Clay Johnson and his best friend Freeman Stamford, both detectives, had planed a relaxing week of fishing at Clay's cabin on Lake Chaffee. It's there they meet Connie Simpson and her daughter Beth. An instant friendship was formed between the four of them. Little did any of them know, that at the same time, a gang known as the 'Devil's Messengers' had also arrived in the area. What was their purpose and who put them up to it and why? Clay was determined to find out. How were the murders of two other young women tied into it? The answer is learned with in the pages of this novel!

Trials and Perseverance

By J.A. Massa

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 J.A. Massa
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4772-6662-5

Chapter One

A small boat drifts quietly over the calm waters of Lake Chaffee. The only sound on the lake this morning is the ripples of the water as they bounce rhythmically against the side of the boat. A slight breeze is blowing from the west. The smell of rain is in the air. In the boat Clay Johnson and his long time friend Freeman Stamford wait patiently for the tell tale sign that a fish has noticed the bait they offer. Clay, a forty-two year old Private Detective, stands nearly six feet two inches tall. He prides himself in staying in excellent physical shape. When working locally, Clay frequents the gym where he holds a lifetime membership. When working on a case away from home, Clay runs three to five miles each day. Clay started his own private detective agency fifteen years ago in the small town of Stafford, Oregon. His reputation as a case solver is known throughout the state. Over the years, police departments state wide, as well as private citizens, have contacted him for assistances in solving their most difficult cases. Twice Clay worked cases with agents from the FBI. When those cases were solved, both Clay and the FBI agents admitted they learned a great deal from one another.

A sworn bachelor, Clay has never been married. His focus has always been on the cases in front of him. He feels women would only be a distraction. Only once has he let a woman get close to him and that ended in tragedy.

A graduate of the University of Oregon, Clay holds a Master's degree in Criminal Justice. It was during his freshman year of college when Clay met Freeman. From the start the two established a life long friendship.

The slightly overweight Freeman is also forty-two. Freeman stands roughly five feet nine inches. The only exercise that Freeman partakes in, consists of lifting a few beers when he goes off duty. Often, Clay has offered Freeman the opportunity to work out at the gym with him. The two times Freeman did go, he tip the scale at over two hundred and thirty pounds. He spent the entire time at the gym, sitting in the sauna. When he exited the sauna and stepped back onto the scale, he announced to his friend that he has lost four pounds. "Yes sir Partner, this gym life is a great idea." The last time Freeman visited a gym was nearly five years ago.

Freeman also works as a detective. Although he isn't licensed as a private detective, Freeman has worked the last fifteen plus years for the Stafford police department.

Unlike Clay, Freeman has been married. His marriage lasted just over six years, before ending in divorce. He has now been divorced for several years. He has one daughter, Amanda, now twenty years old. Clay had been Freeman's best man at his wedding, and is God-father to Amanda. Soon after the divorce, Freeman's former wife Mae, moved herself and Amanda to Arizona.

Freeman holds a bachelors degree in criminal justice from the University of Oregon. Since their early days of college, he and Clay have been inseparable. When Freeman and Mae separated, Clay opened his house to Freeman. The two shared Clay's place for nearly three months. To this day they make it a point to have dinner together at least once a week.

Both Oregon Duck fans, they will get together on the weekends to either go to one of the Duck's home games or watch the games together on Clay's big screen television.

Unlike Clay, Freeman doesn't feel women can get in the way of work. Though he has little success with the ladies, he continues to flirt every chance he gets.

The two have been planning this week long fishing trip for several months. It had been long over a year since either man had taken any time off. Clay purchased the cabin the winter before. His love for fishing is only surpassed by the `Ducks' football games. It seemed like the ideal spot to spend a week of peace and quiet and a lot of fishing.

Feeling the gentle breeze increasing to a wind against his face and noticing the water becoming choppy, Clay looks in the direction of the cabin. A large black rain cloud hangs over it. "Looks like we may get wet before we can get back to the cabin Free." Clay points out the black cloud lingering over the cabin. A flash of lighting streaks across the sky. "Well shoot!" Freeman says. "We might as well head back in. There's nothing biting anyhow." Clay nods his approval. Clay slips on his bright yellow rain slicker. He tosses Freeman a large black plastic bag. "Here this will keep some of the rain off of you Free." Freeman puts a hole in the bottom of the bag, big enough to slip his head through. He places the bag over his head and pulls it down. The bag proves enough to cover his chest and most of his pot bellied stomach. "Pretty smart!" Clay tells him. Freeman winks.

Freeman notices small circles forming on the surface of the water caused by raindrops falling into the lake. He feels the rain splashing on his face. He hears the tapping sound the drops make as they strike the plastic bag. "Better get a move on Partner. Starting to rain." Freeman shouts back at his friend. "I've got her wide open now, Free. You want to get out and push?" Clay laughs. His laugh comes to an abrupt end as the sky opens up. The rain begins to fall in sheets. From the back of the boat, where he sits, Clay can no longer see the bow of the small boat. "Where in the hell the dock go?" Freeman shouts back to Clay. "Hopefully on the other side of this rain." He's told. When they finally reach the dock the rain is still coming down in torrents. "Leave everything where it is Free. We'll go back out this afternoon if this rain lets up."

Both men make a mad dash up the slope towards the cabin. Out of the corner of his eye, Clay sees two women franticly running back and forth from their SUV to the cabin that neighbors his. Both women are soaked. It appears to him they are carrying in groceries. "Crazy damn women," Clay thinks to himself. "Is anything in those bags so important that it can't wait until this rain lets up?" Clay turns and rushes to their aid. By the time he arrives only two bags remain in the vehicle. He grabs both the bags in his arms. Using his hip he slams the door shut. He rushes to their cabin, bags in hand. Both women stand inside at the doorway soaked from the torrential rain. Standing outside their doorway Clay hands the bags to one of the women. "Is that it?" he asks. "Just our luggage, but it can wait until this rain passes. Thank you so much." Clay studies the two women. The one he handed the bags to is the older of the two. Clay would guess her to be mid thirties. She is blonde and if not for the unexpected drenching she received, could be quite pretty. He notices the younger of the two women. She is maybe twenty. She stands off to the side shivering from the cold wet clothing. Clay shakes his head no, smiles and runs back to the SUV. He grabs two bags. Runs to the door of the cabin and sits them inside. He runs back for two more bags. Several trips later, Clay sets the last of the suitcases inside the cabin's door. "That's it!" he tells the oldest woman. She thanks him and asks him to step in out of the rain. Clay thanks her and steps in. He closes the door behind him. Water runs off his rain slicker. It's forming a puddle on the floor where he stands. "Oh look what I'm doing to your floor," he tells her, backing his way towards the door again. "Don't worry about it." she tells him. She is also drenched. She shivers from the wet clothing that clings to her. She looks down where she stands. His eyes follow hers to a small puddle forming under her feet. She smiles and thanks him again. "That was pretty gallant of you coming to our rescue the way you did." she tells him. "The luggage really could have waited until this storm passes." Clay looks over at the younger woman then back to the elder of the two. He notices that the young woman is still shivering from the cold, wet clothing. "I don't think so. You two need to get out of those wet things and get into something dry before you both catch your deaths. Seems to me if anything could have waited, it would have been your groceries." "They couldn't. I have so many perishables that I needed to get put away." She holds out her hand and introduces herself. "I'm Connie Simpson and this is my daughter Beth." He takes her hand in his and introduces himself. "I'm Clay Johnson." Even with her hair soaked, hanging straight and unruly he can tell she is a very attractive woman. Her eyes are emerald green that sparkle like the highly polished gems they match in color. Clay is instantly fascinated with her eyes. Never has he seen eyes this beautiful before. They are further accented by her high cheek bones and blonde hair. She flashes him a sparking smile. Clay's eyes slowly move down her body to the puddle under her feet. Her wet clothing clings to her body, allowing Clay to see she has larger than average breast. Her slender waist and flat stomach tells Clay that this is a woman enjoys taking care of herself physically. His eyes continue to move down her body. He notices her slightly broad hips and the two shapely legs. "Look Mrs. Simpson I would love to stay and get to know my new neighbors but you really need to get out of those wet things. Beth is starting to turn blue." Clay spots the fireplace in the main room of the cabin. Along side of it are several split logs and some kindling. "You two really need to go get out of them clothes and into something warm and dry. By the time you come out, I'll have this whole place dry and the dampness gone." Connie gives him a strange look that Clay spots right away. He smiles. Nothing major, he tells her. "I'm just going to start you up a small fire. It will keep the dampness from coming down your chimney." "A fire in April?" she asks. "I thought you only used fireplaces in the winter?" Clay laughs. "Don't tell me that you've never spent a romantic evening sitting on the floor in front of a fire place with that special someone? Regardless of what month, there is nothing like a cozy, romantic fire." She shakes her head no. "I haven't spent an evening like that, Mr. Johnson, and I'm not interested in romance!" Clay smiles, "It's ok Mrs. Simpson. I didn't mean to give you the wrong impression. I'm safe. Romance and my job don't agree, and I certainly don't get involved with married women. I was just trying to be helpful. Nothing more." Clay turns and starts for the cabin's door. "If you need anything while you're here, my friend and I are in the cabin next door." Clay reaches for the door handle. "No! Wait! Mr. Johnson." Clay turns and looks at her. "It's Clay," he tells her. Connie is looking into two sexy grey eyes. The smile on his face convinces her she has nothing to fear from this man. "Ok Clay. I'm just a little uncomfortable, you being here." Clay smiles. Without realizing it, Connie has just lied to herself. She is definitely beginning to feel comfortable with him. "Pardon me for saying so Mrs. Simpson, you're a strange one." "What do you mean by that?" she asks. Well first off it's hard to believe that a pretty lady like you never shared a cozy fire with anyone. Now your asking me to believe that you, never been alone in your home with a man. In this case your not even alone, you have your lovely daughter with you." She looks at him with her piercing green eyes. "I don't see where that would really concern you, but for your information, I haven't been alone with a man in my home. Only my husband!" Clay send her his best smile. "Not eve a repairman fixing something?" She offers a weak smile. "I'm sure there have been times I had someone there fixing something." "I told you I'm safe." Clay tells her "Consider me your repairman. I'm sort of a jack-of-all-trades. One thing I'm not good at is being a doctor, which you and Beth are going to need if you stay in those wet clothes much longer. You can go into your rooms and lock the doors behind you if you like. I give you my word I won't bother either of you. I'll get you a nice fire going and let myself out. It looks to me like your planning on being here a while so I'm sure we'll have a chance to get to know one another over the next few days. Maybe by the time I leave here, you can put some of your tension behind you and relax." Clay can't remember the last time he met anyone so untrusting. "She must have her reasons," he thinks. "Why else would she come up here with just her daughter? Oh well; It's none of my business." he thinks. "So what about the fire? Mrs. Simpson." She smiles. "It would be nice, thank you and please call me Connie." "Ok Connie. Like I said I'll let myself out once I get your fire going. Don't forget if you need anything at all, we're in the next cabin."

Since her recent divorce, Connie has had little trust in strangers. Especially men. Strangely though, she has formed an instant trust in this man. His eyes told hers she has nothing to fear from this man. Connie thinks to herself, "as long as he believes I'm married I guess I have nothing to worry about. In time, maybe I'll tell him the truth. For now I think I'll be safer, him thinking I'm married." "Well?" Clay says breaking her train of thought. "Do you change? Or do I run into Chaffee and find you two a doctor?" "We're going." Connie tells him taking Beth's hand. "Why are you lying to him mom?" Beth whispers to her mother softly enough that he can't hear them. "We really don't know him Sweetie," Connie tells her daughter. "He seems very nice to me and he looks like Mr. America." Connie smiles. "Don't judge people by what they look like. Choose your friends by who they are," she tells Beth. The women enter the larger of the two bedrooms and close the door behind them.

With the women safely behind the closed door, drying off and changing clothes, Clay has a cozy fire going in no time. "See you soon!" he shouts to the women. Clay moves out the front door of the cabin and is on a dead run back to his own cabin, as the rain has once again intensified.

"Where you been man? Last thing I knew, you were right behind me," Freeman asks as Clay walks through the front door. "Oh thought I would stop by and meet the new neighbors," Clay answers. "In this frigging monsoon? I thought I taught you better than that. Oh! Wait a minute, now I understand, what's she look like?" Freeman asks with a grin. "Who said it was a she?" Freeman continues his playful interrogation of his good friend, while Clay removes his rain gear. "I know you man. Before you would pay a social call in weather like this, it has to be a she. She must be pretty good looking too." "I don't know what your talking about Free," Clay tells him. "Don't give me that shit! Remember, Partner, I'm a detective just like you. The way your acting is a dead give away it's a she, and she must be quiet a looker!" Clay laughs "Nah, she's a little old lady. She must be in her eighties. She's staying there with her mother is all." "Right," Freeman tells him. "I know when your jerking my chain." Clay smiles. "Ok Free you win. She's may be forty at the most. She has the most incredible green eyes and blonde hair. She has a body that could stop a freight train." Freeman laughs. "Looks like you got me bamboozled for sure. Now I don't know what to believe." Clay smiles at his long time friend. "I'm just having a little fun with you Free." Freeman grabs a beer, turns on the television and finds game shows, and soap operas. "Damn it Partner! All they got on during the day is shit shows." "Free you really need to clean up your mouth." Clay glances at the clock on the wall. "Look Free. It's just after 11:00. How about getting me up about 3:00 this afternoon. "Why? You got a date?" Freeman asks. "I just thought if this weather breaks, maybe we can get in a little afternoon fishing in." Clay goes into the main bedroom, closes the door and removes his clothes. He slips under the covers and is soon fast asleep.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Trials and Perseveranceby J.A. Massa Copyright © 2012 by J.A. Massa. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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