If you haven't read the prelude or the previous chapters you might want to scroll down and read them. Please let me know what you think.
SYNOPSIS: Jason Franco is an aspiring novelist stuck in a dead end job working for a newspaper in a small town where nothing exciting happens until someone rapes and murders a young woman only eighteen years old. All evidence points to the woman's boyfriend who confesses to the crime. Jason is assigned to write a follow-up story for the paper and soon suspects that the local police are covering up for one of their own. Jason enlists the help from a high school classmate who works at the state crime and the two soon fall in love. Jason and his girlfriend, Tina, follow the leads, and Jason finds himself a target for the rapist turned murderer. An attempt on Jason's life puts him in the hospital as the alleged rapist commits suicide. An unexpected turn of events put Jason back in the cross hairs of a different killer.
Bob Cliff, Golden Gloves Boxing Coach – Eight Years Earlier
High Marini, Art and Javier arrived at the gym in Cheyenne at eight am as usually. As soon as they arrived, coach Bob asked to speak to High in his office. In the office Coach Bob didn’t sit and didn’t offer a seat to Hugh. “I’ll come straight to the point. I don’t want Art in my gym any more.”
High was taken by surprise. “Why? What did he do?”
“I’m sorry but he can’t train here. He’s a dirty fighter. I’ve told him I don’t know how many times but he won’t listen. He hits after the bell and he punches below the belt. He’s hurt several people and now a few of the boxers refuse to fight with him. He won’t respect my authority.”
“I’m sorry, coach. Art has a lot of issues, but he loves boxing. It keeps him out of trouble.”
“I don’t care about his issues. I coach boxers. I’m not a psychologist. I can’t have him hurting people.”
“Okay. I understand.”
“That other kid, Javier. He can stay. He’s okay.”
“He won’t stay without Art. They're buddies.”
On the drive back to town, the three men were silent. A few miles out of town High broke the silence. “I can’t keep bailing you out of trouble. If I weren’t the Chief of Police, you’d be in jail now. Both of you. It’s time to grow up. You will graduate in six months. Tomorrow morning I’m taking you to talk to an Army recruiter.”
Art didn’t answer but Javier did. “I’ll go too. I’ll meet you there at nine.”
After graduation, Art and Javier enlisted in the Army and left for basic training.
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