Rollie Chambers waved at his friend Jacob Tully as he entered the First Squad Bar and Grill that had become their regular hang out. The two friends had not seen or talked to each other for over a month. Rollie stopped at the bar got a beer, and joined Tully in his booth.

After greeting Rollie, Tully asked, "How's Ted doing?"

Ted Crowe was another friend and owned the First Squad Bar and Grill. He had been a patrol officer with the St. Louis Police Department and pulled the pin after 30 years as a cop. He and his wife, Donna, bought the bar, renamed it and added a kitchen. A large percentage of the First Squad's clientele were cops, retired cops, or cop groupies.

"He's pretty much healed up after those two beat the hell out of him," Rollie answered.

Riley and Shawn Dalton had assaulted Ted and demanded protection money. Rollie and Tully had been involved in their arrest. Later the men were killed by their boss and backer, Vito Rossi. Vito had betrayed his brother Frank, who was the head of the St. Louis crime family, by enlisting the help of an out of town 'boss' in a protection racket. This caused what Frank called a blood feud between the brothers. The feud was of short duration; Vito was found with a bullet hole in his forehead only two days after Frank found out about the betrayal from Rollie.

"Donna said she was glad to get him out from under foot at home," Rollie continued. "Said he was driving her nuts."

Tully laughed and motioned to Tina for another round. He watched as she set the beer down.

"Here you go handsome," Tina said to Tully. "When you get done talking to Rollie stop by and see me."

"Tina, I don't think I'm man enough to handle you," Tully replied with a big grin. Everyone knew that Tina was all talk; she had a steady boyfriend at home who she loved.

"Your loss Tully. You're gonna wait too long and I'll be taken one of these days." Tina slapped Tully on the shoulder, nudged Rollie with her hip, and went back to the service counter at the bar.

"I haven't seen you since you left the Department," Rollie said with a slightly accusatory tone.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that buddy. I know it's a cliché but I've really been busy." Tully looked at his friend. "That's no excuse; I should have least called you."

"Okay Sarge, I know it's hard to remember things when you get old. I forgive you but you better call Jessica or she'll come looking for you."

"I'll call her tomorrow," Tully laughed.

After taking a big drink Rollie asked, "So what's been going on? Why did you pull the pin? I mean you fought with the Department and made them give you your job back after losing your leg in Iraq. I thought you like teaching the new officers the correct way to shoot and tactical procedures. Why quit now?"

"Well ... I've been thinking the same way you did when you quit. The Department is being run by a bunch of brass hats that couldn't find their asses with both hands and a road map. They seem to be more concerned about their careers, politics and not pissing off the special interest groups than they are doing police work."

"There are still a lot of good men in the Department Tully. It might take a while but things will get back to the real cops running things." Rollie studied the big man across from him. "That's what you told me when I was talking about quitting."

"I know, and you're right. And if I was young and idealistic I'd stay and do my part to make things better. But I've seen too much and done too much to put up with the bullshit." Tully grinned. "But what made up my mind was what happened about a month ago." He stopped to finish his beer and waved for another round.

Tina brought the drinks, flirted with Tully again, and went back to the bar.

"Don't leave me hanging. What happened?"

"Seems one of the newly promoted Captains wanted to use the range after hours. That wouldn't have been too bad but he had a lady friend with him. Apparently he thought shooting a gun would act like an aphrodisiac; again not too much of a problem, other than being after hours. The main problem was they were both drunk as skunks. It was amazing that they could even walk, much less safely shoot a weapon." Tully paused and laughed at the memory.

"Anyway when I confronted Captain Reece and stopped him, he was a little upset. He asked if I knew that his daddy was Colonel Reece, the new assistant Commander. He said he'd have my job for embarrassing him in front of his lady." Tully stopped and took a big drink of his beer.

"Well ... what did you say Tully?"

"I told him if he wanted my job he could have it. Handed him my badge and my gun and walked out."

"Holy shit."

"The next day Colonel Reece called me at home and apologized for his son. Said I should take a couple of days off and come back to work. I told him I didn't work for the Department anymore. Told him that if a piss ant like his son could get a real cop in trouble, it wasn't where I wanted to be. Then I hung up on him. Went down and put in my papers and haven't looked back."

"So what have you been doing that's kept you so busy?"

"I got a new job. Actually it's a new business," Tully said proudly.

"You didn't waste much time," Rollie said, glad that his friend was working. "Who do you work for?"

"More like working with," Tully replied. "My Captain over in the sand box just got out of the Marines. Ray Jenson and I go way back; we ate some of the same jungle and served in some of the same hell holes over the years. Anyway Ray and I are going to open a tactical training facility for police, military, and civilians; sort of like the GunSite Academy out in Arizona."

"Like you've been doing at the police range?"

"Similar, but we'll go into more depth than the Department training. Ray and me are both qualified instructors and we'll probably hire a couple of other old Jarheads to work with us." Tully smiled and finished his beer. "Course being one of the owners, I won't have to put in a full schedule. Normally I'll work two or three days a week unless we've got something special going on."

"I'm glad Tully. At least now you won't be sitting around getting old and fat on me." Rollie laughed and punched his friend lightly on the shoulder. "So tell me more about this academy."

The two friends talked for a while longer and Rollie left for home. His lady, Jessica Talbert, was waiting for him. Rollie walked into his apartment and Jessica jumped him from behind. She put her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

"Glad to see me, are you?" He said with a grin.

"I thought you were someone else," Jessica replied laughing. "I was going to try out my new Kung Fu moves on them."

Rollie pulled her around so they were facing and kissed her. "I don't know what this move is called but maybe we should practice it until we get it right."

"Yes, let's do that."

About an hour later Rollie sat up in bed. Jessica was lying next to him and he patted her on the backside. "You want to go out to eat or fix something and stay in?" He asked as he walked toward the bathroom.

Jessica sat up, stretched, and picked up one of Rollie's shirts to wear. "I'd rather stay here and watch you walk around in the all together."

"We may starve to death," Rollie said as he watched her slip on his shirt. "Cause I'd rather stay and watch you too."

After eating a light supper, they sat close together on the large comfortable sofa and watched TV; although the next morning neither could remember what programs they had seen. Rollie was the first to wake at 2 AM. He picked Jessica up and carried back to their bedroom. Laying down he spooned up against her, pulled a blanket over them, and went back to sleep.

"We certainly didn't get much accomplished last night," Jessica said when the alarm woke her and Rollie at 6.

"Oh, I don't know. We sure got those Kung Fu moves down pretty good. I told you we needed to practice until we got it right."

"Shucks, I'm late, I've got a big meeting this morning" Jessica exclaimed. "Make the coffee will you while I take a shower."

"Shucks? Nobody says shucks anymore." Rollie laughed and ducked the pillow that Jessica threw at him. "Okay, don't get violent. I'll make the coffee."

"How was your meeting?" Rollie asked as she entered their apartment.

Jessica didn't answer immediately. After a few seconds she said, "Let me get changed and then I'll tell you about it. Pour me a glass of wine will you?"

Rollie got her a glass of white wine, took a beer, and sat at the breakfast bar. Jessica joined him wearing a pair of jeans and a small white top. She almost grabbed the wine and took a large drink.

"So what happened at the meeting? You're all tense."

"Rollie, I've been offered a position as the Chief of Psychiatry."

"Thanks great Honey. I'm proud of you. When do you start?"

"That's just it. They want me to start in two weeks; that doesn't give me much time. I'm to spend a month or two sort of learning the ropes and then I'll take over. Assuming they're happy with my orientation period."

"I don't see a problem. Do you need more time to shop for new clothes?" Rollie asked teasing her.

"Rollie," Jessica said in a somber voice. "The hospital is Northwestern Memorial in Chicago." Jessica watched for Rollie's reaction with concern.

"Oh." Then after several seconds he said, "You're right that doesn't give you much time. I mean you have to get packed, get to Chicago, and find a place to live. Can't live in a hotel for long with the prices they get in a big city like Chicago." He opened his mouth to continue with his rambling.

"Rollie stop. We need to talk about this."

"What's to talk about? You have to take the job; it's what you've wanted for a long time."

"But what about us?" Jessica paused and asked, "Couldn't you come with me. I'm sure Chicago could use another private investigator."

"All of my contacts and informants are here. Those are some things you can't just rebuild in another city; not for a long time anyway." Rollie hung his head for a moment. "I love you Jess but my home is here; I don't want to live anywhere else."

"We can still see each other a lot," Jessica said. "Chicago is only about a five hour drive. Even counting security at the airport you can fly there in less than an hour." She took Rollie's hand. "You could come up every two or three weeks until we see how things go. Who knows, maybe they won't be happy with my work."

Rollie squeezed her hand, smiled, and nodded; but inside he was sad and a little frightened. He knew that a relationship over a long distance seldom survived. Jessica would have meetings or commitments she couldn't get out of or he would have a case that he'd have to work on. All too often something else would come up to interfere with their time together. He knew they would both do their best to keep their relationship strong and growing but he didn't hold out much hope for them in the long run.

Rigazzi's is busy tonight, Rollie thought as he dug into his meal. He looked up as Tony Rigazzi, the owner of the restaurant and his good friend sat down at his table.

"So how are you holding up with Jessica gone? She's been gone what, six weeks now?"

"Yeah, six weeks yesterday." Rollie looked at his friend and admitted, "I've been better Tony. I miss her so much that it hurts sometimes."

"Go see her you dummy. It's not like you have a 9 to 5 job or a boss to beg for time off, go see her."

"I have ... I've been to Chicago three times over the last six weeks. A few days, mostly a few evenings, isn't the same as being together every day." Rollie stared at the wall across the room for a moment. "The first time I helped her get settled in the apartment the hospital is providing for her. The second time we got to spend two nights together; she was busy with meetings and stuff during the day; same with the third time."

"You need to get to work and stop feeling sorry for yourself."

Rollie smiled and nodded in agreement.

"And I've got just the job for you. See that guy at the back booth?" Tony asked and pointed with his chin.

Rollie looked and saw a man about 50, with graying hair and well dressed. "Yeah. What about him?"

"He's got a problem you might be able to help him with." Tony stood up. "C'mon I'll introduce you. He'll tell you what he wants. Maybe there's work in it for you."

Rollie stood and followed Tony. Just before they reach the gray haired man Rollie asked, "How do you know this guy Tony? He a friend of yours?"

"No, he's one of the new guys on the city council. Comes in here with that group a couple of times a month. He heard one of your cop buddies talking about your run in with Vito and asked me if I could introduce him to you."

As Rollie and Tony came to the booth, the gray haired man stood to greet them.

"Mr. Dixon, this is Rollie Chambers," Tony said. "Rollie, Thomas Dixon."

"It's nice to meet you Rollie," Dixon said. "I've heard good things about you."

"From who Mr. Dixon?"

"Tony here, for one. And I guess more importantly, your old boss, Pete Mallory. He said you were the finest detective he'd ever had in his squad."

"Pete's my friend. He may be a little prejudice."

"Nevertheless, I've got a job for you if you're available. Sit down and let me tell you about it." It was more of an order than a request.

Rollie made an instant decision. He didn't like being ordered around and he didn't like Dixon. There was just something about the man that didn't set right with Rollie. Out of respect for Tony, Rollie put aside his feelings and sat down with Dixon.

"Have a drink son we'll talk about what I want done," Dixon said.

"No thanks, I've got one," Rollie answered raising his glass of beer. "What do you think I can help you with?"

"I want you to find my wife. She ran off a couple of weeks ago."

"Sorry Mr. Dixon. I don't do domestic jobs."

"No it's nothing like that. Julie and I are getting a divorce already but she left with a file with some papers and such that I want back. She's using them as leverage for a better settlement. Said if I don't give her what she wants, she'll go public with the file."

"So give her what she wants."

"I won't; the bitch wants a million dollars cash." Dixon sighed, took a pull at his martini and continued. "I don't have that kind of money and even if I did I wouldn't give it to her. But if the information in that file of papers was to be made public it would create some serious problems. Not just for me, but for some very high ranking people in this city."

"I suggest you meet with her and come up with a compromise. Or get some of these high ranking people to help out with the money."

Dixon shook his head. "It's not that simple. Most of those people don't know about the file so I can't count on them for financial support. And I don't know where Julie is, even if I wanted to compromise." He finished his drink and motioned to the waiter for another one. "I should say I know where she is but I can't get to her."

"Why can't you talk to her if you know where she is?"

"I sent two of my men to try to talk to her. They came back beat up pretty bad and said they never even got to see her. Said some of the men in the town took exception to them asking about Julie."

"Where is she?"

"Some podunk hillbilly little town full of inter bred cretins and white trash. Apparently she grew up there and still has some family around. That's who's hiding her; her family. Place called Van Buren in southeast Missouri. Ever heard of it?"

Rollie nodded his head. "It's a small town; not much more than 1000 people living there. Right on Current River so the town gets a lot of tourist trade during the summer. What was your wife's maiden name?"

"Dillard. Her father's James Dillard and I believe he was the one that roughed up my men. "You really do know that backwater town. Why would you know about that little wide spot in the road?"

"I was born and raised there." Rollie watched Dixon sputter and try and backpedal for a few seconds. "Don't believe I can help you Mr. Dixon."

"Can't or won't?"

"Don't see how it makes much difference," Rollie said as he stood up. "The end result is the same; I'm not going to work for you."

"Well, take my card anyway," Dixon asked. "Who knows, you might change your mind."

Rollie stuck the card in his shirt pocket, waived at Tony across the room and left for home. "Asshole," he said as he got to his truck.

The light was flashing on the answering machine when Rollie walked into his living room. He pushed the button and listened to the messaged.

"Hi Honey," Jessica's voice said. "Please call me when you get in. I'll be looking over reports and such until about midnight. Bye, love you."

He looked at the kitchen clock and saw it was only 10 PM so he dialed Jessica's apartment in Chicago.

"Hello?"

"Hi Jess, it's me. I'm flying in tomorrow, why did you need to talk tonight?"

"Rollie, about tomorrow..." Jessica said in a timid voice, "Maybe you shouldn't come. I have to fly to New York for a meeting with the Board of Directors and won't be back until Sunday afternoon. If you come to Chicago we'll only see each other for a few hours before you're scheduled to go back home."

Jessica waited for Rollie's reaction, knowing he wouldn't be pleased. He had already talked about the lack of time they had together when he came to Chicago for a visit.

"Rollie, you still there," she asked after several seconds of silence. "Say something."

"Yeah, I'm here Jess."

"I'm sorry but I have to go to this meeting." Jessica explained with a pleading tone in her voice. Then her voice took on a more upbeat note when she said, "I'll have a four day weekend next week. How about I fly to St. Louis and spend it with you?"

This is just what I was afraid would happen, Rollie thought. The more she gets into this new position the less time we'd have together.

"Jess, I think we should take a break," Rollie said.

"No Rollie, don't think like that. We can..."

"I know this is important to you Jess and I can't blame you. But until things settle down there's too much tension and a sort of desperation when we do get to see each other. We're trying too hard to make our time together really special instead of just enjoying each other. Once you actually get the job things may be better. I love you Jess but if we're going to have a chance, we need to put things on hold until after your orientation period."

"Oh Rollie, please try and understand."

"I do Jess. I understand, I really do. But if we continue like this I'll start to resent you and that job. So let's take a break for a while." Rollie could hear Jessica sigh. "Babe this doesn't mean goodbye or that we're done, it just means we need, I need, to get my head around what's going on. And what will possibly go on in the future."

"Maybe you're right Rollie. It has been hectic and almost overwhelming since I got here." Jessica hesitated and added, "I'd like to call you at least once a week. Would that be okay?"

"I'd like that Jess. Call me from New York if you get a chance." Rollie sighed himself. "Bye Jess, talk to you soon." He hung up the phone, looked out the kitchen window and said, "Well Hell."

Rollie had cancelled his flight for Wednesday morning and Jessica had called him Thursday evening. She said she would call him again on Saturday. He received a call on Friday morning from Captain Pete Mallory, his former boss and his friend, asking Rollie to meet him for lunch at The City Dinner.

The Diner was on the south east corner of Tower Grove Park and only about five or ten minutes from Rollie's apartment. It was a refurbished old time diner that had been expanded into the building next door. The fixtures were reproductions of the tables, chairs, and counter from an old time eatery from the 1940s.

Pete waved at Rollie to join him at the table against the back wall. The waitress came and took their lunch order as Rollie sat down.

"How you holding up with Jessica gone?" Pete asked after greeting Rollie.

"It's a little rough right now Pete. She's really tied up in the new job and we haven't got to spend much time together." Rollie took a drink of his iced tea. "We're sort of on hold for a while; at least until she gets settled in." Rollie paused as the waitress brought the order and refilled the ice tea glasses.

"Not that I'm not glad to see you Pete, but what's going on? You didn't call me to talk about my love life."

Pete grinned. "I guess I trained you as a detective too well. You're right, I've got a favor to ask."

"Anything you need Pete."

"I want you to help Thomas Dixon with his problem."

Rollie stared for a moment, surprised that Pete even knew about his meeting with Dixon. "Why? What's so important that I help Dixon?"

"It's a long story"

"I've got the rest of the day open Pete."

"Let's finish lunch and take a walk into Tower Grove Park," Pete suggested. "I can tell you the story without worrying about someone overhearing us."

About 30 minutes later Pete and Rollie sat a bench overlooking one of the small lakes in the park.

"I'll ask again Pete, why should I help Dixon?"

He told you about the file that his wife ran off with right?" Rollie nodded. "Well some of the information in there that will hurt a good police officer."

"Who?"

Pete hesitated. "Major Rod Taylor. What I'm going to tell you has to stay between us Rollie, no one else can know about it."

"I give you my word Pete."

"When Taylor was a rookie cop, that was 25 years ago, he took a bribe from a small time hood and let the guy walk on a numbers running bust. After he thought about it, he admitted what he'd done to his training officer. His Sergeant told him not to do it again but to keep quiet about it. Taylor followed the advice; he didn't want to end his career before it even got started."

Pete had been looking out over the lake and now turned toward Rollie. "Taylor's been a good cop, good for the Department. He's not one of the brass hats you talked about and he's always stood up for the rank and file cops. There is a confidential report, written by Taylor's Sergeant, in that file of Dixon's. The statue of limitations has expired for the bribe but if that report goes public it will ruin Taylor's career. All for a mistake a young cop made 25 years ago."

"How did you hear about that report Pete?"

"Dixon came to me, after you turned him down, and wanted me to send a couple of my detectives after the girl." I explained to him my men would have no jurisdiction outside of St. Louis." Mallory looked up at Rollie. "I told him I would try to get you to change your mind."

Major Taylor went to bat for us during the "Campus Rapist" case, Rollie thought. He told the brass hats and bean counters to leave us alone. Without Taylor's help I don't think we would have caught the perp. He's stood behind and supported others too.

"Okay Pete. I call Dixon and tell him I'll take the job. The guy's an ass but I admire and like Major Taylor more than I dislike Dixon. I've got to talk to Jess Saturday evening; I'll leave Sunday morning."

"Thanks Rollie. Let me know if I can help with anything."

They walked back to the diner, got in their cars and left. When Rollie got home he dug Dixon's card out of the trash and made a call.

"Mr. Dixon, Rollie Chambers. If you still want me, I'll take the job."

"Good, good. I'm glad."

"My rate is $200 a day plus expenses. If I don't do the job you don't pay, but you have to pay the expenses. If that works for you, I'll get started Sunday."

"That's fine Rollie. Let me say how pleased..." Rollie hung up while Dixon was still talking.

"I may be working for you but I don't have to like you," Rollie said to the phone.

Saturday evening Jessica called and they talked for almost two hours. Jessica had already reluctantly agreed with Rollie that until she was established in her new position they would put things on hold for a while. They would still talk every few days but there would be no more trips until things settled down.

"While you're getting a handle on your end, I've got a case to work on. I'll be out of town for a week to ten days; maybe longer," Rollie told her. "Call my cell if you need me or I'll try to call you when I get a chance."

"Out of town? Where are you going?"

"Van Buren. Guess you could say I'm going home."

"It's unusual for a small place like that to need an investigator, isn't it?"

"I'm working for a man here in St. Louis and the trail leads to Van Buren. Shouldn't be much of a problem and at least I'll get to spend some time where I grew up. Actually I'm looking forward to seeing the old place. I don't have any family left there but two of my best friends still live there. It'll be good to see them."

"I won't bother you while you're working Rollie but please call me when you can."

"Talk to you soon Jess. Bye."

The sign read:

Van Buren
Gateway to the Ozarks
Established 1830
Population 1026

It had taken Rollie three and a half hours to make the drive from St. Louis that Sunday morning. As he got closer to his hometown, he felt a calm come over him; in spite of the reason for him coming back. Before he actually got to the town, on a whim, he made a sharp right turn onto a graded gravel road and followed it to the top of a wooded hill. He found the turn off to an overgrown, dirt road that was just two worn spots through the grass.

Rollie followed the old dirt road he remembered from his youth along the ridge line of Watercress Hill. The road stopped near the edge of a cliff that overlooked Current River and Van Buren. He got out of his truck and walked to the edge of the almost vertical bluff and sat down. He saw several groups in canoes and inner tubes floating on the clear spring fed river and there were four or five families having picnics by the water.

It was very early summer, late May actually, and the weather was warm without the stifling humid heat that would invade the Ozarks during July and August. This is the perfect time of year to visit, Rollie thought. Wish I was here just for a visit. He shook his head and continued his thought. I know I'm going to piss some people off before this is all over.

Rollie sat with his legs hanging over the edge of the cliff for almost an hour thinking about his life as a boy in this little town. He reminisced about the hunting, fishing, and running the river in a john boat with his friends. He thought about all the people he'd known and wondered which ones still lived in the area.

"Time to go," Rollie said out loud. He walked back to his truck and retraced the drive back to the main road. Just before he came to the city limits sign, he turned off into the parking area in front of Smalley's Cabins. It wasn't like the more modern motels with the rooms in a line down a long building.

Instead Smalley's rented individual cabins, unattached buildings all on their own. Basically they were small houses for travelers who need more room than most motels offered or who wanted to be isolated from other people. Most of the cabins would sleep 6 to 8 people, but the room rate was the same if you had 2 people or filled up the cabin. The place had been better than 30 years old when Rollie lived in town.

There were a couple of newer, more modern motels or lodges he could have chosen but Rollie chose Smalley's because he would be more isolated and because he had fond memories of running with the Smalley boys. But in spite of how much he loved the area he wasn't there for a vacation; he had a job to do.

Rollie walked into the office and tapped on a bell sitting on the counter. A tall slender woman about his own age came from the living area wiping her hands on an apron.

"Can I help you?" She asked without looking up as she untied the apron.

"You can tell me where that no good, dog stealing, Jake Smalley is," Rollie answered.

The woman looked up with fire in her eyes. When she saw Rollie, she grinned. "Jake's out stealing a huntin dog somewheres I reckon." Then she came around the counter and hugged Rollie. "Rollie Chambers, as I live and breathe. Ain't seen you in what, seven or eight years? How you been?"

"Hello Stella," Rollie replied returning the hug. "Closer to ten years I think."

Stella and Rollie had been in the same classes in school until Rollie's parents sold their farm and moved to St. Louis. Who knows if we hadn't moved maybe Stella and I would have gotten together, he thought. But then again probably not; we'd always been more like buddies than romantic interests.

"Jake, quit feeding your face and get out here," Stella yelled back into the living area behind the office.

"What's so important you gotta interrupt my lunch?" A large man said as he came up front to the counter. He looked and saw Rollie and Stella still in a hug watching him.