Chapter 1

Day 1

There was a soft rain falling on his five acre mini farm. Edward Alexander had worked for twenty five years to scrape together the money to buy the small piece of dirt in rural Virginia. The house was old and needed a lot of work, but that had always been his retirement plan.

For most of his twenty five years on the job, he had lived in a cheap studio apartment in one town or another. He had worked on the local Police Department for the first ten years. In that Department he worked himself up to Detective First Grade. There was quite a turnover in a town of 200k, so advancement wasn't all that hard for a stay at home cop.

Edward (Eddie) was a straight arrow, by the book cop. It was probably the reason that when the State Police took over small town departments, his assessment read like a boring text book. He was however deemed a competent and necessary part of the department.

With the take over his pay jumped a few percentage points, so like the others he didn't complain too loudly. The take over also meant huge improvements in the work. They were at least touted as huge improvements, there were surly huge investments in new technology and equipment.

The new structure lasted the next ten years. The powers that be, whoever the hell they were, one day deemed it necessary for all Police to have the ability to communicate with each other. Not only would they be more efficient but by combining the management there would be a huge saving to the taxpayers.

So after twenty years Eddie became a Federal Police Inspector for his last five years. The title meant absolutely nothing except another small raise to make it all more palatable. Which explained why after twenty five years on his last day people had gathered in the conference room. They were there to say goodbye to a Deputy Chief Inspector with the Homicide Division of the Federal Police. As a final joke on the humorless guest of honor, they chose coffee and donuts to send him on his way.

The people who gathered in the small crowded room were other Detectives, Office Personnel, and Criminalists. Eddie Alexander had no friends or family to invite. The Chief inspector of the Homicide Unit had spoke to his assembled worker bees.

Chief: You all know Eddie Alexander. He is probably the steadiest of all my detectives. Which is not to say he is unimaginative. He is simply relentless in his attention to detail. He is one of those rare men who can see the small picture and doesn't give a damn for the big picture.

You know we call you Steady Eddie. Sometimes it sounds derogatory but it isn't at all. Other people run around screaming the sky is falling but he just finds a brace to hold it up. So here is to you Eddie, may you find a soft place to land after your fall from great heights.

The Chief handed Eddie the coffee in a disposable plastic cup. Had he been given a choice, he would have called in sick on his last day and avoided the stupid farewell completely.

Eddie: Thanks boss.

Eddie took the cup and went back to his seat.

Chief: Talk about a man of few words.

The others assembled giggled like school kids. Eddie had never been an exciting guy in his personal life. Eddie had never thought much about any of them. Eddie was in fact a confirmed bachelor with no true friends. He had lots of people who liked and respected him, but no close friends at all.

Eddie had cleaned out his desk and turned his case files over to his replacement early, so for the next five hours he sat at his desk staring out the window. Over half his life was in the one cardboard box sitting atop his desk. He wasn't even imaginative enough to see how the small cardboard container was a metaphor of his life.

His last meal in the city was a celebration. He went to the New China City Restaurant alone for the combo plate with egg rolls. Steady Eddy's personal life was as bland as dishwater and he didn't mind at all.

Eddie had dated a few times and found women to be a pain in the ass. So when he first became involved with the widow of a Police Officer, who was nuts, he wanted to run away. She however called him over to fix things about once a month. She got her plumbing cleared, and he got dinner with her and her two children. After the kids went to sleep, they always had boring sex. The arrangement lasted until she and the kids moved home to Indiana.

Anna met a man and decided the kids needed a father who was not a cop. Eddie never blamed her, since they were just friends. At least the closest thing to a friend he ever had. People around him envied his peaceful life style, but they sure as hell didn't want it as a full time lifestyle.

Eddie: (into his phone) Dep ... Hello.

Voice coming out of the phone: Deputy Chief Alexander?

Eddie: I was this morning. Who is this?

Voice: I'm Lucille Martin, Chief of Staff for Senator Jeffery Ames. I would like to arrange a meeting with you.

Eddie: To what end? I don't know the Senator and as far as I know I have no business with him.

Lucille: The meeting isn't with the Senator it is with me.

Eddie: I see. I am really not interested in making any contributions.

Lucille: (Laughing) I know the press makes it seem like all we do is raise money, but we try to fit in public business now and then. The meeting is about public service. We know you just retired and most likely will be bored silly in a month. This is just a chance for us to talk about your options.

Eddie: The only options I'm interested in at the moment is traditional shingles or architectural ones.

Lucille: Go with the architectural. Now how about lunch at that dreadful Cafe you like so much.

Eddie: You seem to know a lot about me.

Lucille: You, most of all, should know the devil is in the details.

Lucille had managed to make him curious. He decided that he should at least listen to her even if he did have to go into the city to do it.

Eddie: When do you want to meet?

Lucille: Lunch tomorrow and bring your appetite I'm buying.

Eddie: In that case I'll skip breakfast.

Lucille: What dreadful combination of cereals are you having these mornings?

Eddie: I don't know the names, but it looks like pine needles, maggots and bat shit.