mind. He needed someone on that side of the fence.

::There is your ten (or so). Here is a bit more.::

Clarke short waved as he and the rookie sat. The bell rang, but again, it wasn’t Masters. Grady looked up at the clock. He needed to head into the squad room. He was expecting his own wet behind-the-ear detective vying for the vacant position left behind after he was moved up and Branson’s retirement.

He hated that he had to make the decision. LaCrosse laughed when he suggested he was the one to choose. He said it was above his pay grade and that they couldn’t pay him enough to want his position. He would live and retire as a senior detective. Carmen was no help either. And he knew better than to breathe a word of his apprehension to Sergeant Atwood. He was on his own.

Bridgette brought his meal, and he ate it in silence. Several bells, but no retired cop came through the door. After he was through, his bill was taken care of, courtesy of the corner booth brothers in blue. He tipped an imaginary cap and headed out the door to a morning with a crisp winter chill, even faux Gino looked down on him from his metal perch, wondering where his coat was. Grady rubbed his arms and walked the way he came in to his vehicle.

Before Grady reached his car, his cell rang. It was Carmen.

“What’s up, tech genius?” Grady said.

“I think we may have a problem, Grady.”

“Please don’t say it has anything to do with the boss.”

“Masters? No, why? What’s wrong?”

Grady wasn’t sure what to say. Was his meeting something between just the two of them? But with him unaccounted for, he had to take the chance.

“I was supposed to meet with him this morning, but he was a no-show.”

“Hmm. Not like him. He’s on time for everything. If anything, you’d be the one who’s late.”

“Hey,” Grady said.

“Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just stating the truth,” Carmen laughed.

She did have a point. Even with four years under his belt, Grady was still barely on time for team meetings. It was just in his makeup to run late. He remembers his first day. His coffee run saved his butt that day. It was also the day they were introduced to Tanner’s work. The memory caused him to shudder.

“Well, that’s not why I am calling. Boss, missing a meeting is the least of our worries. You need to get in here ASAP. You are not going to like what I am seeing here.”

“Care to share?”

“I would rather you be here for this, Grady.”

“10-4. I’m en route.”

“And Grade.”

“Yeah?”

“You know you’re Boss now. You know that, right?”

Grady sighed. It was the one thing he was still getting used to. It had been six months, but having the team call him ‘Boss’ was still hard on the ears.

“Yes, I hear ya,” Grady said. “I’m on my way.”

Change in leadership is never easy. Grady is still getting used to it. But Grady is wondering what is this meeting with an old mentor asking for a meeting and not showing up. Now we have an emergency meeting. Could there be a connection?

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Monday is Memory Monday
We remember an important event that occurred on that Monday or sometime that week.

Tuesday is Two Twenty-Two Tuesday
A weekly vlog where I talk about writing or something that’s been on my heart, all in two minutes and twenty-two seconds. — I am way behind on this… sorry.
This is posted on my YouTube channel.

Wednesday is when I post my blog for the week.
I speak from my heart on various topics from writing to faith.

Thursday is This or That Thursday
A weekly two-option poll that raises the question, do you like this, or do you prefer that?
I host this on this on Twitter, IG, and Facebook.

Friday is Fun Fact Friday
I find and share interesting or obscure facts on my pages.

Saturday is for Weekend Writing Warriors
Saturday is for Snippets from a current piece or past work.

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THIS WEEK’S WRAP-UP:

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT:
Thanks for reading this week. And for your continued support.

Getting closer to release day. Just over a month now. I am waiting for the final edit from my publisher. I should get that any day now. Then I will proof it, approve it, and send the cover to him and we shall have our final product. These final days are so exciting. I am looking to do a drawing again over on Twitter, or X, again like I did for the last novel. So keep your eyes open. God Bless followers. Thank you for your support.

Catch up with everything even writing a blog. You can read it here, Please check it out.
Here’s to living the dream. God bless Writing Warriors!!

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In His Exciting Service,

Jeff S. Bray

Check out amazing established and emerging writers at Weekend Writing Warriors. Each week we post new snippets from either published works or works in progress for each other to comment on. Gain insight into how the mind of a writer works and a behind-the-scenes look at works before they hit bookstands everywhere.

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